|
 |
|
GARMIN 010-00466-00 Forerunner 205 GPS ReceiverxToo low to display
  (394 reviews)
Best Price: Too low to display
Get more from your sport with precise speed, distance and pace data. - Precise GPS training device for multiple sports
- Ideal for running, cycling, cross-country skiing, windsurfing and more
- High-sensitivity GPS receiver with exceptional reception
- Calculates and displays accurate time, distance and pace information
- Virtual Partner feature shows progress measured against a specified pace
- Stores and reviews up to 1,000 laps
- 10 hours of use between charges
- Training Center software stores and analyzes data
- No calibration required
- Course feature creates races against previous workouts
- Mark and find locations, and navigate routes
- Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved. UL is the worldwide trusted source for product compliance
- 1-year manufacturer's warranty
You train better when you train smarter. This innovative GPS system gives you an edge over competitors with a wealth of training tools – right on your wrist. System requirements: Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP.
Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, affordable, and effective wrist-mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 205. The release of this device is a major achievement from a design and technology perspective. This isn't just marketing-speak; the Forerunner 205 is the most accurate, most reliable wrist-mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we've ever tested. Yes, it's that good. While no device this compact can do everything (yet), the 205 pushes the boundaries of what is possible from something strapped around your wrist. While the 205 doesn't offer heart rate monitoring, or connectivity with Garmin's wireless speed and cadence sensor -- for that, you'll need to step up to the Forerunner 305 -- but it's a great way to get basic GPS location and performance data. View Garmin's Forerunner demonstration video. 
Choose from 12 data fields to display on the 305's screen. View larger. | 
The design cleverly integrates the GPS antenna and aims it towards the sky when you're running or walking. View larger. | 
The Virtual Partner function makes your workouts more competitive. View larger. | 
Choose from three workout modes that help you target your training goals. View larger. | 
The 305 features rudimentary mapping and location marking functions. View larger. | Design The 205's design is a radical departure from Garmin's previous generation of wrist mounted GPS devices, which reached a pinnacle with the Garmin Forerunner 301. While the 301 delivered accurate heart rate monitoring, good performance tracking, and decent GPS reception, it didn't quite deliver in the design department. The form factor was bulky and wearing it wasn't much different than duct taping a full-sized GPS device to your wrist. Not so with the 205. Garmin's engineers obviously burned the midnight oil and have come up with a waterproof design that, while certainly not as small as a sports watch, feels just as comfortable. The curved casing allows the unit's antenna to face the sky when you're running, while the widescreen display is perfectly positioned for viewing when you need it. And the display certainly deserves a few kudos. While it's smaller than the display found on previous Forerunners, its resolution is far higher, offering incredible clarity and crispness. Garmin has smartly given the 205 a simple button layout and the buttons have a nice tactile feel with good pressure response. The right side houses the menu selection and enter buttons, while the left houses a power/backlight button and a mode button. This simple and elegant solution is a big improvement over the sometimes confusing button functionality of previous Forerunners. View button layout. The underside of the 205 is pretty nondescript, except for a row of contacts that interface with the included charging and data cradle. The cradle is small and unobtrusive and its single mini-USB port connects to either an included AC adapter, or a USB cable that connects to your PC. In addition to data transfer with the USB cable, you can also charge the 205's embedded lithium-ion battery via a powered USB connection from your computer. GPS Performance
The big news about the Forerunner 205 is that it features an integrated, high-sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS receiver. What does this mean? It means that the 205's ability to both track, and maintain a lock on, your position is better than anything before it. After an intial battery charge, our product tester had the 205 on his wrist and was tracking speed and distance with GPS satellites within 3 minutes. The next time we used the 205, satellite acquisition was nearly instantaneous. A run through dense trees didn't faze the unit either; tracking remained true and steady. Performance on a bike was equally impressive. Whatever witchcraft has been cooked up by the designers of the SiRF technology, we like it! 
The simple docking cradle makes charging and data connectivity a snap (Forerunner 305 model shown). | While the Forerunner 205 isn't billed as a GPS navigation device, it does have some rudimentary mapping, waypoint marking, and routing capabilities. In addition to marking locations along your journey, you can zoom in or out of a simple map that displays your current direction and path. There's also a "go to location" feature that routes you back to your starting location, or to any location you have defined. Once you have defined several locations, you can save this information as a route, allowing you to travel the same path in the future. As you'll see below, the 205's new "Courses" feature gives you new levels of control over how you define your favorite runs and rides. Training Functions
The 205 is first and foremost a training tool, and its ability to organize a ton of data types into a user experience that is intuitive and simple is no small feat. Whiz-bang technology aside, if you can't use it and make it a natural part of your exercise routine, it's worthless. When it comes to these factors -- and here's the take home message on the 205 -- this device is successful where many other devices fail. The heart and soul of the 205 can be found on the data screens, which give you real-time information about all aspects of your workout. In fact, the 305 can display a dizzying array of data, such as calories burned, distance, elevation, grade, and heading, as well as multiple lap and pace modes. Thankfully, the device makes it easy to define how much or how little data you want to view during a workout. You can arrange the data that's most important to you and then make that data appear front and center on the device. Indeed, within a few minutes of skimming the manual and fiddling with the device setup, you'll have your most important data displaying just the way you like it. Garmin's Virtual Partner function was cool feature of previous Forerunners and they've decided to keep a good thing going with the 205. If you're the type that performs best when you've got a competitor egging you on, you'll love this function, as it allows you to set up virtual running or biking companions that compete against you. If you're looking for an complicated workout with a variety of intervals and intensity levels, or just a quick three-mile jog against your best time last week, the 205 has you covered. Navigating to the Workouts menu on the device yields three options: Quick Workouts, Interval, and Advanced Workout. A quick workout is just that; set the distance and time, distance and pace, or time and pace of your planned workout and off you go. Interval workouts are just the same, but they allow you to add repetitions and rest between them. When you really want to get fancy with your exercise, you can step up to advanced workouts, which include goals for each workout step, as well as varied distances, times, and rest periods. You can use the Garmin Training Center software to set up these workouts and then upload them to the device. PC Connectivity and Software
