To get the Garmin forerunner working under linux (Ubuntu 8.04 in particular) take care of the following:

There are two different drivers to access it:

• A native usb driver, for tools like gpsbabel specify usb: as device
• A serial-to-usb convertor driver, supported by a kernel module called garmin_gps. Note that this module is blacklisted by default in /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist (See bug #114565)

To make sure your GPS program can access the usb port of the garmin without being (or acting as) root, install the following udev-rule:

Create /etc/udev/rules.d/45-garmin.rules file:
SUBSYSTEM!="usb", GOTO="garmin_rules_end"
ACTION!="add", GOTO="garmin_rules_end"
ATTRS{idVendor}=="091e", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0003", MODE="0660", GROUP="plugdev"
LABEL="garmin_rules_end"

The following program support some GPS functionality:

• viking (managed to import directly from Garmin, but was unable to import google map data as well)
• qlandkarte: Did not manage to import from Garmin
• pytrainer: Looks promising, but seems I'm using a version (1.5.0.0.1)where some functions are missing like importing from file or from garmin.
• gpsbabel: Command-line tool that was able to import and show the Garmin XML format.
• www.bikexperience.de : Not yet tested, screenshots look okay.

The latest version of Garmin Training Center also includes an export  to KML format, the XML-based format for Google Earth. This creates a wonderful view of my last run, in this case a round through Amsterdam's Vondelpark. 

You can also open the KML file directly by clicking on this link, as long as you have the .KML file connected to your Google Earth application. 

As you can see in Google Earth, each square represents a logging from my Garmin forerunner 305 GPS. It records ran distance, heartbeart and speed.

The garmin forerunner 305 is a perfect companion to do your lonely running exercises: It has a very accurate GPS and compared to the older 301 model it is a lot smaller, just a bit more fat than an average full-featured digital watch.

I used it to do one of my favourite training run of exactly 5.4km (which I now know thanks to the 305). It can also measure my heartbeat by wirelessly connecting to a belt around your chest.

The windows software package can project your course and that's where the -until now- one minus point is: it projects some highways but as you can see in the picture, the highway is a bit too much to the right as I did not go under the Dutch A2 but just walked in parallel with it. 

One of the nicest things in here (and as I only used it once I did not yet test it) is that you can run against yourself: you can give up your previous run and it will project on the watch where you ran the last time.

So who says that running is no fun?

Ok, this is the final moon I'm going to show you for now. Also made on the same day, but with -again- different settings. I think it's a bit less than the one before. Of couse, you can also see the low-res version of it on this website.

EXIF information for this one:

 (dir has 9 entries)
    Make = "Canon"
    Model = "Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL"
    Orientation = 1
    XResolution = 72/1
    YResolution = 72/1
    ResolutionUnit = 2
    YCbCrPositioning = 2
    ExifOffset = 196
    Exif Dir:(dir has 28 entries)
        ExposureTime = 1/125
        FNumber = 0/1
        ExposureProgram = 4
        ISOSpeedRatings = 400
        ExifVersion = "0221"
        ComponentsConfiguration = "?"
        ShutterSpeedValue = 456510/65536
        ApertureValue = -2147483648/1
        ExposureBiasValue = 0/2
        MeteringMode = 6
        Flash = 16
        FocalLength = 0/1
        FlashPixVersion = "0100"
        ColorSpace = 1
        ExifImageWidth = 3456
        ExifImageLength = 2304
        InteroperabilityOffset = 9230
        Interop Dir:(dir has 2 entries)
            InteropIndex = "R98"
            InteropVersion = "0100"
        FocalPlaneXResolution = 3456000/874
        FocalPlaneYResolution = 2304000/582
        FocalPlaneResolutionUnit = 2
        CustomRendered = 0
        ExposureMode = 0
        WhiteBalance = 0
        SceneCaptureType = 0
    Continued directory (dir has 6 entries)
        Compression = 6
        XResolution = 72/1
        YResolution = 72/1
        ResolutionUnit = 2
JPEG image is 3456w * 2304h, 3 color components, 8 bits per sample
File name    : IMG_2014.JPG
File size    : 1916189 bytes
Camera make  : Canon
Camera model : Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
Resolution   : 3456 x 2304
Flash used   : No
CCD width    : 22.20mm
Exposure time: 0.0080 s  (1/125)
ISO equiv.   : 400
Whitebalance : Auto
Exposure     : shutter priority (semi-auto)