Garmin Megathread-Ask your questions here-See post 1 on how to search thread

TheRoadRunner · 02-08-2010 07:15PM #1

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

This thread has become pretty massive, so it'd probably be useful to show people how to search it effectively:

Steps:
Using your browser, go to google.ie

In the search window, type the following: site:boards.ie Garmin Megathread <insert search terms here>

Hopefully browse results, like this.

Howdy, having some problems with recent uploads to Garmin connect from my forerunner 405. I've tried a couple of things and done a bit of online searching but nothing too extensive so I'm being a bit lazy wondering if anybody has had similar problems ?

Basically I can see all my run info except the map is missing. I've had a look into my connect preferences and can't see an option to turn map viewing on or off. Maybe there is some sort of limit on the number of maps one can store on the connect website ????

Krusty_Clown · 02-08-2010 07:24PM

I don't think there are any limitations.. PM me a link to one of your training runs, and I'll have a look.

shels4ever · 02-08-2010 07:26PM

Its the same for all my older runs too, only uploaded a load of them last week and cleared my garmin, any form last year dont have the map now.

TheRoadRunner · 02-08-2010 07:36PM

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I don't think there are any limitations.. PM me a link to one of your training runs, and I'll have a look.

I was actually just going to PM this query to you but thought that would have been really really lazy. I've just sent you the link.

Krusty_Clown · 02-08-2010 08:33PM

That's nuts. It's still showing your pace, so GPS is definitely working. Similar to Shels problem, I reckon your watch memory is full, so you may need to clear it out. I usually have mine set up to remove the activity from the watch once it has uploaded to the computer. Right click Garmin Ant Agent, Device Settings, Automatically erase data from my device after transfer.

To clear yours, go to [History] [Delete] [All activities] or [old activities].
That's my best guess!

donothoponpop · 02-08-2010 08:58PM

There's a load of runners who use Garmin and other GPS devices, and a whole load of them don't know the workings of many of the features. Since we have a few posters here who know a thing or two about Garmin issues, it might be an idea to contain them all in this thread, for the benefit of all.

Thanks to Krusty, Robinph, RayCun, and others, who always seem happy to answer Garmin questions!

TheRoadRunner · 02-08-2010 09:58PM

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I reckon your watch memory is full, so you may need to clear it out. I usually have mine set up to remove the activity from the watch once it has uploaded to the computer. Right click Garmin Ant Agent, Device Settings, Automatically erase data from my device after transfer.

As far as I can recall I did a recent delete but will do another now an see if it makes any difference tomorrow. If I have no joy I'll email the Garmin helpdesk and will report back

Krusty_Clown · 02-08-2010 10:27PM

TheRoadRunner wrote: »

As far as I can recall I did a recent delete but will do another now an see if it makes any difference tomorrow. If I have no joy I'll email the Garmin helpdesk and will report back

If that doesn't work, try a factory reset. Hold the start/stop and Lap buttons at the same time for around 10 seconds. That'll clear out any data, and reset the watch back to default. But it sounds like the problem may be related to a memory full type situation. The watch really only holds around 20 hours of exercise data.

robinph · 03-08-2010 07:24AM

It will hold a lot more than 20hours worth of overall exercise data, but only the most recent 20 hours or so worth will have any track points kept in the watch. Any older workouts will then only be stored on the watch with the basic lap data saying how far and fast you went, but not the where.

I don't think the delete all activities from the watch option will do anything about the lack of maps, it does delete all the data though, the maps may just be getting lost if your not uploading from the watch to the computer regularly enough though.

BeepBeep67 · 03-08-2010 07:45AM

How many use their Garmin's to their full potential, how many know what the full potential of their Garmin's are?
I suspect most point at a satellite, stick on a HRM and just run (that's me btw).
Would be good to have a top 10+ most useful features section as many will not RTFM and get into a comfort zone once they (me) figure out how to get basic data.

christeb · 03-08-2010 07:54AM

I was going to send KC a PM today actually.

Dearest KC (and everyone else) - Godfather of Garmins, please help.

The HR strap shows up intermittentely on the watch, the little icon shows a heart then shows an "X". Thye battery has recently been replaced - any ideas?

robinph · 03-08-2010 07:54AM

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

... RTFM ...

There was a manual?

Anything made of paper that comes in my boxes of gadgetry is classed as packaging.