Garmin has been outfitting their devices with USB connectivity for some time now -- a welcome move for those who struggled with serial port connections in the days of yore. Thanks to USB, the 205 integrates seamlessly with the Training Center software and we quickly had workout history uploaded and stored on the PC (Sadly, Training Center is not Mac-compatible). In a first for the Forerunner series, the Training Center software also lets you define courses on your PC that you can upload to the device. When course information is combined with uploaded workout information, the Forerunner becomes a complete guide, telling you where to go, when to make a turn, and what kind of workout to do when you're on the road or path. Back on the PC, the software's ability to overlay workout data on maps of the course makes it easy to see where the course offers up the tough hills and the easy recovery spots. Plus, the ability to track historical performance on a given course is a great way to measure your improvement. The 205 is also fully compatible with Garmin's MotionBased service, which takes your training to another level by connecting your data with the Internet. While we weren't able to use the service, the promise of sharing courses, maps, workouts, and performance data with other users is intriguing. And if you're a serious endurance athlete, you'll be glad to know that the 205 is also compatible with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy-to-use web based training system designed to help athletes train for any event. Pros
- Radically new design is better in every way
- Amazing accuracy and fast satellite acquisition time
- So simple to set up and use, you will actually use it
Cons - No Mac OS compatibility
- Okay, it's bigger than a sport's watch -- but so much more powerful
What's in the Box Forerunner 205, Garmin Training Center CD-ROM, docking cradle, expander strap, A/C charger, USB cable, owner's manual, quick start guide. Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, affordable, and effective wrist-mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 205. The release of this device is a major achievement from a design and technology perspective. This isn't just marketing-speak; the Forerunner 205 is the most accurate, most reliable wrist-mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we've ever tested. Yes, it's that good. While no device this compact can do everything (yet), the 205 pushes the boundaries of what is possible from something strapped around your wrist. While the 205 doesn't offer heart rate monitoring, or connectivity with Garmin's wireless speed and cadence sensor--for that, you'll need to step up to the Forerunner 305--but it's a great way to get basic GPS location and performance data. View Garmin's Forerunner demonstration video.
Choose from 12 data fields to display on the 305's screen. View larger. |
The design cleverly integrates the GPS antenna and aims it towards the sky when you're running or walking. View larger. |
The simple docking cradle makes charging and data connectivity a snap (Forerunner 305 model shown). |
The Virtual Partner function makes your workouts more competitive. View larger. |
Choose from three workout modes that help you target your training goals. View larger. |
The 305 features rudimentary mapping and location marking functions. View larger. | Design The 205's design is a radical departure from Garmin's previous generation of wrist mounted GPS devices, which reached a pinnacle with the Garmin Forerunner 301. While the 301 delivered accurate heart rate monitoring, good performance tracking, and decent GPS reception, it didn't quite deliver in the design department. The form factor was bulky and wearing it wasn't much different than duct taping a full-sized GPS device to your wrist. Not so with the 205. Garmin's engineers obviously burned the midnight oil and have come up with a waterproof design that, while certainly not as small as a sports watch, feels just as comfortable. The curved casing allows the unit's antenna to face the sky when you're running, while the widescreen display is perfectly positioned for viewing when you need it. And the display certainly deserves a few kudos. While it's smaller than the display found on previous Forerunners, its resolution is far higher, offering incredible clarity and crispness. Garmin has smartly given the 205 a simple button layout and the buttons have a nice tactile feel with good pressure response. The right side houses the menu selection and enter buttons, while the left houses a power/backlight button and a mode button. This simple and elegant solution is a big improvement over the sometimes confusing button functionality of previous Forerunners. View button layout. The underside of the 205 is pretty nondescript, except for a row of contacts that interface with the included charging and data cradle. The cradle is small and unobtrusive and its single mini-USB port connects to either an included AC adapter, or a USB cable that connects to your PC. In addition to data transfer with the USB cable, you can also charge the 205's embedded lithium-ion battery via a powered USB connection from your computer. GPS Performance
The big news about the Forerunner 205 is that it features an integrated, high-sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS receiver. What does this mean? It means that the 205's ability to both track, and maintain a lock on, your position is better than anything before it. After an intial battery charge, our product tester had the 205 on his wrist and was tracking speed and distance with GPS satellites within 3 minutes. The next time we used the 205, satellite acquisition was nearly instantaneous. A run through dense trees didn't faze the unit either; tracking remained true and steady. Performance on a bike was equally impressive. Whatever witchcraft has been cooked up by the designers of the SiRF technology, we like it! While the Forerunner 205 isn't billed as a GPS navigation device, it does have some rudimentary mapping, waypoint marking, and routing capabilities. In addition to marking locations along your journey, you can zoom in or out of a simple map that displays your current direction and path. There's also a "go to location" feature that routes you back to your starting location, or to any location you have defined. Once you have defined several locations, you can save this information as a route, allowing you to travel the same path in the future. As you'll see below, the 205's new "Courses" feature gives you new levels of control over how you define your favorite runs and rides. Training Functions
