Which mobile phones does SportsDo work on?
SportsDo runs on phones with the Windows Mobile operating system and on Java phones.
It also runs on PDAs with Windows Mobile. It is not restricted to any phone network.
Is SportsDo available for the Palm OS?
No. SportsDo works on the Windows Mobile platform and Java phones.
Do I need to have a phone signal for SportsDo to work?
No. SportsDo needs a GPS signal but not a phone network signal. However, if you
are using SportsDo Live then you will need a phone signal and GPRS service in the
current coverage area.
What sports can I do SportsDo with?
You're only limited by your imagination – and your stamina! SportsDo is ideal for
any sport that involves movement over significant distances. The main sports our
users follow are running, cycling and skiing. We have special features built in
for cycling and for skiing, such as drafting calculations and ski lift detection.
If your chosen sport is not on the provided drop-down list, you can add it to the
list.
Can I suggest an enhancement to SportsDo?
We're always delighted to hear your ideas for making SportsDo fit even better with
your needs. Post your suggestions to the forum
Can I listen to music whilst using SportsDo?
Yes. You can start the music player function on your phone before starting SportsDo,
or while SportsDo is running. Use your jog function to move easily to the next song
while you're in SportsDo. If you have announcements set, these will overlay the
music. The songs you listen to during your activity will also appear in your activity
log.
Can I take a picture whilst using SportsDo?
Yes. The pictures you take during an activity will appear automatically in your
activity log.
Can I make and take calls whilst using SportsDo?
Yes.
How do I set announcements?
Announcements can be setup in the Options menu.
How do I change from list view to dashboard view?
You can either tap the screen or click to switch between the summary view and the
dashboard view. The same applies to switching to the new trace screen.
How do I upload my activity data to the SportsDo portal?
Having completed an activity select Upload from the menu.
How can I let my friends track my activity while it's happening?
Turn on the SportsDo Live function and your real-time stats will be reported at
your chosen intervals to the SportsDo portal. Your friends can then watch your live
progress on the portal, as long as you have given them permission.
My friend can't access the web – how can I let her track my activity while it's
happening?
Turn on the Buddy function and your stats will be sent by text message (SMS) to
the friends you select, at your chosen intervals. Each text message will incur your
normal network operator charge.
What is SportsDo Live?
SportsDo Live transmits your location and speed data to the SportsDo portal at regular
user-controlled intervals - ideal for races or club meets.
SportsDo Live uses a network connection, so isn't it going to cost me money?
SportsDo Live is designed to be very frugal with data transmissions. If you set
it to transmit every five minutes, then SportsDo Live uses less than 20kb of GPRS
data per hour.
What settings do you recommend for SportsDo Live?
We find that 1 minute intervals for training sessions and 1 minute intervals for
races works best.
What are Text Buddies?
Text Buddies are people you assign to receive text messages containing your stats
at regular user-controlled intervals. This allows you to share your live stats with
people who don't have access to the web to use SportsDo Live.
Is SportsDo data only collected on my phone, or is it transmitted to the Internet?
SportsDo's default mode is to collect your stats on your phone during your activity.
You can then review them when you've finished, and upload them to the SportsDo portal
if you wish. However you can also choose to have your stats transmitted in real
time to the portal using SportsDo Live, as long as you have a phone signal and available
GPRS service.
Can I import data from Garmin or other devices to SportsDo?
Yes. Data from Garmin and other fitness devices can be uploaded to the SportsDo
portal and merged with your native SportsDo data.
Can I export SportsDo data to other applications?
Yes. You can export your activity data in standard GPX format, and also into Google
Earth!
Can I merge heart rate data with SportsDo data?
Upload of heart rate data to the portal is planned for a later release. We are looking
carefully at the issues around synchronising historic heart rate data from a monitor
with SportsDo data. We are also watching the development of Bluetooth-based heart
rate monitors which may offer better collection of original data.
What is GPS?
GPS stands for Global Positioning System and is the basis of all satellite navigation
(“sat nav”) systems. A GPS receiver, either built in to your phone or a separate
little unit that communicates with your phone, works out your position on the ground
by taking fixes from three or more satellites. SportsDo uses this information to
calculate your activity stats and to plot your route.
Why does GPS coverage vary?
