1. ClickTec button interface
2. Measurements in kilometers or miles
3. Universal speed sensor and magnet
4. Flex-Tight universal mounting bracket
5. Fits almost any handlebar or stem: 22-31.8mm; Fits

Editorial Review :

Packed with functions but free from wires, the Strada Wireless epitomizes power and elegance. Thanks to the new Cat Eye ClickTec interface, you can switch among seven modes by simply pressing the bottom of the computer

Customer Review :

Simple-to-use Bike computer

So far so good! I like that all you have to do is push the bottom of the screen to cycle through the different settings. The only complaint I have is that it's not more customizable; I don't need some of the settings, and it takes several clicks to get from distance to time, which takes my eyes off the road.

Rating :

poor design

The computer is great, good functions, but the mounting accessories are horrible. Tie wraps to tie the unit down? Give me a break! Also once the computer is clipped in its holder, it only takes a bump for it to pop out. I rode to work and wend through a pot hole a the computer went off flying. It hit the ground and well a car rolled right over it and it was smashed. No security when you clip it in its holder. BAD DESIGN!

Rating :

Great Computer

Overall, this is a great computer and does everything advertised and does it well. Unfortunately, I paid full retail price at my bike shop (aboout $70) and from the reviews, it seems like a better deal to buy it online and home install (I had it installed when I bought my bike). The shop said to expect the battery to last about a year, depending on usage. The computer fits right on the stem so it doesn't get in the way on the handlebars. The display is quite large and easy to read on the ride. It's also easy to reset -- just have to remember to do that before the day starts. The dual trip odometer is also a really nice feature that you might not think you need, but it's great to have to mark separate milestones. Flipping through funtions is also easy at the touch of a button, but it takes some time to get used to the display order when surfing.

One thing to be careful about is the alignment of the wireless receiver on the fork and the wheel. I had my bike shipped and the computer wasn't working when I took it for a test ride. I went back to the shop and their guys made sure the magnet and the reader were close enough together to send the signal to the computer (took less than 5 min for them to diagnose and fix). It's worked like a charm ever since.

The one function I wish it had were cadence. If I had done a little more research on bike computers, I would have gone with the double wireless Strada from Cateye CatEye Strada Double Wireless Bicycle Computer - CC-RD400DW. Also, the auto-scrolling functionality offered on the Nerd computers would be a great addition on the next version for Cateye. However, given the poor reviews of accuracy for almost all other brands in the same price range, I'd take a Cateye any day.

Rating :

worst setup yet

Only a computer science major could figure this out....and I a am a computer science major (grad)and I can't figure it out.

Rating :

Does what it's supposed to do


I'm new to cycling and got this item to re-affirm how slow I was. Well, it does a great job of reminding me how pitiful I really am every time I get on the bike. The bright side is the tool inspires me to work harder. The downside is I wish I would've spent more to get one with a heart monitor and power meter. Fit, finish, functionality are great. It took a little longer than usual (30 min) getting the head unit to pick up on the wheel transponder. The instructions say that both pieces need to be in correct alignment for it to work, so it was my faultly setup that caused the problem. I've never had anything like this before, so I can't compare it with anything. Overall, I am happy with this purchase.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. This GPS-enabled sport watch tracks your training, then wirelessly sends your data to your computer
2. The ultimate in training technology, its sleek design features a touch bezel that lets you quickly s
3. Its unique design gives the GPS antenna a better view of the sky, so it can get a stronger signal du
4. And its high-sensitivity GPS receiver provides improved tracking under trees and near tall buildings
5. Also includes the wireless heart rate monitor

Editorial Review :

This GPS-enabled sport watch tracks your training, then wirelessly sends your data to your computer. The ultimate in training technology, its sleek design features a touch bezel that lets you quickly scroll and select features on the run. Its unique desig

Customer Review :

Excelente

Estupendo Producto, deacuerdo a lo esperado, buena calidad... el unico detalle es que la bateria dura muy poco.