The 205 is first and foremost a training tool, and its ability to organize a ton of data types into a user experience that is intuitive and simple is no small feat. Whiz-bang technology aside, if you can't use it and make it a natural part of your exercise routine, it's worthless. When it comes to these factors -- and here's the take home message on the 205 -- this device is successful where many other devices fail. The heart and soul of the 205 can be found on the data screens, which give you real-time information about all aspects of your workout. In fact, the 305 can display a dizzying array of data, such as calories burned, distance, elevation, grade, and heading, as well as multiple lap and pace modes. Thankfully, the device makes it easy to define how much or how little data you want to view during a workout. You can arrange the data that's most important to you and then make that data appear front and center on the device. Indeed, within a few minutes of skimming the manual and fiddling with the device setup, you'll have your most important data displaying just the way you like it. Garmin's Virtual Partner function was cool feature of previous Forerunners and they've decided to keep a good thing going with the 205. If you're the type that performs best when you've got a competitor egging you on, you'll love this function, as it allows you to set up virtual running or biking companions that compete against you. If you're looking for an complicated workout with a variety of intervals and intensity levels, or just a quick three-mile jog against your best time last week, the 205 has you covered. Navigating to the Workouts menu on the device yields three options: Quick Workouts, Interval, and Advanced Workout. A quick workout is just that; set the distance and time, distance and pace, or time and pace of your planned workout and off you go. Interval workouts are just the same, but they allow you to add repetitions and rest between them. When you really want to get fancy with your exercise, you can step up to advanced workouts, which include goals for each workout step, as well as varied distances, times, and rest periods. You can use the Garmin Training Center software to set up these workouts and then upload them to the device. PC Connectivity and Software
Garmin has been outfitting their devices with USB connectivity for some time now -- a welcome move for those who struggled with serial port connections in the days of yore. Thanks to USB, the 205 integrates seamlessly with the Training Center software and we quickly had workout history uploaded and stored on the PC (Sadly, Training Center is not Mac-compatible). In a first for the Forerunner series, the Training Center software also lets you define courses on your PC that you can upload to the device. When course information is combined with uploaded workout information, the Forerunner becomes a complete guide, telling you where to go, when to make a turn, and what kind of workout to do when you're on the road or path. Back on the PC, the software's ability to overlay workout data on maps of the course makes it easy to see where the course offers up the tough hills and the easy recovery spots. Plus, the ability to track historical performance on a given course is a great way to measure your improvement. The 205 is also fully compatible with Garmin's MotionBased service, which takes your training to another level by connecting your data with the Internet. While we weren't able to use the service, the promise of sharing courses, maps, workouts, and performance data with other users is intriguing. And if you're a serious endurance athlete, you'll be glad to know that the 205 is also compatible with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy-to-use web based training system designed to help athletes train for any event. Pros
- Radically new design is better in every way
- Amazing accuracy and fast satellite acquisition time
- So simple to set up and use, you will actually use it
Cons - No Mac OS compatibility
- Okay, it's bigger than a sport's watch -- but so much more powerful
What's in the Box Forerunner 205, Garmin Training Center CD-ROM, docking cradle, expander strap, A/C charger, USB cable, owner's manual, quick start guide.
MPN: 010-00466-00 - UPC: 753759051907
|
Customer Reviews
|
Garmin 205 vs. the Garmin 201
By A1MBD7J427YAUM on 2006-04-13
I've run 4 times a week with the Garmin 201 for the past 2 years so I was anxious to get the 205. After 10 runs with the 205 (some runs with both) here is my take on the new 205:
Pros:
- better form factor (although still big and same weight as the 201)
- Buttons are more intuitive (less guessing in the dark)
- More accurate - If I run the same run 3 times (e.g. a regular 6 miler) all 3 distances are within .02-.09... the 201 varied by as much as .3 miles. The 205 also appears to be more accurate according to "known distances"
- Less satellite drops compared to the 201 (although see the BIG con below!)
- The strap is rubber so it doesn't act as a sweat band (the 201 was harder to clean and smelled for weeks after a marathon)
- Better software
CONS:
- Fonts are smaller (especially on history and other screens)
- The strap is rubber and doesn't fit as well as the cloth/Velcro on the 201 (although the pro I think outweighs the con!)
- BIG CON: On one regular run along the bay in San Francisco (no hills, trees, or buildings) the 205 lost satellite in a "usual" area (common for my 201 to drop in the same place) one mile into the run, but the 205 never recovered during the whole run. So the 205 doesn't drop satellites as much, but when it does it might not recover - this is a fatal issue if it continues (note: the 201 drops often, but always recovers right away).
Overall I would still highly recommend the unit. I definitely prefer to run with the 205 instead of the 201. I will be watching the drop-recover issue carefully to see if others report a similar problem.
Well worth the extra cost!!!
By A1MPAVMAFXJN11 on 2006-04-07
I wrote an extensive six-part review comparing the Garmin Forerunner 205 with my older Garmin Forerunner 201. Here is the URL to the first part and you can find links at the bottom to the other parts:[...]
If you don't want to read the full reviews then here is a summary of my likes and dislikes:
Likes
* Comfort and Form factor: Usage model is very important and while the 205 is big, it feels and wears like a wrist watch. The plastic strap is more comfortable than the 201's velco strap, and the unit also comes with an extension strap if you need to bundle up and wear it outside your clothing. Personally, I want to look at my watch for instant data (i.e. time, pace, distance, etc) and feedback so I'm unwilling to place a device on my upper arm even if I have to sacrifice accuracy. In terms of form factor, the lap and start/stop buttons are well placed and sized on the face of the watch.
* GPS Accuracy: The Garmin Forerunner 205's GPS receiver seemed much stronger. I can lock onto a signal inside my house next to a window, I haven't received one weak signal in a week over routes that caused my 201 trouble. And on my one run over a tree-covered, GPS signal-challenging course, the 205 came out a star, finally allowing me to measure a route that I was unable to with my 201. The GPS accuracy data field and the satellite acquisition screen are also cool bonuses.
* Customization: The 205 allows you to customize 2 main screens and a third activity specific (i.e. run, bike or other) one with 1 to 4 data fields per screen. This is very cool, especially for data-driven geeks like myself. Another great thing about all the Forerunners is you can customize screens and settings on the fly without interrupting your current activity.
* Real-Time Pacing: I'm not that interested in knowing how fast I'm going at a specific moment in time so never was a big fan of the "real-time" pacing feature of the 201. With that said, the 205 seemed to be more consistent and showed a tighter range of paces. It also seemed closer to how fast I felt I was going relevant to the current conditions (i.e. uphill, downhill, flat) than the 201, which showed a lot of variation and lag.
