Edge 500 issues
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 9,458
Likes: 16
From: Colorado
Bikes: Something Canadian, something Italian, something American, and something German
Edge 500 issues
Anyone else experience these?
I've had it for two weeks, worked great for the first 1.5.
Now it takes several miles to connect to GPS, and it's a crap shoot whether or not it will actually save my rides or lose them when I plug it into the computer.
I've had it for two weeks, worked great for the first 1.5.
Now it takes several miles to connect to GPS, and it's a crap shoot whether or not it will actually save my rides or lose them when I plug it into the computer.
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 9,458
Likes: 16
From: Colorado
Bikes: Something Canadian, something Italian, something American, and something German
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
From: Tampa
Bikes: Schwinn Paramount, Trek MTB
I have had mine since March and have run into three issues...all of which are more nuisance than anything. (1) Sometimes it does take 4-5 minutes to locate a satellite for GPS upon startup...not a problem, just more time to stretch. (2) On random occasions when I hit the Lap button during a ride to start an interval, the unit will freeze...requires a nuisance restart but every time my ride files were still there. (3) There have been a couple of occasions when Garmin Training Center on my Macintosh could not find 2-3 ride files from previous days. No fear...all I do then is hook up to my free account at Garmin Connect (https://connect.garmin.com/), and EVERY time that site has found all the ride files. So I download the files to Garmin Connect, then export it to my desktop as a tcx file to be put into Garmin Training Center and Golden Cheetah.
Again, these are hassle issues and perhaps they should not occur, but its not worth getting another computer IMO. My biggest gripe is that using Garmin Training Center for the Macintosh, despite my repeated requests to Garmin, I still CANNOT program workouts using power zones (you have to go into the actual Edge 500 unit to do this)...ARGHHH!
Again, these are hassle issues and perhaps they should not occur, but its not worth getting another computer IMO. My biggest gripe is that using Garmin Training Center for the Macintosh, despite my repeated requests to Garmin, I still CANNOT program workouts using power zones (you have to go into the actual Edge 500 unit to do this)...ARGHHH!
#7
I eat carbide.


Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21,677
Likes: 1,417
From: Elgin, IL
Bikes: Lots. Chapter2, Van Dessel, Giant, Trek, etc Dealers for BMC, Chapter2
I have had users lose files. i myself lost a race file. I have not attempted to connect to Garmin Connect to see if the online version finds it. I will try later. What I have found is that the problems arrise if you go to review the history before you have connected and uploaded the file. Every time i have just shut the unit off after a ride/race and then uploaded later - everything has been fine.
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#8
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 214
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
As instructed by Garmin. It's easier and faster to get GPS connection by going outside in an open area, turning it on, and keeping the bike still till it fully connects. I noticed that my 705 takes longer to connect if I just go and do not use that method.
#9
B+ roadie I guess?
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 0
From: Roseville, CA
Bikes: 2013 BMC GranFondo GF01 Ui2
I have had only one issue with my 500 in that when I am doing a course, and am on the page that shows the course and my location on it, if I press the Lap button it will freeze and shut off. Then it will fail to upload to Garmin Connect. This has happened once, and ever since I have not really bothered with trying to try to reproduce it.
Other than that, I haven't had any other issues. GPS Satellite acquisition takes less than a minute for me.
Other than that, I haven't had any other issues. GPS Satellite acquisition takes less than a minute for me.
#10
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,637
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From: Long Island, NY
Bikes: '85 Rossin Super Record, '88 Specialized Sequoia, '10 Raleigh Cadent FT2, '10 Specialized Roubaix Elite
The issue with the 500 freezing when pressing the lap button is well documented on the Garmin Edge 500 forum. I've had it happen to me also. When this happens, you may not be able to load the data into Garmin Training Center (GTC, the desktop software), but you may be able to load it into Garmin Connect (GC, the web-based software), which you can then export and import it into GTC.
https://forums.garmin.com/forumdispl...219&order=desc
There also seems to be a problem with loading courses to the unit which appears to result in lost ride data. According a post on the Garmin forums, Garmin is aware of these problems and is working on a firmware fix for them. No comment on when that might be available, though.
FYI, the most current firmware is version 2.30. If you look in GC when your 500 is connected, it may tell you that your firmware is version 2.29 even if you've updated to 2.30. This is also a known bug.
Charles
https://forums.garmin.com/forumdispl...219&order=desc
There also seems to be a problem with loading courses to the unit which appears to result in lost ride data. According a post on the Garmin forums, Garmin is aware of these problems and is working on a firmware fix for them. No comment on when that might be available, though.
FYI, the most current firmware is version 2.30. If you look in GC when your 500 is connected, it may tell you that your firmware is version 2.29 even if you've updated to 2.30. This is also a known bug.
Charles
Last edited by chasmm; 07-01-10 at 02:32 PM. Reason: additional info
#11
B+ roadie I guess?
