Garmin 705 vs 800

[fjaws]

Anybody here that has used both that can offer some feedback? Also curious if the included Basemaps is sufficient for most areas or if you really need the CityMap SD Card upgrade for either to be useful?

Just retired from the military and will be traveling for the next year to try and determine where we'd like to live. Going to many unfamiliar states and this seems like the obvious purchase to continue riding without getting lost daily!

The 705 can be had new for significantly less than the new 800 and was just curious if the 800 is worth the difference.

Thanks for any info.

[zmudshark]

I have a 705, and use Garmin Topo, which I had a copy of. There are many free maps that can be had that will work in a Garmin. Some are even better than Garmin Topo/Mapsource.

Try here: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/

Or just search for 'free garmin maps' on the Google

[firerescuefin]

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/08/garmin-edge-800-in-depth-first-look.html

He does a 705 review as well. More info than you can digest.

I own the 800 and recently downloaded the 2.1 upgrade. Works great...love the touchscreen and the functionality.

[fjaws]

Thanks to both of you for the input and links.

Are you using the Basemaps on your 800 or did you splurge for the City Navigator Map upgrade?

From what I'm reading, it's pretty useless (for navigation) without the map upgrade.

[sg8357]

Here is an interesting thread about how to work around the various
bugs and limits in the 705.

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=36725

[jamesutiopia]

+1 for 705 over 800, if I had to pick one. Deals can be found for 705, functionality is basically the same, and I think the screen is easier to read. The detailed maps are very necessary for both, though you might be able to get by with the free Open Street Map (http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/) data if you like to tinker and OSM has good coverage of your area.

Am fond of brevets and could go on at length about the foibles of just about every Garmin GPS product, but the key difference with the 800 is the screen.

605/705 had software and screen similar to Legend/Vista/60CSx (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=310). 800 seems to be based on the Oregon/Dakota software, which requires a touch screen. I would have been happier if 800 was based on the button interface used in GPSMAP 62 (http://gpsinformation.info/penrod/62S/sixtytwos.html) and had a non-touch screen. Given how long they go between refreshes, perhaps the next iteration will be Android based and have wifi (EyeFI (http://www.eye.fi/)-style uploading seems like an obvious feature) and bluetooth (real-time location updates via mobile phone could make pick-up rides more interesting). I think Garmin has done a really mediocre job with MotionBased/Connect and is not making very good use of the interesting data that these GPS units capture (from a rider's perspective, this (http://www.fastcompany.com/1586299/garmin-connect-team-says-no-to-kansas-yes-to-sf) was not encouraging).

This season I am using a pair of 705s for most of my rides (one of which I purchased in April) and the 800 rotates among the less frequently used steeds (mount is really easy to move between bikes).

Any great benefit to 800 that I've not yet discovered?

[LesMiner]

I picked up an Edge 705 at a swap meet in February for $250. The seller included all the accessories except any program CDs. He put it all into an Edge 800 box. He obviously upgraded. I went on line to the Garmin website and downloaded a PDF owner's manual. I also downloaded the Garmin Training Center software. I added a used Power Tap SL+ wireless rear wheel I bought from an LBS. There is a provision for 3 bikes, really 3 of anything. I planned to use the 705 between 2 bikes. The seller had included 2 mounts. I added a second Garmin speed and cadence sensor. Both bikes had a Cateye double wireless that uses a cadence/speed sensor unit. So I took the Cateye off my Serrota and installed the 705. It took a bit for the Garmin to acknowledge the sensor. With the Serrota on a trainer, ride time, speed and cadence was displayed. On my first ride the 705 was operating like a GPS showing a map while I rode. I had to make a U turn because there was a road closed due to flooding. The 705 went nuts "turn go back", "make a legal u turn", "recalculating", etc. I did not expect that at all since I never loaded the route I was following. I fooled around with it and got out of the GPS mode. Since the Power Tap was set up for Shimano, I moved the 705 to my Scott CR1. I added the new speed and cadence sensor but could not get it to marry to the 705. The manual says the 705 can be married to only one sensor. It also says that when marrying the sensor, all other sensors must at least 10 meters away. I moved everything around to get any bike computer sensor away from the 705. Still no luck. So I put the Cateye back on and went for a ride to at least try out the Power Tap. After a number of beeps power was displayed. Then to my surprise cadence was displayed. So it appears that the Cateye speed and cadence sensor works with the Garmin. The cadence is not always right. When it jumps to 150 rpm its not me, its the sensor. I also find the heartrate to be inflated at the start of a ride. An HR max of 235 down to 190 beats during the first 10 minutes or so is not me either. It does settle out to something more normal for me.

I have done a number of rides now and loaded them onto my laptop. It is fun to see a map of your ride and all the statistics. On one ride I forgot to hit the stop button at the end. I had put my bike in the back of my pickup and drove home. I downloaded the ride and wow I knew I was feeling good but this average 25 mph speed is hard to believe. The speed profile showed the speed jumped to 60 mph which of course inflated the overall average. So the 705 had continued to record speed, distance and route while there was no recording of power or cadence. Heartrate was recorded because I kept the sensor strap on. I looked for the Auto Pause function but found the setting was not where it was described in the manual. I now have the auto pause turned on. But that may not prevent recording while moving and not on the bike.

Since my Serrota is Campy, I got a Campy spline for the Power Tap hub. The spline can be easily changed. I have a Century scheduled for Saturday so I might change over. I will use the 705 on the Serrota in any case. I created the Century route on Map My Ride then loaded it into the 705.

[firerescuefin]

for any real navigating....you need to purchase the maps. Basic maps are VERY BASIC.

[neiltron]

I have a 705 and the map/navigation functions are terrible. I prefer an Edge 500 + an iphone or paper map.