* USB Cradle: Charging and uploading via USB is a nice. Much faster than the 201's serial port.
Dislikes
* Display: The display of the 205 seems smaller and the history screens are dark and hard to read. I wish they didn't use the shading and just had the plain background.
* Real-time elevation: For me this isn't a big deal, but the "real-time" elevation reading lags on the 205. It seems to tie closely with GPS accuracy. For example, after I finish my runs I'll usually walk a little in my backyard to cool down. The real-time elevation reading will then "catch up" to the correct elevation.
* Buttons: My broken power button seems to be an anomaly so far since I haven't read of others with the same problem. With that said, the side buttons seems a bit stiff to me.
* Battery indicator: It just shows 4 vertical bars. I liked the feature on the 201 where it told you how many hours of charge were left when you powered it on.
Cool Stuff
* Tons of features: There are a lot of things the 205 can do such as import courses, advanced workouts, virtual partner and a bunch of other features that I need to explore
Wishlist
* Reduce form factor
* Color screen
* Increase battery life
* Improve waterproofing/water resistance
* Add wireless connectivity for uploading and downloading data and information over the air to PC or mobile service
Fantastic!
By A2BH04B9G9LOYA on 2006-06-13
I purchased the 205 to mainly get an idea as to how far I was running. This is my first training GPS device. I figured the circuit I ran was about 5k. To my pleasant surprise the 205 told me I was doing 3k more than I estimated so that was great news to me! But the 205 did not stop there. Read on....
If you are anything like me the runs I do at 5:30a on the weekdays are not as strong as the ones I do at 8a on the weekend. A couple hours of extra sleep seems to make a lot of difference. On Saturday I ran my 8k circuit at 8a and came in at a good time (for me). I saved the 8k circuit as a "course" in the 205. The Training Center software that comes with the 205 allows for fairly easy editing of the course adding in markers on when to turn, valleys/summits and saving the course back to the 205. This morning (5:30a) I started the 8k "course" in the 205. Straight away I could go to the navigation page and with the "virtual partner" function turned on there I was racing my(virtual)self! What fun! As expected I could not keep up with my(virtual)self and based on when my(virtual)self would start to break away I knew I had to put on more power. Without a doubt the virtual partner function is going to help me improve my early morning weekday runs. While I intellectually understood the benefit of the virtual partner function until I actually used it I didn't appreciate what difference this function will have on my training.
[Update Dec 2006: The virtual partner function has indeed improved my training. I have shaved 6 minutes off my 8k run since I bought the 205. Each time I make a new PR I save that as the course and work against that on subsequent runs. At worst I try and keep pace with myself. At best I beat myself!]
I find the 205 to have fairly good ability to get satellite signal. I can turn it on in our house (2 story with me on the ground floor) and get a signal. But overhead tree cover does seem to affect the current pace accuracy (see my nits below).
The integration with Google Earth and Maps is incredible. I can save the images as JPGs and post them to my blog so every one can see where I've been. Tres cool!
As I mentioned earlier the Training Center software that comes on the CD with the 205 is good. However, I would recommend going to Motion Based whose URL is provided in a flier that is packaged in the 205. I really like MB and you can check out other people's GPS data/times.
Now that I covered what was important to me there do seem to be some minor nits with the device that I noticed and I see other people have already commented on. The nits I would like to see corrected:
- the extensive menu navigation. There has to be a way to simplify the menu depth and make it a little more intuitive.
- current pace is negatively affected by overhead obstructions. On my 15k I run down a trail that has intermittent clearings and tree cover. Every time I ran into the tree cover and lost signal strength on the satellites the current pace dropped even though I'm fairly sure I was keeping an even pace with the music I was listening to. The 205 has a "pace alert" function that can alert you to when you slow down. Not very useful when every time I ran into tree cover the alert would sound. I eventually had to turn the pace alerts off as it was too inaccurate to be of any use. The overall average pace seems to be accurate.
[Update Dec 2006: As I travel a lot the only comment I have here is when I start up the 205 in a "new" city it takes a long time to lock into the satellites. Subsequent startups are fast so there must be some initialization process that is skipped on subsequent runs. I have run in San Francisco without GPS issues so not sure why others are having problems. ]
Overall, if you are on the fence about a GPS training device (as I was) then jump down and join the rest of us that are reaping the significant benefits of owning one. And the 205 works really well so I highly recommend it!
Oh, the reason I did not get the 305/HRM combo is because I get heat rash from wearing an HRM.
Quality issues
By A1CIWGIRL4LUIK on 2006-06-21
I had the 201 for a while, and love it; but I lost the charger, so I thought this would be a good time to upgrade, and get better reception in the trees. In my limited trials, it delivers as promised, and I have never lost signal. It is a great device except... I received the 205 and charged it up; then went through the set-up, and lost power a few times. By working with it, I found that it had a loose connection; by twisting it, or pressing the mode button it would power off. After a long wait time on hold with the customer support line, I was able to return and replace the device. They over-nighted the new 205, and that one worked for a few hours, but only when plugged into the charger (which makes it difficult to run very far). I still can't connect to the customer support line to get this one replaced.
In summary, this is a great device, but very poorly manufactured, and their customer support is to overwhelmed to handle their issues. I would wait for them to work out the manufacturing issues (as of June '06).
Very good
By AORIXHNI1IJGT on 2006-04-11
Overall the 205 is very good. I bought the Forerunner 101 when it first came out two years ago and returned it in 3 days because it could not keep a GPS signal in a typical surburban neighborhood. Howaver, after the two weeks of use the Forerunner 205 is a keeper.
I like the ability to plan a week of runs on the Training Center software, and load the workouts in advance into the 205. What's troublesome is getting to a day's workout. It's a long series of buttons. Mode, arrow button to Training, arrow to Advanced, select Today's, then select the workout I pre-loaded.
What it ought to do is find the satellites, chirp that the GPS is synced, and prompt directly to the day's workout list. That's pretty much what anyone would do every morning -- go right to the workout list.
