GPS on watches- Garmin Forerunner 305 - Reveiw

Specifications

Dimensions: 2.1 x 2.7 x 0.7 inches (5.33 x 6.86 x 1.78 cm) Display: 1.3 x 0.8 inches (3.3 x 2.0 cm) Resolution: 160 x 100 pixels Weight: 2.72 oz (77 g) Battery: rechargeable lithium-ion Battery life: 10 hours, typical Water resistant: yes (IPX7) GPS-enabled: yes High-sensitivity receiver: yes RoHS version available: yes Lap history: 1,000 laps Waypoints/favorites/locations: 100 Routes: 50 Heart rate monitor: yes Bike speed/cadence sensor: yes (some versions) Foot pod: yes (optional) Automatic sync: no Garmin Connect™ compatible: yes Garmin Training Center compatible: yes Virtual Partner: yes Courses: yes Auto Pause: yes Auto Lap: yes Auto Scroll: yes Multi-sport: yes Advanced workouts: yes Simple workouts: yes Pace alert: yes Time/distance alert: yes Vibration alert: no Interval training: yes Customizable screen(s): yes Unit-to-unit transfer: no Sport watch: no

The Garmin Forerunner 305 Gps Running Watch is an excellent training watch with nearly flawless operation. The display is fully customizable. It has heart rate sampling, distance measuring, and pace calculation. It integrates with your PC via USB that also recharges the watch. The software includes training log updates that are fully automatic. Though initial acquisition of the satellites takes quite some time, once they have been acquired they rarely drop.This watch is very accurate. The display is easy to read and can be completely user-customized. There are readings for heart rate, distance, current pace, average lap pace, average run pace, and several others. One exception to its otherwise stellar accuracy is the elevation readout and pace measurement. It is very simple to upload your workout data to your PC. The Training Center software provides long-term data storage and is easy to use. It is very useful for analyzing and presenting the your data. The maps it shows are not very good though tall trees and near tall buildings. The GPS antenna wraps around your wrist and gives the unit a better view of the horizon in order to lock in on the satellites.

The course feature found on the 305 allows you to compete against yourself by comparing your pace and your heart rate against data stored from previous workouts over the same course. One accessory available for the 305 is the Garmin Foot Pod. The Foot Pod allows you to run indoors on a treadmill and still collect accurate pace and distance data.The Forerunner 305 allows you to upload your data to the Internet via Garmin’s MotionBased service giving you a web application that takes your GPS data and translates it into usable online performance and mapping analysis. After browsing through your cumulative stats you can share and compare them with others.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 is considered to be one of the most user-friendly watches on the market. It can provide you with simplicity and accuracy, two elements necessary to using your GPS trainer effectively. The Forerunner 305 is a proven addition to your training. It has been around for a number of years and generally gets good reviews.