From: Marty Goodman Subject: [BC] CatEye Astrale 8 review Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2003 16:43:49 -0800 Message-ID: <1241425293-1463747838-1043714372@topica.com> Cateye Astrale 8 model CC-CD200 new release cycling computer Jan 27, 2003 Marty Goodman A while ago I was given a prototype of what will be a new release of the CatEye Astrale cycling odometer to check out. I was interested in this because I have used a CatEye Astrale on my bike for the last 4 years or more, as one of the two cycling computers I rely on every time I ride it. I like the fact it provides a prominent display of cadence. And I like much of (tho not all of) its user interface in general. I was specifically informed by CatEye that this product used the SAME internal microprocessor and programming as its predecessor, the old Astrale(CatEye model CC-CD100). This new varient of the Astrale even is fully compatible with the old Astrale bike bracket, and will slip into one and work just fine with it. Basically this computer is the same in ALMOST every respect to the older product. So why bother report about it at all? Because the small differences ARE significant, and make it an even more desireable product: Digits / Font: One of my biggest criticisms of the old CatEye two line display cycling computers in general, and of the Astrale (which I have to live with) in particular, is that the second line of information (which provides, depending on mode, odometer, average speed, max speed, and trip distance display) is provided using annoyingly small digits. I find it at times a little hard to read that second line of display, now that I'm over 50 and my accomodation of my vision is less good than it used to be. CatEye changed all that when they restyled the Astrale into the Astrale 8. The display area overall for the LCD is now about 20 to 25% bigger than it was on the old Astrale. They both changed the fonts (made them narrower) and increased the height of digits used to show the two lines of information in the display. The top line was about 9mm high in the old Astrale. In the Astrale 8, it's now about 12mm high. The digits are about 4mm wide in the Astrale 8 where they were about 5 mm wide in the old Astrale on the top line. This change really wasn't needed, in my opinion. But it does make the numbers a little easier to read (they were pretty easy to read on the top line of the display before, tho). The bottom line of the display, again in a smaller font, was also changed in the same fashion. The digits on the old Astrale there were about 4 mm in height. Now they're closer to 6 mm in height on the new Astrale 8. On the old Astrale the digits were about 3 mm wide. On the new Astrale they're about 2.5 mm wide. The tall, stretched out appearance of the digits on the Astrale 8 is less pleasing esthetically and less "natural" than the more familiar proportions to the digits on the old Astrale, but this DOES seem to wind up making the second line of the display... the line I had problems reading on the old Astrale... somewhat easier to read. I'll be doing some field testing of this new computer soon, and try to confirm this. Case: The new case is more "stylized". It's taller (55 mm for the Astrale 8 vs 48 mm for the old Astrale) and narrower (37 mm wide at its middle for the Astrale 8, vs 42 mm wide for the old Astrale). Some cyclist, especially those who, like me, have several instruments on their "dashboards", will appreciate this, for it makes the unit fit better next to other cycling computers or next to handlebar mounted lights. Note that far more of the case's front surface area is taken up by the LDC display, percentage-wise, on the new Astrale 8 than in the case of the old Astrale, and less with button surface area. Buttons: The old Astrale was pretty conventional in its button arrangement: Two similar round buttons (mode anbd start/stop) on the lower front of the unit, next to each other, with a seldom used (you have to hit it with a paper clip or pencil or pen or thin twig) third button accessible thru a tiny hole between those two buttons, and an "all clear" recessed button on the underside of the unit. The new Astrale 8 discards such "old" button arrangement: It offers a single large triangular "Mode" button below the display. This single button is bigger and easier to hit than is either of the two identical size mode and start/stop buttons on the old Astrale. The "start/stop" button is located on the bottom EDGE of the cycling computer. This is pretty reasonable, for you don't use that very often... or at least I don't use it often. And it's still pretty accesible and easy to hit. But now much more distinct from the mode button. The seldom used set button is now located on the BACK of the cycling computer, where it's impossible to accidentally hit when the computer is mounted on the bike, but EASY to operate if you just slip the computer off the bike (no paper clip or pen or twig required anymore). This set