Upload .fit files from Virb Elite to Garmin Connect (or any other training software)

Today my Edge 800 refused to switch on, I was leaving for a road bike trip and decided to use my Virb Elite to record my data (gps position, cadence, heart rate, power, etc.). Back home I have tried to upload the .fit files (actually two) into SportTracks 3, no success. I then tried to upload the files to Garmin Connect, no joy: it stays forever saying "uploading ..." and nothing happens. I am under the impression that the Virb Elite .fit file format is not recognized by either ST3 and GC.

Any suggestions on how to recover those data (maybe translate the Virb Elite .fit file in a more "standard" one)?

Thank you

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Try the BaseCamp Beta. It can import FIT files now. Hopefully it will read the files and then you can export them as GPX and upload them in that format.

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?82163-BaseCamp-4-3-0-3-BETA-is-Now-Available

0 schinder over 11 years ago

You tried to use the Communicator plugin to do that? If so, try manually uploading the .fit file. (But if you've been switched to "modern" GC, you can't do that any more.) The Communicator plugin doesn't work well with the VIRB, and since Garmin has abandoned it, it isn't going to. Garmin Express might work, but I don't have my VIRB set to sync with GC by default. Alternatively, software exists that will read .fit files and export .gpx/.tcx files. On Mac OS X, there's RubiTrack and Ascent. I've put tracks from my VIRB Elite on GC before, but that was back when I was using "classic", and I just manually uploaded the .fit file.

0 rikicarra over 11 years ago

Thank you Falagar for the prompt answer.

I have installed BaseCamp Beta for Windows in my Parallels Virtual Machine, I am operating on iMac and it looks like that the recent beta version is available only on Win platform.

I have tried to import those two fit files, unsuccessfully. I then tried to import some fit files from previous Virb Elite recordings, and I was successful. I concluded that those two fit files are, for some reason, corrupted. The other strange thing about the Virb Elite recording today is that on the memory card there are multiple 4 GB files, but only the first one id readable: I can play the first one, but trying to play the others I get an error. With Virb Edit I see the first video and can import it, the others show as duration 0:00. I have to say I have changed my memory card, previously had a 32 GB SanDisk, today I put a 64 GB Samsung card, maybe that's the problem, I will investigate.

In the meantime I attach here one of the two "corrupted" fit files (the other is bigger than the limit allowed here), in case it would be interesting for somebody to have a look at it.

0 rikicarra over 11 years ago

Schinder, you are right. I have replaced the Samsung card with the previous Sandisk card and now I can import fit files from Garmin Connect. It looks like the problem was the faulty card. More investigation to come.

Thank you.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

<snip>

In the meantime I attach here one of the two "corrupted" fit files (the other is bigger than the limit allowed here), in case it would be interesting for somebody to have a look at it.

I've tried three times to open that .fit file with the Fit File Repair Tool and it's locked the programme up every time... I would hazard a guess that it is well and truly corrupted. :confused:

0 schinder over 11 years ago

It's not a fit file, at least not as downloaded:

mbp13$ file 2014-04-22-17-58-37.fit.txt
2014-04-22-17-58-37.fit.txt: DOS executable (device driver)
mbp13$ od -b !$
od -b 2014-04-22-17-58-37.fit.txt
0000000 377 377 377 377 377 377 377 377 377 377 377 377 377 377 377 377
*
0217540 377 377 377 377 377 377 377
0217547

So it's not actually a DOS device driver, either, just a file filled with octal 377

0 rikicarra over 11 years ago

Yes, it looks like the two corrupted files are basically empty. I believe the reason is the faulty memory card.

Today I did a 3.5 hours ride with the Virb Elite with the Sandisk card and everything worked fine. I was able to upload everything to Garmin Connect, as well as on Virb Edit.

I will return the 64 GB Samsung memory card.

Thanks everybody for the suggestions.