Hi guys, how do I get into this GPS speed thing, are there any rules to it. whats a good GPS to buy and where from? Cheers for your help.
Hi,
I recommend you buy a GT-31, there will be less hassle and more support here if you do strike problems. If you live in Sydney then Wind Surf and Snow sell them. I'm not sure how much they cost. If you buy a GT-31 you will need a SD memory card. If you have any old cards from phones or cameras then they will be fine. Even if they are small such as 16 or 32 MB they will be okay. If you need to buy a new card then its best to check on the Locosys page to find out what cards are compatible.
You will require a pouch for the GPS. I use a Pacaqua. Its not perfect but its alright. The main issue I have with it is the velcro strap. Some people get around it by using tape to secure the strap. I bought mine from Whitworths.
Then you need to decide how to upload your results. I use Real Speed which you have to pay to register. KA72 is becoming more popular and its free though you are encouraged to donate to pay for costs. I'm assuming you use Windows. If on a Mac then probably KA72 is the way to go.
Then you have to work out how to get the data off the card to the computer. Your computer may alread have a card reader built into it. Otherwise you may have to buy a card reader which uses a USB connection to the computer.
Then you have to decide what team you want to join if you want to join the GPS Teams Challenge. If you live up around Port Mac then the Mid Coast Marauders are the way to go. If around Newcastle then the Lake Mac Team. Anywhere else then its probably the Cockroaches or the Double Demerits, unless you have a mate and want to start your own team.
Edit:
I just saw your profile, up in Quirindi eh? Where do you go sailing, locally or down on the coast? Are there any irrigation dams around there you can sail on? I used to live up in Armidale and worked around the north west, including Quirindi, it did get windy sometimes around there.
yes it can get windy here but it can be gusty, lake keepit is the pick of places around here Its not far from gunnedah.it has everything you need a shop,ammenities and BBq's and plenty of fresh water to sail.
Garmin Fortrex 301 or 401 or Garmin Edge 205 or 305. Far superior to GT 31, dont believe the GT 31 bull****. No problems like all the GT problems you read. Even my Garmin Fortrex 201 which is 8 years old reads the same speed etc as my GT 31.
Big W are selling sandisk SD 2G cards for $10.00. Bought 2 yesterday at Greenhills Big W, inserted it into my GT31 and it seemed to work OK.
If you are buying this for the GPS Team Challenge, then we recommend getting a GT-31.
My 101 Foretrex is still going strong although it has a tiny amount of water in between the screens. Has not made one iota of difference to its performance.
Probably just as old as Ricks. It certainly seems that the Navi units are the main choice but does it really matter if you dont have the latest and greatest??
At Speedweek at Sandy Pt 08' it was definitely frowned upon to have a Garmin when it came to downloading data. Now lots of guys that were there and had Garmins have changed to Navi's. Peer pressure????? Or who cares??
Ive always thought it was participation that was the key. ****, if I have a good day on the water and I look down at my GPS reciever and like what I see Im a happy camper.
In the wash up Im happy that Im part of a team and having fun.
It brings it into perspective when you get home and your kid says "Hey dad, did you get a Pb today?"
Well, then a cold frostie!!
The main difference is the stored data, not the display. So if you're serious about analysing or posting from data, the GTs are more accurate. If you just want an armband speedo it doesn't matter so much.
plus the navi records for months and the garmin is only good for 8 hrs worth of track points and goes flat. But i do like the small screen,its easy to read. In 6 yrs of doing this GPS stuff i,ve killed 5 garmin and 1 GT 11. Buy both. 
and have fun
Select to expand quotekato said...
Thats because it took 6mins+ to down load (Garmin) v 30sec (Gt 31).Times that by 30 people =a lot of time wasted plus the navi records for months and the garmin is only good for 8 hrs worth of track points and goes flat. But i do like the small screen,its easy to read. In 6 yrs of doing this GPS stuff i,ve killed 5 garmin and 1 GT 11. Buy both. and have fun
I use "Load My Tracks" takes all of 10 seconds to down load my Garmin !! and who sails longer than 8 hours in one day.
Select to expand quoteAUS4 said...kato said...
Thats because it took 6mins+ to down load (Garmin) v 30sec (Gt 31).Times that by 30 people =a lot of time wasted plus the navi records for months and the garmin is only good for 8 hrs worth of track points and goes flat. But i do like the small screen,its easy to read. In 6 yrs of doing this GPS stuff i,ve killed 5 garmin and 1 GT 11. Buy both. and have fun
I use "Load My Tracks" takes all of 10 seconds to down load my Garmin !! and who sails longer than 8 hours in one day.
