Complete Newbie to Garmin

Hi all

Looks like I going to pull the trigger on the Fenix 5 shortly. This will be my first Garmin device

I am however just wondering about Garmin Express and Garmin Connect software.

What is used for what? Do they do the same things just one for mobile phones and the other for PC's

The reason I am asking this question is that having something like the Fenix there is naturally going to be updates etc

Problem is my home PC is an older Mac and I am not able to up date the OS anymore so not able to install the latest version of Garmin Express.

So if i can find an older version of Garmin Express will it see the new Fenix 5 (guessing not) and secondly is possible to just get by with Garmin Connect and use you phone as way to update software etc.

Will I loose facets of the Fenix by not having Garmin Express? If the answer is yes what are they?

Thanks in advance.

0 etparks over 8 years ago

The main loss of not having access to Garmin Express is the ability to set up WiFi. As far as I know there is no way to do that via a mobile device.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Hi all

Looks like I going to pull the trigger on the Fenix 5 shortly. This will be my first Garmin device

I am however just wondering about Garmin Express and Garmin Connect software.

What is used for what? Do they do the same things just one for mobile phones and the other for PC's

The reason I am asking this question is that having something like the Fenix there is naturally going to be updates etc

Problem is my home PC is an older Mac and I am not able to up date the OS anymore so not able to install the latest version of Garmin Express.

So if i can find an older version of Garmin Express will it see the new Fenix 5 (guessing not) and secondly is possible to just get by with Garmin Connect and use you phone as way to update software etc.

Will I loose facets of the Fenix by not having Garmin Express? If the answer is yes what are they?

Thanks in advance.

You can't update I don't think from the mobile app, but if you get the wifi version you can update via the device over wifi.

Check this site out for info www.activeJR.com or check out these articles

http://www.activejr.com/garmin-fenix-5x-review-1-month-hands-on/

0 jim_m_58 over 8 years ago

I've not tried it, but you should be able to update FW OTA with your phone and BT, but the main FW is fairly large and might take a long time to get sent over BLE. (maybe a day after it starts - it will do it in piceces). For beta Updates, that's a manual thing that you do without Garmin Express (you just hook your watch to a machine and copy files). You may also want to check "webupdater" http://www8.garmin.com/products/webupdater/howtoinstall.jsp as it's different than GE, but likely can be used with the 5x (I haven't tried myself)

0 sis651 over 8 years ago

You can update via BT but it takes long long time. Like almost 3 - 4 hours to update from 2.50 to 2.90. No need to Express escept setting up wifi. One time I set up WiFi to wifi tethering of my mobile phone, and then never connected a Windows PC again, using Linux. Connect Mobile app is enough for everything, just updates are too slow.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Just keep in mind that updating maps (if at all possible via connect mobile) will take a very long time.

More importantly: I like the Garmin Software Basecamp for creating and managing my tracks very much. Unfortunately you need a PC connection to sync tracks to the watch, since basecamp mobile for iOS doesn't work anymore (I believe since iOS9)

0 SixZeroCPT over 8 years ago

Thanks for all the comments and replies guys.

I contacts Garmin and they suppose to contact me will report what they have to say

If only I could get Wifi setup for software updates then I wouldn't even have to connect to my Mac for software updates

0 SixZeroCPT over 8 years ago

Update from Garmin

So the local Garmin Product Support Administrator contacted me and said the following

Older versions of Garmin express will not work. They will give you a time out error.

If the mac does not meet basic requirements for express you will be able to use your smartphone and Garmin connect mobile.

This will allow you to do uploads/garmin connect iq and software updates.

I replied asking him if there is another way to setup Wifi without using Express but he still hasnt got back to me

So as you guys have said software updates via BT and Garmin connect is possible using a smartphone just I am not liking how long it will end uptaking.

Guess I can do it overnight and hopefully it will be done in the morning or maybe there is another way to set up WIFI on the Fenix

0 gasteropod over 8 years ago

You will need express on the PC to update the maps. This took several hours on the PC when I went from v3 to v4, you will not be able to do this from your phone. All other updates will be fine over the phone, but I am pretty sure you will need express at least once to wetup wifi. As others have said, there is no other way to do this.

0 canopenerboy over 8 years ago

Another idea...

If you have a friend who is willing to bring you / lend you a laptop (Windows or Mac) with a more recent OS, you can use that laptop and Garmin Express to do a one-time connection to your Fenix 5X just to set up your home WiFi on your watch. Then, your updates will happen over WiFi!

0 SixZeroCPT over 8 years ago

If you have a friend who is willing to bring you / lend you a laptop (Windows or Mac) with a more recent OS, you can use that laptop and Garmin Express to do a one-time connection to your Fenix 5X just to set up your home WiFi on your watch. Then, your updates will happen over WiFi!

I was thinking that is probably the route I am going to have to go down instead of going down the Bluetooth route.

Should I go down this route would I be able to to upload maps to via wifi as well without having to use express?