Garmin GPS watch woes
Discussion
I'm big on "if it works don't replace it" to be upfront. To that end my "tech" is what many on here might consider to be old. That said, up until this morning the "stuff that connects with other stuff" in my setup was all working OK. Now not so much.
Garmin Forerunner 910XT > (via ANT+ stick) > Windows 10 laptop > Garmin Express > Garmin Connect > Strava.
This morning, for reasons now beyond me, I decided to install the latest version of Garmin Express (v 7.17.1.0 , dated 31/05/2023)
After that installation I tried to upload activities from my watch to Garmin Express. Nothing. Nada. The watch was powered on, Express recognised that an ANT+ stick was connected to a USB port, but there was no response when I used the 'Sync' button on the Express page on my laptop screen.
Things I've done to remedy?
I searched for older versions of Garmin Express to try to roll things back to a point where things worked. Via a site called uptodown.com I found version 7.16.3 (10/03/2023). I've downloaded that, uninstalled Garmin Express from my laptop, and reinstalled this older version. I've also gone to 'Bit Driver Updater' as suggested from the download page on uptodown, and updated 7out-of-date drivers on the laptop. Garmin Express now shows up as version 7.16.3.0, so I unplugged everything, turned the watch off, and restarted the laptop. Then through the steps to connect the ANT+ stick, power the watch up, open Garmin Express, and try to 'Add A Device'. Nothing. The search for a device completes, I get sent to a page asking what type of device I'm trying to add, I select Forerunner Series, hit 'search again' but still nothing. I've tried again in the background while typing this post too.
Can I be sure the update (to v 7.17.1.0) is the source of the problem?
No, in a word. Because I installed the update BEFORE trying to upload activities from the watch. So I can't be sure the upload would have failed without the update, and I can't time travel to try uploading before updating.
The issue with this watch is that there is no direct data link for it via a USB cable. The cable for it is for charging the battery only, all data transfer is via ANT+ stick wirelessly to Garmin Express. So no way to extract .FIT files from the watch unless I can get Garmin Express to find the watch and add it as a device.
I'm beginning to wish I'd never updated the software version. I'm also regretting uninstalling Express in order to roll back to an older version. I'm further not sure that the version I previously was using was 7.16.3.0, but not convinced I should really go back to any even older versions as that smacks more of "hit and hope" than informed troubleshooting. I'm little more than a simpleton PC/laptop user/abuser really. No IT background, nor much knowledge of how things work inside these machines.
Questions...
1) Has anyone else experienced similar issues? If so, any suggestions to fix this?
2) Is there a way to check that the ANT+ stick is actually working? Any definitive "functional test" I can run for it?
3) Do I simply need to give up on this hardware, and dump a tonne (for me, at least) of money on all new kit that might resolve the issue of not being able to upload fitness tracking data, but still won't "revive" the activities currently adrift inside the watch's memory?
I'm at a loss as to what to try next, so any suggestions that aren't simply repeating things I've already tried gratefully received. What I have already tried is stuff that older threads (mostly now locked) on Garmin forums suggested to folk with similar issues. In many cases the suggested fix worked for the issue experienced, hence me following those same suggested fixes. It's just that, in my case, the issue remains unresolved.
I also understand that, with modern tech and gadgets evolving rapidly, I cannot expect to have much older devices supported indefinitely, but there's definitely life in this watch yet, even if the model was introduced in 2011...
Garmin Forerunner 910XT > (via ANT+ stick) > Windows 10 laptop > Garmin Express > Garmin Connect > Strava.
This morning, for reasons now beyond me, I decided to install the latest version of Garmin Express (v 7.17.1.0 , dated 31/05/2023)
After that installation I tried to upload activities from my watch to Garmin Express. Nothing. Nada. The watch was powered on, Express recognised that an ANT+ stick was connected to a USB port, but there was no response when I used the 'Sync' button on the Express page on my laptop screen.
Things I've done to remedy?
I searched for older versions of Garmin Express to try to roll things back to a point where things worked. Via a site called uptodown.com I found version 7.16.3 (10/03/2023). I've downloaded that, uninstalled Garmin Express from my laptop, and reinstalled this older version. I've also gone to 'Bit Driver Updater' as suggested from the download page on uptodown, and updated 7out-of-date drivers on the laptop. Garmin Express now shows up as version 7.16.3.0, so I unplugged everything, turned the watch off, and restarted the laptop. Then through the steps to connect the ANT+ stick, power the watch up, open Garmin Express, and try to 'Add A Device'. Nothing. The search for a device completes, I get sent to a page asking what type of device I'm trying to add, I select Forerunner Series, hit 'search again' but still nothing. I've tried again in the background while typing this post too.
Can I be sure the update (to v 7.17.1.0) is the source of the problem?
No, in a word. Because I installed the update BEFORE trying to upload activities from the watch. So I can't be sure the upload would have failed without the update, and I can't time travel to try uploading before updating.
The issue with this watch is that there is no direct data link for it via a USB cable. The cable for it is for charging the battery only, all data transfer is via ANT+ stick wirelessly to Garmin Express. So no way to extract .FIT files from the watch unless I can get Garmin Express to find the watch and add it as a device.
I'm beginning to wish I'd never updated the software version. I'm also regretting uninstalling Express in order to roll back to an older version. I'm further not sure that the version I previously was using was 7.16.3.0, but not convinced I should really go back to any even older versions as that smacks more of "hit and hope" than informed troubleshooting. I'm little more than a simpleton PC/laptop user/abuser really. No IT background, nor much knowledge of how things work inside these machines.
Questions...
1) Has anyone else experienced similar issues? If so, any suggestions to fix this?
