GlobalSat GB-580B GPS computer

stephenlinden

Wasn't sure where to post this but this seemed as good a place as any.

Just bought myself one of these from Expansys for £64 and it seems to be the same as the Timex GPS computer and does a lot (and more apparently) than the Garmin Edge 500. It comes with two sensors (for speed and cadence) so I should be able to use it for turbo training too.

Only arrived today so I've not been able to test it yet but I'll get it on the bike and give you my opinion after I get out this weekend. I will still use the GPS on my phone through Endomomdo to see how it compares.

As it's ANT+ compatible I can get a HRM to link too but that will probably have to wait until the one I have stops working.

One think to not, I ordered it yesterday morning and it was with my at 10 today - and that was free delivery. Fantastic service that.

stephenlinden

Right, before I start I have nothing against which to compare this gps computer. In the past I have used endomondo and strava via an android phone (both at the same time sharing the gps signal).

The computer seemed to record well. The distance was half a mile out compared to endomondo but looking at the endomondo map it seemed to have cut some corners and gone off line a few times so the computer was probably more accurate.

The software that comes with it, to download the activities, is clunky to say the least. I had trouble loading it on a windows 8 machine (needed .net 2.0 which doesn't automatically come with windows 8) but it worked OK once loaded. I could then extract to a .gpx file which I loaded on strava with no problems.

As it comes with a cadence and speed sensor I decided to attach the speed sensor to the back wheel as well as the cadence sensor. The cadence worked fine straight away but the speed sensor didn't, initially. Then, for some reason it just started working; may have been the magnet position but I was getting readings. I am hoping this will work on the turbo trainer but I'll know more later in the week.

All in all, once set up as you want it looks like a useful and cheaper alternative to a garmin but as I have never owned a garmin I'm guessing here! :?

I will post some more when I've tried it on the turbo and had more than one 25 mile outing.

stephenlinden

Just a little update.

I switched off the gps sensors and put the bike on the turbo trainer - with me as well obviously.

The speed and cadence sensors worked perfectly. I can't be sure the distance and speed measurements were accurate because I don't know if I put in the correct wheel size; I set it to imperial so 83 inches for a 700x23 appears about right but I might have to set it back to metric to put in an accurate sizing.

As well as that I tried using some different software to the delivered offering which is very confusing. Tried Golden Cheetah but I had to extract the data using the current software and export it to another format and only csv and gpx are options. Golden Cheetah wouldn't load the csv format and the gpx loses everything apart from distance and speed.

I then tried the trial (free) version of Sport Tracks 3. This has plugins to extract the data straight from the device and other plugins to extract data in useful formats for loading into Strava, for example. Had a play with this and it looks like it might be worth exploring further but work, wife, half and hour on the trainer and young kids limits time for doing this immediately. Whether it's worth paying $35 for the full version and web options remains to be seen.

All in all I'm quite happy with my cheap and cheerful gps computer so far. Once I get an ANT+ heart rate monitor it will give me all the information I want for less than half the price of a similar garmin or bryton.

goofierider

Any pics of the sensors mounted on your bike?

Cheers

stephenlinden

I'll try to post a photo.

Just another update ;I got myself a garmin ANT+ heart rate monitor and it was picked up first time. I'm assuming the readings were accurate. Happy with it so far.

Here's it mounted on the bike. It's in the conservatory so there's a bit of reflection (not noticed while I'm riding). There are 4 information screens (pages) and you can set them up to show what data you're interested in. I currently have distance, heart rate, speed and cadence on the first screen but what you have is entirely up to you. Up to 6 data items per screen.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/av4z3va0fa0uoxz/20130224_102124%20%281%29.jpg

stephenlinden

Let me know if you can't see the image. Obviously it's my dropbox account so I can

goofierider

Cheers for the pic.
Took the plunge and ordered as I need an ANT+ speed sensor to get trainerroad/sufferfest working for my turbo sessisons. Upgrading to an ANT+ computer would cost the same so GPS for free (well that's what i will tell the wife).

stephenlinden

Let me know how you get on with it.

I've used the sporttracks a few times now to load the data. I also manager to sign up for the web version (beta trial I think) which is free for 90 days so I can access data there.

It's interesting to see my heart rate at various points and see what zone I'm in. It was mostly 3 and 4 (quite a bit in 4) which either means I'm overdoing it or my theoretical max is off.

I can have hours of fun with stats when I add a bit more.

goofierider

Been using in anger for a while now and pretty happy following a few tweaks.

I manged to get the Timex firmware on to it so now using the timex software save to TrainingPeaks.
Just not a fan of the supplied software.

You can then use this site http://beta.pwx.raytracer.dk/ to convert the pwx to tcx to upload to Strava/MapMyRide/RideWithGPS. This beta inculdes cadence (and pretty sure HR) in the tcx.

Not seamless but works for me.

Just need to think of way to get it on an out-front mount and still have access to the usb port.

Is sporttracks wokring for you?

stephenlinden

Sporttracks works fine. There's a plugin that allows you to import data directly from the computer. It works fine for me.

If you've changed to the timex firmware (I thought about it but wasn't sure it would work) then the plugin probably won't work (there's no mention of a timex one).

The tcx (export is another plugin) from sporttracks does send the HR data as well as speed and cadence data so I get all of that in endomondo and strava (and sporttracks.mobi but trial is running out and I'm not sure it's worth $35 per year).

One other thing, where did you get the timex firmware and how did you install it? Loading to training peaks sounds like an attractive option.

goofierider

DISCLAIMER, THIS WORKED FOR MY DEVICE, I AM NOT CLAIMING THIS WILL WORK FOR ALL GB-580x. DO AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Timex firmware is here:

http://media.trainingpeaks.com/deviceag ... 211_02.GHX

Download it then rename this file in to a global sport firmware format then use the globalsport software to flash it on to the device.

Timex device agent can be found at this link:

http://timexironman.trainingpeaks.com/t ... agent.aspx

If want to go back to globalsport you can put the unit in a recovery mode and then flash it with the latest globalsport firmware again using the globalsport software.

Good luck, hopefully it won't brick your unit.

t4tomo

I took the plunge on one of these too. £112 for the 580P model - includes cadence sensor (and speed sensor obv) but not heart rate.

Got it set up and working on bike straight away, I downloaded the timex user guide which is slightly more helpful that the GSS one.

Also a relatively minimal amount of swearing to get it uploading its data from a ride. I can't get strava to accept data directly, but the software that comes with the 580P will import it OK from speedo to my laptop and then I can save it down as a gpx file and tehn upload to strava / velo viewer.

Data was pretty consisitent with that recorded on Iphone Strava app, so all good. I like the customisable screens too. Yet to try the navigation element but so far so good. Battery life seems very good (especially compared to an iphone)

stephenlinden

If you download the sporttracks trial version (you don't seem to have to buy it) there are plugins for downloading the data from gb- 580P and for exporting into different formats. I export to tcx so it has heart rate data.

t4tomo

I use the software that came with it to transfer data onto computer and the save it down itnoa folder on C drive.

I can then upload it to Strava on ride with GPS from there.

Reverse steps for getting a pre planned route from RidewithGPS onto the 580P.

It will only appear as an "activity" rather than a navigation route on the 580P but then you can choose to refollow the route anyway.

Did a route the other night just following the breadcrumb trail which worked fine. I had most of the road names I needed to follwo written down as a back up but it worked fine for a "not full Garmin 800 series maps" device

swj1

£108 now

stephenlinden

I just had a play with taking a Gps route from cycle streets into map my ride and then exporting a kml file and using the supplied software to load back into the device. A palaver but the activity is on the device now.

Just need to try following it :-)