Hello forums users,
I've searched for an exact answer for my issue but I can't seem to find it (apology if this is posted on a wrong section of the forum, but can't find a most suitable place to ask - mod, please my post move as appropriate).
QUESTION: does older GARMIN device (e.g. etrex Touch 35) create .GPX file with some data points stripped to save memory space?
Context: I've recently upgraded from eTrex Touch 25 to eTrex Touch 35. Touch 35 has Bluetooth (and this is why I upgraded; Touch 25 hasn't got any wireless connectivity) so that I can upload my activity directly to Garmin Connect without having to plug the device onto laptop and use Garmin Express. And I thought, hey why not sync Strava and Garmin Connect so that the activity also gets uploaded to Strava simultaneously. Well it doesn't seem to be that straight forward.
What's working: activities from Touch 35 uploads seamlessly to Garmin Connect via Bluetooth (also, Live Track and mobile notification work very nicely 
). The activity is uploaded perfectly, without any issues. Absolutely no issues with syncing and uploading activity via Bluetooth.
What's NOT working: Strava and Connect Android syncing (Smartphone: Honor 9 Lite, Android 9; Garmin Connect: v 5.11.2). I have my accounts linked so I was expecting the activity from Connect to sync on Strava. Strava registers the activity but the content is minimal / partial - I've synced five activities on separate days and Strava only registers partial data sets. For example, this morning's activity (cycling):
|
Platform |
Garmin Connect | Strava |
| Event | Cycling | Ride |
| Map | Correct from start - stop | Up to 11.01miles from start |
| Distance | 19.96miles | 11.01miles |
| Time | 1:13:00 | 38:41 |
| Avg Speed | 16.5mph | 17.2mph |
| Max Speed | 30.5mph | 30.9mph |
| Total Ascent | 1043ft | 1043ft |
| Device used | eTrex Touch | Garmin eTrex Touch 35 |
So a ~20mile cycle activity was registered partially on Strava as 11miles, but some parameters were identical / near identical to what Garmin Connect shows. Very strange; the other four activities follow the same pattern (partially synced activity parameters, one activity only registered 0.1mile)
So I go on to my laptop, manually export .gpx file from Connect and upload to Strava as file - this works perfectly and the activity data is identical (granted some adjustment made by Strava's algorithm). Manual upload of the same activity .gpx file from Connect to Strava is not the issue. BUT! When I upload the original activity .gpx file from the device directly to Strava, the activity data is partial! Something about the .gpx file recorded on Touch 35 isn't compatible with Strava...
I tried to find a solution online (this isn't quite the same as "Strava-Connect sync troubleshoot") and I stumbled this page on Reddit:
Garmin eTrex 22x track record to Connect/Strava : r/Garmin
The first reply to the post states: "...but on the older ones you have to Upload the "current track" and NOT a "saved track" as Garmin devices used to strip data from the saved files to save space. That data was stuff that Strava needed like time data."
This got me wondering, eTrex Touch 35 being 2016 release model... even though it's got Bluetooth, is it too old device to be compatible with the current state of application programme interface for it to seamlessly transfer data from Garmin to Strava?
Anyone else with etrex Touch 35 having similar experience with Strava-Connect syncing?
Thanks very much and happy GPS exploring!
