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FR230 won't sync without data or wifi via bluetooth?

Former Member over 9 years ago

Can someone help me with this odd problem... for some odd reason sync via bluetooth will not work if I done have a data or wifi connection. I can't figure out what a sync over bluetooth could possibly have to do with wifi or data. Please help! Thank you.

FR230 & note 2

0 mcbadger over 9 years ago

Because the sync is with the Garmin Connect servers, not with the phone; the phone just links the two. No data, no wifi, means no connection to the servers.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Because the sync is with the Garmin Connect servers, not with the phone; the phone just links the two. No data, no wifi, means no connection to the servers.

Are you aware of any way to store or extract the gpx/fit files when not in data range? I purchased this watch to keep track of a trail run in Nepal and I'm pretty sure I will exceed the internal memory capability of the watch, which appears to be 200 hrs of activity, before I will be somewhere I can get on a PC.

This seems like a serious flaw, there should at least be a way to store the gpx/fit files för later upload....

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Are you aware of any way to store or extract the gpx/fit files when not in data range? [..]
This seems like a serious flaw, there should at least be a way to store the gpx/fit files för later upload....

I totally agree with you. Unfortunately, this is how GCM is designed to work. No local caching on the phone, it's transferred directly to the Garmin Connect database. I don't know an alternative to offload FIT files via Bluetooth; if anyone has ideas, please share!

If the FR230 has USB mass storage access just like a Fenix, you could retrieve files via the USB cable (and a USB OTG adapter) on an Android phone. BUT.. Even when I do a "safe remove" of the USB storage, and never write to it, I nearly always end up with files on the Fenix that are 0 bytes in length, and that can have serious consequences, even "bricking" the device. On a Fenix 3 it's usually a matter of power cycling the device to get that fixed, but on an original Fenix or Fenix 2 you'll need a PC (ideally with Linux) to fix the filesystem and may have to restore a backup. So if you're somewhere with no PC access for days, that is not an option. Maybe the FR230 has "UtraTrack" - it saves a lot of space, but your tracks will be much less detailed and accurate.

(I need to learn to program for Android - if only I had time...)

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

I totally agree with you. Unfortunately, this is how GCM is designed to work. No local caching on the phone, it's transferred directly to the Garmin Connect database. I don't know an alternative to offload FIT files via Bluetooth; if anyone has ideas, please share!

If the FR230 has USB mass storage access just like a Fenix, you could retrieve files via the USB cable (and a USB OTG adapter) on an Android phone. BUT.. Even when I do a "safe remove" of the USB storage, and never write to it, I nearly always end up with files on the Fenix that are 0 bytes in length, and that can have serious consequences, even "bricking" the device. On a Fenix 3 it's usually a matter of power cycling the device to get that fixed, but on an original Fenix or Fenix 2 you'll need a PC (ideally with Linux) to fix the filesystem and may have to restore a backup. So if you're somewhere with no PC access for days, that is not an option. Maybe the FR230 has "UtraTrack" - it saves a lot of space, but your tracks will be much less detailed and accurate.

(I need to learn to program for Android - if only I had time...)

Update on this, I have mass storage working on android via OTG. The trick was connecting the watch to a powered usb hub, then connecting the hub to the android devise via OTG. If the watch is connected directly to an OTG it does not seem to work. My suspicion is that is has something to do with powering the watch via the hub. I am going to try an OTG with power injector and see if I get the same result. I'll report back...

If the OTG with +5v injector works this will be a perfect solution (with the exception of the connect app having an offline mode, come on guys!!!) as I carry a solar powered external battery to keep my phone, head lamp, & watch all powered up. If the Hub is somehow the magic link in this chain I will be searching for the worlds smallest powered USB hub to add to my kit :( lets hope thats not the case :)

Thanks bunches for the response and the push in the right direction!