Road Cycling - List of Known Issues with Garmin Edge 705

The Garmin Edge 705 is an expensive, potentially fine GPS and bicycling computer. However it has numerous known technical issues and suffers from usability flaws. I am going to use this thread to gather the known issues together and I will send them to the president of Garmin. Garmin's technical support staff and their knowledge base are lacking in technical knowledge about this expensive product. I have a Garmin GPS for my car and it works flawlessly. I do not understand why this technology cannot be made function properly on a a bicycle GPS. I also appreciate Garmin sponsoring the Garmin-Chipotle Cycling Team, however I would rather have a Garmin Edge 705 that worked properly.

At the top of my list are:

1. ETA, estimated time of arrival, does not work at all. I have attempted to work through this with the Garmin technical staff and their recommendations do not work. They do not even have it on their list of known problems. This important function simply is brain dead. GPS systems on both of my cars, including one Garmin unit, work flawlessly. Why can't Garmin fix this software issue?

2. Back to Start. If one is out on a ride and it starts raining, you want the shortest way back to start. The Edge 705 simply sends you back the exact same way that you came. You could be 5 miles from your start point and it will send you back the 35 miles that you just road back to start.

3. Meaningless screens continue to pop up when you switch between the map and bike data. I do not to see a list of turn by turn directions. I do not need to see a north arrow screen. The user should be able to control the list of available screens

4. Very poor toggle device econometrics for the Edge 705. The mode button is horrible to use with one hand while cycling.

5. The Garmin technical staff who support the Edge 705 are awful. They are not cyclists and they do not understand the product. they take zero initiative in tracking known issues and solutions. They simply say try this. If that doesn't work try this. They do not have a current database to work from apparently.

sounds horrible. how do $50 sound?

Wrong forum to complain on. Why not post this where someone from Garmin might actually read it, like the Motionbased forums! Otherwise you are simply trolling.

i have a 705 as well. i like it despite the little problems it has.

there is a long and helpful thread just next door here on bikeforum.net in electronics&gadgets:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=394187

many helpful tips and some workarounds that helped me out a lot. on the downside you will find many bugs you didn't discover yet :-).

Wrong forum to complain on. Why not post this where someone from Garmin might actually read it, like the Motionbased forums! Otherwise you are simply trolling.

Right forum. This is good information for people who are considering a purchase of this item.

I have had a 705 for a few weeks now - I like it a lot. It does have a few issues, which to me seem fairly minor. It's a relatively new product, I think it's been on the market for 6 months or so, and Garmin has already come out with several firmware updates to address some of the big issues, I see no reason to think they won't continue to address the smaller ones as well.

The thread linked above, in the Electronics & Gadgets forum, has been very helpful, as has motionbased.com.

Also, OP, when you wrote "...it will send you back the 35 miles that you just road..." I think you meant "rode."

At the top of my list are:

1. ETA, estimated time of arrival, does not work at all. I have attempted to work through this with the Garmin technical staff and their recommendations do not work. They do not even have it on their list of known problems. This important function simply is brain dead. GPS systems on both of my cars, including one Garmin unit, work flawlessly. Why can't Garmin fix this software issue?

In my extremely limited use of this feature it seemed ok. However, do you really expect it to give you meaningful data? In my experience ETA in a car GPS varies significantly during a trip.

On a bike, its got to make assumptions about how fast you are. And how is it to know how fast you'll chose to climb the next hill.

If I know how farI've got to go, and have some idea of terrain, I can calculate my own ETA within acceptable limits without a GPS


2. Back to Start. If one is out on a ride and it starts raining, you want the shortest way back to start. The Edge 705 simply sends you back the exact same way that you came. You could be 5 miles from your start point and it will send you back the 35 miles that you just road back to start.

I think there's a way to deal with this. It just isn't back to start. I used the "Find Home" today and on a ride that started from home, it found the shortest way home.

If you're not riding from home, just save the starting point of the ride, then ask it to find that point if you want to find the shortest way back.

Or save your starting point as home at the start of the ride, and use find home.