I've tried some workout settings but what I'm really settling into is a stopwatch type workout that announces when I've reached a mile split. The workout is set to repeat a 1 mile distance for 22 miles, but most mornings I stop the workout after 6-8 miles. This workout allows me to head out random directions in the neighborhood and not focus on time most days.
Many stopwatches have a feature that when you press and hold the stop button you save the data separately. For example, if you complete your morning run you press, hold, save that day's data. Or if you do a warmup prior to a race, you save that warmup time separately.
It would be nice if press and hold the stop button on the 205 would save the workout and prompt for a new one to start. What you have to do is navigate all over again with at least 5 button presses back into the workout choices to stop the workout, then choose what's next. Too much navigation.
It would be nice if the Training Center software had a page of every single data display on the 205 at a glance. All it offers is a graph of distance, pace, elevation, and a few other things. There are 205 data displays like calorie total for a workout that are not available in the PC software.
I'd also like is the ability to choose sounds for types of alerts on the 205 -- like I can with my Garmin GPSmap 60CS. Some of the alerts are as long as cell phone ring tone, I really don't need to hear a 8-second multi-tone alert when I complete a routine mile lap, for example.
Again, the 205 is very good. I'm hoping for some software upgrades!
- Works well in the suburbs but mixed results in the city
By A1OUSDBQBT9KFY on 2006-04-16
Others have covered most of the features in detail in previous reviews so I'll skip over that because I agree pretty much with what was written.
I ran with this in Northern Virginia and had almost no problem with drops, or atleast the smoothing features helped to utilize pace average to accomodate the satellite drops and give a fairly accurate report on the distance run. I have some trouble with the inital acquisition of satellites, i.e. my first run of the day, but after that point, the 205 acquires satellites extremely fast and does a great job locking onto them. I also have an Etrex and this outperforms that model in terms of satellite acquisition.
I next ran with the 205 in New York City and I'll say the results were a little less positive though I'm still glad I made this purchase. I read that the 201 did not perform well in the city so I skipped out on that model, but believe that the 205 does much better. Once I got satellites to start my run, the 205 marked my start point. While buildings caused my signal to drop, I noticed the drop and repressed my timer button to keep the time going during my run. Satellites did not reacquire till I stopped in an open area, but once they did reacquire, the 205 estimated the straight line distance from where I started and gave a pretty good read of the distance I had run because the timer did not stop.
In sum, a no brainer if you live outside of a city, if you live in a city, it's not terrible, but you'll have to keep track of when it drops satellites so that you don't end up running without the 205 recording the run. Software is a bit clunky, but it does as much as a typical manual running log would accomplish so I'm satisfied. The USB cable is so much better than the serial cable I need to use for my Etrex. Definitley a good buy.
- James Bond goes for a run
By ANP6MYAP7FIQ9 on 2006-05-26
I recently purchased the Garmin Forerunner 205 and entered the world of GPS for the first time. My experience so far has been positive (I've logged 4 runs). The unit, while appearing a bit bulky, is surprisingly comfortable and you easily forget you are wearing it. The 205 is fairly user friendly. You can simply push the timer start and go right out of the box, or go much deeper into its capabilities and upload customized courses and workouts. I haven't gotten that in depth yet, but I love the autopause and autolap functions.
As far as performance, the 205 is extremely accurate in identifying location and distance travelled (I've verified against trail markers). I've used the 205 on tree covered trails and to my knowledge, have not lost signal.
On the negative side, I've found the elevation and current pace information to be extremely variable and of questionable reliability. However, this is not crucial information. The distance and time info. is very accurate and therefore you can always get good average pace information for any portion of your run that you want. If you want to keep looking down during your run to check your current pace, however, you will be disappointed.
I haven't explored the navigation functions much yet. While they are a bit rudimentary, the 205 should keep you from getting lost on a long run or a hike.
The software is fairly easy to use and the interface with the unit is good. I would like to see a little more functionality with the software. There isn't a great deal you can do to process your data once you've downloaded it.
Overall, I'm satisfied with my purchase and I recommend the 205. $250 might seem like alot for a fancy timing device, but it really is much more than that and I find it to be a good motivational training tool. After a run, I can't wait to download the run data and view and compare it to other runs.
- Disappointed
By A1ZC16XDKV07DM on 2006-08-05
This is my first Garmin, although I've used bigger Magellans for hiking.
Advantages:
*tracks total ascent and descent of your run or hike on the training partner. This is a great training feature.
*You can set any distance as a lap and compare your rate on the training Center. I also set it to beep at the mile mark (my lap).
*Rarely loses signal. Dense tree cover doesn't phase it. I only lose signal beside a steep bank or hill for a long time (1/2 mile or so). Re-gains signal without a problem.
*Accurate mileage. Some of the route planning websites quit working after your route exceeds 12-15 miles, which is the only reason I got a Garmin.
Disadvantages:
*plastic wristband not the most comfortable, although I've gotten used to it.
*The charging is totally unreliable. Why is this the case with so many expensive electronic products? When I plug in the charger, it either a)does nothing; b) turns itself on & off, beeps annoyingly, not charging until it dies of low battery, or c)after lots of fiddling, charges. This started the second time I used the product. Haven't tried customer service yet - that's next. Nothing more annoying than showing up at a race with a dead Garmin you thought you had charged.
*it takes a long time to locate the satellite (5-10 minutes) if you haven't used it lately, or if you're using it 50 miles away - you eventually get a prompt for this and it re-sets itself.
*it most likely overestimates calories expended to a ridiculous degree. I decrease my weight by 40 pounds to get an accurate caloric expenditure.
