Seattle Forrest

I know Ride With GPS is the most popular routing platform at least for road. It sounds like they'll have the ability to participate if they choose to.

Today Garmin has released a new API that allows partners (namely, websites/platforms) to push routes straight to your Garmin, with no additional work for you. The first two partners launching today are Strava and Komoot, and from here forward, anytime you create a route and star/favorite it on Strava (or add it to your Komoot tours), it’ll automatically show up on your Garmin. No frustrating half-baked Strava Connect IQ app to deal with, or clunky pairing steps. In other words, it’s basically just like what Wahoo rolled out four years ago.

But what’s cool here is that you don’t need some fancy new Garmin for this. Anything that supports .FIT file courses will work, and the line in the sand there seems to be since roughly 2009. So for example, the Edge 500 (old school review alert!!!) or Edge 800 will work with this. Whereas the 2007-based Forerunner 305 (even older alert!) doesn’t quite make the cut since it doesn’t support .FIT files (I tried).

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/05/...e-old.html/amp

Koyote

I'd love to do this, but to flip that switch that DC Rainmaker links to, the Connect site has to open. And it won't, on my phone app or my computer.

As a new Edge 530 owner, I am about ready to return the device. When it all works, it's great; it just doesn't work much.

ooga-booga

hadn't hears of komoot before today. signed up for an account but dunno how much i'll use it. not the kind of rider that needs to plug in
routes for the most part. 90% of my rides are by feel, seat of my pants, whatever. was more curious to see if komoot was better than strava
at discerning/listing if a segment/road is dirt/paved or some mix of both.

njkayaker

That's odd. What happens?

Koyote

I went back on later and it worked. I suppose too many people were trying to log on at once? At any rate, it’s just the latest frustration. Garmin’s user interface totally blows. But I’ve now had this computer for about 10 days, and I’ve put so much time into figuring it out that I don’t know if I wanna switch to a Wahoo Bolt.

Steve B.

All fine except I fail to see how a Connect iQ app is "half baked". I press the iQ button ont he Menu screen, then select either RWGPS or TralForks, it takes a second or few to show me my routes, select a route and download. It's hard to make it easier then that. On my 1030 this has not yet failed to function as expected.

njkayaker

With the COVID stuff going on? It probably wasn't too many people!

In any case, I haven't anything about the Connect website having problems (that doesn't mean it can't happen; it just doesn't seem like a regular thing).

People like the Wahoos. The Garmin 530 does much more than the Wahoo (which is kind of basic). (It's not like the Wahoos are perfect either.)

It's a bit confusing working out how the Garmins work. But they (mostly) work fairly similarly (which means if you can figure out one of them, it won't be hard to figure out another model).

The Garmin forums are a good resource for help.

Seattle Forrest

I was able to use the site and app several times yesterday. Is it possible the problem could have been on your end?

I bet people would be happy to help with the learning curve of there's anything you're currently pulling hair out over.

Seattle Forrest

Never used it. DCR responds to comments on his site, you might ask there. The fact that this new feature works on an ancient unit like the 800 is pretty cool, and obviously not possible with CIQ. The first devices that ran CIQ were themselves a half baked implementation, I suspect the app wouldn't run on a Fenix 3 for example because of limitations in the memory devoted to CIQ.

At the end of the day it's good to have more options.

Koyote

I appreciate the feedback and the offer, Seattle Forrest . I may take you up on that. I have been to a Garmin users forum and gotten some good help there and also have called their customer service a couple times. Maybe I’m just dense, but the user interface is very complex – needlessly clunky. And their online manual is a joke. But I’m hoping that I’ve now got it set up properly. 🤞

njkayaker

It might be easier with a touch screen.

Koyote

Yes, that would make it faster...But there would still be a plethora of submenus, and different menus for setting up the same functions (e.g., Strava live segments.) And it wouldn't address the issues with getting the app to sync (and stay connected to) the computer.

Steve B.

Having watched the DCRainmaker YT, the feature seems to be that Garmin Connect treats Strava and Kamoots created routes/courses essentially the same and as if they were created on the Connect site, thus the routes would now also be shown on the Connect Mobile app. The DC YT shows how that Strava route shows up directly on the device. AFAIK, it only works that way if your device is connected to the Garmin Connect account via WiFi. I believe that if you only use BT it will not automatically sync but as with any course on Connect needs to be manually added from the GCM app to a device once they pair. At least that's the way my 1030 and 1000 always worked with Connect Mobile and ultimately that's really no quicker or easier than using an iQ app.

