8hrs into use of the F5x - learning the ropes - new features

Still learning the ropes and the differences between F5x and my own F3.

A couple maybe those that have the F5x already can share.

1) One thing I dont recall. My F3 used to alert+vibrate whenever it lost BT connection with the phone. I did something (I thought in garmin connection) to stop that. My F5x vibrates each time I am to far from my phone. I do NOT want that type style of update/notification. I want to disable that. I dont care if I connect/disconnect from BT. I looked through all the places I could think of on the F5x itself, and in Garmin Connect. I"m either missing it, or I cant do that. Please help

2) I was playing with default watch faces. I stayed away from CIQ faces on the F3 since many of them were battery drains, and some of the data wast that relevant do the the developer apk and what that allows the watch face to do. I might check again to see if things have changed with that respect. but on the default cases, you can have some "extra" data. Tow of them are these little arc line. one near the top of display (that is red). and a white one on the bottom.

The red I speculate is the move meter like the F3 has. I um unsure of the significance of the solid vs dashed though. the white on the bottom, if I were to guess would be progress on total steps towards the daily goal. My question is this, is there some place that outlines/defines what all the data fields could be on the default watch face?

thanks

0 jim_m_58 over 8 years ago

1) There is a setting , under phone, for "alerts". Turn that off. (You may need to make sure it's off on the devices settings in GCM and GC too)

2) CIQ watchfaces will use more battery than native ones. Native ones run in their own low power core on many watches, which CIQ runs in the main core. That said, I've seen nothing odd with CIQ watchfaces and the battery, and run them all the time on different devices. I still go many days without need for a charge. (CIQ watchfaces only update ones a minute most of the time to preserve battery)

0 renhoek54 over 8 years ago

Regarding the red/white bars in that digital watchface you picked (2), the red one is your activity indicator - keep moving throughout the day to keep it from turning red. I think the 1st large section is 1hr, and the remaining little sections are 15min, for a total of 2hrs between "get moving" alerts. The white bar graph at the bottom is your step progress towards your daily step goal.

0 bglover11 over 8 years ago

I'm 8 hours into my 5X as well and after going through the settings/trying to get it set up similar to my F3, I've found myself disappointed at the lack of new/improved settings for customization. There are a few configuration options that differ from the F3 such as on the digital face (which i prefer) you are able to put multiple additional data icons below the main time which is nice. What I do miss, however, is the ability to change the digital time look/size. The only options are either thin minutes or fat minutes as well as an accent color. On my F3 you had a few more options to include a larger font. Seems like there is so much wasted space on the F5 clock screen in comparison to the F3..
Also the screen contrast/black level is actually worse than my F3.. along with the same old washed out colors. It's going to have to really impress me outside today in order not to box it back up and get my $700 back from REI and stick to my perfectly fine F3

0 tickerguy over 8 years ago

It's the sapphire crystal -- it transmits a bit less light, and where it REALLY shows up is if you have a green color displayed (since it has a somewhat reddish tint to it and thus doesn't pass green as well.)

I don't find it troublesome enough to go back to the F3, as I really like the additional feature set and capabilities. I too bought mine from REI but I think it's a keeper.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Learing here too

I have a bit more culture shock. I'm coming from a 310XT (that is still bullet proof BTW). So far the only question I have is I downloaded a different run app. How do I a) use it? b) make it my default app for running? This is probably old hat for those with the Fenix 3. Thanks in advance for any info.

Pete

0 jim_m_58 over 8 years ago

When you say you downloaded a run app, did you download a watch-app or a data field? If it's a data field, you set it on one of data screens of the existing run app. If it's a watch-app, it will show up on the list of activities along with Run, Bike, etc.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

App is now working but can't see the 5X from my Mac or Garmin Express

When you say you downloaded a run app, did you download a watch-app or a data field? If it's a data field, you set it on one of data screens of the existing run app. If it's a watch-app, it will show up on the list of activities along with Run, Bike, etc.

Okay . . I figured that out. It was an app. But for whatever reason the first one I tried just wouldn't load in to either Garmin Connect Mobile or the Fenix 5X. It never showed up after i downloaded it. I double checked to make sure it was Fenix 5X compatible but then I tried a different one and that seemed to work fine. I was able to find it under apps along with run, bike, etc.

But now a new problem. When I first fired my 5X up, I was able to successfully connect it via USB to my Mac and bring it in to Garmin Express, update the firmware, and turned on Wifi. Since then, it won't show up again. It doesn't even show up as a composite device on the Mac with the generic "Garmin" disk on the desktop. Of course I can't see it in Garmin Express. I updated Garmin Express. No change. But I know Garmin Express can't see it if the Mac doesn't see it. The Fenix 5X knows it's connected. It charges and displays the USB logo. The Mac just can't seem to find it yet has no problem finding my Edge 800. I did the "disconnect everything and reboot" drill but still no luck. Not sure where else to go with that.

Pete

0 RobertRehnmark-RawViking over 8 years ago

Okay . . I figured that out. It was an app. But for whatever reason the first one I tried just wouldn't load in to either Garmin Connect Mobile or the Fenix 5X. It never showed up after i downloaded it. I double checked to make sure it was Fenix 5X compatible but then I tried a different one and that seemed to work fine. I was able to find it under apps along with run, bike, etc.

But now a new problem. When I first fired my 5X up, I was able to successfully connect it via USB to my Mac and bring it in to Garmin Express, update the firmware, and turned on Wifi. Since then, it won't show up again. It doesn't even show up as a composite device on the Mac with the generic "Garmin" disk on the desktop. Of course I can't see it in Garmin Express. I updated Garmin Express. No change. But I know Garmin Express can't see it if the Mac doesn't see it. The Fenix 5X knows it's connected. It charges and displays the USB logo. The Mac just can't seem to find it yet has no problem finding my Edge 800. I did the "disconnect everything and reboot" drill but still no luck. Not sure where else to go with that.

Pete

Have you tried going into Disk Tools on your mac (in Applications -> Utilities), select your watch and "place/mount it on Desktop"?

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Have you tried going into Disk Tools on your mac (in Applications -> Utilities), select your watch and "place/mount it on Desktop"?

I did . . and it wasn't even showing up there. BUT . . . I actually figured this out yesterday afternoon but didn't have time to come back and update. I actually solved this using the steps shown documented here. All seems well now.