GPS Training Podcast Jon Monks, GPS Training and reviews

This weekend Andy heads out on an epic 109 miles as he participates in the Spine Challenger race, we catch up with him a couple of days before.

Can you navigate with just a GPS watch? We discuss this and lots more in this month's GPS Training Podcast







* When are watches best suited - our personal experiences - EPIX or FENIX 7?* Transferring your planned activity to your GPS using the Connect app to a compatible GPS unit and then following ‘a course’* And then finally we have - Andy’s top tips







1. When are watches best suited compared to a GPS unit - our personal experiences.This discussion has come about after my experiences last week.







For the latest ‘walk and talk’ video I was creating with the Garmin Epix (Gen2) We planned a route on our free OS route planning software and headed off into the Cheviot Hills.







I have walked many long distance/ waymarked trails with just a watch







BUT







Could I navigate a pre-planned route that was put together by linking undefined footpaths together?







Struggled, needed to use an OS mapOR







A OS map on a GPS unit







IT ALSO through another question into the equation







1:25k maps – You need these to show you the open access in England and Wales – I could picture these in my mind.







* Video comparing Fenix v Epix* Walk and talk with Garmin Fenix 7* Walk and talk with Garmin Epix (Gen 2)







To find out more and watch the ‘walk and talk’ I refer to please go to our website – gpstraining.co.uk  > Homepage and halfway down the homepage you will see a link to ‘walk and talk' – let me take you on a walk with a GPS unit







2. Transferring your planned activity to your GPS using the Connect app to a compatible GPS unit and then following ‘a course’







What are we looking at here?







Traditionally we have planned a route in Garmin BaseCamp (or another route planning software) and transferred this to a unit using a USB cable.We then follow either the route or track







But with a number of the ‘new generation units’ we can do this wirelessly using the Garmin Connect App, this converts it to a ‘course’ though.







* Navigational experiences – Route, track and course* Compatible GPS Units - GPSMAP 66 series, 86 series and Montana 700 series* Use our free route planning software - so easy to useOver the coming months we are going to bring this bringing into our physical GPS Training courses we deliver around the country.Garmin GPS Training Courses (two day, nationwide) -South DownsNew ForestNorthamptonshireGloucestershirePeak DistrictLake DistrictNorthumberlandScottish Borders







To find out more about our GPS courses please go to our website – GPSTraining.co.uk > GPS Training Courses (top Menu bar) > Garmin Classroom based courses







3. The next thing on this month’s GPS Training Podcast is Andy’s top tipsMontana 700 – Raining there is a setting for Rain hidden away – Home screen - Setup – Accessibility – Touch Sensitivity change from normal to RainRain: ...

Going overseas, heading off-grid, birdseye, and transferring .gpx files onto a Garmin GPS watch.







In this month’s podcast







* As many of us are venturing overseas again we look at - Overseas mapping - Official or TOPO Active/ OSM* We then will discuss going off grid – and using the - inReach mini/ inReach mini 2 * We discuss the - End or Garmin’s Birdseye Vouchers* We will look at some training videos we have put together for those wanting to do a long-distance trail, whilst using a Garmin watch, either an Instinct or Fenix, to navigate with – Concentrating on the planning process you will need to go through.* And then finally we have - Andy’s top tips







So, without a further a do let’s get on with this month’s GPS Training Podcast







1. Overseas mappingIt’s nice to be back on this subject after the last two years – Garmin unitsOSM – Open Street/ Open-sourced maps – £19.99 - £29.99- Very much like Garmin’s Topo Active maps - more here about TOPO ACTIVE maps v OS maps







- Great if overlaying a .gpx file, as walking a long-distance trail etc







Official maps - £73.99 - £138.99







- Garmin’s ‘official’ maps for each of the countries







- We usually get then in around 7 – 14 days







SatMap units – we are currently struggling to get overseas maps, but hopefully we will get a solution to this in the next few weeks, fingers crossed.







To find out more about the new GPS Store > Maps







2. Going off grid – and using the - inReach mini/ inReach mini 2 







What are the inReach mini’s







Not just a SOS button







Already got a GPS device unit – what benefits does the inReach mini it give you







To find out more about the range of Garmin inReach mini devices please go to our website – GPSTraining.co.uk > GPS Store and then – Two-way satellite communication







3. The next thing on this month's GPS Training Podcast - End or Garmin’s Birdseye Vouchers







4. The next thing we are going to look at on this months Podcast is how we can plan a long-distance walk and get the info onto your GPS watch







This subject and solution has come about after plenty of discussions in the GPS training office.







The problem, if you are walking a long distance trail and you want to download a .gpx file and edit it into your day sections what’s the best way to do this.







What is a .gpx file?







If you are using a handheld unit with OS maps how would you do this?







Why can’t you do this if you are a watch user?







* 1.5 hours to load the Fenix TOPO Active maps in BaseCamp* Can’t edit in the online version of Connect* Can’t edit in the online version of Explore







So, the solution – BaseCamp with open-sourced maps on







Export .gpx file into Connect







To find out more and see the solution we have created some videos in the online resource – our online training platform. Please just go to gpstraining.co.

