damo2576 says:

Hi,
Just a beginner runner here but quite interested in looking at the forerunner 405 and garmin connect.
I cant find any reviews of garmin connect (plenty on the 405), any users out there care to share their experience of it?
Thanks in advance,
Damo

 Nick68 says:

I have seen several discussion about the Garmin Connect site, where people complain about how slow it is.
And have to agree with them some days it's very slow other days it's okay.

The function on the site is very basic though (according to my opinion).

 Sareybabes says:

It is very basic and I am having a hard time getting my runs to upload to the site. Getting them to the computer is easy enough, just cant connect to connect! Garmin Support are working on it but looking at various forums on the web I aint the only one! (Using Vista, the only thing I cant do with my mac and it seems I cant do it anyway!!)

And, yeah its slow!

 damo2576 says:

Ah man, I should have posted this topic earlier...just ordered the 405 on line, arrives tomorrow!
Will let you know how I get on...

 Mihai says:

Use www.motionbased.com instead. It's much better!

 CarpeViam says:

www.motionbased.com is better, but will be taken down shortly because Garmin Connect is replacing it.

 damo2576 says:

Thanks for the advice, since I want to use the Training Center (to load workouts/schedules etc) and Garmin Connect does anyone have any advice on the best way to do it? I'm not sure you can upload automatically to both?

 Nick68 says:

Damo, There is actually a selection in the Ant program (Training Center) that allows you to upload automatically to both.

And if you should find that Training Center is not enough for your needs you can always have look at www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/.

 olafd says:

my ant agent has stopped uploading my runs a while ago and as the site is indeed rather sluggish, i use training center and ascent (for the mac). have abandoned garmin connect for the time being...

 RunnerGirl77 says:

If you are a PC user, take a look at SportTracks from www.zonefivesoftware.com. Mac users love Ascent (not sure on the web addy for that one, but you can google it). Both are home-computer based, but interact with programs like Google Earth.

 damo2576 says:

Well I got the 405 today and it all seems to be set up and working fine, transferring to connect and tc. May even go for a run!

 Sareybabes says:

You will love it, damo - the 405 is great, just Garmin Connect that lets it down, but I took Wile E Coyotes advice and now use Ascent for my Mac and am much happier with that anyway.

Seems there are just some remaining issues with the Connect site - hopefully they will sort it out!

 damo2576 says:

Sareybabes, interested in how you get the data to a mac. I have both mac and pc and was thinking about transferring between the two - any easy way of getting the data to mac?

I've not actually had anny issues with the Connect site, its not the fastest but certainly not the slowest site I've used.

 Sareybabes says:

Well, the ANT stick is connected to my PC and the 405 uploads its data to that. My Mac is networked to the PC so I then open the Ascent software and import the TCX files and thats it. (The Workout data is stored in TCX format). Alternatively I use a memory stick to transfer the file(s).

My final word from Garmin Support on my problems with the Connect site was along the lines of 'oh well'. Basically they told me that I would have to manually upload each workout. So I told em if I have to do it manually then I ill do it manually with a superior package like Ascent. Its more convenient for me anyway to use the Mac.

Garmin offered no explanation whatsoever as to why one minute its all working fine and the next I cant get automatic uploads to their site. But they were very apologetic and their hardware seems fine. (I have Garmin in my cars, and I also use an Etrex for hiking)

You can download a free trial of Ascent here www.montebellosoftware.com