Hi,
First time on here. I want to get into some gps speedsailing and need to get a gps of some sort I don't have huge amounts to spend. What is the best bang for buck and reliable and will last for years?
I also suggest the minimotion , but you can't see what's happening until you download . On the other end , GW60 is a watch and is good to see what's happening on the water . It is expensive and fragile , $400 ish . There are others in between. Just make sure it is approved for speed sites , if that's what you want to do . I would suggest that . There are many cheaper non approved watches if it's just for you .
Select to expand quoteImax1 said..
I also suggest the minimotion , but you can't see what's happening until you download . On the other end , GW60 is a watch and is good to see what's happening on the water . It is expensive and fragile , $400 ish . There are others in between. Just make sure it is approved for speed sites , if that's what you want to do . I would suggest that . There are many cheaper non approved watches if it's just for you .
I would buy a gw60 but I have read that they are not very reliable and have weak straps that brake and can not be fixed.
How long would you expect a gw60 to last?
Select to expand quoteJohn340 said..
Mini Motion, should be less than AUD 200. Although it might be hard to get in NZ
Dose the motion guy still do the one with a read out? If it was going to last for years I could deal with parting with the money.
Select to expand quoteroj00 said..John340 said..
Mini Motion, should be less than AUD 200. Although it might be hard to get in NZ
Dose the motion guy still do the one with a read out? If it was going to last for years I could deal with parting with the money.
He has been struggling with production of the LCD motion and has significant unfilled back orders. He's not taking new orders until these are filled. The mini Motion is available.
Mini motion and if you want on water feedback a garmin forerunner or similar watch that will take the gpstc data fields... suitable garmin watches can be picked up on good sales... AND you only need the motion if you'll want to post data to certain speed sites... my garmin is always very close to my motion - motion is always faster for the 2 second peaks but slower for nautical miles
GW60 is probably easiest. The strap on my second one has been good for a couple of years. Both are still working.
I love my coros, but it is only approved for gpsspeedsurfing.com
Battery lift must be at least 5-10 times better than my old garmin, also it auto uploads to gpsspeedsurfing.com
Considering your first post, just buy a cheap second-hand whatever-you-like and see if you like the discipline first. (I make them Motions)
Select to expand quoteJulienLe said..
Considering your first post, just buy a cheap second-hand whatever-you-like and see if you like the discipline first. (I make them Motions)
There is no question about whether or not I will like gps speedsailing, I am very interested in your system with the read out, I sent you an email, I will wait for your email reply.
Select to expand quoteJulienLe said..
Considering your first post, just buy a cheap second-hand whatever-you-like and see if you like the discipline first. (I make them Motions)
There is no question about whether or not I will like gps speedsailing, I am very interested in your system with the read out, I sent you an email, I will wait for your email reply.
Select to expand quoteJulienLe said..
Considering your first post, just buy a cheap second-hand whatever-you-like and see if you like the discipline first. (I make them Motions)
There is no question about whether or not I will like gps speedsailing, I am very interested in your system with the read out, I sent you an email, I will wait for your email reply.Select to expand quotecald said..
Mini motion and if you want on water feedback a garmin forerunner or similar watch that will take the gpstc data fields... suitable garmin watches can be picked up on good sales... AND you only need the motion if you'll want to post data to certain speed sites... my garmin is always very close to my motion - motion is always faster for the 2 second peaks but slower for nautical milesSelect to expand quoteImax1 said..
I also suggest the minimotion , but you can't see what's happening until you download . On the other end , GW60 is a watch and is good to see what's happening on the water . It is expensive and fragile , $400 ish . There are others in between. Just make sure it is approved for speed sites , if that's what you want to do . I would suggest that . There are many cheaper non approved watches if it's just for you .
What would one pay for a cheap gps watch that is not compatible with the speed sites?
There's been a few threads in the last year or so on this, if you do a search using the button above (eg search on "watch") you'll find a lot of information on gps devices, suggestions on cheaper ones (Timex $100 I think, or Garmin models, starting around $250)
where do you sail? There may be others in your area that can help you decide on what one to go for
Select to expand quoteroj00 said..
