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New Performance Tool

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:05 am
by lrp374
I got a new Garmin GPS last year and have been playing around with the tracks feature. The graphing feature is kind of neat. If you have a nice consistent hill it's really easy to do performance tests that are real instead of just 'it feels like more power'. The green trace is elevation and the blue is speed. The only real variable is wind which we all know can screw up any hill climb.
I also got the Backroads GPS BC map for it which is also a great tool. The USB connection appears to be a bit flaky but I'm not sure yet if it's the GPS or the map file.

Re: New Performance Tool

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:56 am
by thelazygreenfox
Great feature, :-D I'll look for that in my next Garmin. I have both speed and elevation features in myVista HCX but can't graph. Awesome!
TLGF

Re: New Performance Tool

Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 7:48 am
by Artacoma
Thats a cool feature , I have a built in garmin based gps in my vans stereo ,I'm going to have to see if I can extract any data like that to my laptop.

Re: New Performance Tool

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:59 pm
by lrp374
I think the instantaneous readings from this system may not be to accurate. I can remember needing to use the brakes a little but I'd think -107% grade would really be noticeable. It would have been interesting to see what the inclinometer said!

Re: New Performance Tool

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:49 pm
by FalcoColumbarius
Could be how many satellites were on you at the time. To get an accurate reading in 3D you need to have at least four tracking you at any given time. Typically there are thirty active satellites in the heavens all around the Earth, it's quite possible that at times you were only being tracked by three, or two even. I once drove from Longview to Highwood Junction, then down past Livingston Falls to Coleman and the Frank slide and there were a number of times that one of my tracking satellites orbited over the Rockies, beyond sight and I would get slightly off elevation readings.

Falco.

Re: New Performance Tool

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:13 pm
by snelson
"....at least four tracking you at any given time" I know it's just wording, but satellites don't track you.
GPS receivers receive a timing signal that satellites send out....carry on :M

Re: New Performance Tool

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:28 pm
by jessef
snelson wrote:satellites don't track you.
maybe it's sprinkled with pepper

Re: New Performance Tool

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:25 pm
by FalcoColumbarius
snelson wrote:"....at least four tracking you at any given time" I know it's just wording, but satellites don't track you.
GPS receivers receive a timing signal that satellites send out....carry on :M
LOL... Good point, if they were tracking me then I would expect I would warrant all thirty.... or not.

I have a feature on my system that informs me of how many and which GPS satellites are in range of my GPS aerial ~ sometimes I get as many as nine, occasionally three or two. This would typically occur in a deep valley, &c.. In the case of my previous post I was driving beside the Rocky Mountain Range, a rather high fence as it were. And then there are power lines...

Falco.