GPS tech (Garmin, Hammerhead, Wahoo, RWGPS, etc)

Wich Garmin models fail you so often? :( I've the Edge 810 for about a year and it turned off itself twice before hitting 40 ºC (104 ºF). The Bryton and TwoNav seem like great alternatives but still hasn't read about anyone audaxing with them (Carlos Mazon is using a brand new TwoNav Anima+, but still for training rides)

I'm gonna read into this more, as since it's 100% wireless, it could indicated that you just need to create a route on your phone instead of the ELEMNT.

edit; so far, vague mention of using Strava to download route to the ELEMNT.

800 and 810 both fail. 800 is more reliable but can die after 400k, though seemingly only when navigating because it always worked during 24hrs. 810 froze all the time, was repaired but then randomly turned off and lost data. Waiting for refund. Might try Edge 1000 but not sure it's worth it.

Reading up the eTrex 35 Touch, my dad gonna get one for walking and cycling, will let you know about the cycling aspect of it.

Cool. Any ideas how it compares with the normal etrex 30x? Just a touch screen or more/less features?

Only 16hr battery life.

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I'd be interested in how the RFLKT thing (or the ELMNT) impacts battery life, it's a constant bluetooth connection which has obvious power implications, but modern phones are many orders of magnitude more reliable than Garmins, and if it could be made to work to your requirements (power, nav) would seem to be a good choice - cheap, as well, as it's just a display.

I have the running version of the RFLKT and it works really well - that the GPS chip in the iPhone is significantly better than the one that Garmin use doesn't hurt, either.

Actually the ELEMNT is rather more sophisticated than I recalled: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/09/wahoos-computerelemnt-first.html

From that review:

MAPPING:
The Wahoo ELEMNT includes the ability to display maps, routes, and even where your friends are currently riding. The mapping uses OpenStreetMap (OSM), and the unit comes pre-loaded with the entire world.

The ELEMNT has routing capabilities, based on either past routes you’ve ridden, or routes that you’ve created with 3rd party services. It’ll automatically download any routes you’ve created with Strava, RideWithGPS, and MapMyFitness. Or, you can open .GPX file routes (via opening an e-mail, from iTunes, or even a Dropbox share). Pretty cool integration.

So if you plan with RWGPS then it looks pretty simple - you could plot on the fly, on the phone, then the route is shared with the head unit and you can follow it (if I'm reading this correctly).

You've still got two points of failure with the REFLKT. Their self-contained unit is of more interest to me. I'd like to save phones power for backup/emergency use. I'm not sure what the Bluetooth on all the time does to my battery life.

That really worries me :( I've never ridden more than 200k with it, and now I fear my 810 will behave that bad too...

I've asked my local long distance community for their experience, some used the 810 on the 2013 MGM (http://www.strava.com/activities/76987571) and got problems on the final km... their advice is to break the route file you're following into 3 or 4 files, and also start with the device clean of training records. Maybe you tried to follow a big route file the times you got the freezing problems?

The fastest rider of the PBP apparently had no problems with the Edge 1000: https://www.strava.com/activities/372806960

I can't find any info or experiences using a Bryton or TwoNav for long distances...

Maybe the solution is to downgrade to a unit without maps and the TBT functionality that seems to be the main problem (Edge 500 / 520) and just load a route with handmade waypoints for each complicated turn (that will also serve to study the course). I've used an Edge 305 for almost 7 years without an issue (apart from battery degradation), but sometimes a tight 'Y' type intersection was hard to take without error while going fast or offroad

You've still got two points of failure with the REFLKT. Their self-contained unit is of more interest to me. I'd like to save phones power for backup/emergency use. I'm not sure what the Bluetooth on all the time does to my battery life.

Could it be worse than the Garmin, though?

I'm tempted to get one to try it out, I don't have anywhere near the scale of failure that you endured from your 810 but it's very annoying when it just turns off mid-ride.

Routes generally were in small parts. I rarely leave files on the unit. Some failures happened only short distance from home on the 810. 800 far less likely to fail. I should've reset it at 300k but then really, why should I? Stupid toss devices.

I like having maps on the v device because I often ride as hoc routes and/or search for postcodes which makes 500 series and OSM devices less use.

Well, I don't know but it requires its own testing. I generally run two Garmins on long stuff and phone as further backup.

I'll get a 1000 from Amazon to test. They're less of a ballache with returns. Any ETA on this Wahoo device in UK?

Yes.

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Really looking forward for that Edge 1000 testing! Meanwhile I'll try the TwoNav Ultra, although Carlos told me he's still struggling to get a correct TBT navigation with the Anima+

Any ideas how it compares with the normal etrex 30x?

I only got the eTrex 20, but from what I seen, the IU is vastly different on the touch, and hopefully be easier to use the cycling option than the old model.

Girlfriend surprised me with a late Xmas present this weekend, Hammerhead One. Looking forward to trying it out. Good for those nights when I've got a couple of hours to kill and just fancy a blast around the streets.

Is that the one that just lights up left or right or something?

Was interested in those when the kicjstarter was out but forgot about it.

Pretty much, there's a few different light patterns for other manoeuvres but mostly just left, right and U-turn.

https://simple-gpx.herokuapp.com/

This application will simplify your GPX tracks to reduce the file size. It will use a combination of stripping out any elevation and time data and using the Ramer–Douglas–Peucker algorithm to reduce the number of track points to a tolerance you decide. Once the GPX is chosen, it will automatically be submitted for processing. A zipped file will be returned containing your slimmed down GPX file.

Optionally you may also split a long track in to shorter tracks of 50km, 100km, 150km, 200km, 250km or 300km in length. If you do not provide a track prefix when splitting then it will default to Track, so your tracks will be named Track-1, Track-2 etc. Note the tracks will still be returned in a single zipped GPX file. Load the GPX into your software or GPS and you'll see the separate tracks.

I've been mulling over a ELEMNT compared to an 820. 820 haz been released and I'm not sure of the following:

• smaller size: I love the form factor of the 520, because it reflects the simplicity of that device. Detailed routing on that... nah.
  
• touch screen: as above, I love the 520's 'sod that' approach to touch, and it works better for it. Touching a screen that small... nah.
  
  

The only thing that's stopping me buying the ELEMNT: colour. I love everything else about it philosophically but I know that when I'm routing I need the colour to pick out A/B/C roads from waterways and train lines. So nope.

If anyone is looking at moving from a 520 to an 820 then DM me. My solution: keep the old 800 on the tourer and get that 520 on my racing bike quick!

The only thing I'm concern about the ELEMNT is the battery life which seemed quite short compared to the Garmin.

I welcome the screen as long it make it a lots more readable in daylight compare to the Garmin, meaning I can turn off the backlight.

I'm doing a similar compare, although was thinking about Garmin touring - appreciate the two things are for slightly different aims, but the elemnt seems well designed (and the Garmin thread makes me feel they aren't good devices).

I may take the plunge soon in which case will report back...