Data Field: Surf Tracker

[FONT=Arial Black]Surf Tracker[/FONT]

Version 1.20
https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/ded87d46-5477-4ca7-a247-847b896393e0

Track your surfing sessions in real time! This data field estimates the number of waves ridden using a speed and time threshold to mark the start and end of a wave ride.

Info shown (from left to right):

  • your total number of waves ridden and the total wave ride time (min:sec)
  • for your latest wave ride: wave ride time (seconds), maximum speed during the wave ride (km/hr or mph) and the distance covered (meters or yards)
  • the numbers in red show the maximum values for the wave ride time, speed and distance during the activity
  • For square watches, the bottom line shows the time of day and elapsed time of the activity. For round watches and the Vivo HR, the top line shows the time of day and the bottom line shows the elapsed time.




Notes:

1) This data field must be used in a 1-field data screen and should be set up before starting the activity. I use an Activity > Other > Paddle, but any activity with GPS ON should work. Open water swim will work but the GPS tracks are noisier since the sampling rate is lower, but it may be the better option for surfing when your arm is in and out of the water. Some activities smooth the speed data more than others and will give less accurate results (eg. a walking activity will not work as well as paddling or cycling). Vivoactive users try the Cycling activity, the Run activity will smooth the speed values to much to even out the Pace and this won't work well with the wave detection.

2) The summary stats and a speed plot are saved to Garmin Connect once the Activity is ended and saved:


3) This has been tested many times with standup paddle surfing. It has taken a while to get the thresholds working accurately. The detection thresholds can be changed using the Garmin Connect Mobile app (see https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?332843-How-to-App-Settings for help):

There are four settings to mark a wave ride based on speed, time and distance.


An event starts when the speed is >= 9 kph, it must last at least 6 seconds (above 9kph) and have a max speed of at least 13 kph to be counted. The event ends when it falls below 9kph. The min distance is set to 0m, but this can be changed to avoid false detections. These thresholds work well for standup paddle surfing, but try changing them and post your results. It should work for: standup paddle surfing, surfing, kayak surf, surf ski and maybe standup paddle downwinding.

Threshold ranges and defaults:
1) Start/stop threshold: default 9kph, range 5-50 kph
2) Time threshold: default 6s, range 2-60s
3) Max speed in event has to be >= 13kph, range 0-50kph
4) Min distance: default 0m (disabled), range 0-1000m

Typical values:
Standup paddle surfing: general setting for all waves
9kph, 6s, 13kph, 0m

Standup paddle downwinding (Hood River)
10kph, 10s, 12kph, 20m

4) The stats from each wave ride can be saved to a text file using the instructions at the bottom of the page (advanced users only, unsupported).

----------------- Planned Updates------------------

1) none hopefully


----------------- Version History ------------------

0.2 datafield now updates even when not visible.

0.3 added min distance to threshold test (now min 9km/hr for 5s and 15 m) to avoid paddling out/false wave counts, especially for SUP (eventually these values will be user selectable).

0.4 more tweaks after on-water tests (now min 9km/hr for 6sec), 19 waves and only 2 false readings and that was when I was chucked over the falls...

0.5 changed totdist and elapsed time to use the last good point of the event, instead of first one below the threshold, since when falling in it might take a while to get gps fix again and this will add to the waveride time. This should only decrease the wave ride time. The threshold test is now: >= 9km/hr for >= 6 sec and maxspeed >= 13 km/hr, redesign screen, add total wave ride time in min:sec

0.6 add fenix support.

0.7 bug fixed- crash when data field is in view and GPS just becomes active

0.8 D2Bravo, Epix and Vivoactive (separate app) support, compile using SDK 1.1.4. Latest numbers are green during an event (shows green if above speed threshold, even if below time threshold).

v0.9 new SDK 1.2.1, support for fr230/fr235

v0.95 new SDK, 2.1.3, support for Vivoactive HR

v1.0 added GCM settings for thresholds, changed distance calculation (should be shorter and more accurate), added 1 field Vivoactive support (got rid of the separate version)

v1.20 Garmin Connect summary stats and wave speed plot output
_________
** Advanced user only+unsupported method to save each wave ride to a text file on your device:

Place a *.TXT file in the /GARMIN/APPS/LOGS folder on your device, where * is the name of the .PRG file in the /GARMIN/APPS folder. Look for a file that is ~12 kilobytes. On my device it is 69SI5820.PRG, so I would create an empty file in /GARMIN/APPS/LOGS/69SI5820.TXT

To find out the filename, uninstall Surf Tracker, make a note of the *.PRG files in the /GARMIN/APPS folder, install Surf Tracker then note which PRG file is new.