Advantage is that really old devices not iQ capable can use this method.

BIG issue is you will possibly have a boatload of routes to wade thru if you have every Connect course and EVERY Strava course and EVERY Kamoots course so good idea to clean up those accounts before syncing.

Seattle Forrest

​​​​​​For what it's worth, this is probably the most common complaint about Garmin. You could spend the rest of your life reading people talk about their trouble using their Edge with their phone. It doesn't seem to be everyone, but it appears pretty common from all the complaints. As far as I know there isn't much rhyme or reason. Sounds very frustrating.

I've been using Garmin GPS watches for years, I stopped using an Edge computer long ago. The watches are 100% reliable with this, so much so that mine has prevented me losing my phone twice, the disconnected alert came on when it shouldn't have, and that was weird enough to stop me. I don't know why they can get it so right with the Fenix line and so wrong, apparently, with the Edge.

But it's not just you.

Bassmanbob

I’m so fed up with my Garmin 820 for not connecting with my iPhone. I started a thread about this months ago, took the steps recommended and now it won’t connect. The only way it syncs is if both my phone and Garmin are both connected to the same WiFi. The Bluetooth won’t connect at all now.

John_V 

Same issue with Wahoo products. If you want to keep the routes to use again later, they will always get downloaded to the computer as long as they remain in your account. The workaround there is to have two accounts, a secondary account for the saved routes and a primary account as a connection to the service. With RWGPS, if both accounts are made "Friends" with each other, you can pin the route(s) you want downloaded from the secondary account and that will be the only route that you'll have in the computer. Unpinning the route after the ride will remove it from the computer on the next synch with the companion app leaving you with more memory to store rides. Screwy workaround but it works. I don't use Strava or Komoot to create routes so I don't know if you have to do the same thing as you do with RWGPS.

Steve B.

On one hand the 820 was not considered to be one of the "good" Garmins.

OTOH, likely you need to periodically dump all your BT and related parts and connections between the phone and the device and just do a new pairing. I also dump the Garmin app off my iPhone when I do this so I know I'm using an up to date Garmin Connect Mobile app.

If it helps any, here's the complete Garmin BT setup instructions they sent to me a few years ago. I do this anytime I update the device or phone or when the BT Livetrack etc... gets flaky. It's written for the 1030 but is the same process for the 820.On the phone and in the GCM app, from the My Day page, select the More tab.

Select Garmin Devices in Garmin Connect Mobile

Select the Edge 1030.

Select the 3 dots on the top right and remove the device.

Remove from Bluetooth settings in your phone settings.

Remove Phone pairing from Edge

1. Go to the Edge 1030 Menu.
   
2. Select Settings.
   
3. Select Connected Features.
   
4. Select Phone.
   
5. Select Pair Smartphone.
   
6. Select Forget this Phone.
   

Turn off the phone Bluetooth.

Turn off your device.

Select the More tab, on the lower right.

Select Settings.

Sign out of Garmin Connect Mobile.

Double tap the Home button on your iPhone (the round button the front) and swipe off all the applications.

Restart the phone:

Once your phone boots up

My addiction - Uninstall and reinstall the mobile app.

Turn on Bluetooth and make sure that location services are on.

Go to Connect app and sign in.

Select, Browse All Compatible Devices.

Select Edge

Select Edge 1030

Put the Edge 1030 into pairing mode.

1. Turn on device.
   
2. Go to the Edge 1030 Menu.
   
3. Select Settings.
   
4. Select Connected Features.
   
5. Select Phone.
   
6. Select Pair Smartphone.
   
7. Select Continue.
   

In Garmin Connect Mobile, follow directions to pair

Bassmanbob

820 not one of the good Garmins? Man, it cost enough. I don’t want to derail this thread, but I’ll try your instructions and see what happens.

Steve B.

Don’t feel too bad, you could have gotten an early Hammerhead Karoo and 2 or 3 years later still be waiting for promised features.

unterhausen

I think the 820 is one of the good garmins though.

njkayaker

The 820 is slow and does not have good battery life.

Other than that, it seems OK.

​​​​​

Steve B.

Yes, thx for jogging my memory. When I was researching a replacement for my 810, I remember reading of complaints with really poor battery life. I ended up with a 1000 as result. I think the issues might have gotten resolved, according to what I read on DCRainmaker. .