Rating :

Buy a 305 instead

I bought one of these to replace my old 305 which was stolen, and that in turn was a replacement for my original 205. The 205 and the 305 were brilliant devices that worked very intuitively and I was expecting the same standard with the 405.

But no. Unlike its predecessors, the 405 is annoying, hard to use and buggy.

These are my main gripes:

1. There is no "off" button.

Seriously, you cannot turn it off. So if you go for a run then toss it in the drawer the battery will go flat. The only solutions are to leave it on the charger, or plan your exercise long enough in advance to give this time to charge.

2. The screen is too small.

When I run I like to know my distance, time, speed and average speed. The 305, with 4 data fields, was fine for this. The 405 has only got 3 data fields of which only one is big enough to read on the go, which is not enough because;

3. The controls are completely useless.

The touch bezel is incredibly frustrating to use even when you're sitting on the couch. Trying to use it while running is like trying to thread a needle while running. The only way to manage it is to set the screen before you go and then don't touch it. So no scrolling through data fields on the go (and auto-scroll means you have to wait for ages to fleetingly see the data you are looking for). I've also heard that wet fabric will trigger the bezel if it comes in contact. I don't run in long sleeves but if you do it's one more thing to be wary of.

4. The backlight only stays on for 30 seconds. If you run at night or in the mornings with such a small screen you cannot read the display without the light. Turning it on requires touching the bezel which means you're just as likely to stop the clock or turn off the GPS as succesfully turn on the backlight. Doing that every 30 seconds is not practical or fun.

5. The speed readout does not seem to be accurate. Sometimes when I speed up I look at the screen and it says I've slowed down, and vice versa. It usually corrects after a minute or so but that never happened with the 305.

This is one of those rare situations where you can get a much superior product for a much lower price by just getting a 305 instead.

Hopefully the next generation will be better.


Rating :

Unreliable software/firmware

I bought the Garmin 405CX back in june. Unfortunately the product is very unreliable.

Shortly after trying out the accompanying software for Mac, I got my first Kernel panics, which basically means you loose everything you are currently working on. Apparently I am not the only one with this problem. Friends and family has experienced the same, and a quick google reveals that many users are experiencing this.

The firmware on the watch itself is also having problems, causing the watch to sometimes just freeze, requiring a hard reset and re-sync with the computer.

Even though I like the product and what it does, I can not currently recommend this to others with the current software flaws.

Hopefully Garmin will be eventually fix this issue, but considering I can find references to the kernel panic as far back as february 2009, I do not have high hopes.

This is really a shame, as all my previous Garmin GPS products have worked flawlessly.

Rating :

Bye bye Polar RS800CX

I've been using the Polar RS800CX for about 9 months. I've been extremely frustrated with the red button not working issue and the problematic foot pod. So, I decided to give the Garmin 405cx a spin.

I could go into a huge review of pro's and con's but to sum this up, the Garmin beats the Polar HANDS DOWN!

Yes, the Garmin software is not as robust and the Garmin has a few less features but the Garmin is MUCH more intuitive and the ease of use just speaks for itself.

The most important thing is this, when I press the button on the Garmin I know it's going to work. I can't tell you how many times I lost my workout data because the Polar RS800CX button did not work. I always had to press the button 3-5 times before it would register.

I really like to routes feature on the Garmin.

Okay, I could go on and on about how much more pleased I am with the 405cx. But the only thing right now is I would have liked a little longer battery life. Having said that, I'm sure the watch would have been larger so I think this evens out.

If you are a serious runner, biker or inline skater you will like this HRM.

Rating :

Takes a little getting used to but I love it

I had the old Garmin 201 which I liked but had a few issues with. It completely died so I thought I would catch up with technology & got the 405CX. I read a lot of the reviews & was concerned with a few things but decided to go for it.

