Garmin 205

[Fired Yo Momma]

OK I just scored a pretty good deal on the Craigs List. I got the Garmin 205 for $125.00 last night, not too bad of a deal I thought. Anyways I did some research here on the forums after opening the Garmin package and found their was no motion sensor included with the Garmin unit. Here is my question and I feel kinda dumb dumb for asking but with the Garmin 205 do I need to get the motion sensor? Will this unit be able to record & show my speed without a wireless sensor attached to my fork recording the magnet. Thanks for your help guys, oh and I will be at the Fullerton ride tonight to finally meet some of you's.

[allison]

No idea, as I have the 305 (you can get it with or without the cadence sensor and heart rate monitor).

Check Garmin's site (Garmin. We'll Take You There.™) for info on the unit, and make sure if you have the computer hook-up that you download the latest versions of all software.

Enjoy!

[Letyrides]

Don't hold me to it but I also have the 305 and I was told the only thing the sensor added was cadence. So if cadence is important you can buy the sensor but I'm not sure that the sensor is compatible with the 205. The only difference between the 305/205 is the HR monitor and sensor capability other than that you scored a really great tool for training.

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by Fired Yo Momma

OK I just scored a pretty good deal on the Craigs List. I got the Garmin 205 for $125.00 last night, not too bad of a deal I thought. Anyways I did some research here on the forums after opening the Garmin package and found their was no motion sensor included with the Garmin unit. Here is my question and I feel kinda dumb dumb for asking but with the Garmin 205 do I need to get the motion sensor? Will this unit be able to record & show my speed without a wireless sensor attached to my fork recording the magnet. Thanks for your help guys, oh and I will be at the Fullerton ride tonight to finally meet some of you's.

i got 205 works of of satellites so records/displays speed (not cadence) without sensor like typical bike computer. there are myriad options for display so go through menu and make your choices. one of my current favorite is sunset so i know what time i have to strart heading back to the barn on rides after work rides. Primarily difference in 205 v 302 is no cadence nor heart rate. hope it helps

[allison]

Originally Posted by Kid A

i got 205 works of of satellites so records/displays speed (not cadence) without sensor like typical bike computer. there are myriad options for display so go through menu and make your choices. one of my current favorite is sunset so i know what time i have to strart heading back to the barn on rides after work rides. Primarily difference in 205 v 302 is no cadence nor heart rate. hope it helps

Does it come up with sunset time itself, or do you need to plug in any additional info? 305 has this as well, I was just curious. Maybe I'll try it tonight!

BTW, whatever you do, if you endo and land on your head, make sure this doesn't happen to your 205 -



FWIW, I emailed Garmin (and actually got a same day response! ) and they said that it may just need a rebuild. Unfortunately we're low on funds, so I just "acquired" hubby's Edge, which looks almost as bad as the one I smashed, but still has a working screen. Also, the unit itself never shut off (I turned it off) and though I haven't d/led the info to my computer yet, I'm pretty sure everything but the screen itself is still functional.

[Kid A]

Originally Posted by allison

Does it come up with sunset time itself, or do you need to plug in any additional info? 305 has this as well, I was just curious. Maybe I'll try it tonight! .

don't have it in front of me so don't know exact sequence of menus but if you got to place where you decide how many data pts you want displayed and then which ones you'll see sunset as an option in the scroll. just add it. thats it - i expect operates off of computers in satelite system. i have 2 menus set - one for "real" rides with "alot of info displayed such as time, distance, speed, altimeter,etc. and one with just a few for quick after work spins (which includes sunset i mentioned) so i dont get caught out at night riding when the boogie man (i.e park ranger or big cat). All the information is captured irrespective of what is in display so dont worry about that - meaning if you dislplay avg mph but not max mph i believe is caught and can see when you download

[allison]

Kid - thanks for the info on the sunset stuff. Yeah, I love the options for all the info on the screen. I've got 6 data points on one screen and I think 5 on the other. It's great.

[andino]

Originally Posted by allison

FWIW, I emailed Garmin (and actually got a same day response! ) and they said that it may just need a rebuild. Unfortunately we're low on funds, so I just "acquired" hubby's Edge, which looks almost as bad as the one I smashed, but still has a working screen. Also, the unit itself never shut off (I turned it off) and though I haven't d/led the info to my computer yet, I'm pretty sure everything but the screen itself is still functional.

if you're good with electronics you can probably pick up a LCD screen with the same res and size and solder it into your unit

[allison]

Originally Posted by andino

if you're good with electronics you can probably pick up a LCD screen with the same res and size and solder it into your unit

Thanks. I passed that on to the engineer in the house

[andino]

Originally Posted by allison

Thanks. I passed that on to the engineer in the house

if you're lucky it may even have a ribbon so you can just insert it into the connector lol

[Fired Yo Momma]

yea thats not a bad idea, here is the spec for the LCD screen I actually have the users guide here with me. The specs for the LCD screen are as follows:

128x160 pixels, 1.17 (width) x 1.44 (Height), or use 29.65mm x 36.69mm

You may want to check Ford Electronics in Buena Park, or Mar Vac in Costa Mesa, they should be able to help you get your screen or point you out to the right area. Perferably you shold properly contact Garmin and find out exactly who their vendor is that supplies their LCD screens. You may even get the LCD company to give you the screen for free. Try using I am working on a student project and don't have a lot of money. I know one company for sure that will have your screen is a company called Digi-Key but I do not know if they sell out to regular customers (retail). If you don't have a soldering Iron I can help you out if you want.

[andino]

only thing is the outside plastic is cracked too so you'd have to find a way to repair that as well

[allison]

Thanks for all the info!

The Garmin guy said it's only $50 to repair, but still would be nicer to get it repaired for half that or so.

[dstepper]

Garmin Customer Service is very good. When you send in a unit for repair they usually update your software and add the newest base maps.

Dean

[dubjay]

The 205 also doesn't have a built in altimeter, so you won't be able to see total ascent or anything like that during a ride. You'll get some ascent numbers post-ride after uploading your data to a computer, but that data could be skewed since it uses a map to determine the altitude differences.

[Kid A]

$50, hmm, i'm thinking maybe the story goes like this. the adapter that the unit sits on broke while u where riding and the unit flew off and hit you in the eye and then crashed into a rock breaking the unit. you will gladly not hold them liable for the eye contusion and what could have been a nasty wreck if they furnish you a new upgraded 305 and adapter j/k $50 is still less then new unit. btw - i have had nothing but positive experiences with garmin c/s. good luck