Garmin Edge 500 announced
UPDATE: The Garmin Edge 500 product page has been posted. The screen is the same sze as the Edge 205/305, and is smaller than the Edge 605/705.
UPDATE 2: My Garmin Edge 500 page has been posted with more details, including links to hands on reviews.
The Garmin Edge 500 was announced this morning, the fifth GPS receiver in their cycling product line. The Edge 500 is quite light, weighing in at only 2 ounces, compared to the Edge 705’s 3.7 ounces. It appears to be a little more squat than the previous oblong-shaped Edge models, and while detailed specs have not been posted, we suspect that the screen size is similar.
Available alone for $249.99, or with a heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor for $349.99, the Edge 500 features the improved heart-rate monitoring technology behind the new Forerunner 405Cx, which offers improved accuracy calculating calories burned. It is expected to hit store shelves in December.
The Edge 500 comes equipped with a new mounting system, has a barometric altimeter, displays temperature readings, and uses HotFixTM
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Are the heart rate monitor and cadence sensor from the 305 compatible with the 500?
They appear to be. If you go to the accessories tab on the product page for each one, it shows them to be the same.
What chipset is in it?
We don’t know yet, but it does say “high-sensitivity.” Probably not a SiRFstar III though. I’d expect an MTK or ST Micro chipset.
Wow, I want one of those!
What’s the features of the interface? Can the 500 view maps and be used to find a destination or follow a route?
Can you download the data in plain xml like the other garmin edge devices?
No, this one won’t support maps. You should be able to export data, but I don’ think it will let you navigate. I’d suggest asking at https://forums.garmin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20