The only problems I've really experienced so far are: 1) just getting used to how to find where things are & using the touch bezel- I would recommend locking it most of the time, 2) it takes longer than I expected to charge up (compared to a cell phone or ipod) & the charge depletes quickly & 3) even if you turn the GPS "off" it seems to turn itself back on, which is a major issue for me as I travel for work and if the GPS is constantly tracking itself & looking for signal the battery won't last more than a day. On that last point I am working on to see if the GPS stays in"off" --I'm still learning with this whole thing

But on the points I like (especially compared to my ancient Garmin: 1) the accuracy is incredible! When you upload to the website & follow your route on the map you can see where you stepped to one side of the sidewalk when your dog sniffed a tree! 2) the wireless data transfer is SO quick & easy, and I have a Mac and have not run into any issues with that at all, 3) it's very comfortable- it came with a smaller velcro wristband but I'm using the plastic one which is a little big for a female but still comfortable, 4) quick satellite detection -- one problem I had with my old 201 was it took FOREVER to find enough satellites & if I ran somewhere with lots of big trees or buildings it would lose signal and sometimes tell me I was running a 15 min. mile which I know I'm not. The 405 seems to be much more reliable on that front although for the first time today, in the month I've had it, it seemed to have problems with my speed. I have it set to auto pause at 14:00 min. pace and it kept pausing when I know I wasn't going that slow, but every other time I've used it the times seemed very accurate.

The heart rate monitor that comes with it seems to work well although I haven't figured out how to use it best for training yet. And I love the Garmin website to look at my runs & track my info. It's easy to use & fun to look at your progress.
On the whole I really am thrilled with the 405 & think most of my issues just come from me needing learning how to use it better.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. Wrist-mounted heart rate monitor with sleek black housing
2. Reads average heart rate, max heart rate, and exercise time
3. Target zone heart rate indicator with audible and visual alarms
4. OwnCode technology blocks nearby crosstalk signals
5. Includes T31 coded transmitter; water-resistant to 50 meters

Customer Review :

Gift for Dad

Worked out well for a gift for Father's Day. Easy to use, sturdy, does what it should.

Rating :

Polar FS2c pulse monitor review

I am extremely pleased with my Polar FS2c heart rate monitor. This is my fourth heart rate monitor as I use them nearly every day. It is extremely easy to use and reliable, and in a league above its competitors.

Rating :

Best in Class

This monitor is great. I have owned 4 other monitors before this one.
Here are my thoughts:

Pro: Sealed (no rusty dead batteries) 2500 hours life on the monitor
Compatible with most if not all macj=hines at the gym
Smart: When monitoring bring the watch in close and it will change functions.
Easy to set up. Only one button but, step by step included.
Great fit. Once you put it on you will forget it is there.
Price is very reasonable

Cons: Must be sent in to Polar to change battery
I really can't think of anything else.

I love this product..Well Worth the 60 Bucks

Rating :

An excellent Heart Rate Watch

I researched and read 50 or more reviews before I finally decided to buy this watch. The watch is perfect and has virtually no flaws. I researched the features that I required, and this watch presented those features perfectly. For perspective, I'm male and 6'3"

The Good:
- The one button operation is easy to use and the button is large enough
- The display is large and easy to read
- It's backlit (ie it lights up at night - on demand)

The Great:
- The awesome feature where you can just place the watch directly in front of the chest strap (while wearing it) and the watch will toggle between heart rate, time and even the back-light - yes the back-light too! Meaning while your working out at night, just pass the watch in front of the chest strap and the the watch will light up for a few seconds -- awesome!
- The watch is not bulky nor dainty
- It's truly waterproof (I have swam many laps in the pool with it and the readings were perfect)
- The chest strap is very comfortable and the sensor is small, sleek, and like the watch, it's waterproof.

The So So:
- If you have large wrists, the watch may not fit... Mine is being worn on the second to the last hole.


The watch would physically look appropriate for a man, woman, older boy/teenager, but might look too big or masculine for a young girl.

You can safely buy this watch and be happy!!