3. Meaningless screens continue to pop up when you switch between the map and bike data. I do not to see a list of turn by turn directions. I do not need to see a north arrow screen. The user should be able to control the list of available screens

Nit. It would be nice to choose what screens come up, and eidt ones you don't want, but that would also add one more thing for the user to setup, and one more trap for the unwary, (where the F is that compass...?)


4. Very poor toggle device econometrics for the Edge 705. The mode button is horrible to use with one hand while cycling.

To me the user interface is not bad. Better than a powertap, better than a Blackburn Neuro 6, the other expensive cyclecomputers I've worked with.


5. The Garmin technical staff who support the Edge 705 are awful. They are not cyclists and they do not understand the product. they take zero initiative in tracking known issues and solutions. They simply say try this. If that doesn't work try this. They do not have a current database to work from apparently.

I hope I don't have to find out about this one.

I've also been using the 705 for about six months or so. I've been happy with it and haven't noticed any show-stopper bugs.

i have a big complaint about the 705. big bug!

i used to ride a route from a cue sheet and could repeat it just like that even after years.

now i have a 705 and forget every turn as soon as i make it. i barely make it home from the super market.

it was the same with my ability of memorizing phone numbers which went to hell as soon as i could store them in my first mobile phone.

darn!

4. Very poor toggle device econometrics for the Edge 705. The mode button is horrible to use with one hand while cycling.



Riding today, I was thinking about this. I could see if you're reaching across with your right hand to hit the mode button on the left, that it could be slightly awkward. However, you can press the mode button with your left thumb, without even removing your hands form the bars. At least it works for me. You might try it.

1. ETA, estimated time of arrival, does not work at all. I have attempted to work through this with the Garmin technical staff and their recommendations do not work. They do not even have it on their list of known problems. This important function simply is brain dead. GPS systems on both of my cars, including one Garmin unit, work flawlessly. Why can't Garmin fix this software issue?

How can it possibly give you a meaningful ETA? For a car, it knows the speed limits and makes a reasonable assumption that you will follow them. For a bike, it does not know how strong you are, and it does not know what kind of terrain/weather you have to deal with. Bike speed is too easily influenced by factors which cannot be predicted. That said, it seems to assume 12mph or some such. They could at least provide an enter your average speed option...


2. Back to Start. If one is out on a ride and it starts raining, you want the shortest way back to start. The Edge 705 simply sends you back the exact same way that you came. You could be 5 miles from your start point and it will send you back the 35 miles that you just road back to start.

If you want to navigate back to your start location rather than backtrack your route, you simply need to stop navigation, and pick your start location as your destination. BFD.


3. Meaningless screens continue to pop up when you switch between the map and bike data. I do not to see a list of turn by turn directions. I do not need to see a north arrow screen. The user should be able to control the list of available screens

I'm pretty sure that there is an option for that.


4. Very poor toggle device econometrics for the Edge 705. The mode button is horrible to use with one hand while cycling.

I completely disagree. I think the buttons work great and in fact are quite an improvement over the 305.

How do you save RIDEs on the edge 705. Or better yet how do you save courses into history to get turn by turn directions on the courses you created from (mapmyride) etc.?

^ I just bought it yesterday, but I think when it's connected to your computer it sees it as a removable storage device and you drop the file in one of the folders inside the 705...

One thing I've just noticed about my 705 is how slow the processor is. When using the 705 in navigation mode it takes a long time to plan the routing. If you miss a turn it again takes a long time to reroute you. In the map mode, the map takes a few seconds to fully recover after slewing the pointer. Overall I like my 705, but it seems as if Garmin may have skimped on the processor a bit.

yes I dropped the tcx file i created as a route in history folder and courses. but when I try to go to "Where to?" > "Follow History" it's not there. Also when I go to "saved rides" it say's "No Rides in Memory. I can do turn by turn directions from my history rides that I have already done but what about a course I created I have not yet ridden. Can I get turn by turn directions on those files? Man I hope you can cus Garmin would just be really dumb if you cant even get turn by turn directions on a new ride you've just plotted.

