Comments on: Garmin Edge 705 Road Package Review

by: drober

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:53:53 +0000

Hi,

I did a couple of quick calculations w.r.t. accuracy of the speed when going up/down hills. If my basic algebra is correct the errors are roughly as follows:

10% gradient gives 0.5% error
20% gradient gives 2% error.

Not too bad,
drober

by: Martin Atkinson

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:31:21 +0000

If the satnav capability of the Etrex is anything to go by, and they use the same mapping software, I would say that the 705 will be limited as an in-car device. The lack of a voice command which is a bonus on the bike is a distinct minus in a car as you constantly have to take your eyes off the road to view the route instructions and it is a bit too slow in responding at car speeds. Also it takes a long time to re-calculate the route if you miss a turn. That said I have a mount fixed to my dashboard but I would be reluctant to use it as anything other than an emergency get-me-there-when-I’m-lost device and back-up to a map. But if you do use it as an in-car device don’t forget to change the routing instructions from car to bike mode or vice-versa or you will end up with some interesting route options!

by: Richard Milward

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:40:25 +0000

Was wondering if anyone has used the 705 as an in-car sat nav. I was going to get a smart phone to replace my phone/mp3player/satnav devices, but having seen the 705 am mightily tempted to use it as a cycle computer and occassional in-car satnav. I do far more cycling than driving, but enough to know that unfamiliar cities and foreign holidays are a stress on my nerves and marriage! The mp3 player will have to wait.

by: Martin Atkinson

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:48:01 +0000

I’m not convinced the stop/start function will be entirely reliable, again because the GPS is too innacurate to know when you’ve stopped. The new generation GPS receivers are more accurate so if Garmin have found a way to address the issue of automatically stopping measurements when stationery then the Edge 705 becomes a serious bit of training kit. This hasn’t been a problem when on the epic adventure rides I favour because average speed isn’t as important as the mapping and additional functions on the eTrex. I agree that the amount of information you can extract from these units when you play seriously with them is mind boggling, really far more than you need in practice, but lots of fun. Trouble is you are then in danger of becoming a nerd! I love finding an obscure route on an Ordnance Survey map and loading it onto Garmin’s Mapsource on the computer, then downloading it to the unit to follow when riding.

by: steve@wiggle

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:54:06 +0000

Thanks for your comments Martin.

I took a 705 out on a ride at the weekend to test the points you raised.

The Edge 705 has a setting that enabled auto-start/stop. Therefore if you are stationary for longer than about 5 seconds it pauses the timings/measurements. This happens even at traffic lights and roundabouts.

I was riding with the Cateye Strada still on my bars next to the Garmin and the speed is very similar on level ground, within 0.2mph virtually all the time. This did change slightly on steep hills but only to about 1-2mph. I guess it all depends on the gradient and length of the hill.

On a side note I’ve also been playing about with it in Google Maps with excellent results. One click to import the route and you can see the exact route you took with enough markers to see exactly what lane you cycled in, on the road or on the path etc… It gives you tonnes of info.

by: Martin Atkinson

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:21:43 +0000

I’ve not used the Garmin Edge but have an Etrex Vista CX. The review is very comprehensive and all the mapping and navigation features are common to both but GPS has two major drawbacks for use as a bike computer which aren’t often explained. Because GPS is only accurate to a few metres it doesn’t know when you’ve stopped so it will continue to calculate you average speed even when you’re not moving and this can seriously degrade over a few pee stops on a long ride unless you continually turn it on and off. Secondly, GPS can only measure your distance travelled in a horizontal plane so it will underestimate distance on a hilly ride and tells you you’re going slower than you really are so a simple bike computer is much more accurate.

by: steve@wiggle

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:43:58 +0000

Yes, bike mount is the same and available on wiggle see ‘Garmin Edge Bike Mount’

And we sell all the maps, see our GPS – Maps category.

Sorry i cant post links as comments….

by: Martin

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:26:21 +0000

Can Edge 605 or 705 be used as navigation devices in the UK? That is, do they display Ordnance Survey grid numbers for your current location?

Disappointingly the Edge 205 and 305 can’t do that, so they are fitness training aids, not navigation devices. That was a pity, because the 205/305 was a nice size for mounting on the handlebars.

Thanks!

by: Jonathan Brown

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:07:43 +0000

Hi, I have an edge 205 & was going to buy a 305 to get the heart rate monitor. I have been tempted by the 705 and would like to know if the bracket attachments are the same as for the 205, how much GB the maps cost and where to get them? Thanks for your help.

by: Alistair McFadyen

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:22:32 +0000

That’s very interesting and very useful. Thanks. It sounds like it’s best to opt for one or the other, but the turn-by-turn is likely only available on the Garmin. I’ll look into that a bit further on the M-Map site.

I’m still vacillating, to be honest, between the Edge and the Satmap. There are bogs and reviews on both suggesting difficulties. The Satmap appeals partly because of ease of use out of the box, and it uses OS maps. But both these points appear to involve limitations too. I think Satmap can now sync with PC software (though it will only work with a map on an SD card); and the OS mapping will not, I think, include turn by turn direction. It doesn’t, of course, have all the cyclists’ bells and whistles of the Edge. Or the back to the start function to retrace your steps.

There is a generally appreciative blog on the Edge though which makes the use of waypoints etc and its navigation appear problematic - though this may just be the weaknesses of the user guide.