Ask Garmin: Best device for 18 wheels

Today's Ask Garmin topic is a frequently asked question: "I'm a truck driver; which Garmin GPS is best for my job?" While I can't speak for all big-rig drivers, one commonality among the drivers we do hear from is the preference for route planning capabilities. With route planning, drivers can save 10 routes, specify via points and preview simulated turns from the drivers seat - perfect for life on the road. For those who spend their workdays on an 18-wheeler, we suggest the nüvi 5000 - a big-time navigator on a large 5.2-inch screen. For the ultimate efficiency, this nüvi automatically sorts multiple destinations to provide the best route for errands or deliveries. And in case you ever find yourself off the beaten path, this nüvi boasts the "Where Am I?" feature to help you find your way. In addition to the 5000, other units that support route planning to make traveling more streamlined are the nüvi 700 and 800 series, the StreetPilot 2820, 7200, 7500, and the Quest and Quest 2. 

Whether you're navigating life on 2, 4 or 18 wheels, if you've got a question - Ask Garmin! And we'll do our best to dig up the answer. See you next Monday!

Peg’s Posts: Slipstream has the edge.

The big news of Team Slipstream’s invitation to the Tour de France came last week and Garmin couldn’t be more proud to sponsor the team, whose riders will train with our new Edge 705. Check out their Garmin featured rides, which you can upload to your Edge and ride the team's favorite routes for yourself. Pick up the May issue of Bicycling magazine and you’ll find plenty of Slipstream’s distinctive argyle. Second spread—Garmin’s ad featuring Christian Vande Velde, one of the team’s top climbers and 3rd rider overall at the Tour of California. Flip a few pages and there’s another two-page spread showcasing Team Slipstream’s podium celebration after claiming first in the overall team classification at Tour of California. Later in the issue is another Slipstream ad by their bike sponsor, Felt. Their beautiful bikes feature a custom argyle paint job—very classy. Along with our congrats to the team for earning a bid to the Tour, we also want to give kudos to Tyler Phinney who rides for Slipstream's Under 23 team as well as their track team. Tyler, a 17-year-old high school senior, just secured a spot to compete in the Olympics this summer in Beijing. Tyler has some great training and genes to back up his early cycling successes. His father, Davis Phinney, was the 1984 Olympic bronze medalist while his mother, Connie Carpenter-Phinney, took gold in the 1984 Olympics road cycling competition.

Tune into Garmin's new radio buzz

Don't have time to listen to the radio on your daily commutes?  Not to worry, we'll bring the radio to you. Here are a couple of Garmin's new radio advertisements that you may hear the next time you tune into your favorite station, or while you're channel surfing to find the latest hit. And while we can't help you with your bracket picks, Garmin could help your traveling in more ways than one! Enjoy.

Tournament:

Dr. Friendly:

 

Week 3 Winner of Colorado/Wherigo Geocoin

This week's top two entries in our Wherigo Builder Contest again exemplify the versatility of Wherigo. From entertainment to education, Wherigo is bounded only by your creativity. This week's winner, Laurie Southwick of St. Louis, proves that: "Easter Hunt takes people around a trail in a park seeking out the Easter Bunny. Players make a decision in each zone. If they answer correctly, they get an egg. There are a couple of surprises thrown in. It can be played to completion using the emulator, but the zones are not visible, so it will require clicking along the trail to find them." Thanks, Laurie, a limited-edition geocoin is in the mail!

Coming in a very close second, TeacherMike lives up to his name: "This is a walking tour of Downtown Joliet, IL taking people to famous and historic places in Joliet. Then at the end it takes the player to one of the oldest and most famous places in Joliet with a cache at the end."

Jake's Journal: Rino, Colorado visit New Hampshire

Days like this I'm reminded of how many different people in different places (in different climates) turn to Garmin devices to make their lives easier. Last month, I was on a sailboat soaking in the 80-degree breezes of Miami while we were being guided by Garmin chartplotters and other marine products. This week I'm in New Hampshire, where I was greeted by temps in the 40s and mounds of snow. Why? Two reasons: the Rino 530HCx and Colorado 400t, two of our many outdoor handhelds that thrive on the slopes of ski country.