What would one pay for a cheap gps watch that is not compatible with the speed sites?
I bought secondhand Garmin XT310 Forerunners off e-bay for 30 and 40 GBP. One had the heart rate monitor, which I've never used. Both looked as good as new. On my 310XT, I can display max speed, average speed of the whole session, time, elapsed time, all on 1 screen. They are the older ones, so you cant download a windsurfing app to them. I think it was the GPS which came out after that which has that facility. The app gives you realtime display of max, average 10s, 500m, alpha etc. I upload my tracks to GPS-Speedsurfing. The Garmin is compatible with that site, but only for fun and not "world records" or events like the UK speedsailing challenge.
The Ozzie GPS site is stricter (but lets not go there).
I broke a strap on one of them. I think problems occur off the water. If you chuck it in a kitbag the strap can get bent, then break. I always do the strap up again when I've finished, and am careful where I put it. My previous Garmin lasted 5+ years. I bought that secondhand as well.
I've got a laptop and use GPS-Results.com software to look at the tracks in detail.
ps once you have started the watch, dont play with the buttons on the water. The seal isnt as good as they would let us believe on some watches.
I'm Curious...
What's the difference between a dedicated GPS Vs. Using your phone. Better accuracy?.
Yes there are GPS's and GPS's. Most are used for positioning and recording of tracks, but don't worry too much about speed accuracy. Positional accuracy can be boosted by the use of accelerometers, compasses, etc, that don't help speed accuracy. A high acquisition rate is also not needed for positional stuff, once a second is adequate.
But if you want an accurate 2s average, 5 or 10 times a second is better. Then there's doppler, this is the most accurate way of measuring speed, not all devices output this in their files.
Select to expand quoteWsurfAustin said..
I'm Curious...
What's the difference between a dedicated GPS Vs. Using your phone. Better accuracy?.
Many Android phones can record Doppler speeds using a windsurfing App. GPS-Logit is the best one I have used , but it was removed from the Google app store and is difficult to find now.
I understand that Windsport tracker app is also quite good, but I have not tested it. www.windsporttracker.com
Apart from variable accuracy, biggest issue with using a phone is that most are not waterproof so you must find a VERY good waterproof pouch or armband for it to prevent any chance of to being flooded which will likely kill it dead. The second issue is related, in that it is quite possible to smash the phone in a crash. I have smashed 2 that way when they were in my waterproof arm band and hit the boom in a crash.
So, if you want to use a phone for on the water feed back (I do 
) buy the cheapest Android smart phone you can find and throw away the SIM card (dont need it). A few years ago I could buy them for $10!! Now the cheapest around here is more like $40-60.
I would certainly NOT recommend that you use your normal, everyday use, probably expensive, Smartphone. 
All that said, you will get reasonable feedback info from a Phone with the app, (I love the 'speed talk' audio feedback 
) but at times it can be a couple of knots out, so dont put too much weight on the speeds it displays and records. And it wont be accurate or reliable enough for use in speed competitions so you cant use it in GPSTC. For example, I use an Android phone with GPS-Logit for 'on the water feedback' in conjunction with Mini Motions. This last summer I had a day where the phone told me I had done a best 2 sec of around 41.5 knots. When I downloaded the THREE Motions worn in the same session, they all agreed within 0.05Kts that I had actually done just over 40Kts. In another example, I recently tested 4 cheap android phones side by side on the dashboard of my car for a short trip. The speeds they gave were all different, and varied in a range of over 1.5 knots! The bottom line is that the GPS in Phones have very small chip antenna which leads to intermittent and poor satellite reception, giving inconsistent and often erroneous results. I have tested some higher end phones with GPS-Logit, and they seem to do a little bit better, but are still subject to the same limitations and errors. And none of them yet are capable of recording the Doppler error data that the GPS-TC uses to help verify and validate the results.
I highly recommend getting a Mini-Motion which are extremely accurate, reliable, should last for many years are are backed up with excellent warranty and service from the manufacturer. Use a cheap GPS watch or Phone with it for on the water feedback if you want that. And when the LCD Motion is available again, get that. 
