Has anyone used the SportTracks software with a Garmin Forerunner ?

I’m hoping to get a Forerunner 305 for Christmas and have been looking at the SportTracks website and am not sure which version to download.

It looks as though there is more development to be completed on V2 (beta version) and I’m not sure whether to go straight into the beta version or download v1.3 and update later once v2 is complete.

What does anyone else use ?

Many thanks,
Ali

Go for version 2. Much better software than version 1.3 and works really well for me. I’ve been using the beta since it first came out. There are occasional bugs in it (so it occasionally does odd things) but all the data stays on the forerunner as well so you can easily re-load the lot if you have to. (Though I have never had to - restarting the software if it does not seem right does the trick for me)

For free software it is excellent - much better than the Garmin software that comes with the forerunner. It takes a little while to find all the features you want and have it set up to suit you, but once you have it running your way, you can’t beat it.

I have been using V2 for a while now without any real problems. Occasionally when I plug in my Garmin, ST can’t find any new activities, I just restart ST and it works OK.
V2 does everything I want at the moment, but then so did v1.3
As an aside I am using it on a Vista machine.
I don’t think there is much risk in using V2 from the start.

Paul, Chris,

Many thanks for your advice - v2 it will be, once Santa has hopefully delivered a 305 on Christmas Day !!

Ali

You realise that means you’ll have to go for a Christmas Day run to try it out! (You were planning that anyway weren’t you! :) )

Ahhhh, eerrrmmm… maybe .... wasn’t quite planning a Christmas Day run (we will be at Bridget & Les’s), although I’m sure if I was I could possibly persuade Mike, Bridget, Les, Anna & Peter to join me !!!

Ali

I agree that SportTracks is excellent - don’t even bother with the bundled Garmin software. The automatic mapping of the GPS trace onto the Google satellite map is very accurate and probably just as useful as getting the trace to map to an O-map.

You will have to go outside for at least a couple of minutes if you want to have a play (to allow the 305 to connect to the satellites) so you might as well go for a run.

Well, Father Christmas did very kindly deliver a Garmin Forerunner 305 today !! : )

Unfortunately, the weather was so bad, and I didn’t actually bring any kit with me so to gain the satellite connection, I stood in the conservatory, by the door and didn’t even venture outside !!

I will test it out on Thursday at the Score Event !!

Ali