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

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/05/wahoo-element-roam-cycling-gps-in-depth-review.html

I got the impression he didn't rate it much

I found the review a bit awkward - his main issue was pricing, but UK + US pricing structures don't match up so I am not clear if the device wasn't up to much or if it just wasn't good enough for the money.

Annoying as I'm currently debating a new computer as my old (3yr+ and used daily) wahoo elemnt is losing battery life. Now I'm torn between the roam and sigma Rox 12

I took it that there weren't huge improvements over the old Bolt and that the new one is a bit laggy in comparison to the new Garmins. He absolutely loved the new Garmin 530.

Fair enough. My disadvantage in interpreting the review is that I've never tried a Garmin so don't know what I'm missing...

I could try a 530 I guess

I love my Garmin 1030, it's a huge improvement over their old models and the battery life is awesome. I know Garmins often get a battering from folk but I think quite a lot is down to user error, I've had 3 over the last 7 years and they've all been pretty good to be fair.

Hmmm. Definitely seems like an option, I've just been sceptical of Garmin since I've heard so many horror stories.

Annoyingly I feel like I've gone from being pretty set on a sigma to now having three options in not long at all!

Anyone got a ROX12? I have been fairly impressed with mine (but I have never been out with it tired, in the middle of the night, lost, in the rain like I did with my Garmin)

No but am considering one - do you have one but don't quite trust it yet?!

Yeah, that is pretty much exactly where I am with it. In general, I like it lots, I just now I haven't pushed it yet

Out of interest which Garmin have you used?

The Edge1000, which I generally liked apart from when I hated it. I used to loathe its navigation and its screen, but what I really, really hated was that when it rained it locked its screen

Hahah piece of shit isnt it.

1030 is okay. Dont bother with a 1000.

Best thing about the new Wahoo is that the App has been updated for the original units as well. Used to be a bit messy to get a route onto the unit without wifi, but now you can sync easily via bluetooth from your phone.

God knows how you cope on your rides. Even on the audaxes in the night the 1000 used to kill me

Ah you get used to it and work around it. If you pause the ride and the turn it on standby and back on it unlocks.

Both the 1000 and etrex 30 I had for Italy shat themself as the same time. Typical.

Hate the thing. But I cant find anything better and refuse to pay £400 for the 1030.

Awesome! can actually use mine for touring now

I've had mine for more than a year. Has it not always done this?

Never used wifi to get a route on

I tend to plan route on Komoot or RWGPS, then just select it from my routes

Weird thing is I have a shitty Garmin touring and the screen works surprisingly well even piss wet.
The usual glitches here and there but has been running for a few years now

"The ELEMNT and BOLT require internet-connected WiFi to the bike computer directly for automatic workout uploads, firmware updates, route or map downloads, Strava Live Segment synchronization and other internet-enabled features."

https://wahoofitness.yonyx.com/y/conversation/?id=0876a070-53dd-11e8-8f6c-bc764e10d166&did=bf1f5f40-6447-11e8-9fc1-bc764e10c19d&lang=en

Definitely was a problem before, though looking at the second page it might still be a problem for routes not already loaded on the app. Will have to test properly by making a route when not on wifi and see if it gets added to the app while on mobile data only.

You can always just make a WiFi hotspot on your phone and connect to that, whilst in the wild.

Can you actually? the link i posted says you need to use someone elses phone as a wifi hotspot. Since i usually tour alone this isn't a great workaround

It works. I've done it on my own phone a few times with the Bolt.

Cool, I've been wary to test this confusion on a tour so far but will give it a go soon.

I mean, garmins were never great for this, but at least i could make a route on strava on the fly on my phone then use an OTG cable to transfer on to whatever Edge device i had.

Yeah I've done it as well, have been doing it for nearly a year or so - don't know when it was launched as a feature, I just found it. You do need the routes to be uploaded to the element app but it always works for me direct from ride with gps

Yeah same and komoot. Literally never log onto WiFi with my wahoo. Often change route on the fly or look for a new one.