I'm joining snowsports journalists to discuss the many ways GPS technology can lend a hand during winter activities. From keeping track of your friends on the mountain to finding your way back to the lodge, Garmin's high-sensitivity handhelds can keep the focus on having fun and getting some exercise. This week, these snow-goers will see the Rino or Colorado in action, enjoying the Rino's two-way radio and "buddy tracking" functions, or checking out the Colorado's U.S.-wide preloaded topo maps that jump to life amid the snow-capped mountains around us. And at the welcome reception, I heard stories about guests finding the resort with a nüvi or hitting the trails with an eTrex. Warms my heart and almost makes me forget that sailboat. Almost.

Roger's Runway: GPSMAP 495 takes flight

At the last few events, many of you have asked me when the next portable unit would come out. Some of you even asked when the phantom GPSMAP 596 would be available. Well look no further - the next portable aviation unit is here (sorry folks, but it is not the GPSMAP 596). Introducing the GPSMAP 495 which is like the GPSMAP 496 but at a lower cost. Many of you wanted a unit that was similar to the GPSMAP 496, but did not want to spend the extra money. The GPSMAP 495 has the low cost ($1595.00) and has everything that the 496 has with two exceptions - XM weather, and pre-loaded City Navigator NT. This portable unit does feature: SafeTaxi, AOPA airport directory, enhanced terrain warning, 5Hz GPS receiver, Smart Airspace, and private airports and heliports. And even though the GPSMAP 495 does not come with the City Navigator NT loaded, you still retain the ability to load road maps and marine charts to the unit. As for the other exception, the GPSMAP 495 does not have the ability to display any XM WX satellite weather data, so the unit will not come with a GXM 30A antenna.

Now, I bet you're wondering when you can get your hands on one of these units. And the answer is soon! You'll be able to take your first look and purchase this new unit at Sun 'n Fun April 8-13.

PS: There will also be a $100 rebate on the purchase of a GPSMAP 495 at the show!

All "about" the Edge 605

So as our newest cycling computers are being sent to stores and customers, much of the attention has been on the Edge 705. And why not? For the first time, a cyclist has the option to view GPS-based position, speed and distance on the same color screen as heart rate and power. And did we mention that said screen is color and includes mapping capabilities? But there we go again, focusing only on the Edge 705 when there's another impressive device hitting the streets. That would be the Edge 605, ideal for those cyclists who may not track heart rate or power but still want a powerful training tool.

The Edge 605 was featured recently on about.com, and our GPS guide Fred liked what he saw: "Overall, the Edge 605 is a well-thought-out, well-designed, well-built and feature-rich cycling GPS that is a pleasure to use. If you're used to running wires around your fork and frame to mount a conventional cycling computer, you'll welcome the totally wire-free GPS cycle computer."

Click here for Fred's review, as well as links to other Garmin products.

Ask Garmin: Calling made easy with Bluetooth

This week's Ask Garmin question comes from Tom who is wondering about Bluetooth connectivity. Well Tom, it's convenient, safe and many of our devices boast this hands-free phenom. First, let's talk about what Bluetooth does for you. Once your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone has been paired with your nüvi, Street Pilot or zūmo, you'll be connected to the world of hands-free phone calls, one-touch dialing to reach points of interest (POI) and the ability to find and dial numbers from your phone book or call history log. Then, not only will you be able to use your Garmin to look up the closest movie theater after dinner, but you can even make a hands-free call to check the show times. After the movie, call home to check on the babysitter, or call your friends for a night on the town - all while staying focused on the road. If a 2-wheel ride is more your style, connect your Bluetooth-enabled headset/helmet and cell phone to make and receive hands-free calls. To find out if your phone is compatible, click here. Then check out the list of Bluetooth-compatible Garmin devices to find the perfect match for you.

That's all for today ... if you've got a question, make sure to Ask Garmin and check back every Monday for the scoop.

Peg’s Posts: Get connected

 

Now there’s a new site—Garmin Connect—where our customers can analyze, store and share their fitness activities recorded with a Garmin device. Garmin Connect is similar to MotionBased, but with some enhancements and an improved user interface. In addition to tracking metrics like speed, distance, heart rate, cadence and elevation, Garmin Connect can overlay your route on a variety of Google Maps. In the near future, Garmin Connect will support new features like the ability to create, manage and view goals. Choosing from multiple goal types, users will monitor distance, times, calories and frequency. Also coming to Garmin Connect is the ability to manage device user profile information, like age, weight and gender, which can then be transferred to your device.

