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Problems with Ant+ connectivity

Does anybody NOT have problems with third party ANT+ devices and the F5? My experience is as follows:
- Stryd: not usable; tons of drop-outs on runs. Most importantly long pauses of 30-60s with zero values
- Powertap P1 pedals: around 10-20 drop-outs on a 50 mile ride; most of these drops are really short
- Stages: Useless - zero connectivity - tried Bluetooth and ANT+

Wondering if the F5 is just flawed (weak antennas?) or if I got a bad model. Spoke to Garmin support two weeks ago and they asked me to wait for further software updates.

Are there people out there that do not have these kind of problems?
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    So this is my second Fenix 5 Sapphire. The first was giving me crazy power, cadence and calorie information on the bike. To Garmin's credit they immediately changed it out after a few minutes on the phone. This is my first ride with the new watch compared to an Edge 820. While it is now in the "ball park" its experiencing gaps in information. I'm not sure if they are drop outs or delays in picking up the power meter after I coast. The power meter is a Quarq so the power sensor is on the right and the watch is on the left wrist.

    Edge 820
    https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1845286512

    Fenix 5
    https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1845303016
  • I am afraid that your second Fenix 5 has still droputs. Just try to maximize power graphs on both activities. Then zoom the same part of the graph on both activities. While Edge 820 has some 0 areas in the graph (0 power), Fenix 5 has more empty areas (i.e. not zero, but without any value).
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    I've now seen occasional dropout per run something like one out five runs if I also connect Stryd as foot pod. This creates a separate connection for the foot pod next to the data field that captures power and other metrics. Still not enough to mess the averages, but just thought it would be good to report.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    I posted a while back that my connections are rock solid. I'm recovering from quadricep tendonitis (still sore) and went on my first test run after 6 weeks of rest and all my devices worked flawlessly. I have the Fenix 5s. Not sure if you were asking for just the 5. My devices are, Wahoo TICKR hrm connected via ant+, Stryd footpod connected via ant+ and the Garmin Running Dynamics Pod. All are working really good. No dropouts at all in the Power Center for the Stryd either. I ran on a Woodway treadmill and this particular caused a lot of issues with my Forerunner 735 and the Stryd. As I said, not a one now. And have firmware 4.10 for the F5s
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Text Messaging not consistant. Fenix 5S iphone 6. Tried everythin for the last two wks cant get notifications Vibration. Have tried everything tried Ready to return. Are you experience any probs with that issue?
  • I'm considering a footpod, possibly a stryd (big investment here). Have we narrowed down the issues with ANT+ connections yet? I've had zero issues with my Wahoo Tickr X in ANT+ mode, but concerned about spending big bucks on a stryd if the watch is ultimately going to serious issues.

  • Fenix 5s Sapphire + Favero BePro Powermeter.
    1st ride yesterday, several Dropouts for Cadence and Power compared to my Edge 520 which didn't lost the signal once.
    Watch was on left wrist.

    dropouts with stryd (HR-Belt) back with older firmware, which got solved through firmware updates.

    this plus the mediocre gps accuracy. oh my.
  • I'm considering a footpod, possibly a stryd (big investment here). Have we narrowed down the issues with ANT+ connections yet? I've had zero issues with my Wahoo Tickr X in ANT+ mode, but concerned about spending big bucks on a stryd if the watch is ultimately going to serious issues.


    I emailed Stryd two weeks ago, and they can't recommend their footpod with the Fenix 5/5s. Here's their reply:

    "Unfortunately, we still have no update from Garmin on the solution. Thus, we currently are not recommending the use of the Fenix 5 with Stryd yet. Very sorry to share this bad news with you. But yes, it is clear that the signal is weak / shorter antennae and searching for bluetooth / ant+ on different levels than it should. Not sure how Garmin can/will fix this either."
  • I'm considering a footpod, possibly a stryd (big investment here). Have we narrowed down the issues with ANT+ connections yet? I've had zero issues with my Wahoo Tickr X in ANT+ mode, but concerned about spending big bucks on a stryd if the watch is ultimately going to serious issues.



    My 5s is working well with stryd without any dropout. I suggest you to buy the footpod on Amazon or any other site that guarantee you a return policy, in this way you can try it with YOUR watch and see how it works.

  • So I did a ride tonight with my Wahoo Tickr X, a Garmin Speed, and Garmin Cadence sensor all paired to the Fenix 5 sitting on my handle bars. The first part of the ride was pretty lazy, just cruising along with my wife, but near the end of the ride I kicked it up a bit and said I'd meet her at the car. The Fenix appears at first glance to have done a pretty good job with the cadence sensor only really dropping out when i was coasting under a bridge. There is one spot that *may* have been a drop out, but what is odd is that it only shows on the mini graph on connect. When you maximize the graph it isn't there. You can see it in the mini graph around the 12 mile mark. In the full size graph it isn't there. The other drops in this are when I had to coast down a hill and under a bridge. It isn't safe to go all out on those tunnels as you might come around a corner to see a horse, which would make for a bad day for everyone!

    The speed sensor was solid the whole time. I did have one or two drops with my HRM, but they were into the wind with a lot of air drying out the sensor contacts. That's not unusual. I should probably use some gel on a ride like this as Albuquerque is dry enough that if your not working hard the contacts can have issues picking up a heart rate.

    ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1232717.jpg