Anything more frustrating than Garmin?
Discussion
Just had my 810 replaced with an 820 after it stopped working (it never seemed to fully work properly but then just completely game up.)
Setting up the 820 now - trying to enter HR zones as a percentage of Max HR.
Whereas a sensible interface would allow you to enter the lower and higher rate for each zone. On this you seem to have to click on it once to enter one value, then again for the other. At least it seemed to be doing this for a while until they are all just now stuck on the max HR!
Ready to launch it into the bin!!!
Setting up the 820 now - trying to enter HR zones as a percentage of Max HR.
Whereas a sensible interface would allow you to enter the lower and higher rate for each zone. On this you seem to have to click on it once to enter one value, then again for the other. At least it seemed to be doing this for a while until they are all just now stuck on the max HR!
Ready to launch it into the bin!!!
Biggest Gripes with mine:
- Elevation - Mine shows -50m at sea level and is always wrong. Garmin's response to the problem is to try a factory reset and install new software - which just means setting everything up from scratch again and makes no difference - there are loads of complaints about this but Garmin can't be arsed to fix it because they have no competition
- Sensors - 50% of the time it fails to notice the cadence sensor and I have to manually connect it.
- Sensors - it sometimes loses the heart rate sensor part of the way into the ride (not had that problem with the Edge 500)
- Rain activated touch screen (this appears to have been fixed by a recent update)
They can be very frustrating.
I had an 810 for years and never really got to grips with the navigation. I recently got an 820 as it was a good deal, selling the old one meant the cost to change wasn't all that much - it is a world better - navigation that actually works, i think some of the earlier firmware was a little flaky so make sure you're up to date.
I'd suggest putting the heart rates in via the app on your phone.
I had an 810 for years and never really got to grips with the navigation. I recently got an 820 as it was a good deal, selling the old one meant the cost to change wasn't all that much - it is a world better - navigation that actually works, i think some of the earlier firmware was a little flaky so make sure you're up to date.
I'd suggest putting the heart rates in via the app on your phone.
Kermit power said:
It's well known that Garmin devices suffer from interference when put next to items of Rapha clothing.
Ive not even bothered to update my older garmins as they all still work perfectly fine even after 5+ years.
Only one has needed a new battery and Im still using an Edge 705 which works great with HR monitor and cadence sensor.
It seems like the newer devices 810/820 are not nearly as robust for some reason?? I can only go by judging the number of stories on here and other biking forums.
As for navigation...ive only ever got lost due to not actually looking at the garmin...and it then tells you you are going off course but only after you have gone 30Metres off course. Id say in most instances its the user not knowing how to use them rather than the GPS not being able to actually keep you on course.
Having a phone/tablet mount on the handle bars is good too but this then opens up the whole can of worms of can/should I ride while looking at a moving map/checking my messages?? Hmm??
I'm still soldiering on with my Edge500.
Had a few issues with it since I bought it on eBay over three years ago, but nothing that I couldn't sort out myself at home.
The odd issue with it going bonkers on cold, wet rides. Water getting into the barometric altimeter vent holes causing the elevation figure to go off the chart.
Occasional tardiness getting satellite reception. Frustrating when you just want to get going.
A few times I've had problems downloading rides onto Strava from the unit. This must have been down to too much data stored in the GPS unit's memory, as when I dump the older ride files onto the PC and start again from scratch it works just fine.
The worst element for driving me nuts is the 'breadcrumb trail' navigation feature. No base map means no anchoring reference points, so complex junctions (multi-exit roundabouts, for instance) can result in you being sent off course. Then there's it's refusal to 'draw' the breadcrumb trail as it cycles between menu screens. It usually does this when you are approaching a junction and most need the navigation hints. This got a couple of us lost (however briefly) on the PH TdF stage three ride into London. And then there's it's party piece. You're blasting along a country lane with no turns or junctions in sight,when it repeatedly tells you that you are "off course". You just have to have confidence and ignore it when you KNOW it can't be correct. GPS drift can be enough to confuse the unit.
But in general, it's great. I seldom use it in isolation for navigation. Normally I'll know my route, or the area I'm riding, enough to not have to rely on the GPS. Or I carry an OS map of the area. But for recording data and drawing you a nice red line on the Strava map when you get home? It's been pretty good. 15,500 miles in all weathers over three years, plus being dropped a few times, and I'm of the opinion that it's a pretty robust instrument. I'm certainly not tempted by the newer Edge510, and Edge520 units that seem to be accompanied by tales of woe whenever they're talked about on the internet.
Had a few issues with it since I bought it on eBay over three years ago, but nothing that I couldn't sort out myself at home.
The odd issue with it going bonkers on cold, wet rides. Water getting into the barometric altimeter vent holes causing the elevation figure to go off the chart.
Occasional tardiness getting satellite reception. Frustrating when you just want to get going.
A few times I've had problems downloading rides onto Strava from the unit. This must have been down to too much data stored in the GPS unit's memory, as when I dump the older ride files onto the PC and start again from scratch it works just fine.
The worst element for driving me nuts is the 'breadcrumb trail' navigation feature. No base map means no anchoring reference points, so complex junctions (multi-exit roundabouts, for instance) can result in you being sent off course. Then there's it's refusal to 'draw' the breadcrumb trail as it cycles between menu screens. It usually does this when you are approaching a junction and most need the navigation hints. This got a couple of us lost (however briefly) on the PH TdF stage three ride into London. And then there's it's party piece. You're blasting along a country lane with no turns or junctions in sight,when it repeatedly tells you that you are "off course". You just have to have confidence and ignore it when you KNOW it can't be correct. GPS drift can be enough to confuse the unit.
But in general, it's great. I seldom use it in isolation for navigation. Normally I'll know my route, or the area I'm riding, enough to not have to rely on the GPS. Or I carry an OS map of the area. But for recording data and drawing you a nice red line on the Strava map when you get home? It's been pretty good. 15,500 miles in all weathers over three years, plus being dropped a few times, and I'm of the opinion that it's a pretty robust instrument. I'm certainly not tempted by the newer Edge510, and Edge520 units that seem to be accompanied by tales of woe whenever they're talked about on the internet.
IroningMan said:
Most of our Garmin-plotted routes go wrong when the person planning the route fails to differentiate between a road and a footpath.
Don't blame the person, if he's using the Garmin online route planner IT fails to know the difference between roads and footpaths. Happens to us all the time.
bad company said:
Bump.
So I was out for a ride yesterday and for whatever reason my Edge 800 decided to replace showing my speed and replaced it with calorie burn.
WTF is going on?
It's highly likely you left it switched on with the touch screen in contact with something that effectively achieved a 'fat fingers' blunder. Even garmin electronics aren't generally known for independent thought, no matter what some would think So I was out for a ride yesterday and for whatever reason my Edge 800 decided to replace showing my speed and replaced it with calorie burn.
WTF is going on?
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