Some Verizon users will be familiar with a navigation program called VZ Navigator which has been available for years but requires an additional fee to use. While we don’t like the additional fee they did provide some flexibility which made it a little more attractive. For instance you could choose to subscribe on a daily or monthly basis, and discontinue it at any time. So if one were taking a summer vacation and wanted to use the navigation program it could be activated temporarily until the trip was complete. The monthly fee was $9.95 which isn’t much when you consider the total cost of a vacation.

To find and use the Blackberry navigation program go to the menu and look for a symbol that resembles and compass. Resting the curser over the compass symbol will give you a pop-up “MAPS” so you will know you have found the right program. You will need to agree to the terms and conditions and then you are ready to go.

Once you click the compass icon the app will open in a map mode but one more step is needed for functionality. With the map open you will need to turn on and begin to track satellites. Do this by pressing the “blackberry button” which some will know as a menu button. This will open a drop down menu where you will look for and click the option; “start gps navigation”. This will start the tracking of the satellite signals so if you are indoors you should step outside to speed up the acquisition process. Actually we have been very impressed by the ease and speed at which our position can be located accurately even when indoors.

At this point your position should soon be located on the map. It may be good to experiment with the different options that are available now that it is working and has located your position. To do that we will go back to the drop down menu which includes these options;

Help
Zoom
Track Up
Hide Dashboard
Stop GPS Navigation
Find Location
Local Search
Get Directions
Send Location
Copy Location
Add To Favorites
Layers
Options
About
Call Voice Mail
Switch Application
Close

As you can see from this menu there are plenty of options and features you van use to make this app work for you.

There are also a couple of features that some may be accustomed to from other GPS receivers that are not included; voice prompting, lane guidance, traffic, etc.

Not withstanding these missing features we think the app is great to have especially considering the fact that we already take the phone with us most everywhere. Add to that the fact that no additional fees are required and this app is clearly a big winner.

To achieve the best data you may need to purchase the optional heart rate monitor and bike sensor. These options work wirelessly for maximum convenience and ease of use that is, considering they are separate accessories. Some other manufacturers incorporate the heart rate monitor with the watch unit which we find to be a better option.

Satellite signal acquisition is reasonably quick thanks to the SiRFstarIII tm technology. All GPS watches or other receivers will occasionally lose signals depending on the area’s obstructions. That said tree cover and use within large cities with taller buildings continues to improve as time goes by and technology improves.

As you might expect, the unit measures speed, pace, distance, altitude, timer and rate data. The screen is set up to display 4 data fields in a quadrant layout which works well and is fairly easy to read and monitor.

The days of getting lost should be over thanks to the ability to store 100 waypoints and upo to 50 routes. These features can be most useful for those who do a lot of traveling and run or bike in unfamiliar cites or countries. If your work out takes you to the beach or pool the watch is good to a depth of 50 meters.

Once your work out is complete you can download the data to your PC and utilize the online tools to dissect your strengths and weaknesses. This is where GPS watches can really add some benefit to your training regimen. Also the lithium battery can be recharged while plugged into your computer so it will be ready the next time you need it.

All and all this is a solid performer with our only criticism being that Timex offers the heart rate monitor optionally and not built into the watch itself.

This GPS watch is chock full of features including it continuously monitors your pace, time, calories, distance and heart rate (if the optional heart rate monitor is purchased). One comment is we cannot understand why the heart rate monitor is not standard. It makes littler sense to purchase a full featured watch like the 405 and then not use the monitor.

You can also store your workouts which allow you to compare your progress over time and help you focus your training where it will do the most good. You can also compare your workout with previous workouts using the watch display as you train.

This Garmin GPS watch is fairly easy to use once you get accustomed to it. One feature that helps reduce frustration is you tap the screen to change display so you don’t need to try to operate tiny buttons in the middle of your workout. The Forerunner 405 is comfortable to where and is fairly good looking as well and comes in black or green. You won’t buy one for its style but you won’t be self conscious about it either.