Rating :

Great Product

This is a great product and very easy to use as it has 1 button! I use it everyday to track workout time, rest intervals and of course heart rate. I'm sure it can do much more, but that is all I need.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. High-sensitivity, watch-like GPS receiver that provides exceptional signal reception
2. One-piece training assistant that provides athletes with precise speed, distance, and pace data
3. Includes training center software, which allows users to download workout data for a detailed analysis
4. Used for multiple sports, such as cycling, cross- country skiing, and windsurfing

Editorial Review :

Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, affordable, and effective wrist-mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 205. The release of this device is a major achievement from a design and technology perspective. This isn't just marketing-speak; the Forerunner 205 is the most accurate, most reliable wrist-mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we've ever tested. Yes, it's that good. While no device this compact can do everything (yet), the 205 pushes the boundaries of what is possible from something strapped around your wrist. While the 205 doesn't offer heart rate monitoring, or connectivity with Garmin's wireless speed and cadence sensor -- for that, you'll need to step up to the Forerunner 305 -- but it's a great way to get basic GPS location and performance data.

View Garmin's Forerunner demonstration video.

Choose from 12 data fields to display on the 305's screen. View larger.

The design cleverly integrates the GPS antenna and aims it towards the sky when you're running or walking. View larger.

The Virtual Partner function makes your workouts more competitive. View larger.

Choose from three workout modes that help you target your training goals. View larger.

The 305 features rudimentary mapping and location marking functions. View larger.

Design
The 205's design is a radical departure from Garmin's previous generation of wrist mounted GPS devices, which reached a pinnacle with the Garmin Forerunner 301. While the 301 delivered accurate heart rate monitoring, good performance tracking, and decent GPS reception, it didn't quite deliver in the design department. The form factor was bulky and wearing it wasn't much different than duct taping a full-sized GPS device to your wrist.

Not so with the 205. Garmin's engineers obviously burned the midnight oil and have come up with a waterproof design that, while certainly not as small as a sports watch, feels just as comfortable. The curved casing allows the unit's antenna to face the sky when you're running, while the widescreen display is perfectly positioned for viewing when you need it. And the display certainly deserves a few kudos. While it's smaller than the display found on previous Forerunners, its resolution is far higher, offering incredible clarity and crispness.

Garmin has smartly given the 205 a simple button layout and the buttons have a nice tactile feel with good pressure response. The right side houses the menu selection and enter buttons, while the left houses a power/backlight button and a mode button. This simple and elegant solution is a big improvement over the sometimes confusing button functionality of previous Forerunners. View button layout.

The underside of the 205 is pretty nondescript, except for a row of contacts that interface with the included charging and data cradle. The cradle is small and unobtrusive and its single mini-USB port connects to either an included AC adapter, or a USB cable that connects to your PC. In addition to data transfer with the USB cable, you can also charge the 205's embedded lithium-ion battery via a powered USB connection from your computer.

GPS Performance
The big news about the Forerunner 205 is that it features an integrated, high-sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS receiver. What does this mean? It means that the 205's ability to both track, and maintain a lock on, your position is better than anything before it. After an intial battery charge, our product tester had the 205 on his wrist and was tracking speed and distance with GPS satellites within 3 minutes. The next time we used the 205, satellite acquisition was nearly instantaneous. A run through dense trees didn't faze the unit either; tracking remained true and steady. Performance on a bike was equally impressive. Whatever witchcraft has been cooked up by the designers of the SiRF technology, we like it!

The simple docking cradle makes charging and data connectivity a snap (Forerunner 305 model shown).

While the Forerunner 205 isn't billed as a GPS navigation device, it does have some rudimentary mapping, waypoint marking, and routing capabilities. In addition to marking locations along your journey, you can zoom in or out of a simple map that displays your current direction and path. There's also a "go to location" feature that routes you back to your starting location, or to any location you have defined. Once you have defined several locations, you can save this information as a route, allowing you to travel the same path in the future. As you'll see below, the 205's new "Courses" feature gives you new levels of control over how you define your favorite runs and rides.