The Forerunner 405 debuts goal functionality to our fitness line. Setting and monitoring goals has never been easier. Garmin Connect's intuitive user interface will make it easy to add goals and monitor progress. Goal progress can also be viewed on the device for on-the-go motivation. With wireless data transfers, the Forerunner 405 and Garmin Connect stay in sync and up-to-date. There are other cool features in the works for later versions of Garmin Connect. Stay tuned for more info. Right now, Garmin Connect accepts data from Forerunner 50 (non-GPS fitness watch) and Edge 605 and 705, our newest GPS-enabled cycle computers. Very soon, Garmin Connect will accept data from the Forerunner 405, which, like the 50, will wirelessly send data to your computer. After that, Garmin Connect will be compatible with other Garmin devices, like the Forerunner 205 and 305, Edge 205 and 305. At that time, customers currently using our MotionBased site will have their accounts migrated to Garmin Connect and they’ll be a part of one huge, worldwide community of active folks.

Slipstream secures spot in Tour de France

Already using Garmin Edge products in their training, the elite cyclists of Slipstream officially have a specific goal to work toward: The Tour de France. One of the top racing squads in the world, Slipstream was formally announced as one of 20 teams competing this year on cycling's biggest stage. And with an emphasis on clean competition, the Slipstream athletes will be counting on tireless training and top-notch technology in the quest for the yellow jersey this July.

As one of Slipstream's sponsors, Garmin will be helping the team make its training and travel more efficient. Slipstream cyclists will train with the Edge 705, the newest GPS-enabled cycling computer in Garmin’s popular line of fitness products. Slipstream’s support vehicles will use the nüvi 770, which combines compact functionality with comprehensive preloaded maps of North America and Europe.

Check back here often, and we'll keep you updated on Slipstream's journey to the Champs-Élysées.

Jake's Journal: Meet the Wherigo Week 2 Winner

We again turn to a California cartridge for the second week's winner of our Wherigo Builder Contest. John Grace, of Rancho Santa Margarita, blends history with adventure in "Closing In on D.B. Cooper" and in doing so, wins a limited-edition Colorado/Wherigo geocoin. While we were doing our Winter Wherigo Tour, everyone kept writing in and asking us how and where they could get one of these coveted coins. It's simple: Go to Wherigo.com and learn about the Wherigo Builder program. Build a cartridge and upload it to Wherigo.com. Send us an e-mail with a brief description and link to make your entry official.

John told us what makes his Cooper cartridge so unique: "I'd say it's the theme. I created a bunch of 'evidence' and strategically placed the stuff in the zones. Zone 3 (bush) for example, has a black tie hanging in a tree. Attached to the tie is a note that reads 'This tie is ugly. Cooper obviously had no fashion sense.' An ammo can at the end is also filled with evidence: FBI reports, photos, a letter from the FBI director, and so on. Having played numerous Infocom text adventures, I really believe the physical items add a little something to the adventure." We agree, John. Continue reading below for some of the entries that made this a tough decision and have us excited to see what everyone will come up with next week!

Roger's Runway: Changing frequencies

I admit I'm not the type of guy that goes out and looks for extra work. Yeah, you could even call me lazy, but I look at it as working more efficiently. That's why one nice feature about the GNS 530W/430W and the G1000 is that they help reduce workload in how frequencies can be entered into the systems. There's a multitude of ways to change radio frequencies. One way is to do it the old fashion way - by using the COM knobs and dial the correct digits into the COM radio. This method works well when you are not changing frequencies very often. However, when you are changing frequencies often in a short period of time, like taxing and takeoff, you'll want a quick way to enter the next frequency. If you go to the waypoint page on either the GNS 530W/430W or G1000, you'll see all the frequencies needed from start up to takeoff listed in chronological order. As you highlight each one and press the enter button, the frequencies will go to the standby column on the unit. Press the flip-flop button and now you are ready to talk. Leave the waypoint page up and repeat the process for the next frequency. I think you, too, will find that you 'll become more lazy efficient when entering frequencies.

