I know this is probably a very stupid question, but I'm thinking of buying a fitness tracker for the first time (Garmin) and just wondering how the GPS/Internet connection works. I assume it's free and you don't have to buy data or connect it to your smartphone data plan? Also, I'm currently on vacation in Spain (normally live in the UK) so it wont make any difference will it, or should I wait until I'm back in the UK?
Get a free smartphone fitness tracker, yes GPS is free. Skip the garmin.
Yes, it's free. You can also use your smartphone with internet/phone services off, basically set to airplane mode, then only turn on location services (=GPS), for fitness tracking. Obviously you won't see the map, unless preloaded, but the distance will be tracked and once you're back with internet service you can of course also see the map of where you've been running. Even works in Cuba ;)
Free as air wrote:
Yes, it's free. You can also use your smartphone with internet/phone services off, basically set to airplane mode, then only turn on location services (=GPS), for fitness tracking. Obviously you won't see the map, unless preloaded, but the distance will be tracked and once you're back with internet service you can of course also see the map of where you've been running. Even works in Cuba ;)
Thanks for the good advice!
Free as air wrote:
Yes, it's free. You can also use your smartphone with internet/phone services off, basically set to airplane mode, then only turn on location services (=GPS), for fitness tracking. Obviously you won't see the map, unless preloaded, but the distance will be tracked and once you're back with internet service you can of course also see the map of where you've been running. Even works in Cuba ;)
Why bother turning off all internet/phone services? Data plans are growing larger by the day, apps like Strava don't use much data anyway, and they don't draw much battery when your screen is off. Unless you're running extreme mileage, just leave it all on, play some music, and go run.
Your question make me realize the lack of understanding how GPS works, which is a pet peeve of mine.
GPS (Global Position System) works by globally positioned satellites that float around the earth in orbits that are synced to the rotation of the Earth.
With time, a satellite will slow down due to friction and begin to fall to the Earth. Another satellite needs to be sent back up into space to replace it in the network to keep the system working.
Each satellite has a very accurate atomic clock that sends the time back to earth. Atomic clocks work by measuring physical properties, and are accurate to
Not going to type again. I'm pissed that every thing after a [b]
Bobby1 wrote:
Get a free smartphone fitness tracker, yes GPS is free. Skip the garmin.
Some people might not like running with a phone.
Luv2Run wrote:
Bobby1 wrote:
Get a free smartphone fitness tracker, yes GPS is free. Skip the garmin.
Some people might not like running with a phone.
When Wayde van Niekerk broke the WR, he was wearing a watch and not a phone. Nuff said.