Average Customer Review:
 ( 358 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
288 of 303 found the following review helpful:
Some flaws for bicycling useMar 15, 2004
By Michael Khaw
Overall the Forerunner 201 works well for bicycling, although I wouldn't discard my conventional bike computer for several reasons:
1. In Speed mode (vs. Pace mode) there's no option to average out the readings, and the unit is too sensitive to motion. With the GPS mounted on a bike and the bike at a complete stop, tiny motions of less than 1 cm continuously trigger the autostop/autostart, so it keeps beeping and accumulating elapsed time and distance. Setting the Auto Pause threshold to a non-zero value mitigates this problem at a slight risk of false pauses.
2. The % grade (custom) readout is highly erratic. If you're moving too slowly (less than 5 mph), even if you're burning your lungs on a climb, it may read 0% or even a negative number like -3%! Seems like there may be a math underflow bug in the algorithm when the vertical displacement is too small over successive readings.
3. The altitude reading is not credible when you don't have a clear view of the sky. The unit seems to extrapolate from the last trend it had to "update" the readout, rather than indicating that it's unable to read the altitude. I was on King's Mountain Road (SF Peninsula) under tree-cover, came out into an open spot and the altitude reading jumped by over 500 feet when the GPS got an actual reading from the satellites. There are 2 stretches like this on the climb, and it happened both times.
Enabling Auto Lap in the Training Assistant mode sets the GPS to record trackpoints (time, latitude, longitude and altitude), supposedly at fixed distance intervals, the finest preset value being 1 mile. At firmware version 3.40, the current track can hold 3000 points, with the oldest points being overwritten by the newest when you exceed 3000.
You might think this means you can go 3000 miles without losing any data, but it seems to sample more often than at 1 mile intervals. I've found that after about 7 hours, I start getting my oldest trackpoints overwritten. The only way around it is to remember to stop the timer, reset, then start the timer: this starts a new track (the previous track is still in the unit's memory until you clear History).
The Windows-only Forerunner Logbook application downloadable from Garmin's website is able to download tracks and display (a) speed or pace vs. time, (b) map of the route (from timer start to timer stop), (c) altitude vs. time. There were some goofy data for my most recent ride which showed me exceeding 80 mph(!), probably caused by gaps when the GPS signal was too weak to register. The Logbook application can also export the data as an XML file where each data sample contains Zulu time, latitude, longitude and altitude (in meters, regardless of your settings on the Forerunner or in Logbook). However, the format seems not be recognized by any program (including Forerunner Logbook; i.e., it doesn't know how to read the XML file it wrote!), making it of rather dubious value. Garmin's more recent Training Center (again Windows-only) app does better. GPSBabel (and MacGPSBabel) can now translate LogBook's XML to other formats, including HikeTech (see below). With your track data in GPX format you can use, FlightTrack (Mac OS X) to make dynamic 3D maps overlaid on digital terrain models; and the web-based GPS Visualizer (www.gpsvisualizer.com) to overlay tracks on hi-res satellite/aerial photos, generate elevation profiles and generate kml or kmz files to load into Google Earth (download from earth.google.com, Win 2000, XP, OS X 10.3.9 and 10.4.x only).
I found the pins securing the wrist strap impossible to budge with a screwdriver, as stated in the manual. I had to take it to a watch repair shop where the repairer used a "jeweler's band pin removing tool" -- with some careful effort -- to pop the pins in order to remove the wrist strap. So it seems you either leave the wrist strap on or off (or buy the jeweler's tool): it's too difficult to switch around.
Why is Garmin still stuck on serial port interfaces? USB has been around for a few years now and is much easier to deal with. It would also be friendlier if you didn't have to use the charger cradle in order to connect to a computer. The standard charger sold in the US is 120v only. It wouldn't have cost much more to design a universal 120-240v charger for worldwide use. Garmin's MSRP for their 240v version is an outrageous $32.90! (It can be found mail-order for around $20.)
The owner's manual is pretty minimal. It doesn't explain the elements of the Map Mode display. Perhaps it works well at walking/running speeds, but on a bike I can't pay attention to the road and simultaneously focus on its tiny symbols. And on most rides the display is too small to cover the range of the entire route without the waypoints/auto lap points overlapping.
Once again we Mac (and Linux and even Win 95) users are ignored by a manufacturer when it comes to software support. The only way to update the firmware is with a Windows PC because the firmware is wrapped up inside a Windows-only "Updater" executable. On a Mac, you can use a serial-to-USB adapter cable and Virtual PC running Windows 98 or later to update the firmware. You may have to install a Windows driver from the manufacturer of the adapter cable. In my case, I also had to tell Virtual PC that COM1 was the "usbserial0" port on my Mac.
For Mac OS X, I found a set of 3 shareware programs from HikeTech.com to be useful. They are: (1) Link2GPS for transferring waypoints to/from the GPS and downloading tracks from the GPS; (2) TopoDraw to display tracks as a 2-D map (you can even overlay tracks on digitized maps as long as you have at least 3 waypoints you can identify on the map to establish its scale and relationship to the track data); (3) gpswrite to chart altitude vs. distance, speed vs. distance. The 3 programs work together using files in GPX format.
NEWER ALTERNATIVES (at higher prices, of course): In 2006, Garmin has 2 newer lines of sports-oriented GPS units. The Forerunner 205 is a wristwatch unit with all the features of the 201, a smaller-but-higher resolution screen, and more sensitive GPS circuitry and faster satellite sync. It comes with a 120v/60Hz charger only, no international version. There's a model 305, which adds a heart-rate monitor. Another new series is the Edge, aimed squarely at cyclists. The 205 is the basic model, the 305 the higher-end one, which adds cadence and/or HRM and a barometric altimeter. The Edge series has a larger grayscale screen, better sensitivity and faster satellite sync, and offers a 240v/50Hz charger as an optional accessory.