The ANT+™ wireless technology automatically transfers data to your computer when the Forerunner is in range. No cables, no hookups. You can then replay your workout to focus in on areas of improvement. For the really dedicated enthusiasts you can share your data using Garmin Connect or by purchasing the Garmin Training Center software.

If you work out with a team or partner you can also share your data with them if they too, use the 405. The nice thing about this is the sharing can be done wirelessly watch to watch, you don’t need to use the computer for sharing though you can as well. This feature could be great for those wanting more accountability or for those especially competitive who want to use a partner to push the limits a little.

The 405 includes a cadence counter so it can be used indoors while on a stationary bike or treadmill. The counter clips onto your shoe laces so it can be ready to go in seconds. Start moving and it starts working, simple.
The Forerunner 405 does a pretty good job locking on to the GPS system signals and also maintaining them while you train. Heavy tree cover can degrade the signal but not any more than other products on the market.

For those on a tighter budget the Garmin Forerunner 205 deserves a look.

“It’s a ubiquitous utility that everyone takes for granted now” said Bradford W. Parkinson. Some 30 years ago he led a Pentagon team that came up with GPS at a military base in California. Today experts working at the same base are improving an upgrading the system. They want to increase the accuracy, the variety of uses and make it more reliable.

The accuracy goal is to enable positioning within about an arms length or a couple of feet. Currently accuracy is good to about 10 to 20 feet so the improvement is significant. Other improvements will result in capability we have not seen yet.

There are 24 satellites in orbit and these will need to be replaced with new ones for the goal to be met. Replacement is scheduled to be done one at a time and will take about 10 years to complete. The upgrade is being headed by the air force in El Segundo, CA where Parkinson and friends developed the current GPS.

Partial credit for the current system goes to the launching of Sputnik by the Russians in 1957. Following that launch US scientists immediately wanted to track its position and found that they could track it by monitoring the radio waves it produced. They soon realized the opposite would be possible as well; radio waves from a satellite could be used to track the position of something on the ground. That something would ultimately be the receiver.

Naturally the Government and military were very interested in developing a system to help with National Security concerns. Specifically they needed help guiding submarines and warheads. Initial accuracy was only about 100 feet, not good enough for military use. Parkinson entered the scene and was charged with developing the system and improving accuracy. He said; “I was told that the system was useless and had no future. I guess we proved them wrong” Now 75 Parkinson is still involved and leading the team with its effort.

The Pentagon operates the GPS system which is now used in every country around the world. You may recall the days when they intentionally degraded the signal for civilian receivers. Once they stopped degrading the signal the commercial uses for GPS really took off. It is expected that in 2010 the number of users relying on the satellites is measured in hundreds of millions worldwide.

Reports are that the Chinese, Russians and Europeans are developing there own systems for fear the US Government could shut down their access or manipulate their signals.

The upgrade is reported to cost about $8 billion and will take the better part of a decade. Boeing will build 12 satellites while Lockheed Martin will build the other 18. Of the 30 new satellites 6 will be kept for spares in support of the other 24 which are in continuous orbit.

The system upgrade comes some 30 years after the original development and should take us another 30 years into the future.

Over the years the accuracy of all GPS devices has improved to the point (within a couple meters) of being almost mind boggling. Fortunately, for all of us, the cost of the technology has steadily decreased, even while the performance and reliability has improved. Only a few years ago the thought of buying a well made GPS device for under $100 would have seemed impossible, yet today, it is a fact. With the reduction in cost, the popularity of these devices has almost literally, exploded.

The GPS evolution has also meant a drastic reduction in the size of the units. This breakthrough may have allowed the popularity to increase even more than the reduction in price. Who would want a device the size of a shoebox mounted on the dash board of a car or strapped to ones arm? Clearly, a GPS watch would never have become practical without the reduction in size. I still have a “handheld marine unit” from the early 1990’s that makes me laugh at the size, whenever I see it, which admittedly, isn’t often. Thankfully those days are long gone.
GPS tracking devices, receive signals from orbiting satellites to determine the user’s latitude and longitude usually within a couple meters. This makes its simple to track your current location, speed, direction of travel, distance to go, exact time and many other functions. For the serious running/walking enthusiasts using a GPS watch a heart rate monitor adds the ability to tailor the exercise to personal targets and monitor them along the way.
The biggest challenge may be the decision of which GPS tracking watch is best for you, that’s where we will help.