Sample output format:
Wave# TimeofDay WaveRideTime(sec) WaveRideMaxSpeed(kph) WaveRideDistance(m)
1 07:26 20 28.8 113.4
2 07:28 13 27.6 76.8
3 07:33 21 30.2 122.2

Copy the file to your computer after a few sessions. I copy and paste the details into the notes section of the activity on Garmin Connect. The file will be appended to until it gets too big (10KB), then it will be overwritten. I had 3 days of sessions saved and it was only 1.8KB.
  • I'm not exactly sure since I don't own one, but try a Bike or Run activity then select them as datafields while in the activity...while in an activity, go to the page with data fields the select the connectIQ as one (or two) of the fields. It should be just like changing data fields, only the connectIQ ones will be in their own category. Make sure you download it first :)
  • App version

    Hi! Great work, this is such a cool idea!
    Could you make an app version of this. Then it could also lock the screen on the vivoactive so the water doesn't make it go crazy.
  • FR support?

    Any chance of getting FR 230/235 compatibility for this app?
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 9 years ago
    Got the 920XT on Sunday, went surfing on Monday had no problems downloading or installing works great, great metrics Thanks!
  • Loved it

    Great work, it's works fine with my vivoactive! I tried it with the cycling app but I'm not sure of its accuracy, will try again soon with the running app.

    I love some of the suggestions so far like a dedicated app with ability to save and view, but understand that it's hard to justify cost and time. If enough people want it, have you thought of crowdsourcing to get the app going? I'd be keen to chip in!

    Thanks again!
  • Surf Tracker set up instructions for Fenix 3

    Bwd1,

    Can you provide step by step instructions on how to configure the application on a Fenix 3 watch. I have downloaded the application onto the watch but cannot figure out how to set it up. Thank you.
  • A new version 0.9 uploaded with fr230/235 support and compiled with the new SDK. Maybe that will fix some Fenix 3 problems?

    I don't own a Fenix 3...hopefully someone with one can describe the steps, but if it is like the 920 then you just add a data field to an existing app/activity (Surf or Paddle for example), set the datafield as one screen, then select the field and select Connect IQ then BigWaveDave as the field.

    Steps for the 920:
    Activity Settings > Data Screens
    Screen 2 (for example), Select On, Layout 1 Field
    Select Field 1
    Select Connect IQ
    Select BigWaveDave

    Now one of your screens should show the data field, hit start then surf!

    Dave
  • How to add custom data field to app/activity in Fenix 3?
    https://www.facebook.com/GarminFenix3/posts/441344592657118

    The instruction uses 367RunField for example, please choose BigWaveDave instead of 367RunField in your case.

    (Thanks to darkthread and the Runner Window ver 1.6.1)
  • need help

    Hello,
    Thanks for your work.

    I'm looking to write an application for kitesurf : records higher jumps. I try to do this with GPS but values are not very accurates and informations come only each second. I think that the only way is using acceloerometer. Have you got please any idear to do this ? Thank you for your help. Regards.
  • I'm looking to write an application for kitesurf : records higher jumps. I try to do this with GPS but values are not very accurates and informations come only each second. I think that the only way is using acceloerometer. Have you got please any idear to do this ? Thank you for your help. Regards.


    It sounds like a fun project. I think you have to start by doing some R&D work first to see what the accelerometer data looks like when you jump. I would make a test app that saved the time and the accelerometer data to a logfile using this method: https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?163853-Accelerometer-Data&p=743613#post743613

    Then go kiteboarding, start the app, do some jumps over a few minutes and save some data. Make note of the start and end times of your jumps. Then you would have to look at the data and find out how to mark the start and end of a jump. Look at the Zdata and maybe there will be an indication there. Integrating the data gives you Vel, which should be 0 at the peak of the jump, and integrating again gives you position. I'm guessing the start of the jump will be hard to identify and only large jumps will give you any sort of accuracy. Maybe look at barometric pressure from the watch too. Not simple ... ;)