50 replies to this topic

[live2beoutside]

What does everyone recommend for downloading power meter files from Garmin Ant+ devices?  I just picked up a Garmin 310XT.  I've started with downloading files to Garmin Connect but am finding that software to provide none of the power data I'm interested in (such as average power for laps and power for various time segments...5 min, 10 min, 15 min. best power, etc...).  I've tried to download the Garmin file to to the PowerAgent software that came with my Powertap Joule computer but I can't seem to get the PowerAgent software to communicate with the Garmin USB stick.

Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated...

Thanks

[JoshL]

If you want to take full advantage of your powermeter WKO+ is the best by far.

http://home.training...esktop/wko.aspx

[Mark EWERS]

I used to be a big WKO fan but became frustrated with their glacial pace of development. Save your $$ and download GoldenCheetah. The UI can be a challenge - yes, it's even worse than WKO's in some respects - but they run circles around everyone else when it comes to adding new tools and features

[Beeg]

This is akin to the windows vs mac debate.  I think you are going to find some polar opinions.  I use Sporttracks with several plugins for power data.  It also has its own learning curve for the UI but it is my favorite.

[Aaron Koch]

WKO+ won't run straight up on a Mac, just in case that's what you're looking for. That's the main reason I use GoldenCheetah.

[live2beoutside]

I don't mind a PC vs Mac debate so long as it generates useful information to help me make a decision (but thank's for letting me know what I've started ).  I took a look at the trial version of WKO+ and, so far, either I hate it or I can't find what I'm looking for.  The two things that I dislike are:

1.  All the lap data and the overall summary data are buried in a text file (PowerAgent allows access to this information - peak power for various time intervals, power in zone, etc....via links on the main screen). - what I'm looking for is easier acccess to the information in the [summary] block on the [journal] page.....

2.  I can't figure out how to get it to plot only an interval.  I can get it to highlight the inverval but not zoom in on a specific time segment.

I'm also not wild about it breaking up the workout into a series of 25 min. blocks.  Is it possible to get it to plot the entire workout on one line?

Thanks everybody

Edited by live2beoutside, 25 April 2012 - 07:09 AM.

[acoggan]

Mark EWERS, on 25 April 2012 - 05:36 AM, said:

I used to be a big WKO fan but became frustrated with their glacial pace of development.

You are not the only one who finds this frustrating. Of course, if the profit margin on the development of such software were what it used to be, more resources would be available to support updating WKO+.

[acoggan]

live2beoutside, on 25 April 2012 - 07:05 AM, said:

I don't mind a PC vs Mac debate so long as it generates useful information to help me make a decision (but thank's for letting me know what I've started ).  I took a look at the trial version of WKO+ and, so far, either I hate it or I can't find what I'm looking for.  The two things that I dislike are:

1.  All the lap data and the overall summary data are buried in a text file (PowerAgent allows access to this information - peak power for various time intervals, power in zone, etc....via links on the main screen). - what I'm looking for is easier acccess to the information in the [summary] block on the [journal] page.....

2.  I can't figure out how to get it to plot only an interval.  I can get it to highlight the inverval but not zoom in on a specific time segment.

I'm also not wild about it breaking up the workout into a series of 25 min. blocks.  Is it possible to get it to plot the entire workout on one line?

Thanks everybody

1. In WKO+, all of the summary data are shown in the Ranges bar found on the Graph tab.

2. After highlighting the portion of the ride you wish to examine in greater detail, either right-click to call up a pop-up menu, or just press control-R, to create a new range. You can them name it as you desire (e.g., 'Lap 1'), then zoom in to see the details.

3. WKO+ is not responsible for your file being split into blocks - that is the result of either how the file was originally generated, or how it was downloaded. Regardless, to join the blocks, simply copy-and-paste them in sequence into a single file (e.g., paste block 2 at the end of block 1, then paste block 3 and the end of block 2, etc.) and save it.

