I use a Garmin 820. I've developed a number of CIQ data fields for Endurance Cycling.
I noticed when I load a map to follow, the map feature is so unresponsive that it simply can't be used. I've tried small maps, like a 5 mile route. I've loaded maps from Garmin Connect Course Builder (a FIT file), and from RideWithGPS (both GPX and TCX). They all don't work. The map refresh is about every 12 seconds (should be every second), which you can verify by adding the option to show a data field on the map of elapsed time. And after a short time, the map doesn't even display on the screen. I thought the Garmin device firmware was buggy.
But yesterday I created a profile with no CIQ data fields, and the mapping worked perfectly. The mapping updated every 1 to 2 seconds and the map displayed properly.
So, I added one of my more intense CIQ Datafields to that profile, and the mapping still seemed to work fine. I added 2 CIQ DFs, and the mapping slowed a bit, like every 2 to 3 seconds. By the time I added 4 CIQ DFs, the mapping was broken. What is strange is the 4 CIQ DFs all work perfectly fine, refreshing every 1 second as you'd expect, without any apparent CPU exhaustion. I do know my battery time which should be 12+ hours is half that, so my CIQ DFs are using a lot of processing power I guess.
Still, clearly the Course feature in the Garmin doesn't interact well with Connect IQ DFs. In my opinion, the Course mapping should take priority (when you are displaying that screen) and CIQ DFs dispatcher should fire off the Compute routine less frequently so that the Course feature would actually work. It seems what is happening is that when multiple DFs are active, they have execute priority and the Course feature is stalled. When using a Course, often this is a pretty critical feature in keeping track of where you are going, when you need to prepare for and take a turn. With a broken Course feature it is easy to get lost or have to pull over often to refer to paper maps or Google Maps on one's phone. Ugh.
-- Dave