ME
I used a Garmin 201 just strapped around my wrist for a few sessions, but it went wrong. After carefull drying out, it worked again.
I then placed it in a small rigid thickish plastic box with snap on clipped lid, (fully waterproof), placed that in a pouch with belt, and put it round my waist with the pouch at my back. It worked, but gave silly readings at times. e.g. 65 m.p.h. spike in a force 5! (I'd like to believe it, but---)
Currently it is inside an Aquasack strapped to my upper arm. It reads properly, but the tightish fastening needed to prevent it slipping restricts muscle flexing.
Are there any proper, strapped, right sized waterproof wrist fastening containers? If not, how do others use this model? (If i fasten it inside my wet suit neck the buttons will keep getting pressed.)
Hi All,
I use a garmin geko 201. I have had it for many years. I have no problems with the consistency and accuracy which seem great. I also use an paqua on my arm and have no issues with that.
The only issue I do have is that often the track data time info is corrupted. When I upload the track and save to a gpx file, sometimes there is not time data (just position data), and other times, the time data is corrupted saying that the track was done in 1972 or 2029 or something. If this happens, I can globally do a search and replace on the GPX file of the year and rest of the data seems fine and I get the results I expect. It should be noted that I have checked the time on the screen while logging a track and it is fine. I am find that this corruption happens more often than not. This means that I do not have much confidence in bening able to pull the data out of it accurately after a session. I was just wondering if anyone else had heard of this problem with Garmins and if there was a fix or workaround... or do I just go and buy a GT31??
Cheers,
Adrian
I can't believe this old croc of a debate lives on! The GT-31 is DESIGNED for windsurfing speed sailing. It is technically FAR superior in the accuracy and reliability of it's saved data. There is simply no doubt about this. All the technical gurus agree on this.
It also has the Genie feature that allows instant feedback at the end of every run in the top speed reached and the best 'x' seconds (usually set to 10 seconds).
The SD card can save years of tracks without the need to clear or overwrite.
As far as waterproofing goes, both GPS are the same. I had to have 2 Foretrex gps in the Pre - GT-11 days because one was always away being replaced or repaired, even after we started using protective packs for them. I had at least 4 replaced under warranty in the first couple of years! All electronic devices are bound to give some problems when used in the hostile environment of sail water. You just hear more about the GT-11/31 now because that is what the vast majority of people have got. I have got better at keeping my GPS's dry now.
Downloading: Could not be simpler with the GT's. Flip out the card and slot into card reader and a a few seconds later you have not just you vastly more accurate tracks, but lots of other backup data that tell you if it is reliable which the Garmins (or just about any other GPS) do not have.
With the Garmins, we had threads running constantly on download problems. The cradle clips were/are notoriously unreliable and a pain in the arse to carry around without losing. You needed a serial to USB conversion cable to use the Foretrex on most computers. There were whole forum threads on getting you computer to recognize the serial to USB converters, loading drivers etc, and when you did get them to work they were tediously slow with most programs as has been mentioned. And that was just to get your data! Sure, there are still threads on troubleshooting firmware upgrades with the GT's but they still work fine if you just leave them alone with the older firmware, and it is not hard to find someone to do it for you if you are not technically adept.
The GT-31 has revolutionized the sport of GPS speed sailing. It is now technically possible to sanction GPS world records with great accuracy or just go out and sail for days on end without having to worry about losing your sessions by overwriting.
The GT-31 is the recommended, and in some cases only accepted, GPS for gps speed sailing competitions.
If buying a GPS for any type of competition windsurfing or even fun posting, its a no-brainer: GT-31.
^ Thems fight'n words, Wood Duck. Looks like a showdown at noon between Daffy & Duck 
PS - From what I've read, what Andrew doesn't know about GPS's, isn't worth knowing.
I'd say that's very unusual, the difference between a GT31's doppler and trackpoints data would be more than that.
Back to the orignal poster. If you are still in the market for a GPS, probably a Navi GT-31 is the go. As mentioned previously there is a large knowledge base here so if you have any issues then with it then there is a fair chance someone will be able to help you out.
If you already have a GPS, it does the job and you are happy with it then keep using it.
