I like the look of this device as it can track the route you make. But it is not clear if the device allows you to download a track/route to the device for you to follow.
I would use it as a logger when running but would like to use the device to follow a route when out on my bike and when hiking.
Haven't used one of these, however from the manuals, there is no provision to enter a track or waypoints into the thing and use it for guidance. It's just a GPS datalogger, albeit with some nice visuals - I like the way you can see average speed and distance since logging started.
Best to treat these numbers as approximate however until the unit is calibrated against a known distance - their accuracy will depend on the sample rate and the smoothing used.
Some loggers have insensitive GPS chips, and are not that good near high buildings or under tree-cover - as far as I can see the MTK chip in this one gets decent reviews for sensitivity and multi-path.
It's such a shame that a well designed and well built device like this is rendered useless by hopeless software programming.
The build quality is very solid and feels great in the hand, even from cold the GPS gets a fix very quickly, the reception is solid and the GPS accuracy is spot on. The data logging is where the device falls flat on its face, the programming is so poor that the GPSort 245 makes a better doorstop than it does a GPS logger.
Example:
Walked a flat measured mile and back to start point at constant pace( 3.5 MPH ).
Outbound
Distance: 1.16 miles
Max speed: 52 MPH
Average speed: 4.2 mpH
Calories: 250
Return
Distance: 1.06
Max speed: 78 MPH
Average speed: 3.1 MPH
Calories: 80
Please save your money and buy something that works
you can't use any gps as a pedometer. the distances shown are quite normal. turn it on, let it get a proper satellite fix and leave it on a table for an hour.
I found the GPSport 245 to be accurate and reliable. I never had the inconsistent data Martin Orton refers to but I had upgraded mine to the latest firmware. You get what you pay for in life and for the price I thought it was very good value.
The GPSport 260 is much more feature-packed and it has a particularly good 3d compass. I download it and export my routes to Anquet maps and the GPS logging is really very accurate indeed.