Features;

Unit size – similar to a conventional digital watch

GPS Unit – Separate from watch

Battery life – up to 2 years

Battery type – AA for GPS unit

Water resistant – to 50 meters except GPS unit is splash resistant

Heart rate monitor – Yes

Lap memory – 100

Waypoint – 100

Routes – 50

Warranty – 1 year

As with the previous Timex GPS Watch we reviewed this one also uses a separate unit for the GPS receiver. This receiver will ordinarily be strapped to the arm or waist when in use. The GPS receiver itself is only “splash resistant” which we think is a poor design feature for an outdoor fitness product. It would be much better if it were designed to be water resistant to 2 or 3 meters, or more.

The Timex GPS watch did obtain a signal reasonably quickly but the manual does recommend remaining stationary until a signal is obtained. The receiver did a good job with maintaining the signal when the receiver was worn on the arm. Tree cover was a factor once it became moderately dense but in most cases performance was acceptable.

Accuracy was measured against a known distance and the results were almost identical. We also tested the speed and distance readout with other GPS devices and found the accuracy to be good. Given the intended use the unit is more than accurate enough.

The heart rate monitor also performed well and would be a valuable feature for a GPS training watch. In fact, given the low price we cannot make any good argument for not having the heart rate monitor. Most fitness enthusiasts will definently want to have the ability to monitor thier heart rate when using a GPS watch.

Being the big brother to the Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS watch it might be helpful to read our product review for that model. The two models share basic features, size and functionality with the Garmin Forerunner 305 including the heart rate monitor. An optional feature available with the 305 is a cycling cadence counter but we did not test that option. It should be mentioned that the heart monitor and cycling sensors will work indoors since they do not rely on the GPS signal to function. So if you also work out using stationary equiptment these features will be useful.

For those interested in peak training we think a GPS  watch must have the heart rate monitor. It works well and when training on varying terrain there is simply no way to gauge heart rate without a monitor. In use the heart rate monitor readings do not “bounce around” to much but instead they remain reasonably steady. This allows a quick glance at the screen less often and with more confidence in the accuracy of the reading at any given time.

Since GPS accuracy is important to most users we paid attention to that while running and also double checked the readings with several other GPS devices. To satisfy our curiosity we brought the Forerunner 305 watch along for a highway road trip and verified its accuracy using the highway mile markers. In all tests we found the accuracy to be excellent and cannot imagine the need for greater accuracy, given the presence of a strong signal.

Searching the internet and other electronics retailers will reveal a growing interest in using GPS tracking devices to track the position of other people or vehichles. Common uses may include tracking your children, your suspicious wife/husband, employees and so forth. Some may have been confused and think the “exercise” watches can be used for tracking others, they can not, at least not without some customization. To be useful for such perposes the GPS device need to have an additional  transmitting capability.

GPS devices are all similar as far as using the satellite network to pinpoint the receiver’s position. In order to provide the ability to monitor some one wearing or possessing the receiver the information needs to be transmitted to a monitoring station. This is commonly done using cell phone towers or other radio signal technology. Exercise watches don’t transmit signals to cell towers or anywhere else.

If you are looking at tracking someone without there knowledge it is possible to do but not with GPS exercise watches. You are now entering the “spyworld” which is a growing industry with many new and innovative tracking devices. You might check into Garmin GPS for a wide variety of GPS devices from the industry’s leading manufacturer.

We will soon add two new product reviews of popular GPS Tracking Watches.

Notable Features; 

Unit Size – Comparable to conventiona l watch 

GPS receiver – Separate from watch.

