Upgrade to a Garmin 810? Why should I?

Jules Winnfield

My other half is getting her first road bike this afternoon and I was thinking of letting her have my Edge 510 and I was going to upgrade to the Edge 810. I understand that the 810 will have more features hence the price difference, yet looking at the specs on Wiggle and Garmins own website, the 810 only uses GPS but the 510 uses both GPS and GLONASS which gives a better coverage in the northern hemisphere due to the fact that GLONASS is a Russian satellite system.

A GPS device that uses both systems finds satellites 20% quicker than a GPS device that uses just GPS alone. With both systems used together, they also help you follow your route more accurately in built up and hilly areas. If I want a GPS unit then I want one that follows my route as accurately has possible.

So why should I upgrade to the Edge 810?

iPete

Because you want maps? If you don't then that's an easy decision.

Jules Winnfield

The maps "would" be handy Pete, but why should I sacrifice positioning accuracy? Surely that is the sole reason to use a cycling computer with GPS in the first place. Personally I can't see the point unless someone can explain to me anything different.

iPete

Do you think there would be a tangible real world different? Do a few second on start-up matter more than map based navigation?

I could understand if you were playing with missile systems but the real world difference is going to be negligible surely? I'd suggest picking up a bargain 800 unless you make the most of the wifi upload or live tracking.

homers_double

I picked up an 800 performance bundle for £200 and it's been faultless so far

Jules Winnfield

iPete wrote:

Do you think there would be a tangible real world different? I could understand if you were playing with missile systems but the real world difference is going to be negligible surely

I don't know Pete, hence that's why I'm asking. I will have to ask next time I'm on a club run cos some of them guys use a 810.

iPete

Be good to know but I'd go as far as saying that a bargain 800 would be more then fit for purpose.

Jules Winnfield

Looking at the reviews Pete, the 810 suffers with some "issues" such as the unit freezing, losing data, losing its way, just plain losing its mind by the sounds of things. In my limited research so far, it seems that the 800 is the better unit completely.

I love my 510, it's accurate, it does what I need it to do and it has never failed me. The maps on the 810 would be a bonus, but as far as I'm concerned my other half can buy her own 510 in the future and I will stick with what I know.

StillGoing

My 810 has never had a problem locating satellites on a ride. Sure if I want to switch it on while still in the garage it will take a while to find them, but once outside it quickly positions itself. Try Handtec for the best deals on all Garmin devices.

Bar Shaker

Jules Winnfield wrote:

Looking at the reviews Pete, the 810 suffers with some "issues" such as the unit freezing, losing data, losing its way, just plain losing its mind by the sounds of things. In my limited research so far, it seems that the 800 is the better unit completely.

My 800 has never done any of the things you list. It has never misplaced me either. Do not expect any accuracy from the Russian satellites if east-west relations carry on as they are.

Jules Winnfield wrote:

I love my 510, it's accurate, it does what I need it to do and it has never failed me. The maps on the 810 would be a bonus, but as far as I'm concerned my other half can buy her own 510 in the future and I will stick with what I know.

If you love it, I think you should stick with your 510.

SoSimple

Unless you really plan to use the mapping function - rather than it just being handy- I definitely wouldn't spend the extra cash.
I had an 800 until it was recently nicked and to be honest I used the maps maybe twice- and on one of those occasions the route guidance was so slow when doing a series of lefts and rights it was laughable. If you are expecting car standard sat nav, you'll be in for a big disappointment as the processor is much slower.

As for the speed of picking up satellites, it does vary from time to time as does the accuracy of the location - think of it as a blunt instrument rather than door to door guidance and you'll be fine.

Having said that, the Garmins are a great piece of kit and if you love bells and whistles, albeit with the odd glitch, go for the 810 - just don't let it out of your sight at an event even for 10 seconds as it's a very desirable piece of kit!

Jules Winnfield

Bar Shaker wrote:

My 800 has never done any of the things you list. It has never misplaced me either.

The type of reviews I mentioned Bar Shaker wasn't for the 800 but the 810 if you re read my post

snakedoc

I could not be without the GLONASS satellite system on the 510 as it locks on super quick and is accurate (which, whilst I know it is not a direct comparison, was not the case with my 800 particularly when going under lots of trees etc).
I just use the breadcrumb mapping feature on the 510 to guide me after creating routes online.