- a BIG improvement over the 201
By A1PN2U0AWXGVML on 2006-06-10
I just bought this yesterday and used it for walking and driving. The device can lock on inside building as long as there are no floors above you or you are near a window. The 201 had no chance of locking on indoor. I walked to the store and the path was near 3-4 story buildings and never lost the signal. The 201 couldn't handle that either. The USB is HUGE improvement to the serial port (what were they thinking!). The design is much more comfortable and looks more watchlike and can easily worn all day without discomfort. The software is a HUGE improvement over the last. It will also work with Google Earth and works well! I walked around INSIDE a mall in San Francisco (Stonestown) and kept the signal except on the ground floor inside a store. It would lock back on immediately when walking back into the walking area of the mall. The SIRFstarIII is amazing. Highly recommended for ANYONE who does anykind of activity. Its fun, informative and just plain a great GARMIN product. KUDOS, GARMIN.
- Highly Recommended
By AJ1JEY9ZOR641 on 2007-01-20
I have used the Garmin 205 for several months now and highly recommend it. Here in Arizona it acquires satellites generally in less than one minute, and I have never had any problem with it not holding onto the signals. Accuracy is amazing - I have checked it on local school tracks and it is right on target. I used the unit for the PF Chang half marathon last weekend in Phoenix, and it worked flawlessly - it was great to be able to check my average pace along the route, and it really helped me try to stay near my target time for the run.
Unlike some reviewers, I have had no battery issues - as suggested by Garmin, however, I usually charge my unit between significant runs, so it is always fully charged. The longest I have have tested it was in the half marathon, and it performed flawlessly for the 2 hours that it took me to finish.
The main screen can easily be reconfigured if you don't like the default screens - I have mine configured for elapsed time, average pace, and total distance. My for purposes, I like the average pace setting better than the instantaneous pace. The numbers are a bit hard for me to read in dark conditions, but I have difficulty reading my wrist watch in the dark while running as well. If you really need to see the numbers on the run in the dark, a brief pause or slow down under a street light generally does the trick.
For those reviewers who seem to be having problems with the unit, especially with erratic pace readings, I would suggest going to the Garmin website and downloading the Web Updater, then using this to update the software on your 205 to the latest version. It is very easy to do. Some of the pace issues are specifically addressed with the new software, smoothing out the data somewhat to make instaneous readings more consistent. You can also easily sign up for email updates should new, updated software become available.
Overall I highly recommend this unit. It performs much better than the Nike + iPod unit that I briefly tried. I highly recommend using it with the free MotionBased web site as well - you can see your runs plotted out on either a street map or a satellite map, or with a combination of both, and can also access other routes downloaded by other users that you might be interested in.
Overall, this is a really fun, well designed, easy to use device. It has added a fun element to my exercise, and I highly recommend it.
- the suggested retail price is much lower than USD 350
By A2IMFE5TYWGZFY on 2006-02-24
Very strange, Amazon discounts you from USD 350 to a price of around USD 250. Nice you would say, isn't it? USD 100 discount, wow. Wrong, the suggested retail price of Garmin is USD 268!!!
So, your discount is 'only' about USD 18. That's something different. the reall price with a discount of USD 100 should be USD 160 or so.
- Awesome
By A2MZUNNMTWI70X on 2006-03-25
Bought the Garmin 205, compared it to my Garmin 201.
I'm amazed that the 205 works within 25ft accuracy in areas that the 201 says its lost GPS signal.
Buildings tree's and Powerlines reduce the accuracy but it still picks up an accurate GPS signal to run in areas that the 201 will not even work.
The screen can be adjusted as to how many features you want displayed and the size and comfort is amazing.
- Garmon Forerunner 205
By A1MF8LK3AUOYFL on 2006-07-14
This new upgrade of the previous Garmin Forerunner serie is excellent. My wife and I both use the Garmin 205 and had previously been using the 201 and 301. The 205 is more sensitive when picking up signals and there are almost no weak signals even in wooded areas.
I like the there are three screens that can be customized with one to four types of data shown on each screen. This allows non-critical data to be displayed unlike the 201 and 301 which only had one screen that could be displayed.
The watch is comfortable and the main displays are easy to read. The history screens are difficult to read without my glasses but that is only a minor complaint as I usually don't look at those until after a run.
I would highly recoomend the Garmin 205.
- My rabid runner girlfriend hates technology but LOVES this product!
By A1RER28VM7G5C6 on 2006-11-13
I bought this for my girlfriend's birthday. She runs seven miles every day of the year but this purchase was a long-shot as she despises technology, also she is very petite and I was afraid the unit would be too large for her tiny wrists. The short story is that she absolutely loves it! She raves constantly about its features as well as the software included. I tried it myself (I walk long distances) and was so impressed I bought a Gamin Foretrex 101 for myself. Great product and great manufacturer!
- List price is $267.84, not $300+
By A394VCT3JWDQSQ on 2006-02-23
From the Garmin website:
Garmin part number: 010-00466-00
Suggested Retail Price:
$267.84 U.S.D. (for domestic US market only)
- Great improvement over 201 wouldn't run without it
By A1AZQCVCDBQP6 on 2006-08-07
I use my device daily. When finished, I press stop and then shut off the device. I place it on the PC interface and that automatically downloads the runs and takes care of charging. If I don't shut it off, it continues tracking satellites which sometimes works indoors, a testimonial to its great sensitivity. I don't get a good charge though if I have left it on and then placed it on the charger.
Some quirks: When acquiring satellites in the woods or under very humid conditions, I live in Northern Wisconsin, I find it does so better if I can find a good clearing to several horizons and then holding my arm out with the flat watch band part horizontal standing still for 45-60 seconds.
When the trees are thick or the sky is overcast, I find I get much greater vertical distance than I know I am actually running. Hopefully the techs will give an update for this... it exaggerates your calories!!! Also, my base map has me running on the water in the Green Bay part of Lake Michigan. They say I can download a better base map but have yet to figure that out.
Do not put bug spray or lotion near the case or bezel. It will stain! THis is the main reason I give the unit a 4. You would think for an outdoor device the case would be impervious. THis is poor design. When the mosquitos and deer flies are thick in the woods, you cannot run fast enough without bug protection, especially when running up steep hills! :-)
So there you have it. I love almost all of the features, but the case. Oh, I would get the 305 if I did it over again, that way I could avoid wearing a second watch for the heart rate. I love the training info, post race, it is especially helpful for my marathon distance training.