Training Functions
The 205 is first and foremost a training tool, and its ability to organize a ton of data types into a user experience that is intuitive and simple is no small feat. Whiz-bang technology aside, if you can't use it and make it a natural part of your exercise routine, it's worthless. When it comes to these factors -- and here's the take home message on the 205 -- this device is successful where many other devices fail.

The heart and soul of the 205 can be found on the data screens, which give you real-time information about all aspects of your workout. In fact, the 305 can display a dizzying array of data, such as calories burned, distance, elevation, grade, and heading, as well as multiple lap and pace modes.

Thankfully, the device makes it easy to define how much or how little data you want to view during a workout. You can arrange the data that's most important to you and then make that data appear front and center on the device. Indeed, within a few minutes of skimming the manual and fiddling with the device setup, you'll have your most important data displaying just the way you like it.

Garmin's Virtual Partner function was cool feature of previous Forerunners and they've decided to keep a good thing going with the 205. If you're the type that performs best when you've got a competitor egging you on, you'll love this function, as it allows you to set up virtual running or biking companions that compete against you.

If you're looking for an complicated workout with a variety of intervals and intensity levels, or just a quick three-mile jog against your best time last week, the 205 has you covered. Navigating to the Workouts menu on the device yields three options: Quick Workouts, Interval, and Advanced Workout. A quick workout is just that; set the distance and time, distance and pace, or time and pace of your planned workout and off you go. Interval workouts are just the same, but they allow you to add repetitions and rest between them. When you really want to get fancy with your exercise, you can step up to advanced workouts, which include goals for each workout step, as well as varied distances, times, and rest periods. You can use the Garmin Training Center software to set up these workouts and then upload them to the device.

PC Connectivity and Software
Garmin has been outfitting their devices with USB connectivity for some time now -- a welcome move for those who struggled with serial port connections in the days of yore. Thanks to USB, the 205 integrates seamlessly with the Training Center software and we quickly had workout history uploaded and stored on the PC.

In a first for the Forerunner series, the Training Center software also lets you define courses on your PC that you can upload to the device. When course information is combined with uploaded workout information, the Forerunner becomes a complete guide, telling you where to go, when to make a turn, and what kind of workout to do when you're on the road or path. Back on the PC, the software's ability to overlay workout data on maps of the course makes it easy to see where the course offers up the tough hills and the easy recovery spots. Plus, the ability to track historical performance on a given course is a great way to measure your improvement.

The 205 is also fully compatible with Garmin's MotionBased service, which takes your training to another level by connecting your data with the Internet. While we weren't able to use the service, the promise of sharing courses, maps, workouts, and performance data with other users is intriguing. And if you're a serious endurance athlete, you'll be glad to know that the 205 is also compatible with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy-to-use web based training system designed to help athletes train for any event.

Pros

• Radically new design is better in every way
• Amazing accuracy and fast satellite acquisition time
• So simple to set up and use, you will actually use it

• Okay, it's bigger than a sport's watch -- but so much more powerful

Customer Review :

Great product, but does it last?

Just ordered my second Garmin for running (this time I stepped up from 205 to 305, even though I don't routinely use Heart Monitor, because price is currently the same for both models).

I loved everything about the first except:

1) It went kaput, 1 year and 3 days after purchase--which is to say 3 days out of warranty. Garmin was inflexible: refurbish for $69 with a 90 day warranty, take it or leave it. This led me to peruse web reviews which reveal much dissatisfaction with durability and many stories similar to my own.
2) It's bigger & heavier than I would like, but this seems to go with the territory, at least for now.

After mulling the refurb v. buy new for twice the price (and 4 times the warranty) dilemma, I decided to jump-start the economy by going new...

You're welcome.

