Hoping some of you that own this system could answer any of the following…
Have the reliability issues with the data recorder (from ST threads) been improved?
Do you have to take the data recorder unit with you all the time to eventually download to PC or can you download later like with Polar units?
Can the units store multiple sessions or just one session with 100 laps?
Is the software good? Can’t see much about it on their website whereas the Garmin website seems to look relatively extensive for their Training Centre stuff.
Can timex data be uploaded to the Motion Based website?
I second JohnA’s recommendation. Forget the Timex Bodylink System and get the Garmin 301. The Garmin Forerunner 301 has superior performance to the Timex Bodylink. There really is no comparison between the two.
As for your questions:
I don’t believe so, if they have, they have been marginally improved rather than significantly improved. More like 1 PM to maybe 2:30 PM versus night and day.
You must take the data recorder with you on any training activity you wish to download to your PC. Your activity will not be recorded if you leave the data recorder at home.
I can’t speak for the Timex, but the Garmin F301 will permit recording multiple sessions to a point. I believe there is a 25,000 data points limit to its memory before it begins to employ an algorithm to reduce the number of waypoints utilized by previous activities to support recording new activities. The F301 limits each activities memory to 5,000 data points. In the real world, this is more than adequate memory to fully record five centuries without trimming the memory of any one of the rides. In practice, you are encouraged to download to your Pc regularly and delete the history after downloading to facilitate having memory space available and “backing up” your history. Compared to the Training Center (Garmin’s software package) the information that is recallable from the F301 itself is a mere shadow of what you can get from the Training Center. If you were going to do a trans U.S. trip, you would need to take your laptop along.
One other note: The Garmin F301 has rechargable batteries that will support activities for up to about 15 hours long. I believe the Timex uses replaceable batteries. My friend uses a Timex Bodylink and this is an annoyance for him. the batteries in the Timex last about as long as the Garmin’s but because there is a reluctance to buy new batteries for each training session, invariably situations are created where the batteries run down in mid session with the Timex. The Garmin F301 has a fuel gauge, if you will, and you can tell at the beginning of any training activity how much battery capacity you have. Recharging is very quick with the F301. An hour of charging will give nearly full capacity if it doesn’t reach full in that time span. You can recharge while downloading to your PC. Although this doesn’t take very long, only a minute or two at most, it is good for 2+ hours boost to battery charge capacity.
The Garmin software is lightyears ahead of Timex software. For analysis of activities, the software is somewhat similar but I think the Garmin software is more functional in many was than the Timex. The only leg up that the Timex has over the Garmin is that the Timex software supports printing of the graphs that are generated, the Garmin software does not do that directly. One can still copy images and paste to Word and print, etc., but it is more complicated than just clicking the print button. The Garmin software allows planning all manner of workouts, downloading the workouts to the F301 to enable you to “do” the workout according to what you programmed on your PC. This is really a major advancement for training! After your workout, you can compare your performance on your PC against what you had planned for your workout. The Timex isn’t even close in this regard. It has no comparable feature.
I do not believe so. The MB site should indicate the various units they support. MB originally supported the Garmin F201 primarily and expanded support to other units from there. MB is very good about answering support questions. If you can’t find the answer on their website, email them. You should have an answer in less than 24 hrs. Do you know what format the Timex data output is in?
If you are planning or hoping to fully utilize the MB site and functionality, then you need to use a Garmin F201 or F301. The F301 will add heart rate data to your information and training history.
I hope this helps.
BTW, I own both a F201 and a F301 and am probably slightly biased. Yes, I agree that there could still be improvements to the F301 to satisfy my needs and desires. But, presently, there is no similar product that is even close in my opinion.
I also have had no personal hands on experience with the Timex Bodylink other than my close friend owning one and his experiences I have witnessed. Initially, I was planning to purchase a Timex Bodylink System but his experience convinced me I had nothing to lose trying something else (the Garmin F201) to see if it was any better with its GPS performance. What I discovered was that the Garmin, in my opinion, was superior and addressed many of the short comings of my close friend’s Bodylink experiences. Only the Garmin F201 did not have heart rate information. The F301 does integrate a heart rate monitor into the F201. Then it became possible to compare apples to apples. But as perhaps you can see, the Garmin F301 is so advanced compared to the Timex Bodylink System that, again, one seems to be comparing an apple to a banana rather than an apple to another apple.
I’ve been using the Timex S+D and the BodyLink system since day one… as for it’s performance, I have no complaints. And, (as best I can determine) it has as much the same reliability as the Garmin.
The software is good and data is transferable in a generic file format (although I wish it was easier to do this). But, quite frankly neither the Timex or Garmin have exceptional software… third party software parties seem to do a better job.
The key competitive advantage of the BodyLink system that no one else makes a modular based wireless device. It has a data recorder which combines the HRM, Time and Distance into one unit. If there is improvement in the product, you dont’ have to buy entire wireless device…nope. you simply purchase the watch, strap, reciever or the data recorder…which ever portion you wish to upgrade… you do not have to purchase an entire product. It doesn’t seem to have a built in obsolescence the other wireless GPS devices seem to have built in. For example, you can go from the Timex S+D (GPS only) to the BodyLink system by simply buying the data recorder and watch (while still using the older reciever and strap). If my memory is correct, if they want to upgrade the GPS unit or HRM… all that will be needed to be replaced is the watch. The units are inter-changeable/adaptable and allows you to decide how much “new” technology you want to add.
Unless I’m mistaken, the biggest difference between the Forerunner and the S+D is the fact that the Timex doesn’t yet record GPS (longitude & latitude) information. So, no spiffy photos.
There are other devices starting to come out as well. But, today, Garmin’s units seem to have the best combination of price and performance.