Put some spring in your step

Spring is around the corner - just two days away to be exact - but who's counting? We are, and we know we're definitely not the only ones! That's because in addition to April showers and May flowers, spring also opens the door for thousands of running events around the country. Even if you're a beginner gearing up for your first 5K, "Good Morning America" has some tips for how to "Hit the Ground Running" this spring season. With some help from our good friend Bart Yasso from Runner's World, GMA explains how to warm up with some cool gear - including the Garmin Forerunner 405, which lets you run, sync, store and share, to maximize every performance. If you didn't get a chance to see Bart and the FR 405 on the air, click here for the full segment.

Wondering what else folks are saying about Garmin fitness products? Top Ten Reviews Blog also had nice things to say about getting around the great outdoors Garmin style. Check out what they had to say about the Edge 305, a GPS-enabled personal trainer and cycle computer. And keep your eyes open for even more Garmin sightings to come... it's shaping up to be a busy season!

Chicago Store: Weekly Running Club is under way

Special thanks to all the runners who helped make the kick-off to the Garmin Weekly Running Club a success! We were joined by a special guest, Mark Buciak, who presented the "Top 11 tips for starting off on the right foot."  Mark has completed 51 marathons, including 28 consecutive Boston Marathons with a personal best time of 2:30. He is also the program director for The Road To Boston Training Program and a writer for Chicago Athlete magazine. In addition to Mark’s presentation, enthusiastic runners had the opportunity to play with the new Garmin Forerunner 405, and eight lucky runners won entries into the Shamrock Shuffle.

The Garmin Running Club offers multiple running routes with product trials and clinics, and guest speakers help you stay on track with your running goals. Starting this year, we will target one race per month where you will have the opportunity to win an entry into that specific race. The next race is around the corner, so we hope to see you at the Garmin Chicago Store at 663 N. Michigan Avenue this Saturday, at 8 am, for a 3, 5, or 7-mile run on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

   

Wherigo winner gets his coin - and we get to play

In the spirit of showing up on a sweepstakes winner's front porch with balloons, a TV camera and an oversized check, we wanted to do something special for our first weekly winner of the Wherigo Builder Contest. So with a Colorado 400t, his digital camera and a Colorado/Wherigo geocoin in hand - we couldn't find an oversized check - Brad the Engineer traveled to California to meet the creative mind behind "Murder in the Outfield."

Turns out "Murder" has some back story to it. David Brewer, who caches under the name cache_in_pocket, was tipping his hat to a tongue-in-cheek feud with caching friends. And David's mystery was intriguing and entertaining enough to earn him a limited edition Colorado/Wherigo geocoin. To join David as a weekly winner, read up on the rules, build a cartridge at Wherigo.com and send us an e-mail with a link and brief description. Each week's deadline is Tuesday at noon Central.

Ask Garmin: How can I dodge traffic?

Today's question comes from Bill, who asks: "Do you make an accessory for a nüvi GPS that provides traffic info?" Bill, you're not alone in hating highway headaches, so we offer several different nüvis and receivers that can warn of logjams ahead. Go to garmin.com/traffic for details.

For starters, we have FM traffic receivers that monitor highway traffic and road construction in many metro areas. Your Garmin device will adjust your route accordingly - or tell you if your current path is still the best way, regardless of a slight delay. Click here for more info on FM traffic and which of our products are compatible.

Then there's MSN Direct, the service that goes far beyond traffic jams. Not only will it solve your commuting concerns, MSN Direct also provides weather updates, fuel prices, movie listings, headline news items, stock listings, local events and custom locations sent directly from Windows Live Local. Click here for MSN Direct details and compatible Garmin devices.

Peg's Posts: Forerunner 405 - an array of displays

A blog reader recently asked to see more screen shots of the Forerunner 405. Kudos to Garmin's engineering team for making the 405 such an intuitive training device with screens that are as beautiful as they are functional. The far left screen is the training page. You can set up two additional training "pages" and you can scroll through with a tap to the watch bezel. You can also choose up to three data fields to customize each training page. There are over 30 types of data you can display. We're talking way more than distance, pace, elevation and calories. You can also view GPS accuracy, grade, lap distance, heart rate average, zone, % max and more. The next screen shown here is the Virtual Partner, which gives you a virtual competitor for every training run. You pick your goal pace, then see how you match up to the VP.