Today the ETA times were based upon me peddling my bike at 40 mph. The best that I can do over 32 miles is 16.2 mph. I have the latest firmware upgrades.

Today the ETA times were based upon me peddling my bike at 40 mph. The best that I can do over 32 miles is 16.2 mph. I have the latest firmware upgrades.

It has an option to your transportation mode.

Menu > Settings > Routing > Calculate Routes For:

How do you have it set?

i have a big complaint about the 705. big bug!

i used to ride a route from a cue sheet and could repeat it just like that even after years.

now i have a 705 and forget every turn as soon as i make it. i barely make it home from the super market.

it was the same with my ability of memorizing phone numbers which went to hell as soon as i could store them in my first mobile phone.

darn!

+1 :thumb:

How do you save RIDEs on the edge 705. Or better yet how do you save courses into history to get turn by turn directions on the courses you created from (mapmyride) etc.?

A Saved Ride is a GPX file that you save in the GPX folder. You can get these files from websites like BikeRouteToaster.com or similar. You can also create them in Mapsourse. A GPX file will give you turn warning ahead of every turn and as you approach them. These types of files are also the ones that if you deviate from the route the GPS will calculate a new route as it see fits to get you to the destination.

A Course is a TCX or CRS file that you save in the Course folder. You can also download this type of file from BikeRouteToaster.com, MotionBased.com and other websites. Garmin Training Center can also create them. The Edge itself has the ability to create a course directly on the unit based on a ride saved in the history or the Edge also. Garmin Training Center and websites like BikeRouteToaster.com (not Motion Based) will allow you to add turn prompts to the file.

I dropped the tcx file i created as a route in history folder and courses. but when I try to go to "Where to?" > "Follow History" it's not there. Also when I go to "saved rides" it say's "No Rides in Memory. I can do turn by turn directions from my history rides that I have already done but what about a course I created I have not yet ridden. Can I get turn by turn directions on those files? Man I hope you can cus Garmin would just be really dumb if you cant even get turn by turn directions on a new ride you've just plotted.

See my post above also but here is a little more detail to follow up based on this post.

COURSE: a TCX or CRS file, place in Course folder, to follow Menu, Training, Courses

ROUTE: a GPX file, place in the GPX folder, to follow Menu, Where To, Saved Rides

As for new courses that you have not ridden that is in my post above.

It has an option to your transportation mode.

Menu > Settings > Routing > Calculate Routes For:

How do you have it set?
I have it set to bicycle.

A Saved Ride is a GPX file that you save in the GPX folder. You can get these files from websites like BikeRouteToaster.com or similar. You can also create them in Mapsourse. A GPX file will give you turn warning ahead of every turn and as you approach them. These types of files are also the ones that if you deviate from the route the GPS will calculate a new route as it see fits to get you to the destination.

A Course is a TCX or CRS file that you save in the Course folder. You can also download this type of file from BikeRouteToaster.com, MotionBased.com and other websites. Garmin Training Center can also create them. The Edge itself has the ability to create a course directly on the unit based on a ride saved in the history or the Edge also. Garmin Training Center and websites like BikeRouteToaster.com (not Motion Based) will allow you to add turn prompts to the file.

Perfect! It worked!!! Thank you so much. But there is one file that gave me this error message "Only 100 points can be used for follow road navigation" wtf does that mean. The file was created from mapmyride.com with "auto notes" turned on. Could that be the reason?

Eta should be very simple. Divide the remaining distance by your average speed. If it does this on a continuous basis, it would self correct. Not very hard, and very real. So it may be way off if you start really slow or fast, but it will average out and get closer as you get closer.

Eta should be very simple. Divide the remaining distance by your average speed. If it does this on a continuous basis, it would self correct. Not very hard, and very real. So it may be way off if you start really slow or fast, but it will average out and get closer as you get closer.

Except ETA is broken on the Edge devices, it does not use average speed, it uses a fixed speed of 12 mph, IIRC.

