After considerable testing over the last two months GPSTC is pleased to announce that the Garmin Forerunner 965 is now approved for posting sessions. Thanks to all those you submitted comparison files and to those who spent time analysing them.

The same rules apply as those for the existing approved Garmin watches (255 and 255 Muisc)
1. Competitors must install the latest versions of the "GPSTC Approved Tbwonder Data field" or "APPro Windsurf" (this ensures the capture of the required data)
2.Export must be in FIT Format and posted through existing approved programs (GPS Speedreader or KA72). Posts though KA72 must be 'public'.
3. Users with other approved devices must prioritise posting with them as they provide additional error data.

Posting will not be possible until GPSSpeedreader and/or KA72 are updated to include this device.

Awesome news!! Thanks GPSTC!

I just had a quick look and it seems that TBWonders datafield "GPSTC Approved" has been updated to include the 965. I will update to that shortly. I will keep an eye out for updates to GPSSpeedreader/KA72 so I can start posting.

Yes as Vosadrian has pointed out there is a new Approved Version of my Datafield in the IQ Store which includes the 965.
Look for V4.94

Select to expand quote

tbwonder said..
Yes as Vosadrian has pointed out there is a new Approved Version of my Datafield in the IQ Store which includes the 965.
Look for V4.94

Thanks for updating so quick!

Version 3.0.3 of GPS Speedreader now supports posting FR965 data to the GPS Team Challenge. Downloads and new version notes can be found at github.com/prichterich/GPS-Speedreader

Help for GPS Speedreader is at github.com/prichterich/GPS-Speedreader/wiki/GPS-Speedreader-Help

Note that ka72 does not prevent you trying to upload data from any specific device to GPSTC, but of course your track details will specify which device was identified and what kind of GPS setting you were using.Over the weekend there were a few changes made to the site. I'll post separately about these.

You are generally looking to have "Full + MultiBand" appear in the Firmware setting, and whatever Garmin device is acceptable for GPSTC in the GPS Type field (255/255Music/965 at present, though this may change with other testing) before you can safely post to GPSTC, but ka72 does not prevent you posting to GPSTC with incorrect settings/devices. You are just likely to be rejected.

I'm in the market for a new watch, the Garmin forerunner 965 seems ideal due to it being approved, however its not waterproof rated for what we do. Has anyone who is using one had trouble?
Any chance that Fenix 8 or Apple watch Ultra 3 are being looked at for approval

I have had 2 garmin watches. My first was a vivoactive 3 that I used from 2017-2023. My second a 965 from 2023 until now (Also a Garmin Swim watch before that). Neither of these are the higher waterproof rated. Also, I think everyone on GPSTC is using a forunner series (255 or 965) which is not the higher waterproof rated. My watches never leave my wrist except to charge. They have done numerous swim sessions and probably 50-100 windsurfing sessions (including some fairly high speed crashs). I've never had any water ingress on either of them and I have not seen any reports from any other GPSTC Garmin users having issues.

Garmin are really solid with their waterproof engineering. I suspect even the higher rated watches are exactly the same engineering and it is just a marketting thing that they have a different rating. I think you would be fine using any modern water resistant Garmin watch for windsurfing.

There should be some good deals on 965 and 255 at the moment with black friday.

Select to expand quote

Nelle said..
Any chance that Fenix 8 or Apple watch Ultra 3 are being looked at for approval

I don't believe there are any plans to look at approval of Apple watches.
The Fenix 8 series will most likely be acceptable, but as yet they have not been tested.

Select to expand quote

vosadrian said..
I have had 2 garmin watches. My first was a vivoactive 3 that I used from 2017-2023. My second a 965 from 2023 until now (Also a Garmin Swim watch before that). Neither of these are the higher waterproof rated. Also, I think everyone on GPSTC is using a forunner series (255 or 965) which is not the higher waterproof rated. My watches never leave my wrist except to charge. They have done numerous swim sessions and probably 50-100 windsurfing sessions (including some fairly high speed crashs). I've never had any water ingress on either of them and I have not seen any reports from any other GPSTC Garmin users having issues.

Garmin are really solid with their waterproof engineering. I suspect even the higher rated watches are exactly the same engineering and it is just a marketting thing that they have a different rating. I think you would be fine using any modern water resistant Garmin watch for windsurfing.

There should be some good deals on 965 and 255 at the moment with black friday.

thanks, yes good prices around $700 for the 965 as it also just got superseded by the 970

Select to expand quote

GPSTC Admin said..
After considerable testing over the last two months GPSTC is pleased to announce that the Garmin Forerunner 965 is now approved for posting sessions. Thanks to all those you submitted comparison files and to those who spent time analysing them.