My favorite screen is the heart rate page. It shows your heart rate and zone numbers as well as a chart that shows your progression at a glance. The last screen shown here is the navigation page. Since the 405 is GPS-enabled, it has some basic navigation capabilities, including a feature that guides you back to your starting point. Nice for when you strike out on a run in a new city or if you like to "run outside the lines" once in awhile.

Many of our faithful blog readers have asked when they can get their hands on the 405. A: very soon. Units should be hitting speciality running stores just after the Boston Marathon, April 21.

NASCAR rumbles Thunder Valley

Despite a tough go at last Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500 in Atlanta, Elliott Sadler and the No. 19 Best Buy/Garmin team have high spirits going into this weekend's events. That's because for Elliott, Bristol Motor Speedway is one of his favorite tracks. He won his first career Sprint Cup Series at this track back in 2001, and has had six top-10 starts in the last eight Bristol races. Elliott is 20th in points going into Sunday's high-intensity race, but hopes to come back big this weekend in Bristol at the world's fastest half-mile. In front of 160,000 race fans, the Sprint Cup excitement begins Sunday at 1:30 pm. Cheer on Elliott (who will be in the No. 19 Stanley Tools car this weekend) while he takes on his favorite track and drives his way into another incredible Bristol performance!

Watch for Garmin on W_EEL OF FORT_NE

Whether you're a diehard Wheel Watcher or a casual channel surfer, we're hoping you find time next week to join Pat Sajak and Vanna White as three lucky contestants try to spin and solve their way to the big money on Wheel of Fortune. Tune in early to see the first two toss-ups - and then the fun begins when a special Garmin prize is added to the wheel on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. And anyone who has ever used a Garmin knows that it's far more helpful than a Wild Card in Wheel's bonus round. (Because really, beyond R, S, T, L, N, E, an extra three consonants and a vowel, how much do you really need?)

So have your Spin ID number ready, buy a vowel if needed, try to avoid Bankrupt and get ready to win with Garmin and Wheel of Fortune.

Jake's Journal: Our first Wherigo winner is...

...set to get a limited-edition Colorado/Wherigo geocoin this weekend. What, did you want me to announce the actual winner in this post? That would be too easy. If the Oscars and politicians can draw out the drama, we can't be blamed for wanting to do a little something special for our first winner in the weekly Wherigo Builder contest.

What I can tell you is that Brad and I have spent the past week downloading the cartridges that all of you built (as long as you sent us an e-mail to tell us about them) and playing them on the Colorado 400t. If you click on the jump below, I've included links to some of our favorites (in no particular order). And because our weekly contest starts anew every Tuesday at noon Central, we're well into the second round of contestants. So go to Wherigo.com and learn about the Wherigo Builder program. Build a cartridge and upload it to Wherigo.com. Send us an e-mail with a brief description and link to make your entry official. And you could join this week's winner in being the proud owner of a Colorado/Wherigo geocoin. That's all for now. I have to go play ... I mean, work.

Celebrating fitness: It's worth a tri!

One of the perks to working at Garmin is getting to meet the athletes that train with our products. Enriching the lives of these athletes while they compete in the sports they love is rewarding on many different levels. We recently heard from Jenna Shoemaker, a triathlete who loves Garmin gear, and we wanted to share her perspective of her most recent race at Valle de Bravo:    

The trip to Valle was an interesting one for me. It was a lot of travel - about 10 hours to reach my final destination - and that was the day before the race. I felt really prepared leading up to the race start and was excited for another chance to celebrate my fitness. Valle is at 2000m which is about as high as Boulder, Colorado, so I knew that it would be a tough day for everyone. But I decided, despite altitude, heat and everything else, that I was going to go for it and really give myself a chance to shine.

Roger's Runway: Weather safety

Last Thursday, a group of us here at Garmin attended the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Top 5 Mistakes Pilots Make seminar at a local FBO. Most of us were surprised that weather related accidents ranked number three on the list. One remark that presenter Mark Grady mentioned was about on-broad weather radar- specifically services similar to what you would see on the GPSMAP 396/496, GNS 530/430, GMX 200, G1000. Mark pointed out that the same type of weather is also used by Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) in their facilities to help pilots avoid weather, too. The problem is that many times the weather that you are seeing on the weather system, as well as what the ARTCC is seeing, can be 5-6 minutes old. Since this week is Severe Weather Awareness Week here in Kansas, and with most of the country entering into severe weather season, remember that your NEXRAD weather is not real time information. Use the weather information in your cockpit for strategic planning and not tactical planning, and let's see if we can get weather related accidents off of the Top 5 list. 

