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Setting up new 230, some questions

Former Member over 9 years ago

Hi, this is my first time owning a Garmin watch and even after reading the manual and FAQ, I'm still overwhelmed with information and questions.

1. I get to the Menu by first selecting an activity profile. Is there a better way to access the Menu?
2. Can this watch be used to track calories burned from activities that are not running, cycling, or swimming? If I use Other in the activity profile and just start recording while wearing the heart rate strap, would that work?
3. Can I have more than 2 data screens? Right now I can only see options for 2 data screens with up to 4 fields each. I thought I would be allowed more than just 2 screens.
4. Could anyone help with what kind of data field configurations would be best? I'm overwhelmed by all the options to choose from and probably overthinking it, but I can't make up my mind on which fields I want and on which screen to put it on.
5. What is generally accepted to be more accurate for heart rate zones, %Max HR or %HRR?
6. Are there any apps and/or widgets that I should download?
7. Any other tips or advice to a new Garmin GPS watch owner?

Thank you so much for any help!

0 timgrose over 9 years ago

1. That's fine. Note that the UI changed slightly in the 3.13 beta (I presume you have 3.10?) as you can now get to the menu from activity profile selection page.
2. Yes - use Other.
3. You can sort of have 3 if you reconfigure the HR page (would need to be wearing an HRM for it to show up) although it only allows 2 data fields
4. Suggest start with the defaults and see how you get on
5. %HRR
6. Nothing is essential - again suggest get used to the basic watch features first
7. Make sure you start an outdoor run until a GPS fix - look for the 5 bars to go green and/or it says "GPS is Ready".

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

1. That's fine. Note that the UI changed slightly in the 3.13 beta (I presume you have 3.10?) as you can now get to the menu from activity profile selection page.
2. Yes - use Other.
3. You can sort of have 3 if you reconfigure the HR page (would need to be wearing an HRM for it to show up) although it only allows 2 data fields
4. Suggest start with the defaults and see how you get on
5. %HRR
6. Nothing is essential - again suggest get used to the basic watch features first
7. Make sure you start an outdoor run until a GPS fix - look for the 5 bars to go green and/or it says "GPS is Ready".

Thank you so much! That was helpful. After a few runs with the watch, I'm starting to get the hang of it now.

I do one concern though. I've done a couple runs so far with the 230 and wearing my phone on my arm. Before I had the 230, I've been using Endomondo Pro on my phone to record everything. I knew the 230 and Endomondo would have slight differences in distance, but I was a bit alarmed by how much of a difference there is. Endomondo is telling me faster pace and shorter distance compared to the 230. Every half mile Endomondo tells me I've done, the 230 will say a half mile has been completed anywhere from 20+ seconds later. Is this much difference normal? I have no idea which one is correct because I don't know how to find out exactly how far I've ran. I used GPS on the 230. Should I use GPS and GLONASS?

I'm expecting to get a foot pod this week. I hope that will help me figure out which is more accurate.

0 timgrose over 9 years ago

Do you mean it is at least 20 secs slower each half mile or can be up to 20 secs slower sometimes?

It certainly should not consistently be that far out.

Have you ever done a race where the distance, you would hope, has been measured properly?

I have seen some phone app (Strava is another one) give longer distance than reality sometimes and also sometimes with "jagged" GPS tracks. If you look at the respective GPS tracks after the run which one looks to be better in following the roads/trails you ran on?