The same rules apply as those for the existing approved Garmin watches (255 and 255 Muisc)
1. Competitors must install the latest versions of the "GPSTC Approved Tbwonder Data field" or "APPro Windsurf" (this ensures the capture of the required data)
2.Export must be in FIT Format and posted through existing approved programs (GPS Speedreader or KA72). Posts though KA72 must be 'public'.
3. Users with other approved devices must prioritise posting with them as they provide additional error data.

Posting will not be possible until GPSSpeedreader and/or KA72 are updated to include this device.

Bloody Awesome!!!!!!!!

Some recent Garmin watches now have solar panel embedded in the face. This is a real win, typically increasing battery life by 30% to 100%

Select to expand quote

mathew said..
Some recent Garmin watches now have solar panel embedded in the face. This is a real win, typically increasing battery life by 30% to 100%

I'm not sure how much of an issue battery life on current watchs are. I have the 965 with OLED screen (and always on display set on from 9am-10pm). For GPS use I was involved in some of the testing by the GPSTC. One of the tests I left my watch outside for 12 hours recording data at the best quality it can and it only went down from 90% to about 60%. This surprised me a lot as it is much better than the claimed battery life. I'm not sure that anyone is likely to use GPS recording time than what it can do... assuming you charge it before use. For normal use I get about a week between charges and that includes about 5 hours of GPS use for my activities (cycling, walking). If I am not doing much activity I can get up to 12 days.

Of course more battery life is always better to reduce to amount of time you need to charge it.... but I am pretty sure it can last as long as 99% of people can windsurf assuming you can recharge afterwards.

I have a Garmin 955 without solar - the all-gnss running time wouldn't last 24hrs continuous.

The solar model does last much longer - importantly it lasts the full 24hrs.

... I am pretty sure my previous post still stands.

Any chance the GPSTC website could be updated with a list of currently approved devices & how to post with them?

Select to expand quote

morts said..

Any chance the GPSTC website could be updated with a list of currently approved devices & how to post with them?

It could go in the "news" box, as long as it isn't updated.

Select to expand quote

decrepit said..

morts said..

Any chance the GPSTC website could be updated with a list of currently approved devices & how to post with them?

It could go in the "news" box, as long as it isn't updated.

How about the Rules page, is that easily edited?

gpsteamchallenge.com.au/pages/rules

That's the problem Jeremy, admin have no access to the rules page.

Thanks heaps GPSTC Admin. I've just loaded the IQ onto my Epix Pro 2. It looks awesome! Hopefully I can get some good testing (and speed) this arvo!

Select to expand quote

morts said..

Any chance the GPSTC website could be updated with a list of currently approved devices & how to post with them?

I thought the info was there for awhile. Went looking the other day as someone was asking me what's approved but I found it a little tricky finding info.
ChatGPT reckons only Garmin 255. I know that's wrong, but clearly the internet doesn't yet.

Here are the currently approved GPS devices for Team Challenge


The Locosys GT31, Locosys GW52, Locosys GW60, Screen Motion and Mini Motion are no longer available.
The ESP GPS is an open source project based on Ublox M8N hardware. I believe there are several construction versions of this which are approved when assembled correctly.
It is possible to build your own GPS based on various Ublox chips, these can be approved by submitting test files to Team Challenge.
That leaves the Garmin 255 and 965. Which are the only two commercially available approved devices. The files from these Garmin watches must be exported in FIT file format and processed through KA72 or GPSSpeedreader.

There are also a few homemade trackers around that have been approved, from the old days before the esp32

I have a surplus GW52, if anybody wants it. It's not water proof and need to be in a pouch.

The $450 for a GW60 doesn't look so bad now. Mine finally carked it after about 3 years. The one before lasted 1 year ,the one before , 2 .That seems about standard. I wonder how long other watches last with constant work ? Lucky I gots a mini motion , and another new one in the packet. The very last one. I used to use both the watch and mini at the same time and they were so close its not funny.They work so well , pitty you can't see what's happening on the water. That's important when I've only got a couple 100 metres of flat water for half an hour. Making adjustments in that small purple patch when all the Gods are trying to align. I know fast doesn't always feel fast. My PB happened when I pushed the mast all the way forward. Not a go fast recipe . But 2 kts faster. Felt 2 kts slower. I can't go by the hairs on my ...... anymore. A watch would be good.

I have been using Garmin watches since 2009. I started off with a 310XT, then a Fenix 3, Fenix5X, 255 and now 965. Apart from the Fenix 5X which was torn off my wrist in a crash and is now on the bottom of the lake, they all still work. I average about 100 sessions a year all in saltwater plus probably another 100 running sessions and perhaps 50 bike rides. Furthermore, I have not seen a water ingress failure amongst any of my friends.