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Forerunner 235 and displaying current track/imported track

sandkingsix
over 7 years ago
Hi,

My GF was running with FR 220 for years now and I wanted to make her a present and got 235 which I was sure has option to display track (I myself use Fenix 2 so I'm familiar how it should work and that it is totally possible but somehow Garmin limits software at this crucial point). During everyday training 235 is more than enough but the reason for wanting a map is that on trails we usually run separately and well... she kinda tends to get lost on unknown trails so I wanted to get her the cheapest watch with option to display track. I checked online and it looked like 235 had those options and only after the watch arrived it turned out it kinda don't initially. She loves the watch already and more expensive ones are out of the question so far (getting on parallel track - Suunto Ambit would be a solution but they are ugly as ***, don't have wrist HR and it's totally different environment to which we both are unfamiliar and don't want to make switch now).

I wanted 235 two have two really basic functions. One - to display current track during workout so you can see your track on blank display (keep in mind I'm not talking about map or navigation options - only display data in graphical form). Second - to display imported track and display your position on it with preferrable option to zoom in/out.

I see that those option don't come OOTB and for second one therese dwmap but the problem with that solution is that it can't be incorporated into running workout as a separate screen but rather ran as an activity by itself limiting watch options substantially.

I saw on IQ store that there is something called Crumbs! which at first glance looks like what we need but haven't tried that yet.

Do you guys know anything that might help me? Counting pros and cons it looks like oldschool way of having a separate device for displaying track would be best as for now but it does totally suck. I did that and running back kilometers to find a lost handheld GPS is no fun. Fenix 2 is cheap nowadays but it is hardly feminine and 235 has everything she needs except this damn track display. Garmin - if you're reading this you behave like a dork not giving us that option as it is totally feasable to do it as Fenix 2 had it for years...
  • 0 over 7 years ago
    I don't think it's Garmin that is behaving like a dork, or a donkey with an overblown sense of entitlement for that matter.

    I checked online and it looked like 235 had those options and only after the watch arrived it turned out it kinda don't initially.
    Well, was that your own mistake out and out, or can you show us how Garmin (as opposed to any other source of online material) has misrepresented the capability of the device model to you?

    She loves the watch already and more expensive ones are out of the question so far
    That doesn't sound like Garmin's problem to me. OK, it isn't getting a higher level of discretionary spending out of you, for whatever reason that holds you back, but then neither is any of its competitors.

    I wanted 235 two have two really basic functions.
    That's just a silly approach to device selection, or an arrogant one, or both. You know what you want in a wearable fitness device; that's good. It's then up to you to match your requirements against the various models presently on the market, and select the best fit among those you can afford (or at least are prepared to buy at the price offered). You didn't design the Forerunner 235, and you didn't commission Garmin to design and build the Forerunner 235 for you, so what you want that specific device model to have is nobody else's concern; the FR235 is what it is, and you either take it or leave it.

    Do you guys know anything that might help me?
    Yeah. A better approach to device selection in your purchase decision-making would be a good start. Removing budgetary constraints that may prevent you from realistically considering more expensive device models is another.
  • 0 over 7 years ago
    Hi,

    My GF was running with FR 220 for years now and I wanted to make her a present and got 235 which I was sure has option to display track (I myself use Fenix 2 so I'm familiar how it should work and that it is totally possible but somehow Garmin limits software at this crucial point). During everyday training 235 is more than enough but the reason for wanting a map is that on trails we usually run separately and well... she kinda tends to get lost on unknown trails so I wanted to get her the cheapest watch with option to display track. I checked online and it looked like 235 had those options and only after the watch arrived it turned out it kinda don't initially. She loves the watch already and more expensive ones are out of the question so far (getting on parallel track - Suunto Ambit would be a solution but they are ugly as hell, don't have wrist HR and it's totally different environment to which we both are unfamiliar and don't want to make switch now).

    I wanted 235 two have two really basic functions. One - to display current track during workout so you can see your track on blank display (keep in mind I'm not talking about map or navigation options - only display data in graphical form). Second - to display imported track and display your position on it with preferrable option to zoom in/out.

    I see that those option don't come OOTB and for second one therese dwmap but the problem with that solution is that it can't be incorporated into running workout as a separate screen but rather ran as an activity by itself limiting watch options substantially.

    I saw on IQ store that there is something called Crumbs! which at first glance looks like what we need but haven't tried that yet.

    Do you guys know anything that might help me? Counting pros and cons it looks like oldschool way of having a separate device for displaying track would be best as for now but it does totally suck. I did that and running back kilometers to find a lost handheld GPS is no fun. Fenix 2 is cheap nowadays but it is hardly feminine and 235 has everything she needs except this damn track display. Garmin - if you're reading this you behave like a dork not giving us that option as it is totally feasable to do it as Fenix 2 had it for years...


    Our Crumbs! widget won't meet this need, as it just shows where you are, relative to where you've been each time you open the widget, not a continuous track. It's very basic, more of a proof-of-concept. As you say, dwMap cannot be used within the built in Run app, although it does attempt to implement many of the features of the running app, including data fields, and it also records using the same built-in recording capability of the watch as the Run app.
  • 0 over 7 years ago
    ASmugDill - I really don't know why you spent so much time writing such a long post with no actual input given the circumstances.

    mappicus - thanks for comment. I will keep an eye on dwMap development. Is it even possible to add an app that would incorporate into workout pages?
  • 0 over 7 years ago
    I use the dwmap app when I am somewhere I don't know. I find it very good although the fields are much more limited (I think it shows time and distance on the data fields screen) than the usual running fields. The web interface and ability to import GPX routes is great, dwmap does leave a breadcrumb track as well.
  • 0 over 7 years ago
    ASmugDill - I really don't know why you spent so much time writing such a long post with no actual input given the circumstances.

    mappicus - thanks for comment. I will keep an eye on dwMap development. Is it even possible to add an app that would incorporate into workout pages?


    That would be cool, but Connect IQ data fields have such limited memory and connectivity compared to apps that I do not think it would be feasible to package dwMap into a data field.
  • 0 over 7 years ago
    I use the dwmap app when I am somewhere I don't know. I find it very good although the fields are much more limited (I think it shows time and distance on the data fields screen) than the usual running fields. The web interface and ability to import GPX routes is great, dwmap does leave a breadcrumb track as well.


    Thanks for the mention of dwMap ChrisRampton. Note that although it does not have as many field choices as the built-in Run/Bike apps, the free version of dwMap includes 12 data fields, with all the usuals included, and the Premium version currently includes 30 field choices https://dynamic.watch/help/premium#datafields