RayCun · 03-08-2010 08:00AM

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

How many use their Garmin's to their full potential, how many know what the full potential of their Garmin's are?
I suspect most point at a satellite, stick on a HRM and just run (that's me btw).
Would be good to have a top 10+ most useful features section as many will not RTFM and get into a comfort zone once they (me) figure out how to get basic data.

Yeah, I was amused to see donothoponpop mention me above, because the most complicated thing I've done with my Garmin is turn on AutoLap. I couldn't even get the HRM to work!

Krusty_Clown · 03-08-2010 08:47AM

robinph wrote: »

I don't think the delete all activities from the watch option will do anything about the lack of maps, it does delete all the data though, the maps may just be getting lost if your not uploading from the watch to the computer regularly enough though.

Yep exactly. It won't restore the missing maps, as the trackpoints have been abandoned (sorry tRR), but if it is the root of the problem, it will mean that future activities will have trackpoints/maps.

Krusty_Clown · 03-08-2010 08:52AM

christeb wrote: »

I was going to send KC a PM today actually.

Dearest KC (and everyone else) - Godfather of Garmins, please help.

The HR strap shows up intermittentely on the watch, the little icon shows a heart then shows an "X". Thye battery has recently been replaced - any ideas?

Buy a Polar Heart rate monitor?!
I made the mistake of buying the 'luxury' HRM strap after leaving my last HRM strap in Barcelona, and this one has been nothing shy of a disaster. This one will frequently record heart rates of 238+ in the middle of a run. I had grown used to the HR spikes at the start of the run, and learned to live with the quirk, but sadly, with this HRM any data recorded is pretty meaningless (even worse, it is erroneous).

In your case it sounds like it is losing the ANT+ connection to the watch. Since replacing the battery, did you re-'pair' the HRM to the watch? Might be an idea to pair the two devices again.

mitresize5 · 03-08-2010 08:55AM

this thread is a great idea because I usually get little bits of info off the many other ones that pop up every now and then.

I have a problem at the moment with my HRM. I went for a lsr run yesterday and it measured my Max HR at 210 .... zone 6 (didnt know there was one)

I had noticed it was reading very high recently (ie ... heart rate much higher than perceived effort)

Anyone had similar problems?

plodder · 03-08-2010 09:00AM

christeb wrote: »

I was going to send KC a PM today actually.

Dearest KC (and everyone else) - Godfather of Garmins, please help.

The HR strap shows up intermittentely on the watch, the little icon shows a heart then shows an "X". Thye battery has recently been replaced - any ideas?

The battery might not be sitting properly in its holder. Take it out, and reseat it, and make sure it fits snugly.

Krusty_Clown · 03-08-2010 09:02AM

mitresize5 wrote: »

this thread is a great idea because I usually get little bits of info off the many other ones that pop up every now and then.

I have a problem at the moment with my HRM. I went for a lsr run yesterday and it measured my Max HR at 210 .... zone 6 (didnt know there was one)

I had noticed it was reading very high recently (ie ... heart rate much higher than perceived effort)

Anyone had similar problems?

Have you changed your clothing recently? A new type of technical top?
Do you have a link to Garmin Connect?

nerraw1111 · 03-08-2010 09:22AM

Some of my maps are missing too on my most recent runs. It shows everything else except the maps. But oddly, it shows the maps of the most recent runs.

I thought it was a website problem

robinph · 03-08-2010 09:31AM

To the people with missing maps, how often do you go between uploading the data to your PC?

A random selection of my very old maps are still appearing on connect.garmin.com OK, I don't think it's a website issue.

Krusty_Clown · 03-08-2010 09:44AM

Uploading to Garmin Training Centre / Garmin Connect wont clear the data from your watch, unless you have specified that it should do so, in the Garmin Ant Agent settings:
Right click Garmin Ant Agent, [Device Settings], [Automatically erase data from my device after transfer].

Once the watch memory is full, it will wrap, so newer activities will have trackpoints (map data) recorded, and older activities will lose their trackpoints, but maintain the summary info (distance/average pace), which is why they might be appearing in Garmin Connect without any map data (do newer activities appear correctly?).

I have found that the best option is to upload to Garmin Training Centre (as a backup) and Garmin connect at the same time, and delete the activity from the watch automatically afterwards.

Peterx · 03-08-2010 10:49AM

Great idea for a thread..

