Gps Systems Reviews

• Waterproof, wrist mounted training device/GPS receiver for tracking lap times, distance, and calories burned
• Integrated GPS receiver displays your progress on favorite routes and saves up to 100 locations
• Virtual Partner mode sets time, rate, and distance objectives and races you against digital competitor
• History function breaks down workout statistics by day or accumulative weeks, will include serial PC interface
• Adjustable wristband and AC desktop charger, measures 3.26 x 1.71 x 9.69 inches W x H x D, 1 year warranty

The Forerunner 201 offers athletes an easy to read display, ergonomic wristband, and integrated GPS sensor that gives exact speed, distance, and rate data. It is a compact, lightweight, correct training helper with performance tracking, auto lap, auto pause and more. The Forerunner 201 is easy to use right out of the box and delivers the benefits of GPS technology at an cheap price.Working out with the Forerunner 201 means you are never alone in your personal training, because the unit gives a Virtual Partner. This distinctive feature lets you to set your training goal by configuring your Virtual Partner’s rate and workout distance. You will get a graphic perspective of your performance by looking at your rate in relation to your Virtual Partner’s rate, so you may be able to generally see at a glance if you are keeping up or falling behind.

Combining powerful performance tracking features with a GPS receiver, the Garmin Forerunner 201 offers runners and hikers a distinctive way to track their exercise regimens and objectives. Unlike its major competitor, Timex’s BodyLink sport monitoring system, the Forerunner 201 integrates the GPS receiver into a single body BodyLink has separate housings for watch and GPS.

101 201 301 1. Lets you to set up profiles for running, biking, and another sport. 2. Set up workouts with particular durations and targets speed or heart rate. Speed Pace Distance Calories burned Heart rate Sports profiles1 Advanced workouts2 PC interface Serial USB Analyze workout data on PC Size inches, WxDxH 3.3 x .9 x 1.7 3.3 x .7 x 1.7 3.3 x .7 x 1.7 Weight ounces, with batteries 2.6 2.75 2.75 Batteries 2 AAAs, 15 hours Rechargeable, 15 hours Rechargeable, 14 hours

At 1st, the device felt a little bulky on my wrist, both in weight and in size it measures 3.26 by 1.71 by 0.69 inches. But it really is light enough less than three ounces that it felt comfy and transparent. I did, but, position the band a bit higher up my arm to ensure full mobility of my wrist, as the length of the Forerunner tended to get in its way.

The big display with equally big, easy to read characters helps you avoid having to squint at the readout. Just a fast glance at your numbers and you will maintain your training concentration. The six rubber buttons on the front of the chassis are easy to access unless you are wearing bulky gloves. I easily got the promised 13 hours out of the rechargeable lithium ion battery. At the end of the day, I’d just recharge it for around two hours and it could be prepared for me the next morning.

While this is certainly a workable GPS receiver, the Forerunner is thin on in general GPS features which isn’t to its detriment think of it as a performance monitor with a dash of GPS. That said, the Forerunner was able to pick up a GPS signal just about wherever I went outside though it had slight hiccups in the center of downtown. But if you are looking for a full fledged tracking device, the Forerunner is not for you. You’ll want to start with a basic GPS unit like Garmin’s eTrex.

The Forerunner 201 has a range of useful tracking, monitoring, and navigational features. The History function enables you to view your workout statistics broken down by individual days, accumulative weeks, or your complete workout history if you track different workouts throughout the same day, they will be broken out as different laps. You may be able to view a map of your path. And much like other GPS units, you may be able to save waypoints called “locations” in Forerunner parlance to mark the coordinates of a place you want to return to afterward.

Most interesting is the Virtual Partner mode, which enables you to set objectives for a workout which will be finished by a digital character displayed on the Forerunner’s screen. You may be able to then see how far off the time, rate, or distance you’re of your virtual training buddy’s, your digital character stops when you do though the friend keeps on going. I found that, unless you have got a smart idea as to your rate or distance, you will have a couple of trial and error training sessions to get in sync with your friend. I cut short my 1st try after my friend got so far ahead of me that he disappeared off the screen which I’d like to believe wasn’t caused by my woeful pace.

I has been disappointed at not having the LogBook software, which enables you to keep a journal of your exercise actions it wasn’t available at the time of this test. But in general, the Forerunner 201 is a useful exercise monitoring system that will be prized by anybody involved in serious physical training. Agen G.N. Schmitz

Auto Menu: Timer pauses when you stop running. Auto lap logs your performance over a preset distance.

History: Review training history by day or week.

Map: Navigate back to the start or to a stored place.

Virtual Partner: Set time, rate, and distance objectives, and train with a “virtual partner.”

Pros:

• Loaded with performance tracking features for the serious athlete
• GPS functionality a bonus, particularly in referring back to last routes
• Virtual Partner feature offers a fun, competitive way to keep you concentrated on training

Cons:

• Lack of Logbook software at time of test
• Virtual Partner feature takes many trial and error modifications

, an alternative to uncomfortable pedometers and cycling computers. The Forerunner 201 offers athletes an easy to read display and integrated GPS satellite receiver that gives exact speed, distance, and rate data all in one compact unit that straps to your wrist. It’s a lightweight, correct training helper with performance tracking, auto lap, auto pause and more. And because it’s a high quality Garmin GPS device, you get many of the features GPS users have come to rely on, like exact latitude, longitude, altitude data. Decide either the 201 model for rechargeable power or the 101 if you like to use two AAA batteries. The Forerunner 201 is easy to use right out of the box and delivers the benefits of GPS technology at an cheap price.

To people who are passionate about their exercise and training, Garmin added something special to the Forerunner 201 called the Virtual Partner. The feature lets you to set your training goal by configuring your Virtual Partner’s rate and workout distance. You will get a graphic perspective of your performance by looking at your rate in relation to your Virtual Partner’s rate, so you may be able to generally see at a glance if you are keeping up or falling behind.

Nearly as vital as the training device itself are the accessories to integrate it with your active lifestyle. If you are into cycling, the best way to keep an eye on your GPS while you ride is with a bike mount bracket that straps to the handlebars of your bike, motorcycle, or whatever you are traveling with for easy looking at.

Other Forerunner 201 features:

• Mark particular places, , then look up and navigate to these points using an electronic map.
• Retrace your steps to a starting point or reverse your normal path for routine variation.
• Amount of calories burned may be tracked and calculated over the course of a workout.
• Lap history such as lap time, lap distance, and average pace can be stored for up to two years.
• Performance data may be automatically archived and calculated to offer an correct record.
• Automated stopwatch gives auto lap and auto pause features.
• Lap timer indicates when some speed is reached or when you’ve fallen below a pre set level.
• Pace whistle sounds alert when you begin traveling slower or faster than your wanted rate.
• Distance whistle sounds when you reach a particular length or distance in your workout.
• Download free Garmin software to move data from your Forerunner 201 to your PC for storage and analysis.

What’s in the box:

• Forerunner 201 unit
• Wrist strap
• A/C desktop charger with serial interface

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 30th, 2008 at 11:10 am and is filed under GPS. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.