Problem with the loading cable

I am only now checking the thread.
The watch arrived back from Milan (Tech Service) yesterday where it was instantly replaced... I think it took about 10 days, a lot less than I had expected (I could feel it on the spin bike: I KNOW when I get out and turn on the mobile connection I'll receive the PM from my Mech with the watch having arrived and so it was... but I didn't come back from trainings until dinner time). As I patched from IIRC 4.0 and installed the maps (failed first because I think it needed 6.0 first) and went through the setting procedure (I have a word doc for that) I noticed the double audio cue of connect/disconnect. It was... a long night and I still need to pair Tempe, 3 HRMs, Spd/Cad, Foot sensors... plus decommission the old F5x from ST3 and set up the new one with the new ID from the Fit devices Plugin (I'm sure they have no idea at Garmin the huge trouble a normal user would have doing these things... it would take him days).

I am not sure I have the new connectors but I'm sure the baro works and it's all I needed as I wouldn't have replaced the watch for the connection issue alone. The cable right now is much harder to plug in and out because both the connectors and the cable itself are brand new. We'll see how it goes but really Garmin should start fixing their QA pyramid.

Aside from the lost time (kept duplicating the same logs and did NOT ride out or swim without the watch: only indoor training) I am thinking of the $ losses implied by the process. If the connection is 99% safe now at the very first day what's gonna happen in a few months considering I train between 3 and 5 hours a day? Another RMA?

How many RMAs? 3 FR910XT and 1 920XT sent back to the shop because "my nose was itching" plus one perfectly functioning (with bad GPS) F3. How many more until they wake up? Polar DOES produce in China but I know of noone of my MTB pards with the problems I've had with Garmin.

Let's speculate now: Milan knew I needed the new connectors... these most likely are. They do look like the picture Mith posted above but I'm not 100% sure since I can't recall the old ones.

Mine was still in warranty - don't you get a year of it? I had one of the first (public) ones sold so hasn't been a year!

Yeah, it's close to a year, but the problem is that I no longer have my receipt, and Garmin won't even talk to me without a receipt.. Oh well.. thanks.

The recite is total BS you can’t use the watches without linking them to GC and the date shows up on you Garmin Account I have warranted a 920XT twice and A Vivoactive HR once without any problems and support has always used the date on my account as proof

Yeah, it's close to a year, but the problem is that I no longer have my receipt, and Garmin won't even talk to me without a receipt.. Oh well.. thanks.

Open up a online chat session with Garmin, the only thing they ask for is your device serial number.

Never had to show a receipt. The serial number was registered when i set up the device. Given no one would have one more than a year old because they haven't been released that long, there shouldn't be a problem proving its not over a year old!

You have to show the receipt.
It has to be photocopied by the shop and delivered to Garmin. Maybe it works differently with online purchases... they could use the invoice but I agree, the date of purchase may be taken from the moment you add the device to GE/GC/BC and could suffice.

Garmin AUSTRALIA !!! so disappointing, i sent them back my watch which disconnects for the slightest touch, even made a video doing it with the replacement cable, got a call form the technician last night saying there was no issue and they want to send it back. So now i have watch which i cant use on USB. :(

Any ideas? the technician in Australia said hes never seen this issue before, despite it being the top thread on here.

Unfortunately I joined your club :-(. Since this is the biggest thread on the forum (kind of tells everything) I need your help: I tried to read through the posts. Is it right that there is no clear solution? It might be the cable, it might be the watch, it might be windows 10. Or is there a common opinion what it is?

Sending your watch to Garmin and getting an exchange seems to be the easiest solution. Exchanged mine this month. Took about a week here in Germany. The new watch has different pins (see posts above) and so far has a rock solid connection. I also tried exchanging only the cable first, but to no avail.

I have had a new replacement F5x from Garmin for 6 weeks now.

It is completely different in how it behaves from the previous ones. It has never dropped a connection via the cable. I have tried loads of different cables and different computers. I have rocked the connection between the cable and the watch. I have swung the watch on the end of the cable. None of this has made the connection drop. I am as impressed with the replacement watch as I was dismayed by the previous ones.

From my perspective with the new, gold pin, F5x Garmin have solved the problem.