Equipment

Finally, the first shots with new camera (Canon PowerShot SX1 IS). The previous camera has serious problems with outdoor usage and is now on sale at Huuto.net.

This time getting the camera was not easy ride. I decided to take advantage of the cheap GBP and ordered the camera from Simply Electronics, UK. It took over two weeks to get the package to Finland and then I was informed that DHL express delivers only day time and changing delivery address would cost extra (why on earth?!?). So I ended up of visiting DHL terminal at Vantaa.

So after all this hassle the disappointment was big when the camera refused to start even for first time. Just one beep and a Japanese error message on the screen after inserting batteries

That lead to an interesting email exchange with Simply Electronics. For their benefit I have to say that responses were always quick and polite, but somehow they failed to see other options than standard procedure. They just wanted me to send the camera back for repair and wait for up to 28 days before its ready, while I tried to argue that it would be easier to just repair the camera here in Helsinki.

After few days of iteration, I took own initiative and asked the always professional JAS-Tekniikka if they could take care or warranty repair for this – luckily I did – 3 days after this I had fully working camera delivered to my office!

So now I’m prepared for a new season of great ski photos

I have promised a long time ago to write more on the use experiences with Suunto X9i, so here are some comments. I have not done any extensive testing; i.e., the comments below are based on the observations during semi-active usage during roughly 6 months. I also have one of the first products that got out from the factory; hopefully the SW is nowadays better. If you have better experiences, let me know. Is there some way to update the SW?

In general the usage is easy and the device kind of holds the promise, but there are few annoying details that hinder the usage significantly.

It takes ages for GPS to get first fix: even when the GPS has been used previous day in the exactly same position, it takes over 2 minutes to get the 1st fix – and you cannot move the device at all during that time to get a fix at all. If you just but the GPS on start walking, it’s likely that you are back home before the GPS gets a fix. This makes casual usage to keep log on the walking, biking, skiing, etc. hard (I don’t have patience to wait over 2 minutes standing before I can start the exercise).

The GPS also looses track every now and then, also in relatively open areas. There are two choices for tracking frequency: once every second or minute. The latter mode is in practice unusable; it looses the fix even on ice (of sea) every time. The one second mode is much better, but eats the battery out in 4-5 hours. Thus, you cannot use the device to track whole skiing day with GPS.

Switching time zones takes way too many clicks. For people like me who travel a lot, it is quite important that the clock has the right time and that can be set without any hassle. In X9i, you need to remember to set the right time in two separate places: First, you have to setup the right time in time settings and then change the time zone in other menu. If you forget to set the time zone, the clock will reset time back to your previous time zone when using GPS. Why it is not enough to change the time zone and the main clock would adjust accordingly?

If you are looking for X-training tool to track your performance, I would still look for other options…

Sport Equipment shop in Paris

Originally uploaded by suskela.

Earlier I asked if there are any good climbing equipment stores in Paris; now I definitely know at least one. Au Viex Campeur is an amazing complex of about 20 stores, each focusing on selected set of sports gear, near University of Sorbonne. The climbing store is located on Rue des Ecoles 48. The store was really good: they have small wall where you can try new shoes, ropes to hang with new harness, and very helpful personnel.

So now I have brand new set of climbing gear, just cannot wait to get to the wall with them

I just wanted to download log files recorded on Tahko trip from my X9i to my PC. I did tried the Trek Manager software already earlier and everything worked fine; hence, I was expecting to spend 10 minutes for this.

BUT, in meanwhile I got new XP installation (XP professional SP2) and now I needed to install Trek Manager again. Naturally, I selected the latest SW version available (1.2.1). The installation went smoothly, but the Trek Manager refused to connect to X9i, the SW just hanged. After some iterations with different possible orders to connect PC, X9i, and cable to each others and few re-installations of USB drivers, I recalled that last time I installed earlier version of Trek Manager (1.1.1). Luckily also that version was still available from Suunto.

After uninstalling Trek Manager 1.2.1 and installing 1.1.1 the connection started to work and I got the logs to PC. The only strange thing is that Trek Manager shows warning “Jatkahan varoen, ei oo X9 vaan: unknown wristop” always when creating a connection – looks like someone has forgot this Finnish note into the code (I have English version of the SW).

Well, since I was already in the mood, I tried to upgrade from Trek Manager 1.1.1 to 1.2.1. The upgrade went well, but I lost the connectivity between PC and X9i again. So uninstall 1.2.1 and install 1.1.1 again. Now everything works, but it took more than 10 minutes

Is there any features in Trek Manager 1.2.1 that are missing from 1.1.1? Any hints how to get connection working with 1.2.1?

UPDATE (3 Jan 05): Suunto help desk seems to be efficient. I wrote them about the problem Yesterday at 1 pm. and Today at 11 am. they provided answer with solution to the problem. The Trek Manager cannot always automatically find the right COM port. So if you have the same problem, here is what to do:

1. Connect X9i to the PC with the USB cable
2. Check with Windows device manager that which COM port is used by Suunto
3. Open Trek Manager (if you open Trek Manager before connecting the cable to PC, Trek Manager will not find right COM port)
4. Go to X9 properties
5. Set right COM port and delay to “long”
6. Now the connection should work

Finally my new Suunto X9i arrived! I have been expecting this for months, too bad it did not arrive in time for biking season. I have not have had any time to study the functionality in more detail, but I’ll write more about that after some real testing.

But now it’s the last day of active usage of my well served Suunto Observer. The log tells that it was taken into use in 15 December 2001; i.e., exactly 4 years of reliable service. Still there is no signs of wear; only deterioration has been that the compass does not calibrate anymore and the backlight does not operate, but other functionality is as sharp is in 2001. Hopefully the new one is as durable.

The logs of the Observer tells that

• Highest altitude visited with the clock has been 3600 meters (4 June 2004, must be in Les Deux Alpes)
• Total 316 637 meters of ascent logged
• Total 321 717 meters of descent logged
• Total 108 logged ski days

Naturally there are days which have double log entry, days that are not logged at all, and days with only partial log coverage. It would be nice to type down all the individual logs, but let’s see if I find time and motivation for that (maybe on the flight to Calgary).

Why to change? Well, I wanted to have GPS to be able to log also cross country skiing and hiking trips – and the real reason is that I just wanted to get something nice for myself