I used my garmin over the course of 9 days from the 16th - 25th July recording start and finish points for daily cycles. I came home, ran for a week recording runs and then tried to download the info. Only the runs from the 26th July onwards downloaded. Checking the history on the watch there is no history of the spins from the 16th - 25th.
Anyway, is there any way to find those activities or get them back? The only thing I can think of is that I changed the setting from biking back to running on the 26th.

cheers,
peter

If the cycles are findable is it possible to stitch together the 9 days cycle maps to show the overall route on one map?

cheers agin!

Krusty_Clown · 03-08-2010 10:58AM

When you say 'starting and finish points' what do you mean exactly?
Do you reset the activity after finishing each one (i.e. hold the lap button for 5+ seconds)? This creates a logical break between activities, otherwise they'll flow from one to the other (and give you some very strabge readings).

Typically, the ANT agent (assuming it's a 405?) will upload any activities first to your laptop before transferring them to Garmin Connect, so it's worth checking your hard drive to see if they might be there (search for *.TCX). but if your runs uploaded successfully, I would imagine they are gone. You'll just have the cover the route again!

As I mentioned previously, the watch will hold approximately 20 hours of activities. After that, it starts deleting the older activities in order to replace them with newer data.

Yes, you can merge/stick together activities, but not in Garmin Connect (or other Garmin tools). I'll describe this at some stage..

nerraw1111 · 03-08-2010 11:06AM

Cheers Krusty.

That makes sense re watch overwriting old activities. Hadn't cleared the history in a while.

Peterx · 03-08-2010 11:08AM

Thanks Krusty.
Every morning I reset the watch (405, yes held the button for 5 seconds) for a new activity and then started the watch, I let it run for about 10 minutes once an hour to get it to roughly show my route for that day. When we got to the day's end I'd stop it.
Because of it's useless battery time I couldn't let it run continuously as we were on the go for more then 6 hours. 8-10 hours my backside...
I did try to upload the files from my laptop via a dodgy internet connection and it failed so hopefully they are still sitting on the laptop. Cheers for the help!
The watch still has plenty of sessions on it from before the 16th July, just the holiday ones are missing.

Krusty_Clown · 03-08-2010 11:12AM

Peterx wrote: »

Thanks Krusty.
Every morning I reset the watch (405, yes held the button for 5 seconds) for a new activity and then started the watch, I let it run for about 10 minutes once an hour to get it to roughly show my route for that day. When we got to the day's end I'd stop it.
Because of it's useless battery time I couldn't let it run continuously as we were on the go for more then 6 hours. 8-10 hours my backside...
I did try to upload the files from my laptop via a dodgy internet connection and it failed so hopefully they are still sitting on the laptop. Cheers for the help!

Well, that's a little more promising. There's a good chance they're still on the laptop, so you can import them manually into Garmin Connect. But you won't be able to stitch together tracklogs for sections you didn't actually record, right?! If you use Sportstracks though (I think) you can edit the route and draw/edit the track free-hand, so you could draw in the missing sections. Not sure what use that would be to you though.

BeepBeep67 · 03-08-2010 12:48PM

Out of interest has anyone tried charging a Garmin with the portable USB chargers - I see Tesco's and a few others are selling Duracell ones.
Might be an option when on long over night activities or an option to re charge during a break when on a day long cycle?

robinph · 03-08-2010 12:54PM

I've certainly charged mine from powered USB hubs before, when they were not connected to any PC, and pretty sure I've charged it from a battery pack with a USB port adapter fitted to it as well. I've lent that to someone else this week though so can't confirm right now.

Krusty_Clown · 03-08-2010 12:55PM

A buddy has recommended this one: Sanyo Eneloop, but I have not tried it. It seems like a good idea.

BeepBeep67 · 03-08-2010 01:16PM

I think this is the one in Tesco's.

http://www.officeshop.ie/storefront/Duracell-Instant-Power-Charger-75057443-P-124504
In theory if it has USB out it should work!

robinph · 03-08-2010 01:31PM

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

In theory if has USB out it should work!

Yep, the only USB charged devices that I've encountered that don't actually charge via any powered USB port are some Creative ZEN mp3 players. But that was due to Creative not following the USB standard in order to try and sell more of their own more expensive chargers.

The 405 only actually connects via two pins to charge it, so once there is enough juice coming from whatever powered USB source it will charge.

Garmin Megathread-Ask your questions here-See post 1 on how to search thread

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