fenix 5S Plus - Software 3.10 - Bluetooth Driver Update fail

Former Member over 6 years ago

I received a brand new 5S Plus received yesterday. I can't get Bluetooth pairing to my Android phone to succeed.

I've been through all the website and video troubleshooting for phone/watch connectivity issues. My Android version (5.0.1) and Bluetooth version (5.0.1) are above the listed requirements.

The most promising troubleshooting seems to be updating the watch software via Garmin Express, which has downloaded a Bluetooth driver update to the watch, but that is currently failing on installation.

I connected the watch to a computer and Garmin Express. When I disconnect from Garmin Express, I get a message on the watch that an Install is ready and should take <1 min. I choose Install Now, and the watch goes to "Installing ANT and Bluetooth Driver Update"

I've let that install try and run to completion. It fails after ~4 hours.

I've tried that 3 times after doing all of the watch resets I can find
1) "Hard" reset using hold Light for 25 seconds and
2) "Factory" reset by powering off and holding LAP through power on
3) Cleared all User Data using watch Settings

The update remains ready for installation through all the hard/factory reset options I tried. This makes me think I haven't got a true factory reset. Whenever I select the update for install I get "Installing ANT and Bluetooth Driver Update" which fails after 4 hours if I let it run. I've had to use the "Hard" reset option several times to kill this during my troubleshooting.

The software version Garmin Express is saying has been loaded to the watch is Software 3.10. When I connect the watch to Garmin Express, all I get for update options now are 3x new maps packages, which I'm ignoring for now.

Any new users having issues with fenix 5/5S Plus Software 3.10 and Bluetooth ANT/Driver install?

Does anyone know of a true factory reset that will clear all downloaded updates so I can try again from zero?

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Thanks for the suggestion, but no joy.

I went into the watch in Windows Explorer and cut two files out of the RemoteSW folder: EPO.BIN and GUP3153.GCD. I then started Garmin Express but it did not indicate it added anything. When I disconnected from Garmin Express I had the notice about installing <1 min update. I accepted the install, left it alone, plugged in, for 3 hours and it must have failed because all I saw was the battery % screen when I came back. Bluetooth pairing with phone still fails. System Update on the watch still lists needing the <1 min Bluetooth Driver update.

Any other ideas? Thanks

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Thanks again for the ideas. I tried everything you suggested and the watch still hangs on "Installing ANT and Bluetooth Driver Update".

I deleted GUP3153.GCD from the download folder on my computer. The folder it was in (Firmware_Firmware.006-B3153-00.2.80) suggested I had GUP3153.GCD major 02 and minor 80 file trying to get on watch. When I called up Garmin Express, the firmware 2.80 folder was re-created.

The garmindevice.xml file however lists gup3153.gcd major 02 minor 70.

I tried updating everything using the Beta Software 3.21 that was posted today, following its instructions. It had the same result - installation would hang at Installing ANT and BT driver.

I tried cutting the garmindevice.xml from the watch GARMIN folder several times during troubleshooting to force a regeneration of it.
Every time it regenerated it would show gup3153.gcd major 02 minor 70
The Beta Software 3.21 update (which I had to kill at the ANT BT install) also showed gup3153.gcd major 02 minor 70 in the .xml.

Any ideas on why the watch is stuck on gup3153.gcd major 02 minor 70?
I have to believe this is why it won't complete a Bluetooth driver update and why it won't pair with my phone

Thanks!

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

OnlyTwo, thanks for your help and suggestions. I'll give you some kudos.

No joy on re-installing back to 3.10. I also spoke with Garmin tech support and went through troubleshooting and concluded the watch needs to be returned. Garmin did not note any similar issues like this yet.

0 Klausewitz over 6 years ago

I have the same issue. It happened after one week of happyness with the new watch. I woke up the next morning, and now the same issue as mentioned above. tried everything, but unfortunately no positive results.
So nobody has a new solution? Tried it with the 3.56 Beta as well, but is not working, also resetting to the latest Beta isn't working.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

I have the same issue. It happened after one week of happyness with the new watch. I woke up the next morning, and now the same issue as mentioned above. tried everything, but unfortunately no positive results.
So nobody has a new solution? Tried it with the 3.56 Beta as well, but is not working, also resetting to the latest Beta isn't working.

Had the Same with my 5s plus. Take a Look at Info on your Watch: whats your Bluetooth / Ant Version? I would guess 0.00. so your Watch Seems to have a Problem to load Bluetooth Driver.
my solution: Connect your Watch to your Computer. Wait until Garmin Connect Express Made a sync. Disconnect your Watch. It will Tell You There is an Update. Start it (should be Bluetooth and ant) and shutdown (hold light button) your Watch during the Update! Restart your Watch and voila Take a Look at your Bluetooth. Should Work again :)
For meine this worked about 10 Times, but i had to redo It with every Update... Now my Watch is on the way to Garmin to be replaced.

0 Klausewitz over 6 years ago

Thanks Foster for the quick reply, unforunately doesn't work for me at all...

0 Hach19 over 6 years ago

i have the same issue: a few days of happiness of owning the watch and then same issue as with the original poster. will see if contacting tech support will yield any different results.i will also try the suggestions above.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Just received my brand new Fenix 5 plus in the post yesterday. Can't connect to my iPhone due to problem above. Connected to macbook and it loaded an update onto the watch successfully. The update - BT/ANT - won't install on watch as it fails overtime. Annoying. Very expensive casio watch it seems.

0 Dodane over 6 years ago

My Fenix 5 Plus is brand new and I have the same issue EACH time there is an update and yes it is feasible to hard restart it but that is if you have not lost all the battery during a trip or you weak up one morning and found that there is no battery left or frozen solid... you have to disconnect the automatic update otherwise you may end up not waking up on time or missing a flight. This is appalling for a 1000£ watch, I would never have replace my Fenix 5 for the plus if I knew and experienced ALL that many bug that this version has and ..to boot 25% more expensive than the previous one...this is my last Garmin..

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Just bought a Fenix 5S plus sapphire and I am having the same issue.

What doesn't make sense to me is that the watch paired when I took it out of the box. After the (failed) updates the issues started. How come this can't be fixed via software?

Really disappointed, I had high expectations and got the best model because I wanted to invest in some nice equipment...