2) Is there a way to check that the ANT+ stick is actually working? Any definitive "functional test" I can run for it?
3) Do I simply need to give up on this hardware, and dump a tonne (for me, at least) of money on all new kit that might resolve the issue of not being able to upload fitness tracking data, but still won't "revive" the activities currently adrift inside the watch's memory?
I'm at a loss as to what to try next, so any suggestions that aren't simply repeating things I've already tried gratefully received. What I have already tried is stuff that older threads (mostly now locked) on Garmin forums suggested to folk with similar issues. In many cases the suggested fix worked for the issue experienced, hence me following those same suggested fixes. It's just that, in my case, the issue remains unresolved.
I also understand that, with modern tech and gadgets evolving rapidly, I cannot expect to have much older devices supported indefinitely, but there's definitely life in this watch yet, even if the model was introduced in 2011...
Can't help too much but it may be worth posting this on:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin
Or the Garmin forums as it's quite a niche question
I've had some issues with my Fenix 6 but not as you described, more syncing to different services directly.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin
Or the Garmin forums as it's quite a niche question
I've had some issues with my Fenix 6 but not as you described, more syncing to different services directly.
TBH i'd been inclined to buy a secondhand Garmin with Bluetooth, then you can sync to Connect and Strava via your phone. A used Garmin 220 (which is what i have) is around £25 on Facebook Marketplace, and will save an awful lot of time trying to find out whether the issue is you watch, your laptop, the Garmin software, the ANT+ dongle, the USB port etc etc.
GNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!
After all that, I went and did a bit more Google searching.
Found a page for 'trainerroad' users "having issues with ANT+.
Clicked 'upload' on the trainerroad "drivers for ANT+" button.
Selected Device Management menu on mylaptop, found the ANT+ stick, and confirmed it was "working properly".
Opened Garmin Express again.
Activated the "search for a new device" tool.
Damn it all if it only went and found the watch. Took a couple of attempts to pair it with Garmin Express (no "accept device pairing" prompt on watch display) but in the end the pair prompt showed up, then it spent an age "setting up your device". After that, I opened Garmin Connect again and Lo! And Behold! There were the missing three activities I couldn't upload this morning.
Now I KNOW that an ANT+ driver is included in the Garmin Express installation process, mainly because I saw it on the laptop screen while the whole thing installed. But uploading (and function checking)the ANT+ drivers separately has cured my problem. For now, at least.
So. To those of you who responded with suggestions for sorting the problem, thank you so much for taking time to do that. And my sincere apologies for allowing my despair (with tech generally, and Garmin in particular) to get the better of me. I jumped the gun a bit typing that initial cry for help.
In short, it seems I have stumbled across a solution, and things seem to be working as they should right now. Hopefully this might be of use to someone else, although I'm not sure there are many people using 12 year old models of GPS watches anymore.
After all that, I went and did a bit more Google searching.
Found a page for 'trainerroad' users "having issues with ANT+.
Clicked 'upload' on the trainerroad "drivers for ANT+" button.
Selected Device Management menu on mylaptop, found the ANT+ stick, and confirmed it was "working properly".
Opened Garmin Express again.
Activated the "search for a new device" tool.
Damn it all if it only went and found the watch. Took a couple of attempts to pair it with Garmin Express (no "accept device pairing" prompt on watch display) but in the end the pair prompt showed up, then it spent an age "setting up your device". After that, I opened Garmin Connect again and Lo! And Behold! There were the missing three activities I couldn't upload this morning.
Now I KNOW that an ANT+ driver is included in the Garmin Express installation process, mainly because I saw it on the laptop screen while the whole thing installed. But uploading (and function checking)the ANT+ drivers separately has cured my problem. For now, at least.
So. To those of you who responded with suggestions for sorting the problem, thank you so much for taking time to do that. And my sincere apologies for allowing my despair (with tech generally, and Garmin in particular) to get the better of me. I jumped the gun a bit typing that initial cry for help.
In short, it seems I have stumbled across a solution, and things seem to be working as they should right now. Hopefully this might be of use to someone else, although I'm not sure there are many people using 12 year old models of GPS watches anymore.
boyse7en said:
TBH i'd been inclined to buy a secondhand Garmin with Bluetooth, then you can sync to Connect and Strava via your phone. A used Garmin 220 (which is what i have) is around £25 on Facebook Marketplace, and will save an awful lot of time trying to find out whether the issue is you watch, your laptop, the Garmin software, the ANT+ dongle, the USB port etc etc.
As I've already posted, I stumbled across a solution via 'traineroad' forums. It would appear to have been the ANT+ drivers.As for your suggestion of moving to Bluetooth uploads and doing it on my phone? I do have occasional dips into eBay to check out a more modern replacement watch, but I also need to replace my phone before I can manage activities as you suggest. My "smartphone" is a Tokio Phablet II, at least a decade old, and won from a SEGA arcade machine by my nephew who already had a much higher spec Samsung so he gave it to me to replace my Nokia 3310. The phone is a "memory desert" and with only two optional apps installed (Instagram and Strava) it is currently so full that it cannot download available updates for either app. That's basically where most of my tech is at. I can't even run Strava to record activity on the phone anymore, and Instagram regularly boots me out, so it's pretty unstable. The Garmin Forerunner 220 was a good suggestion, though, so thanks for that. It had flown under my radar I think, possibly because it's an older model and most research turns up current/newer models by name and number.
Apologies again for starting a "help me!" thread and then stumbling across my own solution. But I hope that by sharing the solution I found, it stops this from becoming one of those threads where the OP disappears and no-one gets "closure"...
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