WatchApp: pmTriathlon

Former Member over 10 years ago

pmTriathlon

pmTriathlon is a multi-sport app for triathlons. Designed to record a swim, a cycle and a run, with a transition inbetween (although the transition doesn't seem to create a FIT file, I'm assuming this is something to do with ConnectIQ).

IMPORTANT NOTICE
All this application does is start and stop events in the order that you do them in a Triathlon. This application has no control over data accurracy, that's handled by the watch. The swimming discipline seems to suffer the most problems.

These issues might be down to running on a Vivoactive (or other likewise watch); so if you're super-serious about your Triathlon data, you might want to consider a better watch designed for triathlons.

If you're happy with getting times as a minimum, then you'll be okay with this app.

Usage
Once started, the GPS will try and connect, the red bar above and below the phase chevrons indicates GPS signal, and will turn yellow or green when a signal is acquired.
To start your triathlon, press the "Enter" button (physical button on the right side of the vivoactive). Press this at the start and end of each discipline.

Press the button a final time at the end of your triathlon, and you will be presented on-screen with the total time, with phase split times.

Onscreen Data
Currently the only information available to display are:

Event (Total) Time
Discipline Time
Pace (time per mi/km based on watch setting)
Distance (mi/km based on watch setting)

Watch Support
It has only actually been tested on a Vivoactive, but should support all square screen watches

Downloads
https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/e68063aa-d8b9-4801-9a26-633619f72a9a

Source Code
https://github.com/pmprog/pmTriathlon (MIT Licence)

History
v1.0
Initial Release

v1.1

A settings menu is now available in the pre-event screen by pressing the menu button. At the minute, the only option you are able to change is whether you are doing a Triathlon, Reverse Triathlon, or a Duathlon (Run/Cycle/Run); The data fields will hopefully get added soon
The screen is now locked during an event, and the only buttons that should do anything are the Power button (for enabling the backlight) and the Record button (for advancing)

Nikeow over 10 years ago

im gonna be repeating myself. But... Users who wants to use GPS on open water swim needs to get. Another watch. The VA just does not have the algorithm for open water swim. Garmin created it for users that does not need OWS or even pool for that matter I presume.

This is not pmprog's app issue. It's the watch or rather the lack of swim algorithm in the watch.

Of course... I may be proven wrong and garmin might just implement the algo in the foreseeable future.

Former Member over 10 years ago

im gonna be repeating myself. But... Users who wants to use GPS on open water swim needs to get. Another watch. The VA just does not have the algorithm for open water swim. Garmin created it for users that does not need OWS or even pool for that matter I presume.

This is not pmprog's app issue. It's the watch or rather the lack of swim algorithm in the watch.

Of course... I may be proven wrong and garmin might just implement the algo in the foreseeable future.

Ok i understand ...
For experience, next try i try the native walk app like a openwater app ...
The gps works well no pb when i swim because the track on google maps is fine.
Bye

Nikeow over 10 years ago

Hang on... hang on..
you're telling me now that if you use a NATIVE garmin app for OWS then the GPS tracks just fine?
now.. that is something to be re-considered then..

please confirm and can you show the difference in the tracks?

teeproo over 10 years ago

Garmin created it for users that does not need OWS or even pool for that matter I presume.

OWS is not natively supported in the VA and that's fine, Garmin never said it was, but pool swimming certainly is. I have yet to find out how well it works (for me), but as this is one of the reasons I bought it, I certainly hope it's as good detecting styles and laps as the Garmin Swim watch.

But anyway, thank you pmprog, for the app. Yes please, try to make a version with GPS disabled for the swim leg and see if it actually switches to pool mode and asks for pool length, as the native (pool) Swim app does.

As others have said, km/h for biking and minutes/km for running certainly would be the preferred speed/pace choices (or miles if so set by user).

Nikeow over 10 years ago

oops. My bad. Pool is supported but GPS Won't be enabled is what I meant. Just tracks based on accelerometer and push off from the wall for length.

As for speed vs pace, I'm guessing that pmprog didn't set it as such to change between the difference in the style when in different modes.

Currently speed and pace is all based on speed. To get pace, use the speed and convert to,pace. It's the same number internal, just need to convert.

Former Member over 10 years ago

Yes please, try to make a version with GPS disabled for the swim leg and see if it actually switches to pool mode and asks for pool length, as the native (pool) Swim app does.

https://github.com/pmprog/pmTriathlon/issues/5

As others have said, km/h for biking and minutes/km for running certainly would be the preferred speed/pace choices (or miles if so set by user).

https://github.com/pmprog/pmTriathlon/issues/1
There is an options page already where you'll be able to set the data fields, but they're all disabled at the minute as they're not implemented

As for speed vs pace, I'm guessing that pmprog didn't set it as such to change between the difference in the style when in different modes.

Correct, because only pace matters to me - regardless of discipline. If I have 3 miles left, and I'm pacing at 10 minutes or mile (for example), I know that I've got 30 minutes (give or take) left

Former Member over 10 years ago

you're telling me now that if you use a NATIVE garmin app for OWS then the GPS tracks just fine?

Hi

I don't say that. I will try the native walk app for an OWS session and after i will compare the 2 tracks (pmTriathlon vs Walk).
I will paste in this Thread the 2 gps tracks.

Bye

Nikeow over 10 years ago

https://github.com/pmprog/pmTriathlon/issues/5

if you are enabling recording mode into a FIT file, you may get bitten by the bug I reported where the GPS is turned on the moment Activity Recirding is turned on.

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?315336-BUG-GPS-Enabled-when-Recording-Session-is-active

teeproo over 10 years ago

https://github.com/pmprog/pmTriathlon/issues/1
There is an options page already where you'll be able to set the data fields, but they're all disabled at the minute as they're not implemented

Ok, just to clarify, meaning functionality not implemented by Garmin in the API? I just got my VA, so haven't had time to read everything on the forum yet, but I recall seeing a reference to the next API version, due in September, that would include accessing user settings. So you are just waiting for this and will enable the code when/if it's possible in the next API version then? As for speed vs pace on the bike, well, the rest of the world uses speed ;-)

Again, got my VA for running and pool swimming, but getting a triathlon mode in a watch half the thickness of other tri watches is just fantastic. Thank you!

Former Member over 10 years ago

Ok, just to clarify, meaning functionality not implemented by Garmin in the API? I just got my VA, so haven't had time to read everything on the forum yet, but I recall seeing a reference to the next API version, due in September, that would include accessing user settings. So you are just waiting for this and will enable the code when/if it's possible in the next API version then?

No, this isn't related to Garmin; the data field options are purely waiting for me to get some free time to code. The only thing Garmin related is accuracy of recordings, in particular the swimming.

As for speed vs pace on the bike, well, the rest of the world uses speed ;-)

Well... you're all wrong ;)

Again, got my VA for running and pool swimming, but getting a triathlon mode in a watch half the thickness of other tri watches is just fantastic. Thank you!

You're welcome