106 of 113 found the following review helpful:
 Excellent aid for running.Jan 30, 2004
After giving it a full charge, 3 hours, I took it out for a test drive. For the first 30 minutes I could not pick up a signal in Miami. I did a hard reset and it picked it up within 3 minutes. Went for a 3 mile run around a local 9-hole golf course, heavily ligned with trees, and to my amazement never lost contact with the signal. Was extremely accurate in measuring the distance and having a pace time allows you to really push yourself. Backlight can be kep on during the whole run - great feature for night running - or 2, 1, .5, .25 minutes. Much smaller than I expected. Love the display. Would recommend to anyone who runs, jogs, walks for exercise.
40 of 40 found the following review helpful:
Great product with tip for improving accuracyJan 10, 2005
By CPSail
The Forerunner 201 is proving to be very helpful in adjusting my runs without a training partner. While I prefer running with another person, it's hard to find someone at the right time who wants to run the same pace that day. Features on this unit like the virtual training partner help me overcome that issue.
NOTE FOR IMPROVED SIGNAL/ACCURACY: On my first several runs, the unit lost signal about ten times over four miles. The solution was to have the Forerunner "Autolocate" the satellites again.
To run Autolocate again, turn the unit on indoors and cover it with your hand to prevent it from finding any satellites. After a minute, the unit will ask if you are indoors. Answer "No." Then it will ask if you've moved the unit more than 100 miles since the last use. Answer "Yes." This causes the unit to reacquire all available satellites.
Take the unit outside and position it in an open area. This time I made sure that it was clear of any obstructions (30 feet from the house) and put it on a tree branch about eye height. After about 15 mintues it had acquired more satellites than the first time.
When I power it up now, it acquires the signal in about a minute and I have yet to lose signal on a run.
57 of 61 found the following review helpful:
Almost PerfectMar 22, 2004
With a favorable review in the WSJ last week I purchased the Forerunner 201. While I already owned the Timex Time + Distance system (sans Heart Monitor) I wanted to see it a smaller package would be as good. I'm happy to report the product is as good if not better than the Timex system.When compared to the Timex system here are the pro's: 1) Lith-Ion battery. No more carrying around AA batteries with a less than 10 hour life (usually got 5-7 hours). The Garmin system hold a charge for 10+ hours. 2) Single unit as opposed to the 2 unit Timex system. Also much less weight in total. 3) Large and easy to read numbers on the unit. Screens are customizable (calories, miles, pace, time, elevation - some 20 different units can be shown) 4) GREAT downloadable software from the Garmin web site logs each run, maps the course, elevation changes and all sorts of info. 5) Haven't gotten the chance to try the virtual partner yet, but I'm sure going to love that feature. The Cons: 1) You really cannot use the device indoors. The Timex system can operate as a standalone watch, but the Garmin system is a bit large for indoor use. And you sure cannot use it while walking down the street (geek alert). 2) Like the Timex system you need a clear line of sight. However, with the Timex system I could swivel the unit on my arm to make sure I had a clear LOS. With the Garmin system not as much freedom to move it. I had to modify my route to ensure that I always has a clear LOS. All in all great system and I would recommend. If you live in a city make sure you can return the unit if you cannot keep the GPS signal.
31 of 31 found the following review helpful:
Excellent ProductJan 02, 2004
By Rick
"Rick"
The Forerunner does exactly what it says it will do and more. Setup is easy, use is intuitive and results are very accurate. I've used it on a total of 5 runs since receiving it for Christmas and have yet to experience a signal loss. During the last week my runs have been from between 1 and 1.5 hours in length and went through suburban neighborhoods, a built-up university campus and a downtown urban area with "canyons" sided by 4 and 5 story buildings. I also went through both open flat and hilly areas. Again, not once did I lose the signal. Now I'm back home (900 miles from where I spent Christmas) and the Forerunner is still delivering. According to the owner's manual I was supposed to have set the unit outside for 15-30 minutes so it could re-initialize, but in reality it only took about 40 seconds to set up. I have experience very good accuracy as well. Here at home I have a "loop" that I run around my neighborhood. In the car it measures just under 3.4 miles. With the Forerunner my first loop measured 3.33 miles and the second loop measured 3.34 miles. That's as accurate as I'll ever need.
The Forerunner's features are exceptional. The three things I like the most are;
- The freedom to just run wherever I want without feeling like I have to stick to a specific route in order to get a specific distance in.
- The Virtual Partner: I run fairly quickly (7.5 - 8.0 min p/mile) and I haven't found a lot of folks who like to run that pace. As such I don't usually get "pushed" to keep a specific pace. Now my virtual partner does that for me.
- "Live" Pacing: This is a great feature for training for long-distance runs and marathons. I can now see and adjust my pace without having to do "advanced algebra" in my head after a specific distance on a specific course. I can do the first half of a run at one pace and the second half at another pace. I've noticed an immediate increase in my distance by being able to strictly control my pacing in real time.
Battery life has been impressive as well. The 2 set-ups, all five runs and a bunch of playing with the features have all been done on one charge that took only three hours - and there's still 4 hours of charge left.
All in all you can't go wrong with this product. I very highly recommend it.
See all 358 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
based on 358 reviews