But in reviewing product category again, I have come to the conclusion that Garmin doesn't have enough competition to keep them innovative and to keep their service game on its toes. This makes me long for a new entry that will allow me to exact my consumerly revenge. But for now, they are the obvious choice, and this is a product I really need and have really missed during a mere week of it being unavailable to me. And it does perform beautifully...that is, while it performs at all.

Rating :

No complaints

The size of the display is just right - easy to see with a quick glance. I actually prefer the size of the unit to the newer smaller models because it's got everything I need in one screen at an easy to read size. I only have a few complaints, all minor:
- the volume of the 'beep' is a bit low, it would be nice to hear the alerts (lost satellite, auto pause, etc), unless I'm holding it at just the right angle, I can't hear them
- the software it comes with (for the Mac) is a bit primitive - the graphs are crude and the interface hard to interpret

All in all, I like the product. The accuracy is pretty good - all routes come out to same distances I've calculated from Google Earth, and on an out & back run of 10k, it was 5000m one way and 5040 the other, so only 40m difference in 5000 is, what, less than 1%, that's pretty good in my book.

Rating :

Awesome!!

I have now had my Garmin Forerunner 205 for 4 months and I love it! You can set it to signal at time intervals or distance intervals. You can also set it to keep you in you own personal pace limits; it you drop below or go above the pace period it will sound an alarm for you.
I really enjoy the calendar that shows how my month of running worked out with weekly details at the end of each week. The website is so cool!
I like looking at the arial pictures of the route I took; especially with out of town races.
I dare to say that having my Garmin is almost as important as having my running shoes!!
What is progress if it can't be measured?
Garmin does that!

Rating :

Great Product

One of the best electronic devices I have ever bought. I use it for running and biking, and it never loses a signal. In and out of canyons and it still keeps the signal. The sync software that comes with the device could use some improvement, but overall a great product.

Rating :

Perfect for my purposes

Amazon sent it quick and painless as usual.

The watch isn't going to win you a style contest but who cares when you are out getting sweaty anyway? It's very comfortable and I normally hate wearing watches. It works rain/shine.

Getting an initial signal you need to be pretty still in a clear area, but once it is locked on it is solid aside from going indoors. I don't need a heart monitor, but if you ever think you might or if you want a cadence thingy on your bike then you need to get the 305 since it has the ability to connect to those.

Good stuff.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. Golf GPS system with sleek and unobtrusive design that fits in a pocket or belt holder
2. Provides golfer with aerial and satellite photographs of your favorite golf courses
3. Built-in GPS technology clearly locates the golf course hazards and flagsticks
4. Connects to www.uprogps.com for golf course downloads; 2.2-inch high-resolution color screen
5. Includes battery, wall adapter, USB cable, and free course download; 6-month warranty

Editorial Review :

Looking to improve your course management skills? Turn to the uPro golf GPS system, which employs state-of-the-art GPS, aerial, and satellite technology to accurately render the details of thousands of golf courses. The uPro starts by providing the avid golfer with aerial and satellite photographs of the golf course, so you can see what the hole looks like before you play it. At the same time, the unit's built-in GPS system clearly locates the golf course hazards and flagstick, so you know what you're up against at any moment. With each glance at the 2.2-inch, high-resolution color screen, you can see a different view of the fairway, check out the upcoming sand traps and water hazards, or receive a distance marker that helps you select the correct club length. Even more impressive, the uPro's SmartView technology anticipates the hazards that you'll face on your next shot, so you can plan accordingly based on the strengths of your game. Don't want to carry water on your second shot? The SmartView technology's dynamically generated "viewports" will tell you which area of the fairway or rough will provide a water-free path.

The uPro offers aerial and satellite photographs of thousands of golf courses.

The easy-to-comprehend user-interface is crisp and intuitive.

The uPro is remarkably easy to carry, with a sleek and unobtrusive design that fits in a pocket or belt holder without interfering with your natural golf swing. In addition, the unit has the quickest startup time of any golf GPS system, with a super-fast GPS locking system. And thanks to the high GPS sensitivity, the uPro remains locked even under the most extreme conditions.