Garmin Garage: Steponit

Introducing Steponit! He's our favorite cab and he swings by the Garmin Garage almost daily. Since we don't have a loaner car for all of our customers, Steponit has been a great help for everyone. He'll usually stop by once in the AM and once in the PM and bring everyone where they need to be. And the best part about it - Steponit is pretty generous with his off-meter trips! Buy 10 rides and your 11th is free! How's that for customer service?  So if you've ever felt like a chauffeur for all your friends or family or if you're hittin' the streets in your own taxi, grab Steponit today and start guiding your guests in style. The icon is free but what you charge your patrons is up to you!

Chicago Store: Runners take your mark, get set, GO!

Join us at the Garmin Chicago Store this Saturday, March 15, at 8:30 a.m., to celebrate the kick-off to the 2008 season of the Garmin Weekly Running Club. In addition to showcasing the new Garmin Forerunner 405, this week we will also be raffling off entries for the Shamrock Shuffle. There is no cost to participate in the weekly Garmin Running Club, and the event is open to runners of all levels (walkers are welcome, too). So dust off those running shoes and join us every Saturday morning for a 3, 5, or 7-mile run on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile!

Ask Garmin: Choices and voices of a nüvi

Today's Ask Garmin answers tap into our nüvi line. Joe wants to buy a nüvi and is interested in the nüvi 260W and the nüvi 350. "They both seem the same, except the 260W is a wide screen. Other than that, what's the difference?" With more than 30 nüvi models available to fit your specific needs, the click-and-compare feature on our Web site comes in handy. Simply by choosing the 260W and 350, and then clicking the "compare" button, you can see that the most visible differences are the size and screen (260W has 4.3" screen, 350 is 3.5"). The 350 has a flip-up antenna, is FM traffic compatible, has a headphone/audio jack and can play audio books and MP3s. Thanks, Joe, and happy shopping!

Janet Adams asks, "I have a nüvi 650 and want to know how I can get different voices downloaded on my Garmin? It only came with one voice." Glad to have you in the Garmin family, Janet. You'll find a wide range of voices and languages already available on your nüvi 650 by selecting Tools (the wrench icon) and Locale. The menus on some models differ slightly, so nüvi users can also check under Tools//Settings/Language/Voice. Enjoy!

If you have a question about a product, don't hesitate to Ask Garmin and check back here every Monday!

Spring forward with the No. 19 team in Atlanta

Elliott Sadler and the No. 19 Best Buy/ Garmin Dodge head into Atlanta this weekend with a top-10 seat in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Points standings, just three races into the season. After an impressive 10th-place start during last Sunday's race, the team fought strong for a 12th-place finish in Las Vegas. With that solid finish, Elliott currently sits in ninth place, along side his teammate Kasey Kahne, who is in fourth.

This Sunday, drivers will take on the 1.54-mile oval track at Atlanta Motor Speedway - the fastest track on the NASCAR circuit. "Personally, I like that high line around the track and it works for me," Elliott said. So after you've turned your clocks ahead one hour this weekend, be sure to catch Elliott in action in the blue and yellow No. 19 car. We'll be cheering for another top performance, Elliott - keep up the great work!

Peg’s Posts: Power up

As we “spring forward” this weekend and anticipate some real signs of spring, cyclists are gearing up for some real road time. Garmin’s new Edge 605 and 705 are now shipping to dealers, so cyclists wanting the latest in bike computer technology will soon have it. Both come with mapping and color displays. The 705 takes it further with ANT+Sport wireless technology, which means it can pair with heart rate, cadence sensor and even compatible power meters. Check out this post by some folks from Quarq, makers of the new CinQo power meter. They did some testing recently with the 705 and CinQo in Solvang, California. They even rode the Solvang time trial course from Tour of California where Garmin-sponsored Team Slipstream pretty much sealed their recent first-place tour finish. During their six days of testing, the Quarq folks found lots to love about the performance of the power meter and Edge.