A second hand GT-31 would also be a good interim choice if you can find one.
Are you wanting to join/participate in the GPS Team Challenge? I am amazed that no one bothered to ask that question.
If yes, then your options are extremely limited. If no, then you have a multitude of devices you can use. It has been discussed/debated adnauseum as to the accuracy of watches but they are far and above the easiest devices to use if you want on water immediate feedback. If you just want a general and pretty close idea of how far/fast you go then just grab yourself a gps watch.
Select to expand quotesailquik said..WsurfAustin said..
I'm Curious...
What's the difference between a dedicated GPS Vs. Using your phone. Better accuracy?.
Many Android phones can record Doppler speeds using a windsurfing App. GPS-Logit is the best one I have used , but it was removed from the Google app store and is difficult to find now.
I understand that Windsport tracker app is also quite good, but I have not tested it. www.windsporttracker.com
Apart from variable accuracy, biggest issue with using a phone is that most are not waterproof so you must find a VERY good waterproof pouch or armband for it to prevent any chance of to being flooded which will likely kill it dead. The second issue is related, in that it is quite possible to smash the phone in a crash. I have smashed 2 that way when they were in my waterproof arm band and hit the boom in a crash.
So, if you want to use a phone for on the water feed back (I do ) buy the cheapest Android smart phone you can find and throw away the SIM card (dont need it). A few years ago I could buy them for $10!! Now the cheapest around here is more like $40-60.
I would certainly NOT recommend that you use your normal, everyday use, probably expensive, Smartphone.
All that said, you will get reasonable feedback info from a Phone with the app, (I love the 'speed talk' audio feedback ) but at times it can be a couple of knots out, so dont put too much weight on the speeds it displays and records. And it wont be accurate or reliable enough for use in speed competitions so you cant use it in GPSTC. For example, I use an Android phone with GPS-Logit for 'on the water feedback' in conjunction with Mini Motions. This last summer I had a day where the phone told me I had done a best 2 sec of around 41.5 knots. When I downloaded the THREE Motions worn in the same session, they all agreed within 0.05Kts that I had actually done just over 40Kts. In another example, I recently tested 4 cheap android phones side by side on the dashboard of my car for a short trip. The speeds they gave were all different, and varied in a range of over 1.5 knots! The bottom line is that the GPS in Phones have very small chip antenna which leads to intermittent and poor satellite reception, giving inconsistent and often erroneous results. I have tested some higher end phones with GPS-Logit, and they seem to do a little bit better, but are still subject to the same limitations and errors. And none of them yet are capable of recording the Doppler error data that the GPS-TC uses to help verify and validate the results.
I highly recommend getting a Mini-Motion which are extremely accurate, reliable, should last for many years are are backed up with excellent warranty and service from the manufacturer. Use a cheap GPS watch or Phone with it for on the water feedback if you want that. And when the LCD Motion is available again, get that. A second hand GT-31 would also be a good interim choice if you can find one.
Good info, thanks
I always take my phone to listen to music anyway, so Ioad the gps tracker when I depart. Phone is waterproof (Galaxy S22). I have a Zhik lifejacket that has a nice huge velcro pocket right on the chest. Haven't crashed on it yet, but certainly a possibility.
Select to expand quoteBSN101 said..
DIY unit.
Thats can be a good option if you have the time, patience, skills and tools.
Select to expand quotesailquik said..BSN101 said..
DIY unit.
Thats can be a good option if you have the time, patience, skills and tools.
There's a group here that's gonna have a go at it. Soldered fingers & upside down pcbsLOL
Select to expand quoteWhat would one pay for a cheap gps watch that is not compatible with the speed sites?
Garmin 245 Music on sale at Pushys for about $250. Bike shop is a reliable seller of items, mainly cycle related
otherwise i just bought a couple of gt 31s off asymuth
these used to be the go to units for gps sailing shoot me a pm if you would like one
happy to hand one over at what it cost me.
