I'm about to venture into the world of a GPS watch for the first time. I'm looking at the Garmin 305 or the newer 110.

I hear a lot about the Garmin uploader/downloader on this site but what I want to know is this: can somebody explain simply what are the capabilities of the Garmin in conjunction with GRG are.

I know I can upload the route from a run onto GRG and view/save it but what can I do the other way round i.e. make a route on GRG and put it on the watch. What will that do for me. Could I for instance make a route on GRG, download it onto the watch and then the watch would somehow keep me on the route? This would be very useful as I'm doing a lot off road and the directions look good on the map but when I get out I'm forever going wrong.

Thanks from Mr technophobe

Hi as a newbie to running, and looking to improve and monitor my training more specifically, I would also like a laymens guide to these devices. Im seriously considering getting one, but dont want to buy something thatll be wasted or that is so complicated I cant use it. I ll be following this post with interest.

Adrian

Brian,

you can download a grg or any other route you ahve mapped onto the 305 (not the 110) and i have done it but its not exactly simple to do or very intuative however once its done its not to difficult to follow the route looking at the very simple watch display which has only the route and where you are relative to it!

Andy

Thanks Simon that is really helpful, as this model is the one I can most afford! Ive also looked at 205 and 305 and 310 xt I think it is? They are SO expensive  I dont want to make the wrong choice.

Thanks Guys.

It seems, as mentioned by Andy, that it can follow a course but only in a very basic fashion. From a lot of research: you can store a maximum of 100 way points for a route and download this to your watch and the Garmin 305 will beep at you when you approach the way point and an arrow points you in the direction from that way point. All very crude really. How much this will really help on 16 mile runs over the hillls I'm not too sure.

As you say Simon it's not a SatNav.

Probably just go for the 110. I can always attempt a certain route and then uplaod to software and see exactly where I went and adjust as required for next time.

Yep 110 for me.

Thanks.

Found exactly what I was looking for right under my nose...

http://www.goodrunguide.co.uk/DownloadRoute.asp?RouteID=11714&RouteType=S

I have had a 305 for some time and use it very successfully with GRG. It is particularly effective for uploading routes you have run and want to run again as you don't have to manually draw it (hence I probably have over 250 saved routes). Downloading routes is possible and as was pointed out below you can use the 305 to follow a route, however i found this to be quite complicated, the 305 manual leaves a lot to be desired in this respect.

The 305 has come down a lot in price and I would recommend going for one. The 310XT is slightly better, looks nicer and is waterproof which is an advantage but if you dont need that functioanility then I would save money and go for the 305. Cant comment on the 110. THe 405 is more expesnive still but I fount it to be very fiddly and prefer my 305 (although the 405 has much better battery life than the 305).

Regards

Rod