How can it possibly give you a meaningful ETA? For a car, it knows the speed limits and makes a reasonable assumption that you will follow them. For a bike, it does not know how strong you are, and it does not know what kind of terrain/weather you have to deal with. Bike speed is too easily influenced by factors which cannot be predicted.

To that I would say don't have a feature that can't be done. If they don't have a reasonable way to predict ETA they should not have included it.

Except ETA is broken on the Edge devices, it does not use average speed, it uses a fixed speed of 12 mph, IIRC.

Sorry, my point was that they shouldn't have a hard time making it work. Not that it does work. Kind of scary to think they can't get something simple like that to work. It's also interesting that they invested in the bike end of this to the degree that it exists for a bike, but that they don't back it up or didn't dedicate the people to it. Any good company will use people that are strong in an area to develope a product for that area. So, what was the driving force for this that didn't have support?

I'll add one: Routes longer then 2 hours don't work, the unit crashes and shuts down. Happens 100% of the time no matter the route. happens between 2 hours and 2.5 hours it just shuts down.

I'll add one: Routes longer then 2 hours don't work, the unit crashes and shuts down. Happens 100% of the time no matter the route. happens between 2 hours and 2.5 hours it just shuts down.

What's the difference between a route and a course? My courses have gone past the 5hr mark with no problems. Would you be able to do a course instead of a route?

A few questions:

1. If you save a route as a GPX course, it produces turn-by-turn directions. That's good. But how do you navigate TO the starting point? The manual says you can do that for any ride in "follow history" but what if you haven't done the ride? The only thing the 705 will do is direct you to the nearest point on the route upon which it will just continue you on the route. It will NOT direct you back to the starting point.

2. For some routes saved as a GPX route, the 705 will come back with "more than 100 points" and won't do the route.

3. Therefore, I guess you can then save it as a TCX file, but then a) you can't navigate to the starting point and b) you can't get turn-by-turn directions (I'm guessing once you do the ride and save it, the next time you will have turn-by-turn directions.) But, I haven't tried that yet.

If anyone can help, let me know!

I have had my 705 for about 1 1/2 months. It took a couple of rides to figure out what should be displayed and how to get it just right. But all is well now. Except last week on a century a the the lunch stop I was doing 5,000 mph for 20 minutes according to the data uploaded from the 705. Wow was I tired after that.

+1 I have mine since 2 weeks, upgraded from 305. If you get a good deal (I paid $420, HR with cadence, shipped, brand new :)) it is a lot better than the 305 (sold my 305 hr/cadence for $200, so for $220 got a bigger screen, better battery, color display and mapping). A must have is the SD card with detail NA maps (paid $52 in Ebay) , which YOU CAN later use to update the base map of the Training Center. Just my 2 cents!!!

The Garmin Edge 705 is an expensive, potentially fine GPS and bicycling computer. However it has numerous known technical issues and suffers from usability flaws. I am going to use this thread to gather the known issues together and I will send them to the president of Garmin. Garmin's technical support staff and their knowledge base are lacking in technical knowledge about this expensive product. I have a Garmin GPS for my car and it works flawlessly. I do not understand why this technology cannot be made function properly on a a bicycle GPS. I also appreciate Garmin sponsoring the Garmin-Chipotle Cycling Team, however I would rather have a Garmin Edge 705 that worked properly.

At the top of my list are:

1. ETA, estimated time of arrival, does not work at all. I have attempted to work through this with the Garmin technical staff and their recommendations do not work. They do not even have it on their list of known problems. This important function simply is brain dead. GPS systems on both of my cars, including one Garmin unit, work flawlessly. Why can't Garmin fix this software issue?

2. Back to Start. If one is out on a ride and it starts raining, you want the shortest way back to start. The Edge 705 simply sends you back the exact same way that you came. You could be 5 miles from your start point and it will send you back the 35 miles that you just road back to start.