Battery Life – up to 2 years/watch 

Battery Type – 1AA for GPS unit 

Water resistant – Yes to  50meters for the watch, gps unit splash resistent 

Heart rate monitor – Yes 

Lap memory – Yes, 100 laps 

Waypoint memory – Yes, 10 

Routes feature – Yes, 50 max 

Warranty – One year 

Timex approaches the GPS Tracking Watch concept by separating the GPS unit from the wristwatch. There seems to be pros and cons for the split unit approach and the decision will likely be a personal one. One obvious advantage is the watch size is kept small enough to be an everyday watch. When the GPS is needed it is strap mounted to the arm or waist. The watch itself is water resistant to a depth of 50 meters while the GPS unit is only splash resistant. For an electronic device used outdoors in various forms of athletics this seems a poor choice to us, better water resistance would be preferable. 

Battery life for the watch itself is a strong point and should last up to 2 years. The GPS tracking watches which integrate the watch/GPS in one unit need frequent charging and have shorter operational intervals. The GPS unit operates on a AA battery which will require periodic replacement and are small enough that one could carry a spare while out for a run or hike. There is no charger provided for recharging the GPS units batteries but one could purchase an aftermarket charger for recharging the AA battteries.

In operation the unit performed well with no issues. Obtaining satellites took a minute or two and accuracy was very good. We found the accuracy to be better when strap mounted to the upper arm rather than at the waist. The upper arm location likely enjoys a better view of the sky and satellites and so one might expect better performance when used that way. The GPS signal did not suffer much when running through moderate tree cover as might be typical in a park like setting. 

The heart rate monitor performed well providing a steady read out and target feature would prove valuable for one looking to get top conditioning in a minimal amount of time. 

We think the Timex performs well and would be satisfying to most people based on performance and price. When selecting GPS tracking watches take the time to consider whether you want an integrated unit or separate GPS/watch components as described here.

Notable Features: 

Unit Size (W x H x D) – 2.1 x 2.7 x .7 inches 

Screen Size (W x H) – 1.3 x .8 inches 

Weight – 2.7 oz. 

Battery type – Rechargeable Lithium- Ion 

Battery Life – approx. 10 hours 

Water resistant – Yes (IPX7)  

Heart rate monitor – No 

Lap memory – Yes, 1000 laps 

Waypoint memory – Yes, 100 

Routes feature – Yes, 50 max 

Warranty – One year 

Our experience with this GPS tracking watch has been quite good. For starters it usually takes about 1 minute to acquire the satellites and begin operation. We have even found that it does a reasonably good job with satellites when indoors provided the room had windows, not that most would do this often. Outdoors we have found the accuracy to be excellent; the unit detects small movements of just a couple of feet. When the elapsed distance was checked against a known measured mile the accuracy was within about 15 feet. 

Perhaps the biggest improvement from the previous 201 model is the size and ease of use. The 205 is a “watch” although it is certainly larger than a typical watch whereas the 201 was a more bulky unit strapped to your wrist, somewhat like an iPod. The wristband is also made of rubber so it should not acquire and retain the foul odor like the Velcro of the 201. In any case the rubber is certainly easier to clean. The navigation buttons are simple and seem intuitive, enough so, that use while running should quickly become almost automatic. 

The computer software that you can download your GPS data to is really nice as well. You can display in chart format how fast you were going, position, elevation, etc. and it also can be displayed on a road map. The Forerunner 205 itself doesn’t have any mapping features built in so mapping on the fly is not possible, but being able to “replay” your run or trip is great, not to mention fun. 

As with most GPS tracking watches instant readings may be a little slow in updating but this unit has good performance there as well. Obviously when satellites are obstructed by thick overhead trees, roofs, tall buildings etc, the performance will suffer and the signal can be dropped. Having said that, the sensitivity and signal strength of this unit is at least as good as any other GPS tracking watch we’ve used.

All in all most people should be quite satisfied with this unit provided that a heart rate monitor is not desired. With prices frequently discounted well below $200 the Forerunner 205 is a great choice for a GPS tracking watch.