It looks as though Locosys may be planning to design and build a new windsurfing GPS. They have posted a survey on their Facebook page: Locosys Club.

I encourage all interested to submit this survey and encourage you to think about the mentioning the things I have listed below

My submission:

Any new Windsurfing/Kitesurfing GPS Should include the following features:

-36 hr battery recording life,
-waterproof: enough to withstand high speed water impact,
-at least 2 gb data recording,
-at least 5Hz update rate,
-Multi GNSS for more satellites and possibly accuracy.
-Large antenna for better/more accurate data,
-Must have Doppler error value recording,
-Speed Genie as current GW-60 with large font,
-speed talk english (and otherlangage) audo feedback of current speed and Genie readout,
-able to be securely bicep arm mounted,
-induction charging without wires,
-wifi or bluetooth download of data.

Any new device must be able to communicate as well with Apple Mac OS (have a Mac OS utility) as with Windows OS. Even better if it can be a standard memory format accessible by all OS including Linux and Android.

I suggest that a slightly larger Bicep arm mounted device is much better, as you can have a larger antenna, larger display, larger battery and larger unit to make integrating all the required features easier and possible.

The watch size/form factor limits it's use for us. There are many among us that want 24hr+ non stop ability, and multi day session ability without recharging, and a watch won't fit a big enough battery.

If you are going to do a watch, make sure it has a secure, reliable and replaceable wrist band that does not crack or break.

Also, implement a warranty return process that does not cost the consumer to retailer. The current one makes the retailer not viable to sell the GW-60 if there are returns.

Please do NOT use a touch screen. They were a disaster in the GW-52 and they are also suseptable to accidental activation in use.

We do not need a colour display screen! High contrast Black and Grey is better. It will use far less battery power and is easiest to see and less expensive to buy. There would be no objection if the colour display did not add the the cost and power consumption.

We don't use " smart logging" as it confuses the analysing software.
Also "max speed" at 5hz and 10hz is misleading, as it's just an unrealistic
peak.
We need 2s and 10s averages in the display.



Locosys club FB page:

facebook.com/LOCOSYS.Club/


A further comment for this forum: Please think carefully about asking for features that are technically very difficult or features that will dramtically increase cost. If you are not sure, you can always raise and discuss them in this forum.

Apart from the one that GPSTC has ordered for testing I am aware of two others who have ordered the Motion GPS.
There was some delay as the manufacturer found some bugs and decided to upgrade the hardware and firmware, but we are expecting to receive them very soon. The fact that he did this is great and we were happy to wait.

kato said..
Can I just have a GT31 that's waterproof and ditch the watch.
The GT was almost perfect

Yeah can they develop this as the less expensive option. I would buy another

kato said..
Can I just have a GT31 that's waterproof and ditch the watch.
The GT was almost perfect

'Almost perfect' is going WAY too far! There are a large number of things that could be greatly improved on from the GT-31.

Waterproofing (or lack thereof) was always a huge sore point. Many of us lost multiple units to drowning and this was one of the biggest complaints.

The GW-60 did actually bring some very big improvements: 5Hz, Waterproof, Much better Genie. (I dont consider wrist wearing to be an advantage, but some obviously do)

But it also lost some features that are very important: Long battery life. Virtually unlimited recording time, ease of transfer of data via SD card.

A new device at around the same size as the GT-31, or slightly smaller, could reinstate the long battery life and recording time, and have a much larger screen for more information and clearer viewing with larger fonts. If it has inductive charging and BT/WiFi download, the case can be made far more waterproof. If it is able to be worn securely on the upper arm, it will eliminate the 'over/under' watch on the wrist thing for better reception. If it can be removed from its arm band and worn on (or in) the helmet it would have even better reception and reliability. And wouldn't it be great if it has a 'speed talk' function that could announce your current speed and then last run, just like GPS-Logit does right now. It would be easier to hear from the bicep as well, being closer to your ears than if it was on your wrist. Even better if mounted on your helmet. The incorporation of Bluetooth would also make BT ear buds viable for the speed talk feedback.

Adriano said..

kato said..
Can I just have a GT31 that's waterproof and ditch the watch.

Well it could be a bit thinner too and have that stupid flicky button replaced by separate scroll and select buttons. The hatch is also rubbish and next to impossible to open with cold wet fingers.

Open the hatch at home when warm or sail in Queensland

unless they use an amoled screen (very unlikely) the colour screen should not impact the battery life.

But link seems to fail...