- The 201 is better and cheaper
By A2NUUPZ1OFVMVO on 2006-09-14
I had been using the Garmin 201 model for over a year and was very anxious to get the 205. Since I got it, I find that the current pace is consistently wrong on the 205. The 201 is much more accurate when it comes to telling you the pace you are currently running at. The 201 does all the same basic things as 205 just as well and is much better on the current pace for some reason. The 201 is also about $100 cheaper and I would highly reccomend buying it, it is fantastic and a great value!
- A must for every runner, biker or combination thereof
By A3H2CKTFZ3B3GD on 2007-01-07
Having recently ran my first marathon (July 06 - SF) and half-marathon (Oct 06 - SJ) I was eagerly looking for something I could use outdoors to track all the essential data. I was very used to, and tired of, running on the treadmill to figure this out. I took a chance and got the Forerunner 205. I couldn't be more happier.
When I opened the package I immediately turned it on, indoors, and it found the satellites in about three minutes. Before I ran on it I took it with me to work, while driving, and tested the speed, distance and elevation to see how accurate it was. The speed was a little slow in catching up as I accelerated but it was always accurate once I was at an even pace. Top speed was correct. Once in the office I compared Yahoo Maps and Google Maps distance: their's said 5.4 and the 205 said 5.38. Elevation was off by about 10 ft.
Next up was my running. I took it out for a 4 mile run. The pace, again, fluctuated some as I was running, but that could be my own faulty running style. Elevation and speed seemed to be accurate though and was absolutely essential to maintaining a steady pace (which I wish I would have had for both the half and full marathon). Once I got back to the house I uploaded my history into the Garmin Training Center. This software is amazing. It breaks down your time, pace, average speed, max speed, calories burned, and elevation (descent and ascent) for your overall run and/or for each mile (if you set the Auto Lap to a mile). The mapping part of the software is amazingly accurate. I purposely would run a circle around a tree and cross over my out and back path to see if the 205 kept track of it, and it did! Every turn I made was recorded.
As a previous reviewer stated, the only time I noticed my speed wasn't accurate (it would say 0) is when I went under an overpass but it immediately started up just before I ran from under it. Also, as the same reviewer stated, at this exact time there was a spike in the data for that short section. Also, every time I turned the 205 on it found the satellites from 30 seconds to two minutes, but the one time I turned it on in the hills while driving it took about five minutes, which is still not too slow. I have since turned it on while driving, but not in the hills, and it found it very quickly.
With many marathons, half marathons and triathlons coming up this year I cannot wait to be running with my 205, something I cannot believe I ran without in the past. I would whole heartedly recommend the Garmin Forerunner 205 to any runner, biker or combination thereof. A definite recommend.
5 stars.
- Very poor replacement for the 201
By ASZK8XQAQ91YT on 2006-03-26
The Forerunner 205 is touted in the sales literature as an upgrade from the 201. Specifically it is supposed to have a superior GPS chipset as well as a better design. Unfortunately, this "update" falls well short of the intended goal.
I own the Forerunner 201, as do a number of my friends. THAT unit has been very dependable and accurate. The main drawback to that model is that it does occassionally lose the satellite signal when in canyons (urban or real) and wooded area. My experience is that this signal loss is fairly rare. The 205, on the other hand, seems to lose the signal and despite clear skies and open country fails to lock back on. For example, today I ran 18 miles; the 205 lost the signal at the 15.8 mile mark and never recovered.
The fit of the 201 did take some getting used to as it is an odd shape. The promise of the 205 was that it would fit more like a traditional wrist-watch. Unfortunately, it fails miserably in that area. The 205 is contoured to wrap around the wrist, but if your wrist is thinner than the contour, it will not fit well. The wristband on the 201 was a velcro sport band--probably at least an inch in width. The 205 has a more traditional watch band, but due to the contour shape of the unit, it just doesn't work. Also, the need to "buckle" the 205's wristband makes it extremely difficult to do while performing any kind of activity. They should have stayed with the 201's velcro sportsband design.
Perhaps Garmin will address the technical issues with the unit with a firmware upgrade. As it is, this unit is extremely poor both in functionality and design. Buy the 201 or 301 until they get this thing functioning better.
- Garmin Forerunner 205 Wrist Training Device
By A2BOQ2OC1VQTOW on 2006-08-10
Since I enjoyed the previous version of the Forerunner, when the 205 model came out I was anxious to trade up and give my daughter my current model. The training device is awesome, especially for running and biking. The Forerunner provides the same capabilities as a bike computer at a fraction of the cost. The 205 model has enhanced its capabilities for collecting information for different sports. The import features to me as a runner (just added biking) is the split screen showing my pace, time and distance. When I set my goal for a certain race, I enter it into the Garmin and it will let me know what pace I have to maintain to reach my goal. I'm amazed at the accuracy of the finish times with using the satellites. Although each Garmin can be slightly different in end times, after I've finished every race, the Garmin indicates the correct distance of that race each time. The only challenge is it's size. Although the 205 has been upgraded, it is still a little heavy but I wouldn't let that discourage me. I got used to the weight. What I'd like to see added to the device is collecting a total for a particular day. Since I do speed workouts and clear my device with each interval so I can see my progress with each one, I'd like to know (without having to add each one up) the total mileage for the day as it provides for a week. Garmin, keep up the good work!
- A reliable device
By A2RY7NECVXNWRA on 2006-07-09
I'm not an experienced user of GPS devices, so I cannot compare it to the competitive products, however my opinion is that my Forerunner is doing what I expected. Before buying I have read several opinions about that it tends to loose the signal or to present the false data. None of those I have observed after 1 month of intensive use. I use it for running and for windsurfing and in both cases it works pretty well. I run in the forest and among buildings in the city but the signal is lost very occasionally and it is retrieved fast. The waterproof feature has been proven as well :-). The only issue I could have is that one of the 4 pins use to connect to the docking station is getting rust, so I have to clean it up every time I need it to connect to my PC. This is why I give 4 stars not 5
Filip
- Great for Hiking!
