Garmin ForeRunner 210 on Ubuntu 14.04 Update

After doing all the steps in my last Garmin ForeRunner 210 post, my FR 210 started showing up as a storage device (usb thumb drive) in Nautilus.  This made it very easy to copy the .FIT files from the watch to my hard drive. (the .FIT files are the new format that the Garmin Forerunner 210 uses instead of .GPX).

Notice the GARMIN in the DEVICES section.

Drilling down into the GARMIN "drive".

One more Drill down into the ACTIVITIES directory and we find our .FIT files

Just cut or copy the .FIT files from the watch to your HOME directory.  Now the problem is that .FIT format does not work with RunnerKeeper.com, so we have to convert the .FIT files to .GPX files.  Here's where we get to use our old friend GPSBabel.

1.  Open a TERMINAL window

2.  Type the following and press ENTER
   gpsbabel -i garmin_fit -t -f YourFitFileName.fit -o gpx -F zzzz.gpx

        (Replace YourFitFileName with the real name of your .FIT File
         usually the name is DateTime.FIT i.e. 2014-07-26-16-34-24.fit)  

3.  This will create a file in your HOME directory called zzzz.gpx.

4.  Use your web browser and log onto RunKeeper.com.

5.  Add an Activity to your RunKeeper.com and choose UPLOAD a map, picking the zzzz.gpx from your HOME directory.

6.  Done!  No need to use the GARMIN web site or their convert commands.


NOTE:  I'm using GPSBabel 1.5.0-2 32bit which I downloaded from here.  I used the .DEB package NOT the Ubuntu package (newer version).  There is also a 64bit version link here too,

Garmin Forerunner 210 and Ubuntu

My trusty Garmin Forerunner 305 died.  After shopping around, I decided to get a Garmin Forerunner 210 to replace it (I thought about getting the Forerunner 220 but I found the 210 for $90 cheaper $160 and I didn't need the extra features).  I figured the 210 would be close enough to my 305 that it would work with my GPSBabel/RunKeeper.Com setup.  Not the case :-(  After some googling I did figure out a work around (the work around gets the Forerunner 210 working with Garmin Connect on-line which has an export to GPX).  Here is what you will need to do to get started:



1. Create a Garmin Connect Account.  http://connect.garmin.com/
    Click on the SIGN IN link it the upper right corner
    DO NOT CLICK ON THE get started LINK

    After clicking on the SIGN IN link, click on the
    DON"T HAVE AN ACCOUNT "CREATE ONE" link

    Fill out the required information and close your web browser.

2. You must have the Firefox Web Browser installed on your Ubuntu.
     I think Firefox is the default Ubuntu web browser
     If you do not have it installed, go to the Ubuntu Software Center and install it.

3. Install the Synaptic Package Manager
    Go to the Ubuntu Software Center and search for "synaptic" and install it.

We need two things installed now, Linux Garmin Communicator Plugin and the Garmin Forerunner Tools.  The Plugin is NOT available in Synaptic Package Manager so we have to install it from the command line. (You can read about the Plugin here http://www.andreas-diesner.de/garminplugin/doku.php)

CLOSE ALL INSTANCES OF FIREFOX

To install the Linux Garmin Communicator Plugin open a Terminal window and type the following (hit ENTER after each command):

 sudo add-apt-repository ppa:andreas-diesner/garminplugin

 sudo apt-get update

 sudo apt-get install garminplugin

The above steps should install garminplugin in Firefox as a plugin (In firefox go to tools/plugins to see).  If you want to check to see if it was installed correctly, just open up your Synaptic Package Manager and search "garmin".  You should see garminplugin and garmin-forerunner-tools are installed (green box).  If not check each of them and hit the apply button.

You are now ready.  Connect your Garmin Forerunner 210 to its USB connector and plug it into your Linux Box.  Now open Firefox and go to  http://connect.garmin.com/ and log in to your newly created Garmin Connect Account.  Next click on the UPLOAD button in the upper left of your screen and you should see something like the below picture:

If you see this, then it worked!  Go out and put some activities on your new Garmin Forerunner 210 watch and upload them to your Garmin Connect Account.  After they are uploaded you can either leave them there and use Garmin Connect to track your activities or the EXPORT option on the Garmin Connect site to EXPORT to GPX.  Use the EXPORT to download your activity as GPX file and then re-upload the GPX file to your RunKeeper.com account.

This should work with the following Garmin GPS Devices; Dakota, Oregon, Edge 200, Edge 305, Edge 500, Edge 705, Edge 800, Edge Touring Plus, Forerunner 10, Forerunner 110, Forerunner 210, Forerunner 220, Forerunner 305, Forerunner 310XT, GPSmap 60CSx, eTrex / eTrex Legend HCx 10.

I've installed the latest GPSBabel too (version 1.5.1).  If I figure out a way to use it again, I'll post another how to. Good Luck and Go Run!