The beauty of ANT+Sport wireless technology is something we call “interoperability.” For you, that basically means a device like Edge plays nicely with compatible devices like sensors and software. You just pair the devices through a simple menu operation and they “find” each other. No worries on picking up data from another cyclist’s heart rate monitor or power meter, as long as you’re not near other sensors when you do the initial pairing. For the Solvang testing, they uploaded the data using TrainingPeaks. Garmin’s new online analysis site, Garmin Connect, also offers detailed analysis features and route sharing with a worldwide community. The Quarq CinQo’s not the only power meter that plays nice with the 705 — SRM also has a compatible power solution. Edge 705 + power — coming soon to a bike shop near you.

Is there a geocoin near you?

We've been saying since we introduced the limited-edition Colorado/Wherigo geocoin that there would be a variety of ways to get one. First, we handed out nearly half of the entire supply during our winter tour. Then we announced the Wherigo Builder contest, where you can build a Wherigo cartridge at Wherigo.com, send us an e-mail and then hope you're that week's lucky winner. (Click here for complete rules.)

Now we're spreading the love. We've already hidden a handful of coins across the country - from Washington to Nebraska and from Pennsylvania to New Jersey - that are just waiting to be discovered in existing caches. Next stop: Austin, Texas, during South by Southwest. If you find one while you're caching, send us an e-mail and tell us how and where you found it. Pass along your picture, and we'll do our best to post everyone's stories and smiling faces. And don't worry, we have even more tricks up our sleeves....

Workin' away those wintertime blues

'Tis the season to start thinking about getting back in shape. If you need an extra little push, the Forerunner 50 is your ticket to a successful workout. According to a review from the tri247.com crew, "this is currently the best value HRM on the market - bar none." In fact, they are giving it the first of their "A List" awards as a result. Paired with ANT+ Sport, this powerful sport watch is ideal for almost any type of fitness activity. After your workout, the FR50 automatically transmits the data to your computer so you can analyze, store and share it, after each session. After all, it's your hard work - don't you owe it to yourself to keep track of the strides you're making? Plus, with this sleek little gem, you'll be keeping track in style! Read the complete review and visit the FR 50 mini-site for more information.

Jake's Journal: Win a geocoin with Wherigo

At each stop on our recent Colorado/Wherigo tour, I've played equal parts Santa and Grinch. I was welcomed with open arms when I was explaining the Colorado 400t and its preloaded topo maps, paperless geocaching and wireless data transfer. I really became the star of the show when I was announcing the winning raffle numbers and handing over a limited-edition Colorado/Wherigo geocoin. But then I was the bad guy when I explained a few ground rules. 1) You can't get these geocoins by trading with me. 2) One person, one coin. 3) When my pockets are empty, the raffle is over.

But now I'm loosening the pursestrings. We're going to give away a coin a week to the weekly winner of our Wherigo Builder contest. The rules are easy. Build a Wherigo cartridge at Wherigo.com and send an e-mail to garminblogs@garmin.com with a brief description to let us know it's there. (Click here for detailed rules.) I'll team up with Brad the Engineer (the brains of our dynamic duo) and pick a winner each week until further notice. And that's just the beginning.

Roger's Runway: Overseas flights

Since our aviation units can work anywhere in the world, people are always asking how they can make their unit work outside of the United States. For folks going across the pond (better known as the Atlantic Ocean) having the correct database on the unit is important, as your options are limited. If you are planning an outback adventure in Australia, you too, can load a foreign database on your portable unit. Keep in mind however, that the handheld units can only hold one aviation database at a time. You can replace that database with another database but you will need a computer to do that with. Currently, if you are planning on flying to Europe in your plane, and the Americas database is loaded, the Atlantic can be installed when you hook the GPS up to a laptop and install that database. I would recommend however, that you have the Atlantic database purchased before you leave your home since an Internet connection may be hard to get.  As for the panel mounted units, you just need to get a Navdata card from Jeppesen that has the area that you need for you overseas excursion. Enjoy the flight!   

Game On!

Let the good times roll with Garmin Games! We’ve just launched a new games section for your nüvi 800 series or nüvi 5000. Whether you’re blasting away another high score on Interceptor or raising the stakes on Video Poker, you’ll find that fun at your fingertips is just a download away! Visit Garmin Games today at take a look at all the great titles that await you!