In this month’s podcast







* We look at the range of Garmin Fenix 7 GPS watches* Ahead of Andy’s Spine Challenger race in June, if you don’t know what that is, don’t worry, we will tell you more, BUT, we are going to discuss the kit he has been training with and what he will be taking with him on the event.* Andy’s top tips







So, without a further ado let’s get on with this month’s GPS Training Podcast







1. The first thing on this month's Podcast is a look at the Garmin Fenix 7 range of watchesIn the range of watches we have –







* Garmin Fenix 7s – Sapphire Solar* Garmin Fenix 7 - Sapphire Solar* Garmin Fenix 7x – Sapphire Solar







There are more in the full range but we are just looking at those for the ‘Outdoor’ sector – This is how Garmin class or account.







We are very much for the walker, hiker, runner, ultra-runner, and any other outdoor activity.







Buttons and touch screen







 In the past all Garmin Fenix Watches had button control only, the benefits of this being:







NOW - best of both worlds with the addition of a touch screen.







Power Sapphire







With the Fenix 7 Garmin have put a solar panel bonded to the underside of the Sapphire Screen, this is the first time Garmin have incorporated a Solar panel with a Sapphire screen.







– Increased overall Fenix 7 Solar battery life by 33% (7S vs 6S) to upwards of 68% (7X vs 6X)







Premium Materials 







All of the Sapphire screen versions of the Fenix 7 watches come with a Titanium Bezel which is lighter and tougher than a standard steel Bezel.







Multi Band







This is the first Garmin Fenix watch to have Multi-GNSS Multi Band which gives you improved signal in challenging satellite environments. (Multi-GNSS Multi Band function is only available on the Fenix7 Sapphire versions only) with all other versions of the Fenix 7 watches you do have Multi GNSS.







Multi-GNSS Multi band (Fenix 7 Sapphire Versions only) – This new feature allows the Fenix 7 Sapphire watches to lock on to not just two sets of GNSS but multiple satellites system together which can provide military grade precision, this is great when a higher accuracy is needed due to







The Fenix 7 Sapphire watches are the most accurate Fenix watches to date.







Global Maps







The recently updated TOPO ACTIVE maps now have contour lines and with the new map manager you are able to download (over WIFI) free downloadable TopoActive maps from around the world via a easy-to-use interface.







These are both recreational users and the ability to download the newly branded SkiView maps it gives you the flexibility we have all been looking for the ski enthusiast.







Up Ahead







This is a new feature that has not been available before on the Fenix Watches. It can let you know / display what’s up ahead on a course that you have sent to your unit by showing a rolling







Real Time Stamina 







This is a new feature on the Fenix 7 watches can help you to p...

We look and review the new Garmin inReach 2 and the Garmin Instinct 2 GPS watch, plus Andy's Top Tips.







In this month’s podcast







* We look at the new Garmin inReach Mini2* We then look at the new Garmin Instinct 2 series of GPS Watches* Andy’s top tips







1. The first thing on this month's Podcast is a look at the Garmin inReach mini 2What is a Garmin inReach mini?







Contract needed for it to work – like a mobile phone contract







We have had the Garmin inReach mini (1) for a number of years,now we have the inReach mini 2







The key differences –







Battery Life Trackbacks 







Navigational experience on the Garmin inReach mini 2







Digital Compass 







Multi-GNSS 







Garmin Explore App 







Compatible with other Garmin devices







To find out more about the new Garmin inReach mini 2 go to our website – gpstraining.co.uk > GPS Store > Two-Way Satellite Communication







2. The next thing on this month’s podcast is another new product from Garmin – the Garmin Instinct 2 watch







What is a Garmin Instinct GPS Watch?







Four models







Battery Life







Garmin Pay







Connect IQ Store







Built-in Sports Apps







VO2 Max







Recovery Time







MTB Dynamics







Sleep monitoring







Respiration tracking







Fitness Age







Intensity minutes







Women's health tracking







The Instinct 2 & 2s ranges are still packed with all the great original features of the 1st Generation Instinct watches.Multi-GNSS support







Follow a Course







ABC Sensors







Trackback Routing







Mark a Waypoint







Safety and tracking FeaturesSmart notifications







Wrist-based heart rate







Stress Tracking







To find out more about the range of Garmin Instinct Watches please go to our website – GPSTraining.co.uk > GPS Store and then GPS Watches







3. The next thing on this month’s GPS Training Podcast is Andy’s top tips







* Fenix Watches not displaying in Finder on Macs -Garmins watches that now use MTP  (Media Transfer Protocol) this tends to be the watches that can have music stored on them such as the Fenix 6 range are not being detected in Finder by Macs, this is due to Apple being compatible with MTP transfer protocol, whether apple will change this in the future we don’t know but from MAC forums a free to use programme that lets you see the Fenix watch on your Mac to manually copy and paste files to can be downloaded from  - www.android.com/filetransfer







* InReach mini 2 – Battery safe Tips







Brightness lower to save battery – Pwr button once – scroll down to Brightness Ok, up down arrows lower or increase 25% normally fineSettings – System – Display – also has brightness + Timeout 15, 30 secs, 1 min etc







* Settings – Tracking - Activity Recording Standard better battery,

In this special ’mid-month’ podcast I am joined by a special guest, Tommy Wilkinson. He was, and still is, a keen racer, having won numerous Scottish DH races and spent two seasons chasing the World Cup dream as a dirtbag privateer. A “little bobble” on a jump in 2013 left Tommy with a fractured skull, brain hemorrhage, a spinal cord contusion, damaged disc, and permanently paralyzed right arm.