Which GPS

[BenScoobert]

I decided to create a thread with all the GPS tracking software I could find, if I missed any, please feel free to post what you have and let everyone know what you think of it.
I've not tried them all yet, but I will post as I try each free one.

Endomondo: Free
SmartRunner: Free basic version
RunSat (formerly navmi): Free
GPS Ctcle Computer v3: Free

Garmin: £$£$
TomTom: £$£$

Endomondo, I used this because my brother uses it, and its free. For a while I was satisfied with it, but then it started losing itself whilst I'm out riding. At the moment I'm unsure if this is down to the software or my phone GPS. I tried a different GPS receiver via bluetooth, but as Endomondo comes with very little options on the Windows Mobile version, I can't tell if the software is using internal GPS or my added one.

The endomondo website is somewhat lacking too, it seems to lack being able to search up people/teams, overall though it free and it does the job.

 

[DrSquirrel]

I decided to create a thread with all the GPS tracking software I could find, if I missed any, please feel free to post what you have and let everyone know what you think of it.
I've not tried them all yet, but I will post as I try each free one.

Endomondo: Free
SmartRunner: Free basic version
RunSat (formerly navmi): Free
GPS Ctcle Computer v3: Free

Garmin: £$£$
TomTom: £$£$

Endomondo, I used this because my brother uses it, and its free. For a while I was satisfied with it, but then it started losing itself whilst I'm out riding. At the moment I'm unsure if this is down to the software or my phone GPS. I tried a different GPS receiver via bluetooth, but as Endomondo comes with very little options on the Windows Mobile version, I can't tell if the software is using internal GPS or my added one.

The endomondo website is somewhat lacking too, it seems to lack being able to search up people/teams, overall though it free and it does the job.

GPS chipsets in phones tend to suffer compared to their "GPS specific device" counter parts, Garmin units etc.

I very much doubt it is software as GPS is provided via API from the phone OS. It will vary on the hardware chip used.

I find bluetooth units more reliable when using GPS personally, top of rucksack if you use one - good position for it.


If you're going to use one a lot, get a Garmin or that sort, mainly for the water proofing, and battery life. Garmin do factory refurbs and the old 205 will do what you want for cheap, wont have HR or CAD options where you'd need 305 and up.


Tomtom - rubbish imo - wouldn't bother with one on a bike (or even in a car).



If you really want a budget one, get the chinese gps cycle computers, they almost look like the Garmins, and do the same job.

 

[BenScoobert]

GPS chipsets in phones tend to suffer compared to their "GPS specific device" counter parts, Garmin units etc.

I very much doubt it is software as GPS is provided via API from the phone OS. It will vary on the hardware chip used.

I find bluetooth units more reliable when using GPS personally, top of rucksack if you use one - good position for it.

If you're going to use one a lot, get a Garmin or that sort, mainly for the water proofing, and battery life. Garmin do factory refurbs and the old 205 will do what you want for cheap, wont have HR or CAD options where you'd need 305 and up.

Tomtom - rubbish imo - wouldn't bother with one on a bike (or even in a car).

If you really want a budget one, get the chinese gps cycle computers, they almost look like the Garmins, and do the same job.

I agree, GPS unit I have connected via bluetooth is much more stable and reliable then my phone internal GPS.

Today I tried out RunSat, my device actually ran Endomondo and RunSat at the same time, seemed to be no issues.

RunSat uploads to the Run Saturday website, the device software offers all sorts of options with a basic speedo screen, or one with stats like altitude, avg speed, distance etc. It also has a map view which uses some map tiles it downloads as you go. All in all quite a nice little program. Just remembered, auto stop/start too :-)

The website also seems to have more features than Endomondo, like this 3d video.
Overall I think it is better than Endomondo, I'm not sure there's an android version though, weirdly there seems to be no tech sections for software at all on the site.

 

[DrSquirrel]

Do you actually mount your phone on the bike? Otherwise all these views are pointless

If you want fancy, just use "Navigation" and put it in StreetView mode

 

[redddraggon]

Edge 705 FTW

 

[rh100]

Was on Sportypal on the phone - now use a garmin dakota

 

[BenScoobert]

Do you actually mount your phone on the bike? Otherwise all these views are pointless

If you want fancy, just use "Navigation" and put it in StreetView mode

Yes, like a cycle computer.

Edge 705 FTW

I'd love one but I think they are well overpriced, but fell free to donate one to me to test long term :-)

Was on Sportypal on the phone - now use a garmin dakota

I'll look that one up.

 

[DrSquirrel]

Yes, like a cycle computer.



I'd love one but I think they are well overpriced, but fell free to donate one to me to test long term :-)

If you don't want maps 500 or 305 will do.

What do you use to mount? and water proof?

 

[BenScoobert]

If you don't want maps 500 or 305 will do.

What do you use to mount? and water proof?

I have a pouch that came with another Microsoft GPS receiver years ago, it has a belt loop on the back, so I cable tied it to the bars and cut a viewing window which I can fold back when it rains. I think its referred to as a Ghetto mod :-)

 

[redddraggon]

I'd love one but I think they are well overpriced, but fell free to donate one to me to test long term :-)

I used to think that too. I used to think all I needed was a computer that would tell me speed, avg speed and distance - I spend years like that. I never "needed" navigation, I felt I knew my way around North Wales, and go out with a club in Manchester, so I never really felt the need to have a computer telling me where to go. All my friends had 705s and 605s and I still resisted.

But then I started going out with a group in North Wales too, doing really long rides to places I'd never heard of or thought of going to. By the time I'd got home I'd forget where I'd been.

And then my riding time was cut down last September, as an undergrad I was riding most days a week, but when I started my PhD I lost my midweek daytime riding, and the 705 helps me use the less time I have available more efficiently.

So overpriced? Well they might be quite expensive, but I'd rather a 705 and a £150 pair of wheels, than a £400 pair of wheels. I've bought bike stuff that's costed loads more than a Garmin, but the Garmin 705 is definitely the one item that has brought the most to my enjoyment of cycling.

 

[jayonabike]

705 here as well. Managed to blag a discount and got the unit with citynav maps for £330 from Evans. Worth every penny in my book.

 

[potsy]

Would love a 705 maybe later in the year,will have to use my Tom Tom for now

 

[marinyork]

Garmin vista eTrex HCx + Openstreetmaps here.

 

[lpjr]

Hello, I use Sportypal on a HTC mobile phone. I find it very good. They have a good website backup where you can make finer adjustments to your trip. I find on a 6 mile run it would only be about 0.2 mile out after carrying out those adjustments. Screen shows time, distance, current speed, average speed and calories. You can clip on the map option which on mine shows a compass and draws a line to indicate your journey. There is also a photo option to take a picture which will have a GPS tag. On there website you can put your trip on to google maps.

On a recent run was able to compare to one of those Garmin watches. On a 6.6 mile run mapped on Map my Run my phone had us doing 6.42 and the Garmin 6.48. Sporty Pal free, Garmin over £100.

 

[RoadMing]

I use Satmap http://www.satmap.com/about.php

It's a little large, but I have it in the main for hill walking, where it is carried in my pocket.

It does have a bombproof bike mount though, and I find the large screen pretty decent when on the bike, relatively easy to see where you are on the go.

The map packs are not cheap since it uses proper OS maps, but am sure it actually came with full UK road maps, which is nice. I tend to run it using road maps and full UK OS 1:50,000 when on the bike, good for zooming in and out for better detail etc. On foot I use the National Parks 1:25,000 scale OS maps, these are excellent in the mountains, but somewhat pointless out on the roads.

Battery life is ok, as good as you'd expect, never ran out on me during full days in the hills, on the bike, I often don't have it turned on all the time as I have a tendancy to watch it, rather than the road !! I use the rechargable Lithium you get with the charging pack and always carry a charged spare just in case, but so far so good. I have been using it for a couple of years now, no complaints and no real desire for a cycling specific one.