Forerunner 301

Chris Hill said:

This is probably a long shot, but I'll give it a try anyway...

A couple of months ago I bought a Garmin Forerunner 301, which is a
combined GPS and heart-rate monitor, designed to go on your wrist. I'm
very happy with the 301 itself, but the software that comes with it
("Training Centre"😉 is absolutely awful. When it's working the "mapping"
function is a joke, usually producing nothing but a blank background
with the route superimposed over the top. The graphing function of
heart-rate and elevation against time is nice, but the main problem is
that the software will only occasionally recognise that the 301 is
plugged in (via USB). I'm pretty sure it's a software fault as
SportTracks can see the 301 even when Training Centre can't. SportTracks
is OK, and its mapping function is very good indeed, but it doesn't
allow for graphical representation of heart-rate, elevation, etc.,
against time.

My questions;

1) Anyone else got a 301 and experiencing similar problems?

2) Anyone know of other software that will work with a 301?

I've had a look at the gpsman page and, as far as I can see, there is no
support yet for Garmin USB GPSs.

Any comments gratefully received...

Anquet (and Memory Map?) will support Garmin USB GPSs

druidh

"druidh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chris Hill said:

This is probably a long shot, but I'll give it a try anyway...

A couple of months ago I bought a Garmin Forerunner 301, which is a
combined GPS and heart-rate monitor, designed to go on your wrist. I'm
very happy with the 301 itself, but the software that comes with it
("Training Centre"😉 is absolutely awful. When it's working the "mapping"
function is a joke, usually producing nothing but a blank background with
the route superimposed over the top. The graphing function of heart-rate
and elevation against time is nice, but the main problem is that the
software will only occasionally recognise that the 301 is plugged in (via
USB). I'm pretty sure it's a software fault as SportTracks can see the
301 even when Training Centre can't. SportTracks is OK, and its mapping
function is very good indeed, but it doesn't allow for graphical
representation of heart-rate, elevation, etc., against time.

My questions;

1) Anyone else got a 301 and experiencing similar problems?

2) Anyone know of other software that will work with a 301?

I've had a look at the gpsman page and, as far as I can see, there is no
support yet for Garmin USB GPSs.

Any comments gratefully received...

Anquet (and Memory Map?) will support Garmin USB GPSs

druidh

It can be finicky though. Sometimes Anquet can't see my 201 even though
Training Center can.

In message <[email hidden]>, druidh
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Chris Hill said:

This is probably a long shot, but I'll give it a try anyway...
A couple of months ago I bought a Garmin Forerunner 301, which is a
combined GPS and heart-rate monitor, designed to go on your wrist. I'm
very happy with the 301 itself, but the software that comes with it
("Training Centre"😉 is absolutely awful. When it's working the
"mapping" function is a joke, usually producing nothing but a blank
background with the route superimposed over the top. The graphing
function of heart-rate and elevation against time is nice, but the
main problem is that the software will only occasionally recognise
that the 301 is plugged in (via USB). I'm pretty sure it's a software
fault as SportTracks can see the 301 even when Training Centre can't.
SportTracks is OK, and its mapping function is very good indeed, but
it doesn't allow for graphical representation of heart-rate,
elevation, etc., against time.
My questions;
1) Anyone else got a 301 and experiencing similar problems?
2) Anyone know of other software that will work with a 301?
I've had a look at the gpsman page and, as far as I can see, there
is no support yet for Garmin USB GPSs.
Any comments gratefully received...

Anquet

Found the Anquet website;

http://www.anquet.co.uk

The software looks good, but unfortunately the Forerunner is not in the
list of supported devices 🙁

Quoted message said:

(and Memory Map?) will support Garmin USB GPSs

http://www.memory-map.co.uk

Again, no specific listing for the Forerunner. Software looks good, but
as this GPS is relatively new I'd want to check with them first for
specific compatibility.

Thanks for the pointers, BTW. A lot more helpful than Garmin's own
customer support who insisted that the Forerunner was not compatible
with any other software (a statement which I've already seen is not
true). OK, so I don't expect them to endorse anyone else's products, but
I do think they could have been a *little* bit more helpful.
--
Chris Hill

In message <[email hidden]>, Bob Watkinson
<[email hidden]> writes

<snip>

Quoted message said:

It can be finicky though. Sometimes Anquet can't see my 201 even though
Training Center can.

Have you had any problems with Training Centre itself not seeing the
201?
--
Chris Hill

"Chris Hill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In message <[email hidden]>, Bob Watkinson
<[email hidden]> writes

<snip>

Quoted message said:

It can be finicky though. Sometimes Anquet can't see my 201 even though
Training Center can.

