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

Pmtri can correct me if wrong but you may need to actually upgrade to a better watch w the features you need/want rather than utilize the VA. it's just not cut out (for now) for OWS.

OWS - per what we know - needs special algorithms and as what some users of this app have determined - not really gonna work on OWS w/o the special algorithm from Garmin that they presumably spent years refining the filtering.

I'm would really be very surprised if Garmin do eventually adds that feature into this watch, preferring instead for you to upgrade to the next one level up that does offer that feature.

As for pmtri making the algorithm - I'm sure he's capable. I wonder what's the memory usage of the current app - adding the filters would really test his coding mettle to for it into 64kb.

I know I am having a tough time to fit that.

Former Member over 10 years ago

Is there any way to increase gps sample time to reduce the track inaccuracy at all?

Simply, no. Garmin doesn't give us anything like that.

Is it possible to have a "pool swim" option to disable GPS just for the first event? The Vivoactive does track pool swims with the accelerometer which could be a cool feature.

Does swimming only work with GPS disabled? Is that how it works? Because if it does, I'll add an option for no GPS in the swim section. I just figured GPS always on would give as much information to the watch as possible, but could account for the odd pool swim results.

Hi,
I really like this app but since me and my wife right now are focusing on open water swim I would love if you could develop a pure swimming app.

As replied in PM, I've not had much time for anything lately, but if I get chance, I'll pop something into the store

Pmtri can correct me if wrong but you may need to actually upgrade to a better watch w the features you need/want rather than utilize the VA. it's just not cut out (for now) for OWS.

OWS - per what we know - needs special algorithms and as what some users of this app have determined - not really gonna work on OWS w/o the special algorithm from Garmin that they presumably spent years refining the filtering.

I'm would really be very surprised if Garmin do eventually adds that feature into this watch, preferring instead for you to upgrade to the next one level up that does offer that feature.

As for pmtri making the algorithm - I'm sure he's capable. I wonder what's the memory usage of the current app - adding the filters would really test his coding mettle to for it into 64kb.

I know I am having a tough time to fit that.

Were you referring to me in this? Apparently just recording a swim with the GPS on works fine for open water swims, according to a couple of the posters in this thread.

The current memory usage doesn't seem to bad from what I remember from the simulator, but I didn't pay too much attention beyond making sure it loaded and recorded without issue

Nikeow over 10 years ago

Were you referring to me in this? Apparently just recording a swim with the GPS on works fine for open water swims, according to a couple of the posters in this thread.

The current memory usage doesn't seem to bad from what I remember from the simulator, but I didn't pay too much attention beyond making sure it loaded and recorded without issue

yes.. got the handle wrong. pmprog and not pmtri. sorry.
yes.. I do see that couple posters said it tracks, but if not mistaken, they also say they track horribly or all over the place etc..etc.. I believe that's due to this watch's nature whereby

1) open water swim algo is not implemented by garmin
2) the "frequency" of GPS acquisition in the few sec the arm is above water.

those are what I'm referring to. not exactly sure how much truth there is in there, but... you can always work-around and implement your own solution I guess.

Former Member over 10 years ago

Feedback from openwater swimmer

Hi,

I paste the message left on Garmin connect :

It's a good app !! I use only for openwater, the GPS track on google maps is Ok with the followed track (the GPS works well) but the distance is not correct, there are +15% meters :
4.2 km for really 3.7 km
1.4 km for really 1 km
I am french as i use metric system, the issue is perhaps here ...
Could you check this point please :-)

Thx for this app

Bye

Former Member over 10 years ago

App instantly crashes

I was very excited about this app, but both the pmtri and pmduo crash as soon as you press the start button.
The app finds the gps, says it's ready to go and when you press start it crashes and restarts the watch completely.
I'm in Canada, if that makes a difference.
I've tried restarting the watch and my phone.
Please let me know if there's something else I'm doing wrong here.
Thanks
Gord

Former Member over 10 years ago

It's a good app !! I use only for openwater, the GPS track on google maps is Ok with the followed track (the GPS works well) but the distance is not correct, there are +15% meters :

Thanks, but as I beginning to think I need to make this a lot clearer - there is nothing that can be done about actual route inaccuracies in the app. All my app does is start and stop 5 sequential recordings; I have no control over anything beyond when they are started and stopped.

Former Member over 10 years ago

It's a good app !! I use only for openwater, the GPS track on google maps is Ok with the followed track (the GPS works well) but the distance is not correct, there are +15% meters

Thanks, but there's nothing I can do about inaccuracies in the recordings. That's all done by the watch.

I was very excited about this app, but both the pmtri and pmduo crash as soon as you press the start button.
The app finds the gps, says it's ready to go and when you press start it crashes and restarts the watch completely.
I'm in Canada, if that makes a difference.
I've tried restarting the watch and my phone.
Please let me know if there's something else I'm doing wrong here.
Thanks
Gord

Are you running the latest firmware on your watch? Most of the crashes I heard of were because the watches hadn't been updated. Also check that you have the latest version of the app.
What watch are you using?

Former Member over 10 years ago

Thanks, but there's nothing I can do about inaccuracies in the recordings. That's all done by the watch.

Are you running the latest firmware on your watch? Most of the crashes I heard of were because the watches hadn't been updated. Also check that you have the latest version of the app.
What watch are you using?

Ah yes, easy fix. It's a new vivoactove and hadn't figured out how to update. Seems good now. Looking forward to a full test! Thanks!

Former Member over 10 years ago

Thanks, but as I beginning to think I need to make this a lot clearer - there is nothing that can be done about actual route inaccuracies in the app. All my app does is start and stop 5 sequential recordings; I have no control over anything beyond when they are started and stopped.

But am i alone with this problem of distance for open water ?

Former Member over 10 years ago

But am i alone with this problem of distance for open water ?

I don't know about open water, but it certainly didn't work properly for me in an outdoor pool.

The problem is - none of this is related to my app. All I can do in the app is start and stop recordings; all the actual details are handled and recorded by Garmin's firmware.