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Sigma ROX 10.0 Review28.05.2015

Over the past few months I've been testing the Sigma ROX 10.0. It's a solid device with an interesting feature set, namely the inclusion of "breadcrumb" navigation. Not to be confused with the turn by turn navigation featured on more expensive models from competitors (eg Garmin edge 1000) breadcrumb navigation is a simple representation of a path you should follow. A useful feature, but does the rest of the package stack up?

Unboxing the Sigma ROX 10.0

Unboxing the Sigma ROX 10.0

The short answer would be yes. It does everything you would expect a GPS computer to do at this price point (e.g. ANT+ compatibility, screen customisation, etc.). You certainly are getting a lot of GPS computer for your money.

In the box: manuals, bike mount and Data Center installation CD.

In the box: manuals, bike mount and Data Center installation CD.

However the user interface is a little cramped, it feels like Sigma are trying to pack too many features onto the small screen. This can be a little overwhelming initially, particularly if you're coming from a Garmin 500, but it's no more cramped than the Polar CS600. I would prefer a larger screen size, but I can understand why Sigma would want to spec a smaller screen size (e.g. cost, size). While I'm complaining about the screen, it scratches easily so I'd be careful about leaving it upside down (it happens more thank you think). On the plus side, the screen is curved so you'll never get the sun reflecting in your eyes (a problem I've encountered with devices from other brands with flat screens).

Sigma ROX 10.0 size comparison

Sigma ROX 10.0 size comparison

While I'm on the topic of the Polar, just like the Polar, the Sigma comes with it's own computer software (Sigma Data Center). While not quite as analytical as Golden Cheetah it's nice to see that Sigma care about post ride data analysis.

Sigma Data Centre Dashboard

On the note of post ride data, Sigma don't play nice with Golden Cheetah. You can export your data files, but the export formats available aren't compatible with the current versions of Golden Cheetah. It's a little annoying, especially if you're addicted to Golden Cheetah. If you don't know what Golden Cheetah is, or don't have Golden Cheetah this could be the perfect unit for you. For those tech savvy readers, Sigma does export as GPX, which *should* work with Golden Cheetah, but they follow a different protocol than what's accepted as the standard. Long story short, Sigma don't export the time ridden in the correct format, and when Golden Cheetah attempts to read the file your duration is 0:00, not very useful if you want to analyse your ride with Golden Cheetah.

Importing rides into Golden Cheetah

Importing rides into Golden Cheetah

Sigma Data Center does allow you to upload your rides to Strava. It's quick and easy to set up by clicking "Menu" tab and selecting "Share Data". Just follow the prompts and log into Strava as you would on their website. Once set up you simply have to click "Share Data" to upload your rides to Strava. After a brief delay while the cloud does its magic your ride appears on Strava.

Sigma offers an easy way to upload rides to Strava

Sigma offers an easy way to upload rides to Strava

I'm not too critical of Sigma's lack of compatibility since their own Data Center software should cater to the needs of most people. While it may not be as detailed as Golden Cheetah, Data Center does include the basics:

Sigma Data Center provides a useful summary of your rides

Sigma Data Center provides a useful summary of your rides

Most importantly, Data Center allows you to keep a training diary. It's a nice touch, you can record details about your training partners, feeling/form, training type and an evaluation of the effectiveness of your training. If you're dedicated you'll love this feature, but I find myself being lazy and not filling the diary out. If you're serious about your training you probably already keep a diary. Even if you already do keep a diary, this feature is useful as it integrates your diary and your data. If you've never kept a diary before Data Center provides an easy way to start, especially if you're not sure what you should be writing in it.

Data Center features a training diary -  a nice touch

Data Center features a training diary - a nice touch

It may be a little gimmicky for those of us who are just riding for fun. But if you smashed a PB or rode your first double century, or placed well in a road race it makes it a little easier to keep track of those milestones. If you're not into keeping diaries but would like to track how you're responding Sigma has a useful feature which shows how your average heart rate is changing over time. If you're overtraining you may notice your average heart rate dips or spikes. You can also keep track of how many "hard days" you've had, or when your last easy day was.