[ryanwoodward]

live2beoutside, on 24 April 2012 - 07:07 PM, said:

What does everyone recommend for downloading power meter files from Garmin Ant+ devices?  I just picked up a Garmin 310XT.  I've started with downloading files to Garmin Connect but am finding that software to provide none of the power data I'm interested in (such as average power for laps and power for various time segments...5 min, 10 min, 15 min. best power, etc...).  I've tried to download the Garmin file to to the PowerAgent software that came with my Powertap Joule computer but I can't seem to get the PowerAgent software to communicate with the Garmin USB stick.

Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated...

Thanks

I had issues with getting the Joule to connect with PowerAgent. I had to call PowerTap and their customer service had to send me a file. Their customer service was pretty good. I like PowerAgent, but with the recommendation to try Golden Cheetah from the esteemed Mr. Ewers, I intend to give that a try.

One thing to be aware of on PowerAgent is that I have not figured out how to combine intervals. I had a lap setting wrong on my Edge 500 and it lapped during a critical power test. I tried to combine the intervals, but to no avail.

Regards,
Ryan

[live2beoutside]

ryanwoodward, on 25 April 2012 - 09:47 AM, said:

I had issues with getting the Joule to connect with PowerAgent. I had to call PowerTap and their customer service had to send me a file.

Did you mean to say you had trouble getting your Garmin to connect to PowerAgent?  But it does seem you were successful in downloading files from a Garmin to PowerAgent....

ryanwoodward, on 25 April 2012 - 09:47 AM, said:

...One thing to be aware of on PowerAgent is that I have not figured out how to combine intervals. I had a lap setting wrong on my Edge 500 and it lapped during a critical power test. I tried to combine the intervals, but to no avail.

I never managed to do this with the Joule either. One thing you can do in PowerAgent is to click and drag a selection from the entire file and view it along with all the relevant data for that section.  But I've never managed to save it as a separate file.  I followed the directions  in the manual exactly and nothing happend...no new combined file.  Fortunatley, I've never had reason to save a combined interval so I just select the relevant section of data and write down what I want to record in my hard copy training log.

Edited by live2beoutside, 25 April 2012 - 10:53 AM.

[Br.]

Golden Cheetah (Linux) seems to work well.  The GUI is underwhelming, but it gets the job done.

[live2beoutside]

acoggan, on 25 April 2012 - 07:20 AM, said:

1. In WKO+, all of the summary data are shown in the Ranges bar found on the Graph tab.....

OK, I'm back home and have the software in front of me again.  This is my issue with WKO+ unless I'm somehow missing something....yes, I see the overall summary in the range bar.  But the only access I can find to the summaries of the lap data is in the summary chart in the [Journal].  I can't figure out how to get a graphical display of the the individual lap data and, to see the data for the laps, I have to scroll through all the laps...I can't just select one lap in particular, display it graphically and access the data summaries.....is there another way to access the lap data?

[live2beoutside]

Mark EWERS, on 25 April 2012 - 05:36 AM, said:

...Save your $$ and download GoldenCheetah. The UI can be a challenge...

Are you sure this works with Garmin products?  They don't list garmins on their web page. I downloaded the software but it says it doesn't find the download device when I try to download from the 310XT.....

[live2beoutside]

acoggan, on 25 April 2012 - 07:20 AM, said:

2. After highlighting the portion of the ride you wish to examine in greater detail, either right-click to call up a pop-up menu, or just press control-R, to create a new range. You can them name it as you desire (e.g., 'Lap 1'), then zoom in to see the details...

I can't do this. I can select the range but all the options are "grayed out"...not available. Perhaps this is a restriction they place on the free 14-day trial version?  Anybody else spend any time evaluating the free trial version?  It seems odd they would block features and prevent people from fully evaluating the software....

[Mark EWERS]

live2beoutside, on 25 April 2012 - 08:16 PM, said:

Mark EWERS, on 25 April 2012 - 05:36 AM, said:

...Save your $$ and download GoldenCheetah. The UI can be a challenge...

Are you sure this works with Garmin products?  They don't list garmins on their web page. I downloaded the software but it says it doesn't find the download device when I try to download from the 310XT.....

Yes it does. I download from my 500 all the time. I have also occasionally used GC's real-time training mode to capture power output as I pedal using my Garming USB stick.