The uPro offers two basic modes for golf course downloads. In Basic mode, the uPro shows the distance to the front and back of all hazards and differentiates the type of hazards. Each hazard is automatically displayed in sequential order based on the current user position, and then is updated as the user moves throughout the hole. Basic mode also provides a green view, with large, easy-to-read numbers that depict the distance to the front, center, and back of the green. In Pro mode, meanwhile, the device offers a video flyover that lets the user see the layout of the hole from an aerial perspective. From the center of the green, users can see the 100-, 150-, and 200-yard markers. The Pro mode also offers scale-accurate measurements that are used to measure to and from any point on the golf course, even from the outskirts of the rough.

The uPro is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and Mac OS X v10.4 or later (Windows 2000 is the oldest version of Windows that is compatible with the uPro). However, note that the uPro does not require any additional software to connect with the uPro servers. Instead, users can easily download golf courses at uPro's web site. Once you're online, the web site gives the user a list of all golf courses in the U.S.--in your choice of Basic or Pro mode--on a click-and-buy basis. The unit's GPS technology also automatically determines which courses are nearby. And as an add-on software download, the device can accept voice commands to make menu navigation virtually hands-free.

The uPro comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a wall adapter, a USB cable, and a single free Pro mode download of any golf course. The device comes with a six-month warranty.

Customer Review :

UPRO

I GOT THE CALLAWAY UPRO 3 WEEKS NOW AND I WENT FROM A 13 DOWN TO 11. I LOVE IN PRO MODE. THE BEST BY FAR ON THE MARKET!

Rating :

a wirthwile purchase

Not having used this gps for an extended time, as of now it is the best one i have had. Having a sight problem it also has and enlargement for word usage. It seems to be very accurate of the courses i have played.

Rating :

Highly Functional Golf GPS

Callaway uPro was an upgrade from the Nikon laser rangefinder I've used for four years. The Nikon proved to be helpful and was a good value but I wanted the advanced features offered by a GPS unit. After playing a few rounds with uPro I'm very pleased with its functionality. Only one problem, which I'll discuss later, kept me from giving it 5 stars.

I downloaded the User Manual while waiting for the unit to arrive and was familiar with the unit before I opened the box. Initial setup was easy, although I had to do a couple extra steps as mentioned in the manual to get started in Vista. Downloaded my home course using the free credits. Plan to buy 20 courses worth of credits and have a list of 10 I'll be downloading soon.

The built-in video was of limited value since I'd already read the manual. But being able to preview my home course in the comfort of my recliner certainly made things easier when I played my first actual round. I turned down the backlight to 30%, left auto hole change with prompt, and eventually settled on "normal" power save. I turned off flyover and would most likely only use it to preview a new course. I think during play it will take too much time.

Basic Mode is adequate for at least half my playing time, especially on my home course. I love the Mark function to measure shot length and it's already helping me with club selection. Switching to Pro mode is quick and easy. Very useful when dealing with blind shots or holes with a lot of hazards. Measure works great and takes the guesswork out of layups. Not having doubts about exactly how far to hit on a layup makes a good swing a lot easier. Knowing the exact distance to front, middle and back helps greatly. My playing partners have commented on how much closer I'm hitting to pins already. Although our course was lasered several years ago, I've found a couple 150 stakes are off by nearly 5 yards. No wonder I was always short when relying on them.

Having played many rounds with people using other GPS brands, I was concerned about time to get an accurate yardage. With uPro I can wake it from sleep mode when I reach my ball and have a yardage within 5 seconds. And the final yardage will not be more than 2 yards different than the first reading. I've seen other brands take nearly 30 seconds to stabilize. That's annoying and disrupts my playing tempo. Huge plus to uPro for its speed.

