iPhone battery life if paired with Garmin 810

topcattim
topcattim Posts: 766
edited April 2013 in Road general
Hi, I've been umming and aahing for ages re buying a Garmin 800/810. Doesn't seem to be that much difference between the two apart from the livetracking option. I currently use something similar through Cyclemeter on my iPhone, to send updates of my whereabouts to my wife at home in case of accident. Its a very reassuring feature, which I understand is replicated on the 810 but not the 800.

The trouble with my iPhone Cyclemeter app is that it has limited battery life, only lasting about 4 hours. Does anyone know how long the battery life would last on my phone if it was paired with the 810, to send the livetracking updates? I know that the Garmin battery life is claimed to be 17 hours, but what happens to the battery life of the paired phone?

Comments

  • rosavillewill
    rosavillewill Posts: 25
    I found that pairing the 810 and iphone did not make much difference to either's battery life. However, and i have only used live track the once, i did find that it used just over 100mb of data for an approx 4 hour ride. So i don't think that i shall be using it that much to preserve my data allowance.

    Will
  • topcattim
    topcattim Posts: 766
    rosavillewill wrote:
    I found that pairing the 810 and iphone did not make much difference to either's battery life. However, and i have only used live track the once, i did find that it used just over 100mb of data for an approx 4 hour ride. So i don't think that i shall be using it that much to preserve my data allowance.

    Will
    Hmm, that's useful to know, both about battery life (good news) and data allowance (not so good news). Can you configure the frequency of the updates, and if so, how often were you sending out updates to use 100MB in 4 hours?
  • gsvbagpuss
    gsvbagpuss Posts: 272
    100 Megs? I thought it was more like 100 kilobytes? (so said some review I read)
  • Mikey23
    Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    So does this device have a way of telling your missus whether you are lying bleeding and battered on the Tarmac or snug and warm in a comfy cake shop?
  • rosavillewill
    rosavillewill Posts: 25
    GSVBagpuss wrote:
    100 Megs? I thought it was more like 100 kilobytes? (so said some review I read)
    Well i can only go on what my O2 app said and the difference between my data usage at the start of the day and the end was about 100mb. Also for reference the connection dropped after about 3 hours and would only reconnect after turning off the 810. Turning off the iphone didn't allow the two to pair up again. As i say i have only used it the once so just my observation.

    Will
  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    Not sure about the 800s claimed life, but mine will do about 6-8 hrs - did about 12-14 when new.

    On long rides I use one of these:
    http://www.suntekstore.co.uk/goods.php?id=14003325

    It takes 2 x 18650 cells which gives me 4-5Ah of charging capacity from the 5v USB outlet. Its enough to fully charge my iPhone 2 or 3 times and top the garmin up. It also charges via the mini USB. It has built in cell protection and charge protection too.

    I also noticed that you could buy AAA versions from £1 shops. but they will give you about 900mAh so probably ok to half top up your iphone or garmin.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    If you both have iphones, you can use the findfriends app which updates pretty regularly.
  • topcattim
    topcattim Posts: 766
    diy wrote:
    Not sure about the 800s claimed life, but mine will do about 6-8 hrs - did about 12-14 when new.

    On long rides I use one of these:
    http://www.suntekstore.co.uk/goods.php?id=14003325
    Looks handy, but a bit big, I think, for my back pocket on longer rides. Might think about it for camping trips, though.
    coriordan wrote:
    If you both have iphones, you can use the findfriends app which updates pretty regularly.
    Good idea, thanks, but we've only got the one iPhone.
  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    About the size of a large puncture repair kit. Will go in the back pocket or can be velcro taped to the top tube.
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    Stretching & Workout Vids
  • rosavillewill
    rosavillewill Posts: 25
    Since the last garmin update i used live track again. After about 10 hours (8ish of which the 810 was paired with the iPhone) the garmin had about %35 battery left whilst the iphone had 27% left. Also this time my O2 app indicated that i had only used about 20 mb of data. Baring in mind i did the Rutland Cicle and my phones battery life always lasts a much shorter time due in that neck of the woods due to it struggling to find reception as against London where i live.

    Best
    Will

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