3. Meaningless screens continue to pop up when you switch between the map and bike data. I do not to see a list of turn by turn directions. I do not need to see a north arrow screen. The user should be able to control the list of available screens

4. Very poor toggle device econometrics for the Edge 705. The mode button is horrible to use with one hand while cycling.

5. The Garmin technical staff who support the Edge 705 are awful. They are not cyclists and they do not understand the product. they take zero initiative in tracking known issues and solutions. They simply say try this. If that doesn't work try this. They do not have a current database to work from apparently.

4. I think you mean ergonomics not econometrics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Econometrics). If it could develop econometric models, I would have loved one during my undergrad.

5. With respect to technical staff, The rare times that I needed them with my 305, they were extremely helpful. Maybe I got lucky. I do think that it would be hard for a company with a diverse line of products to have representatives that are knowledge specific with respect to a single area.

If you are dissatisfied, can you return the product?

I have had my 705 for about 1 1/2 months. It took a couple of rides to figure out what should be displayed and how to get it just right. But all is well now. Except last week on a century a the the lunch stop I was doing 5,000 mph for 20 minutes according to the data uploaded from the 705. Wow was I tired after that.


Just curious, do you have your wheel size set to "auto"? When I have mine set to auto, it will give me crazy speed readouts. After I set it back to manual and enter the size of my wheel, it's fine and always reads correct. I've changed the battery in the sensor about 4 times with the same results.

Hi Medpilot, mine is in auto, speed readings seems to be just fine.

Just curious, do you have your wheel size set to "auto"? When I have mine set to auto, it will give me crazy speed readouts. After I set it back to manual and enter the size of my wheel, it's fine and always reads correct. I've changed the battery in the sensor about 4 times with the same results.

This was a known issue, thast should have been fixed in firmware 2.4. Also make sure you have a fresh battery in your sensor.

Hi Medpilot, mine is in auto, speed readings seems to be just fine.


This was a known issue, thast should have been fixed in firmware 2.4. Also make sure you have a fresh battery in your sensor.


I might need a new GSC-10 sensor. Im' running 2.4 and I've changed the battery out 4 times to make sure it wasn't a weak battery. I am using the same sensor that came with my 305 a few years back. Maybe it's just getting tired.

I might need a new GSC-10 sensor. Im' running 2.4 and I've changed the battery out 4 times to make sure it wasn't a weak battery. I am using the same sensor that came with my 305 a few years back. Maybe it's just getting tired.

One other thing to try first, hooking the 705 up to your computer first, delete the UserProfile.tcx located in \\Garmin\Profile\ and then perform a hard reset. This will of course reset every one of your settings but if there is any corruption in that file it may resolve the funny speed issues. If you don't want to go to the trouble of resetting everything copy off the file before deleting it then after the reset compare the two files and replace items one by one into the new version created on your Garmin after the reset.

One other thing to try first, hooking the 705 up to your computer first, delete the UserProfile.tcx located in \\Garmin\Profile\ and then perform a hard reset. This will of course reset every one of your settings but if there is any corruption in that file it may resolve the funny speed issues. If you don't want to go to the trouble of resetting everything copy off the file before deleting it then after the reset compare the two files and replace items one by one into the new version created on your Garmin after the reset.

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

2 questions

1) If I already own a Nuvi, can I download the maps from that device and load it on a 705? or do I have to re-purchase City Navigator NT?

2) Will I still be able to use MapSource to create routes on my home computer if I purchase the 705 bundle that comes with the maps on a SD card? Is it possible to copy the maps from the SD card to home computer and use MapSource that way? Or do I have to purchase the MapSource DVD to create routes on my home computer?

1) I don't believe so.
2) You cannot use the maps from the SD card on your computer, but people have reported being able to exchange the SD card for the DVD and upload the maps from the computer to your own SD card. If that makes sense.

1) If I already own a Nuvi, can I download the maps from that device and load it on a 705? or do I have to re-purchase City Navigator NT?

Are the maps on the Nuvi or an SD card? If they are on SD card and you purchased them on the SD card, not DVD, then you can move the SD card to the Edge to use them. If you purchased the maps on DVD and loaded them to the SD card they are locked to the Nuvi. I tested moving my pre-loaded SD card from my Edge 705 to my 60CSx and the maps were able to be loaded.


