Originally Posted by
bikefor2
Just in case anyone wants to do the same thing, I found a solution and wanted to let you know what I did. I used my Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone as the USB host by purchasing a $4 cable from Amazon. It's an OTG Y-cable with micro USB and power USB. I obtained the free Android App called "Garmin uploader" by Sportablet. I connected the Y cable to the smartphone, the Garmin, and power and uploaded activities via the ST Garmin Uploader app. Worked perfectly--I can't tell a difference between this method and what I usually do with a computer.
My reasons for not using other methods suggested:
1. Buy a newer bluetooth Garmin: I didn't want to do this as the Garmin 510 is much larger and harder to read in bright sunlight. My 500 works perfectly, is small, and easy to see.
2. Use the Strava App on my S4 smartphone: This sucks the life out of the smartphone battery, which I'd like to keep available for communication or emergency phone calls if needed. In addition the Strava App doesn't do as good a job as the Garmin 500 with it's barometric altimeter and the Ant+ that connects with my existing Garmin HRM.
3. Save rides and upload to Strava when I get home: This is a tedious process after a 2 or 3-week vacation or tour, plus it's nice to still be able to see your daily rides and progress on Strava (as it is for your interested followers) as the trip progresses while at the same time travelling light without the weight of a netbook or laptop.
4. Use software to copy from Garmin Connect to Strava: This would require that I have a solution to upload the rides to Garmin Connect first, so still using some other technology to do that without a computer.
Total investment in this solution was $4 and my suitcase or pannier will be 2-3 lbs. lighter
. Can't complain about that!
I know it's a year since this thread was active, but this solution listed above was perfect for me.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 (GTI9505) and a Garmin Edge 500. I want to record all day rides while on holiday in France without draining my phone battery dead.
I used Uploader for Garmin App from the Google Play store (A$8.15). I would strongly encourage everyone using this App to do as I did and READ the INSTRUCTIONS for your specific device CAREFULLY!!!
I can confirm that after several tests between my S4 and the Edge 500, a single OTG cable (micro USB to female USB - A$14 from Harvey Norman) WITHOUT power worked for these two devices. (no Y-adapter required) I used my Garmin mini-USB to male USB cable to make the connection. The Garmin powered up fine from the S4 phone, and the phone recognized the Garmin as a mass storage device after 30-40 seconds. I also did as was recommended and made the connection in Aeroplane Mode.
Once connected I used the Uploader for Garmin App which uploaded the FIT files to my phone. I then disconnected the Garmin (removed safely), switched off Aeroplane mode and then using the Uploader for Garmin App, exported one activity to Strava. You will need to make sure this is not a duplicate activity as it will not work.
The Activity appeared in Strava almost immediately with ALL data intact and accurate including Maps, averages, HR, segments etc.
While my outlay of A$22 was slightly more than the $4 spent by the OP, this has saved me wanting to lug my laptop all the way to France.
Yes I know *groan*, I could just download them to Strava when I got home. But after two weeks away, none of my friends following me on Strava are ever going to find my rides under the mountain of Activities that have accumulated in that time!!!
So huge thanks to bikefor2, Looigi and Carlo Pescio (Uploader developer).
(PS: I am wholly and totally unrelated to this App developer and my opinion is completely unbiased)