Data Center keeps track of your training load

Data Center keeps track of your training load

You can also plan your training using data center, by plan I mean you can plan your routes. It's useful, particularly if you're visiting a new city, or when you plan on exploring an unfamiliar part of town. The mapping is fairly accurate, Sigma decided to use open source mapping for this device (OpenStreetMaps). Making a route is pretty straight forward. You simply select the "create route" option in the top right corner (it's the squiggly line that's highlighted):

Creating a new route on Data Center is user intuitive

Creating a new route on Data Center is user intuitive

Once you've selected the "create route option" simply click on where you want to start (indicated by the green marker) and where you want to go (indicated by a red marker). Data Center will find a route for you, from green to red.

Data Center will create a route for you. Simple, isn't it?

Data Center will create a route for you. Simple, isn't it?

Like all software sometimes Data Center has it's moments. Sometimes, Data Center won't recognise certain roads, if you try to create a route along the missing road Data Center will give you the following error:

Data Center error message

Fear not, because Data Center also allows you to manually enter your route, using the "create linear track" option. It's the straight arrow next to the curly arrow (which is the "create route" option). It's more time consuming, but it works. You can also change the settings of Data Center to avoid main roads, or to take backstreets but  sometimes Data Center may direct you along certain roads which may not be to your liking. You can override this by manually creating a linear track. The yellow markers are where I've created a linear track.

Data Center allows you to change your route preferences

Data Center allows you to change your route preferences

Apart from navigation, you can also familiarise yourself with the profile of a ride. You can access this information by clicking the "Altitude Profile" button (the two hills in the top right hand corner). Your course profile will be displayed on the bottom of your screen.

Data Center also displays a course profile.

Data Center also displays a course profile.

All these features are quite useful if you're new to or unfamiliar with an area. All this information can be accessed on the fly on the ROX 10.0, albeit much less detailed and crammed onto a smaller screen. One drawback of the ROX 10.0 is you cannot create new routes on your device whilst riding (and even if you could it would be really painful on the small screen). However, it does have a "take me home" option, which essentially directs you back home by reversing the course you have ridden. It's a useful last resort, but not particularly handy if you took the scenic route before you got lost. It's better than nothing, but since most of us own smartphones with maps of some form or the other I recommend using the phone if you're lost, particularly if you have taken a few detours along the way (the ROX 10.0 will direct you back along the same detours).

The Sigma ROX 10.0 is a feature packed computer, especially at this price point. On paper, these extra features would be the ROX 10.0's greatest strength, and really set it apart from competing units. However, one can also argue that it's greatest strength is also it's greatest flaw. The screen size limits the usefulness of some of these features, particularly the navigation, though having some "breadcrumb" navigation is so much better than none at all. I do applaud Sigma's ambition in packing the ROX with all of these features, and to be fair GPS computers at this price point all have a similar screen size. A little more refinement could make this unit a market leader. As it stands the ROX is a solid unit, it certainly trumps devices like the Garmin Edge 500 in terms of features, but lacks in the user friendliness department.

Pros: Data Center is well thought out, has more features than any other device at this price point.

Cons: Screen size limits functionality

Disclaimer: The Author is in no way affiliated with Sigma. The review sample was purchased from Starbike.

 

Comments

  1. Bikerchick says:

    I have the rox 10 and love it. I do however have issues with it not showing me incline. Any suggestions about that?

    • istigatrice says:

      Hi,

      Mine displays % incline on the default home screen, in the top third. Are you having trouble with it not actually showing any incline or displaying an inaccurate incline?

  2. Tom says:

    Good review. I would like to add that I successfully managed to export data from Sigma (.FIT format) and import it in GoldenCheetah without any data loss.

    • istigatrice says:

      Hi Tom,

      Thanks for sharing your experience. Good to hear it is working, I must note I was still using data centre 3 when I was trying to export (software has been updated since)

  3. kangsanghun says:

    it’s better than Gamin? bryton?

    • istigatrice says:

      I wouldn’t say it’s better for everyone, but it has more features and it is certainly different. Depends what you need it for.

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