2) Will I still be able to use MapSource to create routes on my home computer if I purchase the 705 bundle that comes with the maps on a SD card? Is it possible to copy the maps from the SD card to home computer and use MapSource that way? Or do I have to purchase the MapSource DVD to create routes on my home computer?

No. The bundle does not come with routable maps for Mapsource. You are able to copy them to your computer and view them in Mapsource however they do not allow for creating of routes via autorouting.

Best option that avoids all the problems is to buy the Edge without the pre-loaded SD card. Buy the maps on DVD and then you can have the maps on your computer and Edge.

Best option that avoids all the problems is to buy the Edge without the pre-loaded SD card. Buy the maps on DVD and then you can have the maps on your computer and Edge.


This is what I'm leaning towards. I read on garmin.com that if you buy the DVD you can use the software on 2 separate units (i think) and if you have the SD card with software pre-loaded you can't buy the City Navigator NT update to bring your maps up to date - you have to buy a new preloaded SD card and they don't tell you the price of that. I guess they think people are too stupid to buy a blank SD card + City Navigator NT full version to save money when Garmin updates their maps.

Have you checked for firmware updates?
I had to do a couple of updates on my Garmin ForeTrex 201 to fix some known issues.
It works fine now (unless I go through a tunnel).

The maps came preloaded on the internal memory of nuvi device itself. I.E. not on SD card and not on DVD. Its the nuvi 780.

I'm wondering if I can copy the map stuff off my nuvi device and put the maps on a 705.


Are the maps on the Nuvi or an SD card? If they are on SD card and you purchased them on the SD card, not DVD, then you can move the SD card to the Edge to use them. If you purchased the maps on DVD and loaded them to the SD card they are locked to the Nuvi. I tested moving my pre-loaded SD card from my Edge 705 to my 60CSx and the maps were able to be loaded.



No. The bundle does not come with routable maps for Mapsource. You are able to copy them to your computer and view them in Mapsource however they do not allow for creating of routes via autorouting.

Best option that avoids all the problems is to buy the Edge without the pre-loaded SD card. Buy the maps on DVD and then you can have the maps on your computer and Edge.

The maps came preloaded on the internal memory of nuvi device itself. I.E. not on SD card and not on DVD. Its the nuvi 780.

I'm wondering if I can copy the map stuff off my nuvi device and put the maps on a 705.

Nope

I had a problem with the speed jumping. The speed would go from 2 mph to 78 mph is just a couple of seconds. However, after the last software update, it stopped. The other issues I have noticed are minor and will probably be resolved in the next software update. Overall, I'm very happy with the 705.

The maps came preloaded on the internal memory of nuvi device itself. I.E. not on SD card and not on DVD. Its the nuvi 780.

I'm wondering if I can copy the map stuff off my nuvi device and put the maps on a 705.

To elaborate on umd's post. You cannot move them because they are locked to your Nuvi. There is no way to use those maps on any other device that I have heard of.

I have not been able to download courses to my 705 with Garmin Training Centre or Bike Route Toaster. I have saved the tcx files into a folder on my Mac HD then copied and pasted into the Course folder for the Garmin and onto the same folder on my SD card. In both cases the file name on the 705 is garbled (corrupt) and causes the 705 to shutdown when i attempt to Do Course. When I go to delete the corrupt course other courses I created from my history are also deleted. Anyone else with this problem? Any suggestions??

Are you able to send it to the Edge from within Training Center?

My maps came from a Garmin Topo map on a CD. I loaded them on a micro SD card. Roads and terrain pop up just fine. It will not navigate using roads, except major freeways. I could be 1 mile from where I want to be and the navigation will take me 10 miles via the freeway. (I do have Use Major Roads off and Follow Roads on)

I think it may be a bug with the topo maps or using maps that the user writes to a micro SD.

Other than that I'm quite happy with my 705.