BTW I believe that the new garmin 1000 also uses the GLONASS system (but that is a much bigger more expensive device)

philbar72

iPete wrote:

Be good to know but I'd go as far as saying that a bargain 800 would be more then fit for purpose.

this is very true.

i've owned an 810. I sold it, to get a 1000 (which is excellent but i got a very good deal).

I would rather have an 800. they just work. i've had at least 10% of my rides corrupt on an 810. its everso slightly underpowered and not really useful (unless you really have to upload info to your smartphone immediately after the ride).... the extra overhead of bluetooth and the slightly odd UI compared to an 800 means that if i had to choose i'd go 800 every time.

saprkzz

I went from the 800 to a 810 as I was given one free, and at first I preferred the 800, I did go back to using it but then decided to give the 810 another shot, and I got used to it, and really like it now. I prefer the main screen and the different ride functions.

One thing I don't like, and this is probably me not knowing, but you cant stop a ride and restart without saving it. On the 800 you could press the Start/Stop button and it didn't save until you did a reset. On the 810 as soon as you press stop it gives the option of Save or discard. I am a typical bloke though, never read the instructions!

Overall though, I do like it and am glad I got one.

poppit

Been using an 810 for over a year, had very few problems, the latest firmware update sorted out the cadence occasionally freezing issue, on all the rides I've done it's crashed once. It even worked faultlessly on Ride London which was monsoon conditions. My wife's 800 is similar, no problems.

With both you really do need to look at the setting up info that a few folks have done which is online, it solves a lot of the problems you can have. I also use the autostop function so I don't have to bother pressing anything if I stop for a break and re-start, that also works faultlessly. Perhaps I'm just lucky!

terry2708

I've just bought one today. I have used a 200 for 2 years (its great) and just fancied an upgrade as I want to use it for training during the winter on a turbo trainer as well. The full kit, cadence and HRM was £282 on Wiggle and the 510 was £249 for the same kit. Seemed like a no brainer to me but time will tell.

Did I need to upgrade? Probably not, but then again do I need all the other cycling kit I buy? Course not but we all love a new bit of kit be it socks or a new 810!!

It must be ok as it was back in stock on wiggle today and has already sold out again.

Beave

saprkzz wrote:

One thing I don't like, and this is probably me not knowing, but you cant stop a ride and restart without saving it. On the 800 you could press the Start/Stop button and it didn't save until you did a reset. On the 810 as soon as you press stop it gives the option of Save or discard. I am a typical bloke though, never read the instructions!

If its the same as the 510 which I guess it will be then just hit the stop/start button again on the bottom right and it will restart the ride you were on , don't click the save or discard buttons on the touch screen until you have finished .

saprkzz

Beave wrote:

saprkzz wrote:

One thing I don't like, and this is probably me not knowing, but you cant stop a ride and restart without saving it. On the 800 you could press the Start/Stop button and it didn't save until you did a reset. On the 810 as soon as you press stop it gives the option of Save or discard. I am a typical bloke though, never read the instructions!

If its the same as the 510 which I guess it will be then just hit the stop/start button again on the bottom right and it will restart the ride you were on , don't click the save or discard buttons on the touch screen until you have finished .

ah, great.. thanks will give that a go on the next club ride. Its only when we stop for cake & coffee, I like to stop the ride without resetting.

wongataa

Jules Winnfield wrote:

A GPS device that uses both systems finds satellites 20% quicker than a GPS device that uses just GPS alone. With both systems used together, they also help you follow your route more accurately in built up and hilly areas. If I want a GPS unit then I want one that follows my route as accurately has possible.

The addition of GLONASS won't make the unit much more accurate in positioning. Maybe a metre or 2. I have an 800 and it is perfectly good location wise, as are all GPS units that can't use GLONASS.
Of course if the Russians manage to screw up the ephemeris data broadcast by their system again (this happened not too long ago) then the accuracy will plummet.

The only reason to get an 810 is if you want maps and live tracking. If you just want maps get an 800.