t6 gps vs x9

[ahab]

Hi!

I'm wondering whats the difference in gps-functionality between the t6 with a gps-pod and the x9. Does anyone know?

	Suunto X9i - Click for more info Introducing the Suunto X9i - the new and improved version of the Suunto's X9, voted "Best Product of 2004" by Fortune Magazine. Now available in two colors, the X9i combines GPS functionality with an altimeter, barometer, compass, and thermometer ... all these instruments, packed into a single watch.

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

	Suunto Pods - Click for more info PODs from Suunto help you bring your workout of choice to a whole new level. Suunto offers PODs geared toward running, walking, all-around biking and road cycling - there's even a GPS POD - all of which enhance the functionality of selected Suunto watches and improve your workout. In fact, in addition to these PODs, Suunto also offers a number of Performance Packs, each of which includes a Suunto POD and Suunto watch together.

[felipe]

Hi,

As per what I'm reading, the main difference is that t6+gps pod does not record your position, just operates with it in real time to provide the speed and distance.
The x9 seems to record this, so it's got this great feature of displaying later your track on Google Earth and similar software.

It's a pity t6 can't do this too

	Suunto X9i - Click for more info Introducing the Suunto X9i - the new and improved version of the Suunto's X9, voted "Best Product of 2004" by Fortune Magazine. Now available in two colors, the X9i combines GPS functionality with an altimeter, barometer, compass, and thermometer ... all these instruments, packed into a single watch.

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

	Suunto Pods - Click for more info PODs from Suunto help you bring your workout of choice to a whole new level. Suunto offers PODs geared toward running, walking, all-around biking and road cycling - there's even a GPS POD - all of which enhance the functionality of selected Suunto watches and improve your workout. In fact, in addition to these PODs, Suunto also offers a number of Performance Packs, each of which includes a Suunto POD and Suunto watch together.

[raven]

Does anyone know if it would be possible from a software update to get GPS-position logging from the gps-pod + t6c in the future? It's a shame it doesn't already do this.

	Suunto X9i - Click for more info Introducing the Suunto X9i - the new and improved version of the Suunto's X9, voted "Best Product of 2004" by Fortune Magazine. Now available in two colors, the X9i combines GPS functionality with an altimeter, barometer, compass, and thermometer ... all these instruments, packed into a single watch.

	Suunto Pods - Click for more info PODs from Suunto help you bring your workout of choice to a whole new level. Suunto offers PODs geared toward running, walking, all-around biking and road cycling - there's even a GPS POD - all of which enhance the functionality of selected Suunto watches and improve your workout. In fact, in addition to these PODs, Suunto also offers a number of Performance Packs, each of which includes a Suunto POD and Suunto watch together.

[devlinse]

Originally Posted by raven

Does anyone know if it would be possible from a software update to get GPS-position logging from the gps-pod + t6c in the future? It's a shame it doesn't already do this.

I'd love to have been in the room to hear the decision making process when this project was approved. "So, we'll put a GPS chipset in and not record positional data. We're on to a winner here guys!"

Snarky comments aside, if you or someone you know is handy with a soldering iron, there is an answer. Apparently, the internals of the GPS pod do have route information they're just not exported. This guy has hacked up his GPS POD to obtain the data.

Suunto Hacking

Your warranty would be shot to bits, but the end result is apparently an accurate unit with only one or two short comings.

	Suunto X9i - Click for more info Introducing the Suunto X9i - the new and improved version of the Suunto's X9, voted "Best Product of 2004" by Fortune Magazine. Now available in two colors, the X9i combines GPS functionality with an altimeter, barometer, compass, and thermometer ... all these instruments, packed into a single watch.

	Suunto Pods - Click for more info PODs from Suunto help you bring your workout of choice to a whole new level. Suunto offers PODs geared toward running, walking, all-around biking and road cycling - there's even a GPS POD - all of which enhance the functionality of selected Suunto watches and improve your workout. In fact, in addition to these PODs, Suunto also offers a number of Performance Packs, each of which includes a Suunto POD and Suunto watch together.

[felipe]

Thanks for pointing that out devlinse.
In the absense of some official solution, I'm decided to give that hack a try.
I am with you in the snarky comments, but would like to believe that the guys at suunto have had another reasonable reason to left this functionality out of the t6 series, apart from wanting us to run/cycle with a t6 and an X10 on the other arm

	Suunto Visit SuuntoWatches.com to see Suunto's full line of wrist top computers and compasses.

	Suunto t6 - Click for more info The Suunto t6 is one of the most exciting new personal training devices to hit the health and fitness market this year. The "t" in t6 (if you don't want to get too technical) stands for "training". It actually refers to the time interval between two heartbeats, or EPOC. Measured to the millisecond, this interval allows you (using the included PC software) to assess your current fitness, set a proper training load, measure your actual fitness gain over time, and achieve your overall fitness goals.

	Suunto X10 Suunto commemorates 10 years with the Suunto X10. When you're trekking through a new frontier, adventure racing, biking, fishing, or conducting field operations, the Suunto X10 provides critical decision-making data. With full GPS functionality, including route planning and uploading, as well as outdoor essentials like an altimeter, barometer, and compass, the Suunto X10 wristop computer shows nature who's boss.

[raven]

This is actually a bit discouraging, I was hoping a software fix would do the trick but as it requires hardware changes we will never get position data down to the T6c unless Suunto releases a new GPS with it enabled

	Suunto Visit SuuntoWatches.com to see Suunto's full line of wrist top computers and compasses.

	Suunto X9i - Click for more info Introducing the Suunto X9i - the new and improved version of the Suunto's X9, voted "Best Product of 2004" by Fortune Magazine. Now available in two colors, the X9i combines GPS functionality with an altimeter, barometer, compass, and thermometer ... all these instruments, packed into a single watch.

[mstawick]

Hey, anyone from Suunto staff reading this thread? Do you guys plan to add this functionality? It's a killer, seriously. I am aware that it would drain batteries faster, but come on.

	Suunto Visit SuuntoWatches.com to see Suunto's full line of wrist top computers and compasses.