By A1XLSDSZUQ9XAX on 2006-07-09
Garmin touts this unit as a trainer for runners, but I use it for hiking and cycling and I love it. I wish the built-in software and the software for your computer that comes on CD would recognize hiking as one of the sports to automatically categorize your activities under, but it only has running, biking, and "other" (very minor complaint).
I've owned (but lost) a Garmin Geko 301 and this Forerunner 205 picks up and locks on satellites so much better (has trouble in narrow canyons, but all GPS units do). I really love how small it is and that it can be worn on the wrist--so much easier to check status of your activity (hike, bike, run) than carrying in one hand a portable handheld GPS unit. The 205 has all the features of my Geko 301 and some, but in a smaller package.
I really like the computer software that you can download your GPS track data to--it shows in nice colorful chart format how fast you were going, where you were, elevation, etc. and displays your route on a basic road map. It also allows you to categorize your activities and automatically files them under the date. The Forerunner 205 itself doesn't have any mapping features showing where you are relative to roads or terrain, just to markers you set.
Overall, if you are interested in portable GPS units and don't need one with built-in maps, then I think you will be very happy with the Forerunner 205...I am!
- Disappointed
By A20W8TMNE9527Q on 2006-07-10
It does a few more tasks than the 201, however:
Wrist strap is not as comfortable or as easy to use.
Internal battery does not last as long.
It does not lock on satellites any faster.
The readout is not as readable, particularly the details such as the last run statistics.
- I love my ForeRunner 205
By ASHRHJGB73KM2 on 2006-07-19
There's not much else to say. It works just as advertised and I have yet to have a problem with it. I have not used the virtual training partner function, as I have an actual training partner, but I like how I am able to accurately track my performance, and I like the freedom of not having to map out distances before a run.
My only complaint, and the only thing that prevents my review from being a five-star review is the quality of the Training Center software that is packaged with the ForeRunner. It has limited functionality and is not very intuitive to use. Because of this, I don't use Training Center. Instead, I use a program called SportTracks to record and analyze my workouts.
Overall, I love my ForeRunner, and I don't want to run without it.
- The 205 is a great product!
By A1OBIV6RFAYLVG on 2006-08-04
I bought the 205 for my girlfriend and we use it when we run together. It makes running fun. We like how it tracks our per mile time as well as how easy it is to put in lap times. Never had a problem with it going down or finding a satellite.
It's light, easily worn on the wrist and you barely know it's there.
One time a couple of weeks ago, we were running in another city and after running four miles we were completely lost. The 205 helped us get back to our starting point. Without it, we would probably still be out there. :)
We haven't used it for hiking yet, but plan to this weekend and I suspect it will really help knowing how far we have gone and where we are.
I highly recommend the 205.
- walking and running using the Forerunner 205
By A3J11KX9FVQXU4 on 2006-08-14
The Forerunner 205 is extremely easy to set up and to use. It enables one to walk or run or a combination along any route. The record of this activity can be automatically downloaded to a computer in a few seconds. Details (distance, time for different segments of the route)can be easily displayed plus a very nice map of the route taken.
- If Garmin 205 Looses Satellites, get newest firmware
By AZ88216P5D581 on 2007-01-02
I gave it 2 starts initially, but would raise it to 4 bars if Amazon would let me change the stars level (I am real slow to give 5 bars; everything has room for improvement). When I first got the device, it had lots of trouble tracking satellites, and would loose track right in the middle a run, and never be able to resync even when I stood still. However, I called Garmin, and found I had a device with fairly old firmware, and they have an easy way to update firmware. There are two types of firmware in the unit, one for the GPS chip (2.9 is latest as of Jan 2007) and one for the displays (2.5 is latest). The updated firmware fixed the issue it appears, and the device seems to be tracking the satellites well. As soon as the snow melts in Denver, I am really looking forward to checking if my long run route is really the 20 miles I am estimating it to be.
One hint: It will be extra slow in locking onto satellites if you start it indoors and then walk outside. It is better to start the unit outside, standing still, with good reception already available.
- Much Improved
By A2CI2KTSFHNGRT on 2006-06-25
A big improvement over my previous 201.
Pros -
Satellite tracking is much improved
More & Better functions (like Auto Pause, Auto Start)
USB interface automatically transfers data
More custom data displayed
Cons -
Seems heavier than 201 and not as comfortable
Sometimes takes a LONG time to find satellites at startup
- Excellent, much better then 201
By A1301ZHVUVUTC9 on 2006-11-10
This little gadget, is a lot esier to use, lighter, more accurate and better than the 201, if you enjoy running, you should buy it, the virtual training partner works pretty good, the workout program you can download from your computer is easy to use and you can actuallt program farttkleks, repetitions, long run with goals or no golas on time and/or distance.
I am training for my 2nd marathon with the 2005 forerunenr and it is making it a lot easier and better to train, if you want to have your heart rate measure to you should buy the 305.
- Great
By A2GXGDA0OAEY3J on 2006-04-06
Buildings tree's and Powerlines reduce the accuracy but it still picks up an accurate GPS signal to run in areas.
|
|
GARMIN 010-00466-00 Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver Accessories
|
|
|
|
You may also be interested in...
|
|
|
|
|
| Product Features |
- High-Sensitivity, Watch-Like GPS Receiver That Provides Exceptional Signal Reception
- 1 Piece Training Assistant That Provides Athletes With Precise Speed, Distance & Pace Data
- Includes Training Center Software, Which Allows Users To Download Workout Data For A Detailed Analysis
- Used For Multiple Sports Such As Cycling, Cross- Country Skiing & Windsurfing
- Data Acquired May Also Be Analyzed With Www.Motionbased.Com, Which Provides Online Mapping & Route Sharing
|
|
|
|
