Garmin Forerunner Data Recording: Smart vs Every Second

The folks at Motionbased explain the difference between the smart recording and every second settings for the Garmin Forerunner 205/305 at MBlog: Data Recording. They say "Every Second' should ONLY be used for specific activities that are short, fast, and tight. Like track running, track cycling, or downhill mountain biking. You may think all your activities are 'Every Second' worthy, but that’s not the point and most of the time it works against you." Here are some of the things to know about 'Every Second' recording:

• Usage - 'Every Second' isn't bad. If used properly it's a great recording technique, but should be reserved for special circumstances.
• Storage - Device storage is limited. 'Every Second' fills up the memory in approximately 3 1/2 hours, then starts erasing/overwriting data. 'Smart Recording' allows for days of recording.
• File Size - Large activity files slowdown MotionBased, and even may be rejected. Transfer time, processing speed, and page loads (especially the Map Player) are negatively affected.
• Quality - Because it's recording more track points doesn't necessarily mean the data is more useful.

They conclude that "smart Recording is the default setting. So unless you have specific need, don't change it."

I'll try to test out smart recording and every second at the local track this week to see if it makes any difference....

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