timex gps watch

Timex GPS Watches - An Overview of the Bodylink Series

By Rod McAnally

The Timex Ironman Bodylink line of watches comprise of Timex's most sophisticated sports watches. These watches have powerful sports modes that are suited to athletes who wish to maximize their fitness and performance.

There are three models in the Bodylink range: The T5F011, the T5J985 and T5G311. The T5F011 suits a man's wrist size and has features that are useful to runners. The T5J985 Trail Runner watch has more of an outdoors/adventurer style about it. It is the only Bodylink watch capable of navigation and has an advanced altitude mode. It also lacks the finishing time prediction features of the T5F011.

Bodylink Heart Rate Monitors
All Timex Bodylink watches come bundled with a heart rate monitor device. The heart rate monitor device attaches separately, wrapping securely around your chest. It has a separate battery and communicates real time heart rate data wirelessly. The heart rate monitor device is water resistant to 30 meters. All Timex heart rate monitors feature Digital, synchronized FM transmission which reduces conflict with other heart rate equipment.

3D Navman GPS
Unlike Timex's Speed and Distance watches, the Bodylink watches can measure vertical position. Like the Bodylink heart rate monitor, the Navman GPS attaches externally, you can secure it to your upper arm or clip it into your shorts.
The Navman GPS requires a single AA battery and provides continuous GPS readings for around 12 hours.

Timex Data Recorder
The Timex Data Recorder is a device that is purchased separately from the Bodylink bundles. It is a small device that picks up and records data from the heart rate monitor and GPS devices. At the end of the session, the Timex Data Recorder can transfer your session data to PC for viewing with the Timex Trainer Software or third party software like SportsTracks.


Sports Watch Modes
The Bodylink watches feature the following advanced sports watch modes.

Chronograph Mode
Chronograph mode is the basic stopwatch mode. Within this mode you can start and stop the timer as well as keep track of live performance data.

Vertical Mode
Vertical mode is found only in Bodylink watches. It allows you to keep track of a whole lot of vertical measurements including: ascent rate, altitude and elevation.

Finish Mode
Finish mode is unique to Timex watches. The watch will then alert you if you are off pace and display your predicted time for the distance. This feature is not present in the T5G311 watch.

Interval Timer Mode
This feature is only present in the T5F011 and T5G311 watches. Navigate and Waypoint Modes
This feature is only available in the Trail Runner T5J985 watch. Navigate Mode lets you store up to 10 waypoints, each with a unique label, it lets you navigation to waypoints, has a built in compass and you can track back through previously visited waypoints.

Lap Data Mode
Lap data mode presents stored lap information for your last session, even if the chronograph has been reset to zero.

Summary Mode
Summary mode displays data recorded while the chronograph runs. It provides a summary of continual data for the session.

Timer Mode
Timer mode lets you set up your Bodylink watch to count down from a specified time to zero. The timer can be configured to stop, repeat or switch to Chronograph, Vertical or Finish Mode after the countdown.
For much more information on the Timex Ironman Bodylink series watches, comprehensive information can be found on our website.

timex gps watches

Timex GPS Watches - The Timex Data Recorder For Extended Data Tracking

By Rod McAnally

The Timex Data Recorder works with a limited number of Timex watches that support heart rate monitors and GPS. It's function is to record continuous data that can later be uploaded to PC and analyzed in a software program like the Timex Trainer (bundled with most of Timex's advanced watches) or a third party software application like SportsTracks.

The Timex Data Recorder is about 3cm in diameter and clips neatly onto your shorts. It simultaneously collects heart rate and speed and distance data from heart rate and GPS sensors and continuously records workout information with support over multiple workouts.

The Recorder is also capable of tracking navigation data, including altitude, elevation, latitude, longitude, ascent and descent data. The device connects to PC via a USB cable. Once uploaded the Timex Trainer software lets you to analyze your data in a number of ways including:
Weekly activity time
Weekly distance goals
Weekly time in HR zones
Weekly distance by sport
Daily time in HR zones
Daily time in HR zones by sport
Daily distance
Daily activity time
Daily body weight
Daily resting heart rate
Daily highest altitude

The Data Recorder has a different capacity to store data depending on the information it is storing at a given time.

While recording heart rate monitor data only, a whopping 72 hours of data can be recorded, with speed and distance data only (no altitude), 26 hours of data is possible. With heart rate monitor data plus speed and distance, 14 hours of data can be stored and 7 hours with 3D GPS (inclusive of altitude) can be stored in the Data Recorder's memory.

The Timex Data Recorder is not essential, nor does it come standard with any Timex watches, but if you wish to store as much of your training data as possible and have it available for download and analysis, it may be worth while investing in this device.