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 0
From: Roseville, CA
Bikes: 2013 BMC GranFondo GF01 Ui2
Ah, I see. I actually made a mistake, I meant the Page/Menu instead of the Lap button. This has happened to me several times on one ride, but again I have not bothered to reproduce it. I went on a different ride today and bravely tried pressing the Page/Menu button, and it was able to change pages without freezing/shutting off.
Here's to hoping for better firmware!
Here's to hoping for better firmware!
#12
I eat carbide.


Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 21,677
Likes: 1,417
From: Elgin, IL
Bikes: Lots. Chapter2, Van Dessel, Giant, Trek, etc Dealers for BMC, Chapter2
I have had the 305. I moved to the 705 and then I bought a 500 as well. Mainly all as way's of demo'ing what is an important part of my business ... 
So in general i switch back and forth between the 705 and the 500 quite often. Honestly I prefer the data recording on the 500 but MUCH prefer the stability of the 705. The 500 is a great little unit, perfectly positioned for the market, etc but it is definitely still a quirky little unit.
So in general i switch back and forth between the 705 and the 500 quite often. Honestly I prefer the data recording on the 500 but MUCH prefer the stability of the 705. The 500 is a great little unit, perfectly positioned for the market, etc but it is definitely still a quirky little unit.
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#13
yesterday i held down the lap button to reset the stats from my ride on Wednesday because i decided to go out for ride and didn't really feel like going upstairs and uploading the ride stats if i could just do it later, like i could with my 305. so i get home from Thursdays ride, and hook it up to my PC, and the ride from the day before doesn't upload. i tried to upload it on both Garmin TC and Garmin Connect, and it doesn't recognize the ride on either of them. i checked the totals (History, Totals) and the odometer, and the mileage was definitely recorded, but when i check activities (History, Activities) the ride doesn't exist. is this how the 500 is, or did i do something wrong, because i know when i did the same exact thing on my 305 it never erased a ride when i hold down the lap button to reset the stats...
and one other thing. i know that when i had my 305 and i connected it to my PC, Garmin TC automatically opened up and the rides automatically uploaded to TC without my toucing anything, but with the 500 i have open GTC after i connect the 500 to my PC for the rides to actually upload. i checked Garmin TC and didn't see any type of auto open function, so am i connecting it wrong, or am i missing something. also, i used my 305 with Windows XP on a completely different PC and never used it on the PC i have now, and i'm using the 500 with Windows 7. when i connect the 500 to my PC, i am given the same 4 options every time, but none of those options have anything to do with GPS stuff. i don't know if it's a Windows thing or a Garmin thing...
and one other thing. i know that when i had my 305 and i connected it to my PC, Garmin TC automatically opened up and the rides automatically uploaded to TC without my toucing anything, but with the 500 i have open GTC after i connect the 500 to my PC for the rides to actually upload. i checked Garmin TC and didn't see any type of auto open function, so am i connecting it wrong, or am i missing something. also, i used my 305 with Windows XP on a completely different PC and never used it on the PC i have now, and i'm using the 500 with Windows 7. when i connect the 500 to my PC, i am given the same 4 options every time, but none of those options have anything to do with GPS stuff. i don't know if it's a Windows thing or a Garmin thing...
#14
B+ roadie I guess?
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 0
From: Roseville, CA
Bikes: 2013 BMC GranFondo GF01 Ui2
You aren't doing anything wrong. The procedures you mentioned are correct, or at least, would be exactly I would do in relation to resetting it for another ride. In addition, the auto download you mention with the 305 does not work for the 500, at least for me it doesn't either. I use Garmin connect though, am used to using GC.
#15
I will never buy a garmin again. I've had a 305, 705 and a 500. The 500 worked ok for the first month I had it, but then all of a sudden it started doing the stuff your seeing. Call garmin and get it replaced. They know its a problem. They will get you a new one.
#16
ok, quick question to anyone here with an Edge 500, do you have an entire horizontal row of pixels out about 2/3 of the way towards the bottom of the screen?!?!
if you hold down menu so the History, Training, GPS, Settings screen comes up, and scroll down to GPS, is the entire 2nd to last row at the bottom out?
i noticed it today on a ride, because i checked my Cadence during a climb and noticed that the part after the number looked like it said KPM, and i was like what the hell would KPM even stand for. after looking at it now, i just noticed that the top part of the R is that row that's out, and i was just wondering if i have a defective unit or it has something do with the way the screen on the 500 is in general...
if you hold down menu so the History, Training, GPS, Settings screen comes up, and scroll down to GPS, is the entire 2nd to last row at the bottom out?
i noticed it today on a ride, because i checked my Cadence during a climb and noticed that the part after the number looked like it said KPM, and i was like what the hell would KPM even stand for. after looking at it now, i just noticed that the top part of the R is that row that's out, and i was just wondering if i have a defective unit or it has something do with the way the screen on the 500 is in general...
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