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gpspassion
93392 Posts |
 Posted - 04 janv. 2008 : 01:33:15
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TOPIC - GARMIN FORERUNNER 405 WATCH
SiRFstarIII GPS - Touch "bezel" - ANT Wireless Connection - Battery life : 8 hours / 15 days (no GPS)
Latest Software Version : v2.00 / GPS Firmware : v2.10
Forerunner 405 with it's USB charging "prongs"
Useful Links :
Product page on the Garmin site : >> link <<
Online Updates for the FR405 : >> link <<
Dedicated 405 forum on MotionBased.com : >> link <<
UPDATED 20080423 : Test unit has come in, the...green one, I guess they want to make sure it gets returned ;-) The black version I had seen previously is certainly more stylish and easier to wear on a daily basis.
Here are some firt comments :
- it took me about a day to get used to the "touchscreen", quite confusing at first but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty effective
- GPS sensitiviy is excellent, I'm quite surprised give the size constraints, it holds the fix indoors and even acquires, odd, I wonder if they aren't using SiRFInstantFixII to achieve this
- There is a convenient "auto-off" mode that puts the watch and GPS module to sleep automatically when the watch is not used, effectively turning the 405 into a standard watch. Started the day at 50%, ending it at 25% with 30 minutes of GPS use. You can also switch off the GPS completly, possibly for extra power savings.
- Haven't found a way to show the live lat/long, the trick is to record a waypoint and then to edit to view this information
- The 405 comes with a USB ANT dongle to allow the 405 to communicate with a computer, no USB connection as with previous forerunners. The drivers are on the CD but they can also be downloaded here on Garmin's site.
- Will now experiment with the ANT Agent for track downloads and software updates.
- Stay tuned for more...
UPDATED 20080331 : Garmin's third generation of Forerunner GPS watches, the FR405 that comes after the FR201 in 2004 and the FR205 in 2006, was first shown at the CES show in Las Vegas in January and should start shipping in April.
The Forerunner 405 was previewed at two shows in Paris last week and I was able to compare it to my FR205 with pictures and comments added below in the thread.<br><br>
Even though the "mini-map" mode is gone, there is a lot to like about the FR405; for a start it's the first GPS "watch" that actually has the size of a (large) watch, it can keep on ticking for 15 days with the GPS module turned off, has a "touch" bezel for quick commands, has an optional bike mount and has wireless ANT connectivity.
Posted 20080104 - CES PRESENTATION
 
First mention of the new Forerunner 405 on the Garmin Blog.
They do look more like watches now don't they ;-) More to the point, the new "touchscreen" looks pretty convenient. |
Discounts and Assistance/Réductions et Assistance (Club GpsPasSion) / Où commencer? |
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gpspassion
93392 Posts |
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gpspassion
93392 Posts |
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gpspassion
93392 Posts |
Posted - 28 mars 2008 : 23:23:30
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...Saw it again today and was told that the GPS module could be turned off, in which case the FR405 acts like a standard watch that can last up to 15 days, now that's good news! One features it's lost compared to the FR205 is the "map page" though, you can still input and import waypoints, but guidance will still be available on the "compass" page. The map wasn't that useful anyway, being slow and with no base map.
I also experimented with the "touch bezel" and it's going to take some getting used to I think, still, a nice...touch ;-)
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paulkbiba
USA
5064 Posts |
Posted - 28 mars 2008 : 23:39:53
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Might even sucker me into getting one of these.
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Don't forget the GPSPassion Club! |
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gpspassion
93392 Posts |
Posted - 31 mars 2008 : 18:53:47
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It's probably going to be hard to resist yes, no more excuse not to exercise ;-)
Here are some more pictures :
The recharging and connection "prongs"
A clever bike mount
Setting the sensitivity of the touch bezel
The "normal" watch screen
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Jazzamatazz
1 Posts |
Posted - 12 avr. 2008 : 17:17:44
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| So I compared this with the 305 on the website, and the only feature the 405 seems to be lacking is routes. What do they mean by that? Is it just the ability to store multiple workouts on the watch? Also, any idea on a release date? |
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gpspassion
93392 Posts |
Posted - 12 avr. 2008 : 19:41:10
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Relase date is pretty much...now, it was first sold at the Paris Marathon last week and I think they are doing the same in Boston.
Like I wrote it lacks the "mini-map" mode, not sure about routes, actually you can't really programm routes on the FR 205/305 so I'm not sure what they mean. My test unit should come in on Monday so I'll see if the track tools for the Edge/FR 205/305 series are functional to upload a course to the unit. |
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gpspassion
93392 Posts |
Posted - 23 avr. 2008 : 21:30:56
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Test unit has come in : the...green one, I guess they want to make sure it gets returned ;-) Here are some firt comments :
- it took me about a day to get used to the "touchscreen", quite confusing at first but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty effective
- GPS sensitiviy is excellent, I'm quite surprised give the size constraints, it holds the fix indoors and even acquires, odd, I wonder if they aren't using SiRFInstantFixII to achieve this
- There is a convenient "auto-off" mode that puts the watch and GPS module to sleep automatically when the watch is not used, effectively turning the 405 into a standard watch. Started the day at 50%, ending it at 25% with 30 minutes of GPS use. You can also switch off the GPS completly, possibly for extra power savings.
- Haven't found a way to show the live lat/long, the trick is to record a waypoint and then to edit to view this information
- The 405 comes with a USB ANT dongle to allow the 405 to communicate with a computer, no USB connection as with previous forerunners. The drivers are on the CD but they can also be downloaded here on Garmin's site.
- Will now experiment with the ANT Agent for track downloads and software updates.
- Stay tuned for more... |
Discounts and Assistance/Réductions et Assistance (Club GpsPasSion) / Où commencer? |
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gpspassion
93392 Posts |
Posted - 24 oct. 2008 : 12:51:21
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Still enjoying the FR405, doubles as a watch and as a GPS logger, couldn't get it to log my flight to Amsterdam though, it lost the fix just after take-off.
One problem I'm having is transferring waypoints from a Garmin Oregon 300 via ANT, it starts and then it times out, tested it both ways. Anyone had more luck ? |
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gpspassion
93392 Posts |
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gpspassion
93392 Posts |
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[TOPIC] Forerunner 405 with "touchscreen" - Review
