ABORT_EPHEMERIS_REQUEST Error messages in Logfiles, EPO update broken

No, this feature is in fact implemented in Garmin Connect Mobile and I have proof it worked previously. But currently it is broken and the situation is unclear, whether this is a problem of the GCM App or the watch firmware or a combination of both.

The situation as of now is that the app constantly is trying to upload the EPO.BIN file in little chunks to the watch (wich happens every 10 minutes or so) but before finishing, it aborts the upload with the error message from the topic's title and a few minutes later the process starts again. And this continues in an infinite loop.

I currently have a support request going on with Garmin about that, you may want to report your problem to [email protected] and there refer to my ticket Reference ID: 13649830D: KK0K0

If more people report this issue to Garmin (as I suppose it may affect quite a lot), maybe it would receive higher priority...

thanx a lot Humodda. I try to report my problem to Garmin service with your reference ticket.

StefanoDiv,

what is your Android version of the device where you had GCM installed?

With some experimenting I meanwhile noticed that with GCM version 4.19.1 the EPO upload will no longer work with Android Marshmallow (6.0.x) devices.

I installed it on an Android Oreo (8.0.x) device and there it worked at least somehow for now, will have to test further if future updates will still come or if that was just a one-time luck event.

But anyways it would be great to know, from which Android version you have tried that.

Hi Humodda, 

I've Android 8.0 and now i've updated at 9.1   GCM version 4.19.1

Even with previous version of GCM  EPO never update.

I've tried with another android phone  with same results.

Thanx 

Mine seems to work right now with the Android 8.0.0 device (a Sony Xperia X). However I tried quite some experiments to get it working, you might wish to try the same if you like:

1. In GCM App, remove your watch from your Garmin account, so it becomes unlisted in the App
2. delete the GCM app
3. make sure there is no item in the Bluetooth menu relating to your watch, otherwise remove it in the Bluetooth menu
4. Perform a factory reset in the menu on your watch
5. Press and keep presset the LIGHT button, until your watch turns off
6. Press and keep pressed the BACK button, while you switch on your watch
7. Hold the BACK button, until a menu appears and asks you to delete user data, select YES
8. install the GCM app again from the Play Store
9. grant all permissions to the GCM app
10. select the "pair with app" option on your watch (not manual setup)
11. start the app and follow the instructions to connect with your account
12. install the watch again as new

For me, this worked out. I now receive regular EPO updates, so I still don't know why it does not work with Android 6.0.0 OR if it really is a device issue, e.g. it only works with certain phones.

Hi Humodda, 

Many thanks for the suggestion. I've tried this procedure but problem is the same (Fenix 5x plus with Huawei Android 9.1).

I can update epo only with Garmin Express for PC. I've tested it  on  previous phone (Asus with Android 8) and previous watch (Fenix 3 hr) too, but epo remains expired.

I can update epo only with Garmin Express for PC. 

A friend of mine tried with his watch (fenix 5x plus) and GCM for iPhone with same result. 

In another call to italian Garmin Customer Service, they told me that GCM don't actually support the EPO update function.

Well, they are lying then, as I can clearly prove that my Forerunner 935 now receives EPO updates via GCM for Android, however only on my Sony Xperia X but not on the Google Nexus 7 2013, which is very strange, but the case for me.

You may like to download the GCM logfiles from your app and there look for the error message from this thread title. It is an indication that your app tries to upload the file but fails for an unknown reason. Maybe however you have another issue, which is different from the one I originally had with the Google Nexus.

Also, it may be a specific thing with the Fenix watches (or, Garmin has silently fixed the upload for the Forerunner series but not yet for the Fenix, but this does not make much sense).

But unless you could get in touch with some Garmin rep with advanced knowledge who could investigate further, it's pretty difficult to do anything else than hope or experiment with different devices / account settings.

The only thing I could still suggest, is to remove the watch from your account, reset it and delete the app and then install the app again and for test purpose create a new account to see, if something with your account is wrong. But it is then still just experimenting around, what the reason could be.

I agree with your opinion Humodda.

It'very strange. In some cases update is successful, in other cases is impossible. 

Some iPhone users report this error too. 

https://forums.garmin.com/apps-software/mobile-apps-web/f/garmin-connect-mobile-ios/148997/epo-file-not-updates-on-sync

Next firmware update, I'll try to repeat the procedure mentioned above. 

Maybe I'll be luckier :-) 

Many thanks for your suggestion. 

Yes, you are right. But the thing I really disapprove is that Garmin Support already wrote me that they ARE aware of that problem (even they have escalated it from the local support to the HQ in the US) but since then nothing happened. When I asked again on the same ticket I wrote some posts above, they just said, it is still being investigated and that's it.

So Garmin KNOWS about the problem but did not fix it yet at least for you and maybe some other users also.

I consider that rather bad in my opinion.

I suppose this problem it's considered only a feature from Support.

But we cannot always bring our PC to update Epo when we are away from home for several days :-) 

Ps On Fenix 5x plus and fenix 3 hr Manuals I found that epo update is possible by Express, GCM and wifi...

For me, only first...