Garmin Garage: Medic

Since the day we opened the Garmin Garage, paramedics far and wide let us know that they’d like to see an ambulance as a vehicle download. So we got to work as quick as we could . . . although it’s a lot harder than you might think to track down sirens and lights. Lots of red tape to get lots of red lights. But we put in some overtime and worked a few weekends to have Medic ready for everyone. It’s been fun having Medic around the Garmin Garage – Scooter loves to run the lights – but now he’s ready to get out there and help people. So download Medic today and also be sure to check out our new Service Vehicles bundle – created especially for all the Garmin users who help others all day long. And stay tuned . . . we have a lot more vehicles that we're getting ready to release into the wild. We're excited and we're sure you'll be excited, too!

LA Marathon: Barefoot strides

There are no ifs, ands or feet about it - running a marathon is no easy task. It takes skill, heart and a lot of determination to cross that finish line... especially if you're running barefoot. But for seven runners in last weekend's LA Marathon, running in "God's shoes saved their soles."

Among the seven brave "soles," was Garmin's very own Byron, who was completing his 20th marathon since 2004, and his 10th barefoot. Byron and the other barefooters were certainly among good company, as they paved the way with Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton, who was completing his 65th barefoot marathon. The guys said the course was very nice, and although the heat made the asphalt slightly uncomfortable, all of the open fire hydrants providing water to splash in definitely cooled off the feet.

With his Forerunner 305 on hand, Byron was able to keep track of his distance, pace and heart rate as he made his way through the more than 25,000 participants. He said many folks even asked him for a distance check when they recognized the 305 on his wrist! So when you're pounding the pavement - with or without shoes - make sure your Forerunner is along for the run.

Navigating the scenes of CeBIT

Garmin has taken it's show on the road again, and this week we're in Hanover, Germany, at CeBIT ( Centrum der Büro - und Informationstechnik; German for "Center of Office and Information technology"). With the announcement of the nüvi 900T, a PND with DVB-H mobile television that's exclusive to Italy, the booth has been packed since the doors opened. The low-priced nüvi 2x5 models also made their debut at CeBIT, and outfit the popular entry-level 200-series favorites with top-of-the-line features. These nüvis improve upon the features of their 200-series predecessors while providing the opportunity to add features such as improved mapping and routing features, faster satellite acquisition, navigation by photos or dynamic content from MSN Direct. Here's a look below at the hustle and bustle of the Garmin crowds. Stay tuned for more updates from the field as the week continues...

   

Ask Garmin: Access your accessories

Peter Wellsman asks: Which power meters will the Edge 705 work with? I am aware that SRM will have a unit out this spring, are there other companies on board? Thanks for the great gear and all the work going into the Mac compatibility! Thanks for the great question, Peter. The Edge 705 is designed to work with any power meter that is compatible with ANT+Sport, the wireless technology that connects our newest fitness devices to their accessories, your computer and each other. At this time, SRM and Quarq have announced compatible power meters, and you can watch our blog for the latest updates.

In a related question, Edgar asks: Is the new Edge 705 compatible with the cadence sensor that I presently use with my Edge 305? Or will I have to purchase the complete unit including a NEW cadence sensor? Good news, Edgar. Knowing that many Garmin users choose to stay within the Garmin family when they upgrade or expand their fitness devices, our engineers worked hard to make our products compatible with existing accessories. So if you already have, for example, a heart-rate monitor from your Forerunner 305 or Forerunner 50, you can use it with the Forerunner 405 when it becomes available in April. That's why you'll see two versions of each color of 405 - with and without the heart-rate monitor included.

Send your "Ask Garmin" questions to garminblogs@garmin.com and look for new posts every Monday.

Ride along with Elliott Sadler

Even if you may have missed Elliott’s 12th place finish in the UAW-Dodge 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, we’re still giving you a chance to experience life in the fast lane. We’ve spoken to Elliott’s pit crew and they were kind enough to lend us one of their Garmin-branded stock cars for use in the Garmin Garage. So now you can take to the streets with your own stock car leading the way on your nüvi, zumo or StreetPilot. And the great thing about this free vehicle icon – it can turn left AND right. Just try to keep it under 65 mph! Congrats to Elliott and the rest of the team! We can’t wait to see you next week at the Atlanta Motor Speedway!