Problem with the loading cable

Despite the tech support in Milan sending me a new cable, problems in recognizing the F5x through the USB cable persist and they only affect the data wire/port not the recharging.
Since I can't spend half an hour putting the watch on the desk in a way that this chinese-made cable works, I decided to export the logs from Garmin Connect (original) to the PC and process them on Sport Tracks from there.

We are in the well-known domain of incompetence, sloppy programming and design plus faulty materials and there doesn't seem to be another option. Oh, sure I can send the watch back in warranty and get it back in 1 month but then with what do I train and build my log Dbase?

How is it possible to be so STUPID... you have the PERFECT docking station and you move to a faulty cable... you have a POOR GPS and you KEEP the POOR GPS.

How is it possible to be so stupid?! Who is the responsible for this cable? Who decided to discontinue the PERFECT F3 docking station in favour of a cable that gives so many problems people are forced (when they can and I can't!) to send back watches in warranty "repair" ?

A watch that cost 700 Euro, really? What am I supposed to do... send it back to Milan and WAIT 1 month to have a new one? Because Garmin won't trust me when I tell them SEND ME THE WATCH AND WHEN IT COMES HERE I'LL SEND YOU MINE.

Really? Me? A lifetime user (and tester) with Suunto, Garmin, Polar and TacX instruments?

So what's the deal YOU take my money, YOU cause the problems and then I have to decide between keeping a faulty device or stay 1 month without device WITH THE CONCRETE RISK of getting a new watch with the same problem?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? I WANT THE NAME.

When using cable with computer, the connection blips on and off with some seconds apart. it seems more stable if I restart the computer with the cable connected. (but loong away from normal behavior.

I don't understand if it's the cable... which is made of softer plastic that, after connecting/disconnecting for a month or so becomes "unstable", or if it's the port.
I think it's the cable, not the port but the issue remains: Garmin builds a DEFECTIVE instrument (in this case if my guess is right a defective extra component, not the instrument per-se) and the user who paid 700+ Euro must send it back and lose it for a month.

This is BEYOND absurd.

Who is the person behind this insane idea? What will Garmin solve by pulling back a unit and send a new one again whose cable will become defective AGAIN in three-weeks time?

Who is it?!?!!?!?!?!?!?

Well, I received my new 5x from Garmin as a replacement. Connected to my PC and .....wait for it......it disconnects repeatedly just the old one. It boggles the mind. Within 10 seconds I lost the connection and it cuts in and out as I manipulate the cable.

Who is it!?!?!?!?!?

Can anyone confirm that the charging/data port on the rear of the 5x has been reworked for sure and post a picture please. Im still in 'debate' with support regarding a replacement.

Haven't really used the PC connection much but used it trying to get the maps and the last update. Had forgot how frustrating this was - watch beeping away as it connects and disconnects, turning it left, right, upside down - wearing a tin foil hat on my head - to get a stable connection! I don't want to send my in unless its fixed for good rather than just a lucky combination of cable and watch!

I have to report the same issue here. Watch version is 6.00, got no luck trying to connect to a Windows 7 Pro x64 computer. Tried all USB ports, tried rebooting both the watch and the computer, still won't get recognized as mass storage. Battery charging is working, however.

As far as I know there's no change in hardware in the newest F5.
It's as easy as it can get: Garmin cannot admit plunder in a compartment (have a look at the Epix or F3 GPS threads) else the stock value will collapse... it's all they care for and this is the same situation with the cable.

Here, locking the cable into the port doesn't do. The watch must be resting on the desk so that the cable makes a particular angle or I need to press the cable into the socket a bit harder, despite it being already locked in place. At this point if I have to transfer multiple .fit files you can imagine me holding the watch and pressing its cable in, moving the mouse / pressing the left mouse button and, at the same time, hitting the shift key on the keyboard.

If this wasn't crazy enough, considering this is a new cable Garmin sent me via tech support, an ongoing stubborn process of DOING IT despite the difficulty, may result in the watch freezing and OHR stop responding (because when you connect the cable, the OHR is disabled, then connection is intermittent, you remove the cable and either the F5 is frozen or the OHR doesn't turn itself on and you have to reboot the watch).

It's ok if Garmin won't come public with a statement on this but asking the users in distress to send back their watches, leaving them without device for a month knowing in advance that they'll get a replacement that has the same problem is wrong on so many levels... The least Garmin could do is send the watch first and then wait for the other watch to come back.

Garmin causes the problem, they can't ask to solve it (albeit temporarily) while causing another problem (lack of training device on the wrist of the user).

What's going on here... who's responsible for this!?

On top of that... last night I saw a guy with the HRM Swim and checked his rubber bands: they are getting eaten by chlorine water just like mine did. I solved with a 1? elastic band (after 4 different modifications) because I didn't have the heart to install the replacement. On the front part, the GLUED band is detaching too (solved with Loctite).

Suunto discontinued the MemBelt so it's Polar vs Suunto and these are the results: poor chinese manufacturing and low-quality materials because this is the choice Garmin took, as usual.

And they just never learn... they just never learn!!!

I had this problem and it was winding me up.

My nice new Fenix 5X was connecting and disconnecting every few seconds via the USB cable. I was worried the watch would brick if I was carrying out a firmware update and leave me with a useless bit of metal on a plastic strap - it's possible this could happen if the disconnect happened mid update.

I ordered a replacement USB cable on Amazon. It cost me ?10 and it's not an official Garmin one, it's a 3rd party knock off. I don't mind paying ?10 if it fixed the problem on my expensive watch and makes it enjoyable to use again - even though I shouldn't have to.

I can report that this has FIXED THE PROBLEM!

I can use this cable, plug it in to my watch and even leave the watch on the soft settee next to me while I'm on my laptop. It doesn't disconnect. The original Garmin USB cable wouldn't last 2 seconds like this!

I've had a look at the knock off cable and the original cable. The knock off has an extra 2-3mm in length at the mouth of the fitting that sits in the back of the watch. This seems to make all the difference. It connects to the watch just fine and stays in the watch without causing any disconnects at all.

I would suggest based on this that this isn't a problem with the watch and isn't something that will be fixed by ordering a newer watch - this appears to be a problem with the USB cables supplied by Garmin being too short.

Simple fix, cost me ?10, but I'm happy.