Hopefully quick anyway...

My GT31 is getting long in the tooth, its had a good life. This past weekend the part where the USB cable connects ended up inside the unit so currently i can't charge it, see following:



Qu 1: Is this fixable???

Qu 2: If not fixable, without going into all the tech jargon which i neither care about or understand. What should i get as a replacement? A Canmore, an android phone with the app, or the GT31 replacement (GW52 or whatever its called).

I just need something for GPSTC use, I'm not going to break any records.

Thanks in advance

you can open the unit and put the usb socket back, maybe you will need some soldering and /or araldite. Only problem could be the rusted screws.

My two cents - go a cheap android phone. I have a both a Canmore and Sony Xperia. The big screen, audio feedback and ability to compute (and soon upload to GPSTC) results on water means that I now use the Sony phone as my main GPS and the Canmore just as a back up. My beloved likes the idea that if I get into trouble I can crack out the phone and raise the alarm. I know others like to listen to music as well who.st they are sailing.
The proviso is that they are not quite in the same league as far as accuracy of the GT or GW units, but if I understand your intentions correctly, their accuracy is good enough. The only other drawbacks I can think of now, would be cost of the app when it's finally through trialling and the need to really,really waterproof bag the phone:-)
I currently have mine in a Pelican case mounted on the top of my Camelpak. I don't need to see the screen because the audio tells me all I want to know. Hope that helps.

I agree with Fangy, the phone (especially if you can find a cheap one), has a lot going for it.
It hasn't been officially approved for GTC use yet and that may be a problem as every phone make and model will have different levels of accuracy depending on chip used.

But if you're sessions aren't determining the top teams results, and putting you in the top individual rankings, I don't think too many people will complain.

As Fangy's done, if there are concerns about your chosen phone's results, you can always buy a Canmore to wear on your head.
The GW52 isn't available yet anyway, it could be a month or so away. If you want verifiable accuracy it will be the way to go along with the much bigger thingo, when that comes on the market.

Hmm, righto. Thanks for the replies gents

Yep I'm in the top 2 in my team every month (if i sail - getting less & less with an 11 week old at home now, have only GPS sailed 5 times this year), and I was 17th in Aus overall on GPSTC last year - 2014 (maybe I got lucky at LG?). So maybe the phone isnt the best option then? It was my preference.

I'll chat to Daffy next time i see him on the beach, if he ever stops skiing and gets back to windsurfing!! In the meantime, i'll see if i can re-connect the USB without completely ruining my GT31

Yes Daffy is going to have a better idea than me whether there'll be a blanket approval for logit or if it's going to be on a phone by phone basis.
Unfortunately we haven't done a lot of on water testing with a variety of phones, but the Xpeira seems to have low sensitivity and throws up some strange looking alpha tracks.
Although the results coming out of it are within cooee of the GW52 test unit I've been using.
A cycle ride I did with both the Xperia and my Samsung Ace3 showed the Samsung had better sensitivity, but I'm not going to risk my good phone on the water to do a real life test.

I'm using 2 units, The Sony Xperia with Speed Chat and my GT31. I post result from the GT31 but use the Xperia for feedback while sailing. I've also got a GW52 on order to replace the GT31 (as it has lost half its screen)

John, yep, that's my set up I think it's ideal.
But it seems the GW52 may not be quite as sensitive as the GT31, I get better results with it on my head.
The other thing with the GW52 is realspeed doesn't like processing it's alphas. I get the best results with GPSresults, with "filters" set to off, and the GW52 set to 5hz logging. If you set it to "smart Logging" you have to make sure "min speed" is less than your minimum gybe speed. Other wise the frequency changes mid gybe, causing the software to reject that alpha.