Problems with GPS - No substitute for the Forerunner 305

Problems with GPS - No substitute for the Forerunner 305

Garmin Forerunner 220 GPS Running Watch-including premium heart rate chest strap with running and training functions (electronics)

Customer Review

Preliminary note:
After I had already 5 Garmin Running Watches and me recently my third Forerunner 305 died of sudden "cardiac death" (no response despite total reset - also could no longer be charge), I was looking for a successor. I used to have the defective Garmin (mostly because inexplicable eingdrungener moisture) can swap over the support at a special rate. But the 305 is long no longer manufactured. The Garmin Support said "Yes is probably a short circuit in it, can happen to you in your car too - but the guarantee is precisely six months expired" They have offered me as a replacement to the 310 XT in exchange for the defective 305, however, to a price that was higher than the purchase of a new 310 at Amazon. Since the 310XT Amazon substantially worse reviews than had the old 305 I looked for an alternative and thought to myself, the 220 could be there, was especially praised especially in the reviews how fast the 220 is the GPS signal. So I ordered the part of Amazon.

The GPS problems:
After the rapid delivery of Amazon I have set up the part and I am out the door to catch out to the GPS signal. Took about 3-4 minutes - and I thought that this was normal the first time. The next weekend I went to the North Sea and have the 220 taken. I had in the clock, the "Auto Pause" is activated that interrupts the timing when you have to stop in front of a traffic light for example. After I had switched on the clock, it took some minutes (in any case, more than 3) to the GPS signal turned green. But the reception was probably too bad, because even though I was running on the dike under a clear sky, it came at first to several car breaks and repeated starts, though I'm not stopped. Every time the clock started again after the auto pause, she put the speed indicator to 0 and stopped shortly afterwards. Have this function disabled thereafter.

After returning home (about 500 Km) I wanted the clock to reuse and running and put them in order GPS reception on the terrace (cloudless sky, no trees). After about 8 - 10 minutes the signal was still not found but the clock moved afterwards in a standby mode. Started again and at some point they had the signal. However, initially, strong velocity fluctuations were (to 15 Km / h) appears even though the clock was on the floor. Had suggested that this is because I had the clock completely off and the new site was very far from the previous. If I do not turn off the clock and after 2 days again start at the same place, it took an average of 2-3 minutes until a reliable GPS signal has been found. Assuming the clock after the found signal into the house, so no Emfpang is possible and then bring into the open again, so she finds the most signal again after a few seconds.

I can not judge whether I have received a Monday device, but I have now already repeatedly heard about these problems. Therefore, I have the clock again returned to Amazon and bought a better alternative (for the same price). More on this below.

Positive aspects of the Forerunner 220:
Now, the 220 of course his advantages: especially liked me, especially the low weight, the flat shape and the vibration alarm, which can be particularly useful if you run with earphones and music.
About the color display is debatable. Of course what is new and looks nice, but the colors I find quite pale and besides the appearance can I not receive any benefit.

What I lacked in comparison to the 305:
While the clock has a large diameter, but the display is with a maximum of 2.5 cm quite small and especially at fast tempos say I had already arm movements to recognize the rather small number of my difficulties. Yes, however, the 305 had a huge display
In 305 there was a function that returns a return to his starting point, if you have lost. I have used extensively especially in unfamiliar places this function. Somehow started walking in the forest and you can always find back home. This possibility does not exist in the 220, unfortunately. There is also no information about the GPS coordinates or even a compass.
The 220 has only 2 configurable data pages with a maximum of 3 data fields The 305 has more data pages with up to 4 data fields per page.
At 305 you could at any time (in deviation in meters) verify the accuracy of the GPS signal - and even allow an ongoing show in an array. He also showed the number of satellites it has received and at what intensity. At 220 sometime what puzzled the GPS icon from red to green - and finished - but the reception quality can not be controlled and was - as described above - quite poor.
In 305 had significantly more setting, such as left set how far the current speed should be averaged and how far arm movements should be eliminated. Such opportunities, but also to the algorithms with which the 220 works, one finds (without table of contents and index), nothing in the manual, which is scant 9 pages long.

My now chosen alternative:
After me the 310 was not an option because of the poor reviews, I looked around for possible alternatives outside the Garmin-world. Especially, when I realized that I (because of Ant + standards) with other running watches can continue to use chest strap and Food-Pod. So I searched through all sorts of reviews and of course the Amazon pages. After a thorough evaluation of the options I have chosen for the SUUNTO Ambit2 R. I bought the device at a provider, which is also represented at Amazon, but on his own homepage about 30 euros was cheaper and paid for Ambit2 R almost the same as for the FR 220th

I want to do without at this point a complete comparison between FR220 and Ambit2. Here only briefly the explanation of why it was clearly the better choice for my needs: The Ambit2 find the GPS signal really quickly. Even when you first unpack the clock (ie completely new site), it took less than 10 seconds. After that it took only 1-2 seconds until the signal is found. Although the screen is not as large as the 305 but with approximately 3 cm larger than the FR 220 and the clock can be configured freely, because you have the ability to load apps on the clock and even himself to write what. In order to use are virtually unlimited. In addition, it has an infinite number of settings, such as the interval at the recorded GPS data and used for wide Erber bill. This can be between 1 second and 60 seconds can be set. If one uses a food-Pod, as well as its data is synchronized with the GPS - and this can not FR220. This then works the Auto Pause function when the GPS signal should be times weak, or you're running under a bridge or even through a tunnel. Even the good old Track Back function of the 305 can be found here again, even in two variants: either by direction or exactly the previously covered path backwards.

The Forerunner 220 HR gets me more than 3 stars because it lacks many options and are some who have already had older models, even though they were cheaper. The manual with only 9 pages payload says it all. The GPS has - does not work satisfactory - at least in my copy. Auto Pause was not working properly because the speed measurement with the GPS is not sufficiently accurate and the information from the Food Pod - as one uses a - are simply ignored. Positive remain flat, lightweight body, vibrating alert and - for those who need it - the color display.

An appeal to the conclusion:
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