Is Express now compatible with the Forerunner 405?

I sure hope Garmin answers your question. My version of Express is 3.2.7.0 and says it's the latest version. I'm using Vivofit (which requires Garmin Express) and Forerunner 405CX (which requires ANT Agent). Sporadically I can sync my run data "up" from 405 to Connect using Express, but I can't sync "down" from Connect to 405 using Express (to add workouts from Connect to the 405). Plus, even being able sporadically sync "up" I have to re-add the 405 as a new device to Express almost every time. So I've found that Express is kind of compatible with 405, but since I routinely send workouts "down" to the 405 and I don't want to have re-add the device every time I want to sync "up" I've gone back to using both Express and ANT Agent. Anyway, hopefully Garmin will respond and give an official answer.

Thanks - that's useful to know. I'd thought it was just completely incompatible with the FR405. I guess I'll just allow the upgrade to run, which remove ANT agent, and see if it'll talk to my 405 afterwards.

I'm using a 405 and Express just sat waiting for updates from the GS watch while it refused to recognise my ANT stick... eventually, after about an hour, I got bored of waiting for the Express software to recognise the hopelessness of trying to download data from the 405 without using the ANT stick.
I am also an XP user with no current intention of forking over cash to micrsoft to upgrade to their latest publicly released customer based bug hunt OS!

I have used system restore to get rid of Express and reinstalled the latest version of Communicator available on the Garmin site. I am now back using Communicator which is still working. It recognises my ANT device as well which is a step up from the "thought" through Express which failed to recognise the ANT being attached to my system. I have also found on the website the mechanism to return to the Classic interface... which is much clearer than the awful new web interface, however I did notice that when I switched back it said that it was a "temporary" return to the classic interface.

I'd like to know how;
a) to get Express to recognise the ANT hardware that connects computer to watch (without which the Garmin watch and website is useless),
b) how to decide when the next offered update is the one that will make our GPS hardware and software just useless extra weight to carry around on runs etc due to incompatibility,
c) how to stop the automatic download and installation of the Express updates within the Express application (so if I do choose - or am forced - to use Express I can tell which update will turn Express into something that wont work on my OS)
d) why the future compatibility issues arent explained to customers UNTIL after the Express software is installed (or did someone not think that through),
e) why Garmin think a shoulder shrug to existing customers is sufficient with regards to Garmins requirement that we go out and spend potentially thousands of pounds updating OS's and any other software that then may become incompatible with the latest Beta test M$ OS software,
f) whether we can stay on Communicator (which works on my machine) rather than Express (which this first version of wouldnt recognise the ANT device) for the forseeable future or whether we will be forced to move onto Express (with its warning that in the short term it will become incompatible with my OS i.e. fail to run - although the first Express version also fails to run for me) to continue to make use of the online facilities.

This all feels a bit as if I have invested money and time building up a (personally) valuable data set and using a bit of very useful kit (which my Garmin GPS is) and now some software person somewhere has decided that my choice of OS is reason enough to remove my ability to add to that dataset and continue to make use of the hardware and software purchased, or the data I have placed in Garmins care.

I suspect that as my Garmin hardware is less than half way through its anticipated battery lifetime there might be a case for Garmin presenting me with some monetary compensation for the loss of facility Garmins decision represents. A cheque that would go a significant part of the way to enabling me to purchase a competitors hardware (one that doesnt mind which OS I use) and Garmin providing me my full data record (without any loss of content or use) in a form that is portable to someone elses online system would seem reasonable to offer to those of us who dont have the buckets of cash to throw at Microsoft to upgrade OS and replace other purchased software that is subsequently found to be incompatible.

(this is an amended version of a post I put up in another thread - but this looks like it is possibly a more relevant thread)

Nice post Bob.

I'd like to know why Garmin has the crazy idea that people who use their products want to have a social network built around it and it's data. To me, this is where they've gone completely wrong. BTW, I've lost all my data since the Garmin Express update I ran a few days ago and I'm pretty damned hostile right now after horsing around resetting, uninstalling, and re-installing for a couple hours now.

We want to live our lives Garmin, not beta test your software.

See this thread https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?92502-Installed-Garmin-Express-now-can-t-load-latest-activities

The 405 is compatible with latest versions of Express and there is a link to this FAQ which may help http://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/simpleCase.htm?caseId={600f3dd0-3e6a-11dd-d7af-000000000000}&kbName=garmin

See this thread https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?92502-Installed-Garmin-Express-now-can-t-load-latest-activities

The 405 is compatible with latest versions of Express and there is a link to this FAQ which may help http://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/simpleCase.htm?caseId={600f3dd0-3e6a-11dd-d7af-000000000000}&kbName=garmin

As I stated in another thread, that link at the bottom says "*Forerunner 610, 410, 405CX and 405 only - see owner's manual for more assistance". The manual says to use Ant Agent. As we all know the latest version of Express uninstalls Ant Agent. I re-installed it to test and it appears our device no longer sends any data to the local software (Training Center) even though it appears to. Get your design team together and tell them to quit releasing a major screw up once a year because this is what I've been putting up with for my auto GPS units and the 2 sports watches I've owned over the years.

Rule #1 when updating software: Always let the paying customer still have access to the old software that still works.

Hello,

None of this stuff works. I've read all the posts and the FAQ. It worked find until garmin express got installed and uninstalled the ant agent. Garmin, please accept it's broken and fix it instead of sending us to FAQ's.

JB5RUNS

I will need more information as to what "None of this stuff works". What are you trying to do? What is the error you are getting?


5HI7H34D

ANT agent software shouldn't be needed moving forward. If you are trying to upload data to a 3rd party website the files have moved from where they were previously located. See FAQ : How do I manually upload data from ANT devices to Garmin Connect? If I am off base I apologies please provide me some more information so I can better try and help you.
We have recently released a newer version of Garmin Express 3.2.8 please see if this newer version helps resolve some of your issues. Download here: http://download.garmin.com/omt/express/B/GarminExpressInstaller.exe


Mike

Mike, any thoughts as to why I have to re-add (re-pair) the 405CX as a new device to Express almost every time I use Express? Express always "remembers" my vivofit and my nuvi 260w, but rarely remembers my 405CX. Thanks!