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Have Abandoned Fenix 5X Plus and Forerunner 935 Watches For Open Water Swimming

For what it is worth, after struggling for almost 2 months to get the fenix 5X Plus and a Forerunner 935 to work properly in open water swimming (GPS will not track), I have abandoned both of these expensive watches and have reverted to my old non-software updated 920XT - which works perfectly in the open water. I have been in frequent touch with Garmin Support and nothing has been achieved in more than 2 months. I am running the latest firmware or beta updates and there is still a massive issue with OWS. For example, I did a 5.6km OWS yesterday in the ocean. The 920 XT clocked correctly and the 935 (which had the latest beta and I was told by Garmin Support would work in the open water) clocked 3.3km.

Garmin, this is not good enough and you need to sort this out. Despite what you may think, you have a major problem in OWS with your top end triathlon watches and they are not now fit for purpose.

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Dr Phil over 4 years ago in reply to klaavs.v +1

And the prize for zombie thread resurrection goes to...

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0 Crispin_Ellisdon over 7 years ago

They have acknowledged the issue and confirm they are still working on it in the official post for the 935 production software release Ver 10.10 https://forums.garmin.com/forum/into...d-roll-out-100

The route of the problem seems to be somewhere in the newer GPS software ver 2.20 (weirdly a lower number than the old GPS software) that added the option to use the Galileo GNSS. GPS v2.20 was on the Fenix 5+ series at launch and rolled out in the 935 production software ver 9.70, but was never rolled out to the Fenix 5 series as production (so only as beta to Fenix 5). Why am I writing all of this? Well I recall there was a line of discussion on the 935 forum trying to roll back to earlier Device software and GPS software versions. It would be worth a dig around the 935 forum to see if anyone had success (or just use your 920 until Garmin produced a fix).

Edit: I’ve stumbled on the software downgrade process for the 935 at least https://forums.garmin.com/forum/into-sports/running/forerunner-935-aa/1379327-downgrade-to-earlier-stable-fw?p=1387661#post1387661

0 Stewart.Fairbairn over 7 years ago

Thanks Crispin. I am aware of the comments on the 935 forum. I cannot believe that it takes more than 2 months to fix this problem and, especially, for watches that are so expensive. I have dealt most days over the past 2 weeks with Garmin Support and I get nowhere - all they ever seem to want is my purchase receipts which I have sent them on multiple occasions. I am tired of installing beta releases and other updates and don't want to go through the whole process of a downgrade. But, thanks for your help

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

HI Stewart,
I am in the same boat. I have the 935 Garmin with 10.10 and still see the issue with Open Water Swimming?!?!?!? I swam yesterday about 1km and it only clocked 339 yards. Did Anyone from Garmin get back to you on a fix or possible Firmware Update? FYI: I am using the Only GPS option for OWS.

Thanks
Jose

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Have anyone tried the new gps 2.23 fw with OWS????
Running tracks are incredible better but so far nobody has reported anything about OWS

0 Stewart.Fairbairn over 6 years ago

Garmin Australia and Garmin USA have both advised me against installing the 2.23 beta as I have an APAC model. Am still told that the full fix will be out mid month. Until then, I soldier on with my 920XT which ddidn’t a terrific track of. 3km swim today in Waikiki

0 tsofron over 6 years ago

Have anyone tried the new gps 2.23 fw with OWS????
Running tracks are incredible better but so far nobody has reported anything about OWS

check also the 935 forum out - i've installed the 2.23 beta on the 935, it tracks better but compared to the 920 the distance is a off...

0 OperationOne over 6 years ago

i've installed GNSS 2.23 on 935 also, and still didn't solve anything, even with "GPS only" option OWS tracks are erratic and distance is unreliable when compared to 920xt (latest firmware) and a GPS data logger into the swim cap.

0 klaavs.v over 4 years ago in reply to Stewart.Fairbairn

Haha,, now its been 3 years.. :D

0 renton82 over 4 years ago in reply to klaavs.v

Same story for Fenix 6 series

0 Dr Phil over 4 years ago in reply to klaavs.v

And the prize for zombie thread resurrection goes to...