Fenix 5S/5 - 2.72 Beta Release

Hello Fenix 5S/5 users,

Thank you to everyone for the tremendous response that we've already received this early in the Fenix 5S/5 launch. We are very excited to finally see the Fenix 5S/5 in the market for all to enjoy!

We appreciate you, our customers, who pursue similar passions to our own, and share those stories with us. Not only do you share your stories, but your feedback makes an already fantastic product even better. This we appreciate more than we can express.

Because of our wonderful community we are officially kicking off the Fenix 5S/5 beta program today. We have this program so that we can offer added features, improvements, and bug fixes to our most loyal fans as soon as possible. Please read the 'notes' and 'installation instructions' in the 'Updates and Downloads' page found in the links below for your specific device.

This beta is a public release candidate and our hope is that next week we can make this build public. We look forward to your feedback

Fenix 5S: http://www.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=11661
Fenix 5: http://www.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=11663

In this beta software there is a GPS update. Before use, we recommend that all users allow their device an opportunity 'soak' and acquire GPS at least 15 minutes, with an open view of the sky, to rebuild ephemeris data

Please send all bug reports to [email][email protected][/email].

Note: Please allow for the updates to propagate across all servers. There is no need to post that the link does not work. It will after a bit of patience. :)

2.72 Change Log Notes:

Added support for GroupTrack with Livetrack. (Garmin Connect Mobile > Menu > Livetrack > GroupTrack.)
Added support for Bontrager bike lights.
Added support for 'Countdown Start' when using Pool Swim. (Settings > Activities and Apps > Pool Swim > Pool Swim Settings > Countdown Start)
Added support for recording FIT files with Golf activities.
Added instructional tips for the Training Status page and Performance widget.
Added support for CIQ apps to access Bike Light features.
Added support for Running Dynamics Pod.
Fixed an issue with Virtual Partner not displaying time ahead/behind information correctly.
Fixed an intermittent issue where the Fenix device won't auto connect to the Mobile app after powering up.
Fixed a couple of scenarios where the 'In-activity' backlight settings were not being respected.
Fixed an issue where the device could crash while creating custom alerts for 'Other' apps
Fixed an issue where Wi-Fi was still offered as a Hotkey on non-WIFI devices.
Fixed a potential issue with Portuguese and Hebrew keyboards.
Fixed a potential issue where LiveTrack does not stop after ending an activity.
Fixed crash that could occur when course files with special characters were loaded.
Made general improvements to increase product stability.
Improved messaging for when a course exceeds the device's course point limit.

Send all bug reports to [email][email protected][/email]

0 mcbadger over 8 years ago

Surely though the quick to achieve ephemeris data is only for a single satellite (each satellite transmitting its own data)?

Doesn't the almanac data contains info for all the satellites and allows the receiver to generate a list of which satellites should be visible based on position and time allowing for a more rapid accurate fix?

Almanac data that was only useful in "early generation" receivers that had limited CPU power and sensitivity, ever since SiRFstarIII in 2005 (SiRFstarII was already a huge progress compared to the Garmin receivers used in say the FR201) the scanning for satellites in the sky is done pretty much instantly. Interestingly the downloading of ephemeris data has remained somewhat of a challenge because it requires a good signal (hard to get with tiny "antennas") and has to go uninterrupted for 30 seconds. That's why things like AGPS (network required) or EPO (download of canned ephemeris) were developed. The problem is that they are going to be less accurate than actual live ephemeris data.

I'm on the fence between you two; the long soak is clearly to pick up the full almanac. Sure, it isn't used for navigation in a modern unit, but there is more information than just the satellite locations - UTC to GPS time offset and ionospheric corrections. I think I'd be annoyed if my watch suddenly jumped 18 seconds forward during the first activity, and jumped in location because it had changed its mind about atmospheric corrections. Those data are transmitted only once in the full 12.5 minute cycle, so you'd need to wait that long to be confident of picking them up.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Will any of this fix drop out issues experienced with Stryd foot pod? Note I can confirm this issue and DCR already mentioned it in his testing on Strava as well.

If not, this may be a quick deal breaker for me, hate to say.

Also Why is Garmin not natively supporting Running Power yet??? It is getting a little ridiculous.

Well... I got the F5 even after see DC rainmaker comment on that issue and was hopping.. But unfortunately still an issue even with 2.72...

See comments I did on stryd forum
http://club.stryd.com/t/fenix-5-stryd-drop-out-and-f5-not-seeing-stryd-has-bt-device/5116/4

I really hope this will resolve at some points...

0 chimpware over 8 years ago

Installed Beta per instructions (with assumption instructions were wrong regarding files name per my earlier post) on a Mac, elected the watch, screen flashed to Update Install, disconnected watch from USB and watch went back to watch face and froze completely. Rebooted and had to manually go in to System-->Update to trigger update and then it seems to have worked.

I then went outside to "soak" the watch for 15 minutes per instructions and it literally took 5 minutes to get a clean GPS lock and then lost it and regained it finally.

This is quite the awesome watch so far.....

Will be testing outside running finally today I am hoping if rain holds off against 735XT. If not comparable performance and Stryd ConnectIQ drop out is not fixed it is going back in the box and right back to CT. I am not wasting months again fooling around with Betas, GPS soak and the rest of this stuff like I did with the f3.

0 chimpware over 8 years ago

Well... I got the F5 even after see DC rainmaker comment on that issue and was hopping.. But unfortunately still an issue even with 2.72...

See comments I did on stryd forum
http://club.stryd.com/t/fenix-5-stryd-drop-out-and-f5-not-seeing-stryd-has-bt-device/5116/4

I really hope this will resolve at some points...

Yeah I saw DCR comments as well, and expected it to be fixed based on his comment about it being a known issue.

I am testing later today and if it doesn't work properly f5 is back in the box and back to CT.

0 cmerrill over 8 years ago

Installed the 2.72 beta last night. Installed with no problems. Left the watch outside for a while during a TV show last night. Ran this morning with a friend who was wearing a Fenix 3HR. Ran 9.8 miles on trails in a canyon. Our watches were within .01 miles of each other at all times. Average pace at the end was identical. Very pleased with the update. I ran in a canyon with the 2.4 firmware the other day and the track was erratic. So, this was a nice improvement.

As was mentioned above, Mobile Connect still overwrites alarms set on the watch. If I set an alarm on the watch it is overwritten. If I set it on the iPhone in Mobile Connect, it is synced over to the watch. Hopefully that will be fixed soon.

0 chimpware over 8 years ago

Update a complete fail for me. Distance accrual was horrendous on easy course and Stryd ConnectIQ dropouts remain. Back it goes.

0 webvan over 8 years ago

I've seen some slight improvements in pace and multipath handling but it's still far from being on par with the FR235 on terms of accuracy and consistency : https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?371929-GPS-Accuracy&p=965409#post965409

0 Olu.F. over 8 years ago

Folks can postulate all they want, but unless you have 100% understanding of Garmin's use of hardware and software, I'm not sure why you wouldn't follow their recommended procedures.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I do like that I was able to update from my Linux laptop easily as it was all done with USB Mass Storage

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Folks can postulate all they want, but unless you have 100% understanding of Garmin's use of hardware and software, I'm not sure why you wouldn't follow their recommended procedures.

Which recommended procedure exactly that you were referring to that the folks here wouldn't want to follow ?