button's principle function, after you set up the computer, is for adjusting the wheel diameter calibration, and turning the auto-record mileage feature on and off (switching between auto and manaul startting and stopping of recording mileage). The all clear button is much like that on the original Astrale: on the back AND recessed. Requires a pen or twig to hit it. Overall I regard the changes in styling and button locations to be a change for the better in this old classic of a cycling computer. But remember, for those of you who use an Astrale, this new Astrale 8 works EXACTLY the same as the old one. Only the size and shape of the display, and location of the buttons, is different. And, to repeat (and compliment CatEye HIGHLY for this design decision) the new Astrale 8 neatly slips into the bracket used by the old Astrale, so you can upgrade simply and quickly. I believe this new Astrale 8 offers the same feature as newer models of the old Astrale, in that it remembers your wheel diamter setting for a while (a couple of minutes or so) after you take out the battery, to allow you to change batteries without having to reset the wheel diameter. Comments on the Astrale design overall (new and old): Overall I've found the Astrale to be a VERY rugged, reliable, well designed cycling computer. Given the limited number of choices available in small, relatively inexpensive two line display cycling computers that support cadence display, I think the Astrale is one of the best... possibly THE BEST... choice in that category. I can't say whether the new Astrale 8 will enjoy the same excellent track record of ruggedness and weather resistance enjoyed by its predecessor, but in general CatEye products are top quality in this respect, so one can be optimistic about this. Is the Astrale or Astrale 8 ideal, or perfect? Of course not. There's a lot of room for improvement. I'd like to see an even bigger surface area of display, and a THREE line display to allow display of speed, cadence, AND a third parameter (seletable by the mode button), instead of the current arrangement of having to CHOSE between display of speed or cadence in the top display line (note if one selects speed for the top display line on the Astrale or Astrale 8, one CAN choose to display cadence on the lower line ... or vice versa... , but then one loses dislay of distance or time). I'd prefer the top line of the display on the new Astrale 8 wasn't so tall, and that the bottom line was a bit taller, than CatEye chose to make them, and I'd prefer use of a wider display and wider FONT overall in both lines. I also find the old, conventional "cycling thru 5 different modes" for the lower display to be an archaeic and poorly thought out arrangement for cycling computer user interface. One should only look at the approach Vetta uses on its VR-20 and HR-25 to see a superior approach, that allows one to quickly change one's "default" display to check average or max speed, then return WITH A SINGLE BUTTON PRESS to the default display, instead of (as is the case with CatEye's user interface) having to bang on the mode button multiple times to cycle one's way back to one's desired default display, all the while taking one's eyes off the road to make out the tiny two or three letter cue that tell you which of the five or six modes you are in. I wish CatEye would abandon the "change the wheel calibration number one unit at a time" approach, and allow one to set each digit of the 4 digit (mm) wheel diamter calibration (the way Vetta has done for over a decade in its designs). That would make setup a LOT faster (it took me two minutes to get the thing set to the value I wanted for my 206 mm (20 inch) front wheel and sensor). But setting up wheel calibration is typically done only once every many years, and after its set you can easily fine tune it up or down, further limiting the significance of my criticism. But, all things considered, and especially given how MINOR a change was made in the product, I'm impressed with the fact that the change seems to be distinctly one for the better, and I'm delighted that for years to come I can still buy and recommend the Astrale, now in an improved Astrale 8 incarnation. And, for the third time, I HIGHLY compliment CatEye on making this "new" Astrale fit in the mounting bracket of the old Astrale! In this age of planned obsolesence and delibrate nasty sneaky tricks by manufacturers to make needless and arbitrary changes in mounting, connectors, etc. I find this decision to be very refreshing, and very considerate of us end users. NOTE that I have TWO cycling computers at all times running on my bike's dashboard (off the same single front wheel sensor). I do this to have displayed simultaneously WITHOUT NEED TO CYCLE THRU MODE BUTTONS the following information: Speed, Cadence, heart rate, and trip distance. I use the CatEye Astrale, and the Vetta HR-25 combined cycling computer and heart rate monitor. Cheers! Ride Safely! ---marty