Reviews > Electronic Devices > Watches > Timex Expedition E-Tide Temp Compass > Test Report by Andrew Priest

TIMEX EXPEDITION E-TIDE TEMP COMPASS WATCH
TEST SERIES BY ANDREW PRIEST
INITIAL REPORT
April 28, 2008

TESTER INFORMATION

I've been bushwalking in Western Australia for approximately six years. For the past five years I have been regularly walking and leading on and off-track pack carries with the Perth Bushwalkers Club. I have also got into geocaching and now off-road mountain bike touring (2008). I consider myself as moving towards being a lightweight tent-carrying bushwalker with my pack base weight in the 8 to 12 kg (18 to 26 lb) range. In the context of this test series it should be noted that I wear graduated lens corrective glasses.

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Source: Timex Corporation

Manufacturer: Timex Corporation
Year of Manufacture: 2008
Manufacturer's Website: Timex Corporation
MSRP: US$169.95
Product Code: T45601DH
Listed Weight: Not Available
Measured Weight: 5.15 oz (146 g)

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

Having viewed the Timex website I really didn't have much of an idea as to what to expect other than the obvious, a watch. A watch claimed to be water resistant, provides tidal data and the temperature and its size is large. Mind you, I got this from the watch's name and the image provided. The website really provides little information on the watch and the link to the manual went to a non-existence document. Based on this lack of product information which I consider to be disappointing, I had to wait its arrival before I could get a handle on what it was all about.

When I received it, I was a little surprised. It is bigger than I expected, the face is white, whereas the model I saw initially on the website had a dark face. The band on the watch I received is two-tone metal rather than the brown strap expected. That said it is a nice looking watch. I have now found that Timex have each of the variations of the watch shown on the website. I missed this the first time I looked.

Moving on to the watch itself. As I indicated above, the watch face is quite big, measuring 45 mm (1.77 in) across the diameter of the face. It has a white face, with time indicator points around the outside of the face (no numbers representing time). Around the outside of the face is the temperature in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. Inside the temperature, are labels representing tide levels.

There are the normal hands (big and little for time) plus a seconds' hand. In addition, there is a hand which has red and black tips. This hand is used to represent the temperature, tide and compass direction depending on the button pressed. Finally the face has a small window at the 6 o'clock position for the date (day).

To allow for viewing at night, the watch has what Timex call an, Indiglo® night-light. This provides a pale blue light illuminating the face.

Main Features of the Watch

Tide or Temperature. The watch is designed to show the tide or temperature constantly, depending on which button was last pressed. The temperature reading is affected by body heat according to Timex so one should remove the watch from the arm to get a more reliable reading. Preliminary use of the watch suggests that the reading is reasonably accurate, that is compared to official readings.

When the tide button is pressed the indicator hand moves clockwise. This indicates if the tide is falling (pointing right) and rising (pointing left). According to the instructions, the watch uses the moon's position to predict high and low tides. I am not sure how it determines that it is in the northern or southern hemisphere or if this makes a difference. I am not big on tides so not sure I have the expertise to determine if this feature is accurate or not.

Compass The compass feature only works for 20 seconds at a time to reduce battery consumption. Unless the compass button is pressed the hand reflects tidal or temperature information. To use the compass, it must be first calibrated. This was a simple process of rotating the watch twice. The instructions given for doing this are clear and easy to follow in my view. The watch also has the option to correct for declination.

When the compass button is pressed, the hand will point north for 20 seconds. The compass hand is matched with the 12 o'clock position on the watch so that they can be used to determine direction of travel or direction one wants to travel.

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

I had hoped to review the instructions for the watch prior to its arrival. A check of the product page on the Timex website indicated that a manual was available for download. However, the manual link takes one to a directory page where there does not appear to be a Timex Expedition E-Tide Compass manual. I must admit I find this frustrating and annoying. Why provide a link if you can't be bothered providing the manual?

The above notwithstanding the manual or instruction sheet provided with the watch has proved to be useful and easy to follow. It provides good information on how to use the watches' features and even provides instructions on bracelet adjustment, which I also found easy to follow and apply, having had to reduce the size of the bracelet for my arm.

TRYING IT OUT

I have used the watch daily since receiving it and whilst I will provide a full commentary on my experience in the Field and Long-term Reports, a brief initial impressions comment follows.

First, I find the Indiglo® night-light very useful and it works well for me when it is dark (i.e., no lights on). This is great as my night vision is nothing to write home about.

I also am finding it quite comfortable to wear despite its size and weight. This has been a pleasant surprise.

On the downside I am finding the temperature numbers, particularly given the Celsius numbers are quite small, hard to read with my vision. I am also taking a little while to get used to the four hands. I initially read the time wrong quite a bit as I misread the temp-tide arm as a time arm. I do however appear to be adjusting to this.

TESTING STRATEGY

Basically I intend to wear the watch as my day to day watch during the test period, regularly comparing the temperature reading against official readings and testing the compass on walks against a GPSr and/or compass. I am unlikely to test the tide feature in the field but will compare it against local tide records to determine if it is reading correctly.

SUMMARY

Overall I am happy with the watch, I have found it easy to use once I read the instructions and adjusting the bracelet was a simple task, even with my poor vision.

This concludes my Initial Report. The Field Report will be apended to this report in approximately two months from the date of this report. Please check back then for further information

Reviews > Electronic Devices > Watches > Timex Expedition E-Tide Temp Compass > Test Report by Andrew Priest