I mentioned one problem. The first time out I played 9 practice holes to get used to the unit. I had a match scheduled that afternoon and planned to use uPro. To conserve power I shut it down for 50 minutes. When I powered back up it had no courses in memory. Had to play the match without uPro and was not happy. Once home I called tech support. They warn you it could take 15 minutes to get an available tech rep. I waited about 10 minutes. But he was patient and talked me through the procedure to reset memory. It's a multi step procedure which involves removing and installing the battery a couple times and the memory chip, but it worked. Could be done at the club but would be annoying if it were a frequent problem. So far I haven't had another incident, but that is why I didn't give it a 5 star rating.

Overall I'm delighted with uPro. I would recommend it a friend.


Rating :

Very poor user guide

I am the son-in-law of someone who got this as a gift. I was called in to help set this up because he was having issues. There is a typo in the user guide. The first time setup URL that is required for this to work is not what is published in the user guide and what is published online on the PDF manual.

If your are on the product team at the company who makes this for Callaway, save the son-in-laws of the world some hassle and have the URL that is published in the user guide redirect to the correct page.

At least 3 of my father in laws buddies have returned this product and he would too had I not provided customer service for you.

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Callaway uPro - switching back to SkyCaddie

I was tired of the annual fees for the SkyCaddie, so I ponied up and purchased the new Callaway uPro.
I was really interested in the overhead satellite views. Yes, you have to pay extra for the satellite images, but it was only once (per course) and it was yours forever.
Before you buy - ensure ALL the courses you're interested in are available now!
Two courses I play regularly are not available in ProMode (overhead view) and one isn't even available in Basic Mode.
I've emailed the Tech Support team repeatedly, asking why they advertise they add "a thousand" courses every month, yet these haven't been added. It's been more than six months and I'm still waiting...
The response from Tech Support was that they purchase the satellite imagery and it wasn't available for these courses. These aren't local muni courses, the first course are designed by Jim Engh (Four Mile Ranch) and was voted as a Top 100 New Courses in 2008 (I believe) in Golf Digest and the other is Sumo Golf Village, done by Gary Player.
Ok, but let's assume your local course is available - how's it do?!? My home course has 36 holes on it. One of the courses is pretty accurate. The other is off on several holes, some as much as 12-14 yards. That's a huge difference. I took the time to record several rounds, GPS vs Yardage Markers and sent them to Callaway's uPro Customer Service. A few weeks later, I received an email saying it was being forwarded to the Mapping Department...well, another two weeks have come and gone - no reply/response from the Mapping folks.
I've read people marveling about the accuracy of this device, so I took it to the local muni course. Most holes were accurate, but two of the 18 holes were off by 10+ yards. I thought about emailing Callaway, but what's the point? They don't respond.
So - yesterday, I put my Callaway uPro on E-bay to get rid of it. Ironically enough, during a golf tournament, I won the Callaway uPro Go. I haven't even taken it out of the box. It'll be going on E-Bay as well.
I'm switching back to my SkyCaddie and paying the annual fee. The whole reason I bought a GPS is because I didn't want to guess about distances, but the "advanced" GPS capabilities of these units - has me doing exactly that. I find myself walking to the 200 or 150 yard makers, seeing what the GPS says, then doing the math to add/subtract the yardage and do it again when I'm at my ball. Nonsense if you ask me.

I also had the issue about my data card becoming corrupt after a failed download. Customer support was quick to let me know my device was out of warranty. Fortunately, I figured it out myself.
One final note - I was thrilled with the overhead view of the course, with real satellite imagery. Very cool..but to be honest, after a few times - I don't use it. It's more of a novelty. I just want to know how far it is to the bunker or to carry it, or front/middle/back of the green. When you have the Pro Mode for a course, you can do the typical "how far to the flag" with the cross hairs, but it's a clunky interface. I preferred the SkyCaddie version better.
In summary, I'm disappointed with the inaccuracy of the uPro. The Customer Support had a bit of an attitude when I contacted them. When you spend almost $400 for a gadget like this, I expect better. I would have expected this type of service from the Swammi Golf GPS for $99.

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