Can we talk about Garmins for a minute?

[mkymsehi]

Bumping my post here from another thread. New Garmin 405 set up.

First I registered my serial number at Garmin.com. Then I created an account at Connectgarmin.com. You'll create a username, and password which are required to log into their website and access your account. Be sure to update your time zone, and also set a goal (like how many miles in a week, and the start date of your goal).

Out of the box it took 3 hours to charge it up.

You have a few steps using the bezel and the side buttons to choose language, time zone, etc.

Then you have to take it outside to link up to the satellites and get the GPS going (first time took about 2 minutes). It sets the time and date for you.

Then you have to set up a "run" by starting the timer, letting it run, then stopping it.

Once you've done that, you go to Garmin.com and download the 405 software. After installing it, following certain steps, you then plug in the USB antenna into your computer. DO NOT DO THIS UNTIL THE PROGRAM TELLS YOU.

Then you click the ANT button, and it does a search for the 405, which needs to be within 3 meters (9 feet) of your computer. When it finds your 405, the screen asks you to "pair" your unit, click yes. You also have to give your Garmin a name.

Then you click a few buttons for it to search your activities (walks or runs).
You then have to click the selection box to upload your activities. From there, you can view all your activities.

This is my first Garmin, and it was somewhat simple for me to figure out when reading the quick start manual. Using the bezel to scroll takes a little getting used to.

There are a few additional steps. Updating profile with your birth date, weight, what pace you want to run at, etc. I also put on the heart monitor to test my resting heart rate, so I could input that info as well.

I played around with it for about an hour, and got it set up for what I want.

That's my set up report. I'll take it out for a spin later today and follow up with another report.

 

[mkymsehi]

Quick note:

I charged my 405 on Saturday night. Full charge 100% when I ran 12 miles with it on Sunday. Rode to work with it on Monday 6 miles.

As of Tuesday there's 35% battery life left. I hope it makes it through today's 8 miler. I think it should.

Anyone out there know the battery life on a full charge, and using it regularly as a watch and for training? 5 days, a week, longer?

Vic? Tracy?

Tracy, this is for you. LOL, we're twins.

 

[mkymsehi]

I'm testing mine out. I'm amazed with all the gizmos you can do with it. My friends have the old 105's, 205's, and 305's. This is way smaller.

It picks up the satellites here in Honolulu fairly quickly. I did have connection problems yesterday when running through the high rise hotels in Waikiki. It missed some of the mileage, oh well. I think there are some issues with tree cover as well, but I'm talking thick overhead branches in some of the areas I run.

This morning I used it in running mode to track my bike ride in to work (another day of saving a gallon of gas in the Tacoma Truck ). I will see if it records if I switch to biking mode, even though I don't have the cadence attachment on the bike.

Fortunately, I found someone locally online who had a spare 405. He had already bought one for himself, and was given one as a gift. So he unloaded it to me, with no tax, no shipping fees, and well below the MSRP. I paid cash, so it was win-win for both of us.

Mine came with a heart rate monitor, so it's fun seeing how I've been putting the 'ol ticker to the test.

The USB connector works pretty easily. Use this to upload all my workouts to the Garminconnect site. Once you upload, you can check out the activities, and see how far, fast, and even a googlemap of your route. Pretty cool.

The battery seems like you have to charge it every 4 days, with several workouts in that time. If not using the GPS, then the charge should last longer.

While I kept telling my running friends I love my iPod for the music beat to run to, I never thought I'd invest in a Garmin. Now that's I've had it since Friday, I'm glad to have it.