Have you had any problems with Training Centre itself not seeing the 201?
--
Chris Hill

Yes just occasionally. I find though if I shut it down and restart Training
Centre it's usually Ok

In message <[email hidden]>, Bob Watkinson
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

"Chris Hill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In message <[email hidden]>, Bob Watkinson
<[email hidden]> writes

<snip>

Quoted message said:

It can be finicky though. Sometimes Anquet can't see my 201 even though
Training Center can.

Have you had any problems with Training Centre itself not seeing the 201?
--
Chris Hill

Yes just occasionally. I find though if I shut it down and restart Training
Centre it's usually Ok

Hm. Mine doesn't do that. Even re-installing the software and USB
drivers hasn't helped this time. I'm waiting for Garmin "support" to
come back off holiday to see if they've got any suggestions, though I'm
not living in hope...
--
Chris Hill

"Chris Hill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In message <[email hidden]>, Bob Watkinson
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

"Chris Hill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In message <[email hidden]>, Bob Watkinson
<[email hidden]> writes

<snip>

>It can be finicky though. Sometimes Anquet can't see my 201 even though
>Training Center can.

Have you had any problems with Training Centre itself not seeing the
201?
--
Chris Hill

Yes just occasionally. I find though if I shut it down and restart
Training
Centre it's usually Ok

Hm. Mine doesn't do that. Even re-installing the software and USB drivers
hasn't helped this time. I'm waiting for Garmin "support" to come back off
holiday to see if they've got any suggestions, though I'm not living in
hope...
--
Chris Hill

Sometimes I also have to unclip and reclip the cradle. You could try that
too.

In message <[email hidden]>, Bob Watkinson
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

"Chris Hill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In message <[email hidden]>, Bob Watkinson
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

"Chris Hill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> In message <[email hidden]>, Bob Watkinson
> <[email hidden]> writes
>
> <snip>
>
>>It can be finicky though. Sometimes Anquet can't see my 201 even though
>>Training Center can.
>
> Have you had any problems with Training Centre itself not seeing the
> 201?
> --
> Chris Hill

Yes just occasionally. I find though if I shut it down and restart
Training
Centre it's usually Ok

Hm. Mine doesn't do that. Even re-installing the software and USB drivers
hasn't helped this time. I'm waiting for Garmin "support" to come back off
holiday to see if they've got any suggestions, though I'm not living in
hope...
--
Chris Hill

Sometimes I also have to unclip and reclip the cradle. You could try that
too.

Doesn't have a cradle, just a straight USB cable. Unplugging and
re-plugging doesn't help, but thanks for the suggestion anyway.
--
Chris Hill

Chris I don't know if you are aware of it but there is a group on Yahoo that
might be able to help you.

try here.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/GarminF

In message <[email hidden]>, Bob Watkinson
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Chris I don't know if you are aware of it but there is a group on Yahoo that
might be able to help you.

try here.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/GarminF

Thanks - I never thought of yahoo groups.

I've just subscribed and had a quick look, there seem to be a lot of 301
discussions. This is going to need some research.
--
Chris Hill

"Chris Hill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This is probably a long shot, but I'll give it a try anyway...

A couple of months ago I bought a Garmin Forerunner 301, which is a
combined GPS and heart-rate monitor, designed to go on your wrist. I'm
very happy with the 301 itself, but the software that comes with it
("Training Centre"😉 is absolutely awful. When it's working the "mapping"
function is a joke, usually producing nothing but a blank background with
the route superimposed over the top. The graphing function of heart-rate
and elevation against time is nice, but the main problem is that the
software will only occasionally recognise that the 301 is plugged in (via
USB). I'm pretty sure it's a software fault as SportTracks can see the 301
even when Training Centre can't. SportTracks is OK, and its mapping
function is very good indeed, but it doesn't allow for graphical
representation of heart-rate, elevation, etc., against time.

My questions;

1) Anyone else got a 301 and experiencing similar problems?

2) Anyone know of other software that will work with a 301?

I've had a look at the gpsman page and, as far as I can see, there is no
support yet for Garmin USB GPSs.

Any comments gratefully received...
--
Chris Hill

Chris have you had a look at Mick Chawners BackUpForeRunner software in the
files section of the Yahoo Garmin group? I've just got it going today on my
PC and early indications are that it has considerably more functionality
than Training Center including total ascent and descent, shoe mileage to
name but a couple of extra things.

In message <[email hidden]>, Bob Watkinson
<[email hidden]> writes

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Chris have you had a look at Mick Chawners BackUpForeRunner software in the
files section of the Yahoo Garmin group? I've just got it going today on my
PC and early indications are that it has considerably more functionality
than Training Center including total ascent and descent, shoe mileage to
name but a couple of extra things.

I hadn't looked in the Files section at all, but now I see there's a lot
of interesting stuff in there.

Unfortunately the utility you mention doesn't help me with my main
problem of not being able to talk to the 301 - it only works on files
already exported from Training Centre.

But thanks anyway...
--
Chris Hill