MBlog

Firmware Update- WebUpdater

Get a GPS tune up! Update your firmware, the best way to improve your GPS device and MB experience.

What is Firmware:
Firmware is software embedded in a hardware device. Similar to the operating system on a computer, firmware is the software that runs a GPS Device. Just like the firmware on your iPod or digi-camera, manufactures routinely fix bugs, enhance performance and distribute via firmware updates.

Firmware Updates:
The biggest problem with firmware updates is that no one does 'em. Why? Mostly because no one knows they're available. From now on, we'll post here when an update becomes available for Garmin's fitness devices.

What Firmware version is on my device?
The firmware version is displayed on the device and MotionBased. Choose your device to see where you can find it:
Edge 205
Edge 305
Forerunner 205
Forerunner 305

How do I update firmware?
Even if your device is fresh-out of the box, an update may be available. The easiest way to know for sure, is to install and run the Garmin WebUpdater - a great little utility that uses the Internet to check of updates, and installs the latest firmware appropriate for the connected device.  It's really that easy. The only confusing part is the default installation destination (C:\Garmin\WebUpdater). See the WebUpdater for instructions and links.

Stay tuned to the MBlog, we'll let you know when new firmware updates become available. In the meantime, check your device into the firmware clinic.

Tour de Georgia - Stage 5

The climbing continues. Today's stage ascended 9,449 feet, from Blairsville to Brasstown Blad Mountain - the highest point in Georgia at 4,784 ft. There were three major climbs; category 1, category 2 and Hors Category to finish. Here's a Google Earth image of Brasstown Bald Summit.

Health Net rider Doug Ollerenshaw had this to say about his race, "It was hard.  I didn't ride fast." Check out Doug's blog post to read more.

Keep charging Doug! Just one more day..

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like this weeks OLN Cylcysm Sunday is showing the Tour de Georgia. Maybe next week?

Tour de Georgia - Stage 4

The Tour de Georgia returned to Georgia after a quick dip into Tennesse. With over 10,000 feet of climbing, Stage 4 tested the main field. The lead group only included 39 of 109 finnishers. Health Net's Doug Ollerenshaw pinned it early, check out his heart rate on the first climb. His words, "Went in the break early, got caught around mile 70. Dropped on the second to last climb, grupetto to the finish." (Grupetto - the group behind the peloton.)

Without any significant changes to the General Classification, Doug's teammate Nathan O'Neill remains in fourth place.

See Doug's complete MotionBased Digest at ollerend.motionbased.com.

Tour de Georgia - Stage 3

Gotta love a good individual time trial, especial when it ascends 2,400 plus feet in 25 miles. Today's stage traveled from Chickamauga to Chattanooga, Tenn. So it's the Tour de Georgia with a little Tennessee. Check out the GE image of the major climb. 

Thanks to our Health Net friend Doug Ollerenshaw for tracking the Tour, and congrats to his teammate Nathan O'Neill with four place finish.

See Doug's digest at ollerend.motionbased.com and check out his blog for more color.

 

Tour de Georgia - Stage 2

Todays stage rolled 118 miles north from Fayetteville to Rome. Once again, Heath Net's Doug Ollerenshaw tracked the stage and said,"It was slow and easy until we got near the finishing circuits, at which point it became neither slow nor easy." If you're a MB Standard customer, check out the Analyzer and admire the fitness. What he calls nice and easy, I couldn't moto-pace behind an RV.

Tour de Georgia - Stage 1

The 2006 Tour de Georgia kicked off in Augusta yesterday. The first of six days wasn't exactly a stroll through rolling country side...and they consider this a flatter stage. We managed to get an Edge 305 on Health Net's Doug Ollerenshaw and his race on MB. He didn't get on box today, but you never know? Stay tuned as we follow ollerend.motionbased.com's peachcrumb across Georgia.

Read Doug's perspective of the stage.

Be patient loading this activity, it's a couple thousand track points.

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Virtual Boston Marathon

Most of us won't ever qualify for the Boston Marathon - the queen jewel of the marathon circuit. But with some hard work, a strong training regimen and the right tools, all of us have a chance. And that's what keeps us going.

For those of us making a serious go at qualifying for Boston, MotionBased and the new Forerunner 205/305 can be an invaluable tool for training. Just take a look at the Dashboard stats and, most importantly, the Analyzer report from a MotionBased customer who ran the race last year. If you want to run a sub 3 hour Boston Marathon, this is what you need to do.

Try as we might, the reality of running Boston may never become reality. So, let MotionBased give you the opportunity to view the course first hand with our Google Earth fly-through.

No matter what you want out of the Boston Marathon, MotionBased and Garmin have the tools to get you there.

Garmin is a sponsor for the 110th running of the Boston Marathon this Monday, April 17. In fact, Garmin is sponsoring a series of marathons in 2006.

 

Booster Pack

If you are like me, the Edge is my favorite companion on the bike.  I can't imagine biking without her.  When I begin to think about doing a double century ride or 24 hour race, a tear wells up in my eye thinking she may abandon me in the middle of my bike... Her energy capacity isn't up to the task...  How can I give her an energy boost?  Lets create a booster pack for the Edge.

My first attempt involved a 9 volt battery, but it only gave me a few hours of runtime so I kept looking.  The final design of the booster pack is quite simple.  It uses 4 AA batteries wired up to a USB cable.  This setup gave me over 30 hours of runtime on one test using 2700 mAh Rechargeable Batteries.  You can just leave it plugged into your device and it will charge it as your battery goes down in your Edge.

If you want one too, you have a few options:

• Buy a charger unit that supplies 5 volts from 4 AA batteries.
• Build/Design one yourself

The Easy Way:

I found a device that is designed to charge an Apple Shuffle, which meets our needs.  If you want this exact model, search for BA-USB-W.  It is usually available on eBay for around $15 (not including batteries).  You can also look around for other USB charging devices.  They should all work about the same.

The one I got will use your sync/charging cable to plug into the Edge.

Lets Build It:

You can also build one pretty easily.  This is much better if there is a specific length of cable you want, or is you want the smallest possible form factor.  If you are not familiar with soldering or don't have a voltmeter, I would not venture into this area as you may fry your edge.

Parts List:

• USB A-B mini 5 pin cable.  $7 to $15
• 4 AA Battery Holder $2 @ Radio Shack
• 9V Battery Connector $2 @ Radio Shack
• 4 AA Rechargeable 1.25V Batteries with Charger
• Solder, Soldering Gun, Electrical Tape, Voltmeter

Instructions:

1. Mount your Edge on your bike and plug in the USB cable.  Decide where you will mount the booster pack and cut the cable to length.
2. There should be 4 wires in there.  The red wire is the +5V and the black is the ground.  Solder the red wire to the + wire on the 9V connector, and the rest of the wires in the USB cable to the ground on the 9V connector.
3. Wrap the connections with electrical tape.
4. Plug in 4 AA rechargeable batteries.  IMPORTANT: do not use 1.5V AA Batteries as this could  fry your edge with too much voltage.
5. Check the voltage by putting a voltmeter on the end of the usb cable.  The two outside pins should be reading 5V.  With the wide part down on the mini connection, the + is on the left, and the - is on the right.  The voltage should be under 6 Volts, but above 5 Volts.  If not, check your connections and try again
6. Attach the booster to your bike and have a great ride!

After you post your event done with a booster pack to Motionbased, send emails to booster@motionbased.com with the event.  We may choose to highlight your event!

Brad

Watch the Forerunner in Action

Curious to see what the new Forerunner 205/305 looks like on a real person? Or, how some of the features on the device look in action?

Well.... then check out this video from Garmin: