Have heard that the 305 garmin strap will work with the PT wireless. Is the the strap for the 405 the same? More importantly if I buy the 405 without the strap will my PT strap work with it?
Anyone racing with this combo? If I understand it correctly the 405 can be worn like a watch without the gps turned on? Was thinking that I could put it on in t1 and then wear it on the bike and turn the gps part on a few miles from t2. Have heard that the 405 gets a signal much faster than the 205/305, is this true and if so how much so?
You can use the 305 HR strap with the 405 so I would assume if something works with the 305 it would work with the 405.
I wouldn’t wear it with GPS turn off in a race. I think it would take too much messing around to turn on the GPS and remember to click start. Unless you are doing an Ironman distance the battery will last thru your bike and run. Plus it has multisport mode so it will switch from biking to running.
Here is the official Garmin forum to ask more questions http://forums.motionbased.com/smf/index.php?board=87.0
The Garmin heart rate monitor strap will not work with powertap computer. The powertap heart rate monitor strap will work with both the garmin 305 and the 405.
The Garmin heart rate monitor strap will not work with powertap computer. The powertap heart rate monitor strap will work with both the garmin 305 and the 405.
I use my 305 heart rate monitor strap with my PowerTap Pro. The newer versions of the PowerTap all have coded heart rate monitors. Make sure you are far away from the PowerTap heart rate strap (and any neighbours wearing a heart rate monitor) and use the learn sequence to find the code. I’m pretty sure the heart rate straps are bought from the same supplier. I doubt that Garmin or CycleOps manufacture their own straps.
Hey chris, you ever get an answer to this exact question. ie. can i save the cash by getting the GPS only version of the 305 and use my PT strap with it?
Yes it seemed like it would work. But, to answer your question the gps only version of the 305 is the 205 which has no HR function so what strap you have does not matter.
I have since decided that I do not really care about HR while racing. Been using the 205 while running and the PT without the strap while riding. Maybe santa will bring me a 405 and then I will revisit the issue 
oops. i mean to say the 405. Just did my first FTP test, it was quite sad… lots of work to be done.
If you have the 405 without the strap it “should” work. FTP tests are hard. Don’t worry about the first one. Takes a few tries to get it anywhere near right. Not knowing how to properly do the test the first time makes it seem like you are making huge gains initially which if nothing else makes you feel better about having dropped the coin on a PM. Once you get the hang of doing the test you can then immediately swear off ever doing one again as the other methods of figuring FTP are just as good and are not nearly as painful. Welcome to the dark side.