GPS coverage varies according to the lines of sight between your device and the
GPS satellites. Nearby buildings and weather conditions can sometimes interfere
with reception. We also find that reception varies widely amongst devices.
Can SportsDo use Assisted GPS?
No. Assisted GPS is a service offered by specific phone networks. SportsDo is not
tied to any phone network provider or network technology.
What type of GPS device should I use with SportsDo?
We recommend SiRF III based GSP devices since we have found this chipset to be significantly
better than the previous generation of GPS.
Where can I get a Bluetooth GPS device?
Bluetooth GPS devices are available from all your favourite online stores and in
phone accessory shops. Put “Bluetooth GPS” in Google for a truly massive list of
stockists, with current prices starting at around 70 gbp in the UK.
What is the typical battery life of a Bluetooth GPS device?
How does a Bluetooth GPS work alongside other Bluetooth devices, for example a headset?
God knows!
Are there any phones with built-in GPS?
More and more phones with built-in GPS are appearing all the time. The best-known
models at this time are the Mio A701 http://www.mio-tech.be/products/GPS_PDA_Phone/a701/a701.html
and the E-TEN G500 http://www.etencorp.com/products/Communication/G500.php,
How does built-in GPS affect the battery life of a phone or PocketPC?
This varies from device to device so you should check with the manufacturer.
How can I secure my phone or PocketPC to my bike?
SportsDo users use a variety of holders to attach their devices to their bikes,
including several home-grown ones. We can not recommend any particular holder.
Which ski resorts does SportsDo provide maps for?
Why does SportsDo sometimes tell me I'm going at unfeasibly high speeds?
The GPS system can sometimes throw some really dirty data at SportsDo and this can
produce some odd results. SportsDo performs some basic filtering to try and improve
this.
Can I use SportsDo in any country?
Yes. SportsDo is not tied to any phone network provider or technology. If you are
using SportsDo Live you will need access to a GPRS network. If you are using SportsDo
Buddies you may incur additional text message charges when outside your home network
area, depending on your network contract.
What languages is SportsDo available in?
SportsDo is currently only available in English. We are planning a Spanish version
and will schedule other language versions according to demand.
What is "lift detection"?
For snow sports, SportsDo will detect when you're sitting on a lift and does not
include the lift journey in its data. SportsDo also generates a new lap for you
automatically each time you get off a lift.
What is "positive rise"?
How much does SportsDo cost?
Where can I buy SportsDo?
Sportsdo is available for purchase online today through our partners...
Where can I find a demo version of SportsDo?
The demo version of SportsDo can be downloaded at ... You can upgrade from the demo
version to the full version from your phone or online.
How does the demo version differ to the full version of Sportsdo?
The demo is restricted to 1km of activity.
How do I upgrade from the demo version to the full version of SportsDo?
You can upgrade from the demo version to the full version from your phone or on
the web at...
What is activation?
Activation is a one-time-only action that unlocks your SportsDo product.
How do I activate SportsDo without a GPRS connection?
You can activate SportsDo with your device docked to a PC that's online. This uses
the passthrough feature of ActiveSynch. Make sure you have the latest version of
ActiveSynch as passthrough was not an original ActiveSynch feature.
Do I need to register SportsDo every time I use it? I have to pay each time I activate
the software over the air!
Activation of SportsDo is a one-time-only event. The demo version will ask you if
you want to buy a full version every time you use it, but does not require you to
activate the software again.
How much does the SportsDo portal cost?
Nothing – it's free.
Who is SportsDo?
SportsDo Limited is based in Guildford, UK. The company was founded in 2004 by Jonathan
Greensted and Nick Francis and was the first company to offer GPS-based sports applications
for smartphones and PDAs.
Can you support my charity event?
We aim to support at least one charity event per quarter and are always open to
invitation. However we can't guarantee that we will be able to get involved with
your event.
We're happy to arrange a demonstration of SportsDo for recognised media outlets.
Contact us at ...
Do you partner with other brands?
We're always interested to discuss possible partnerships. Contact us at ...
Where can I find the latest copy of the SportsDo manual?
The SportsDo manual can be found at
SportsDoMobile (WM) User Guide (pdf)
Where can I get help?
Try the manual first, then this FAQ, and then the Sportsdo forums. If these routes
don't solve your query, mail us at helpdesk@sentient.co.uk