Fenix and Edge Integration

Former Member over 8 years ago

Does anyone have information on whether Garmin is working on integrating their watches (such as the fenix) and the Edge series? Specifically in terms of syncing workouts and the Training Status metrics. I'm confused how the current "best practice" for getting comprehensive data seems to be to use your watch for everything, instead of supplementing the watch with a bike computer that is both expensive and better suited to the purpose of cycling.

I'm not a coder but this seems like it would be doable by aggregating the workouts and metrics from both devices in Garmin Connect, and then pulling that info back onto the device. I've noticed that Training Status is currently device-dependent in Garmin Connect, but I see no reason why this needs to be the case.

Isn't this sort of synergy between Garmin's various devices precisely the sort of thing they should be selling to their core audience who is willing to spend $600-800 on a Fenix 5?

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0 Former Member over 8 years ago

This would be amazing. Not sure why they wouldn't try to go down this path?

0 MoFergus over 8 years ago

Integration

This would be amazing. Not sure why they wouldn't try to go down this path?

I whole heartedly agree. Why should I we be compelled to store duplicate information or lose the data.

0 bluc1969 over 8 years ago

I'm using the fenix for my triathlon races and I'm actually in the situation of recording the whole race on the fenix and checking the Edge 820 data during the bike fraction.
Doing so I need to push buttons on both instruments at the beginning and at the end of the bike fraction.
I would be great to have some kind of "syncro mode" where pushing lap button on the Edge also create a lap on the fenix...

0 AndyMillne over 8 years ago

Since getting the Fenix 5 my Edge 1000 has been used simply for displaying the data during a ride. I start and stop the activities on both but tend to discard the edge recording at the end of the ride. It's there for a backup until I can make sure everything is good with the Fenix 5 but otherwise it's used just as a display.

This way all of the cycling and running activities are available on my watch but I agree it would be great if the two devices could more intelligently communicate with each other.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I'm curious about why someone would buy a multisport watch but use a separate bike computer, especially one that is, as you point out, very expensive. One of the reasons I switched from Polar to Garmin was so that I could have a decent single device for everything. Prior to that I was using a separate running watch and bike computer.

I'm not trying to be a smart ass, I'm just curious... Obviously the bike computer has a better/bigger display and the Fenix is a good looking wear anywhere watch... so maybe that's why?

0 RUNNINGBANTER over 8 years ago

Since getting the Fenix 5 my Edge 1000 has been used simply for displaying the data during a ride. I start and stop the activities on both but tend to discard the edge recording at the end of the ride. It's there for a backup until I can make sure everything is good with the Fenix 5 but otherwise it's used just as a display.

This way all of the cycling and running activities are available on my watch but I agree it would be great if the two devices could more intelligently communicate with each other.

This is exactly what I do with my fenix 5 and edge 820. I sync the HR from the fenix to display on the 820, and then use the 820 as a dashboard and for navigation. I disgard the 820 data after the fenix 5 has synced with connect.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I'm curious about why someone would buy a multisport watch but use a separate bike computer, especially one that is, as you point out, very expensive. One of the reasons I switched from Polar to Garmin was so that I could have a decent single device for everything. Prior to that I was using a separate running watch and bike computer.

I'm not trying to be a smart ass, I'm just curious... Obviously the bike computer has a better/bigger display and the Fenix is a good looking wear anywhere watch... so maybe that's why?

I can understand the curiosity. The bike computer can display a lot more metrics on the screen, especially if you have power, cadence, heart rate, and more on there. It's battery life is dedicated to one activity so it lasts longer, especially for long rides. It's always on the bike so it's one less thing to move around. Buttons are easier to operate while riding. Backlight and "night mode" work much better for cycling at night (screen switches to dark colors after sundown and backlight stays on). And lots of other little details in how it functions that are great for being on a bike.

I appreciate things are suited to a specific function, and a bike computer mounted out front of your handlebars is more optimal than a watch that's designed to fit on a human wrist and not be too large. And the larger point I'm making is that Garmin sells bike computers for a reason. They expect their core audience to buy multiple Garmin devices and sensors, yet they haven't yet made them work together. I assume this is in their plans, and I really hope they prioritize it. If "TrueUp" can pull steps and calories from Garmin Connect, there's no good reason why workouts and Training Status can't as well.

I bike 3-5 times a week and currently My Fenix 5 is telling me I'm "under training" just because I'm not redundantly recording my rides on two devices at once, which would require me to waste battery life and throw out all my lap info, in addition to just being a burdensome way of doing things.

0 PubBike over 8 years ago

Obviously the bike computer has a better/bigger display and the Fenix is a good looking wear anywhere watch... so maybe that's why?

Yes.

Since ANT+ sensors broadcast unlike BLE, the same data can be received by multiple watches/head units so you can keep the watch on your wrist.

I use a 310XT on a bike mount on my stem to display data and keep the Fenix on my wrist recording activities and working out my fitness metrics. Also, since the 310XT is not recording, the battery lasts much longer even with GPS enabled.

The only downside is the laps aren't synchronised if autolap isn't appropriate.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

The only downside is the laps aren't synchronised if autolap isn't appropriate.

I've occasionally run two devices as well, but how annoying it is really depends on how much you're biking. Commuting back and forth to work, it's just not worth it to manage both batteries and start and stop both devices. And yeah as you pointed out, trashing the bike computer data likely means trashing manual lap data, which for me is important since part of my ride is slower than the rest.

More importantly I'd still argue that, while it's obviously possible to use a watch and a computer together, it's still a workaround. A workaround for the fact that Garmin Connect is not actually connecting Garmins.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I'm not a coder but this seems like it would be doable by aggregating the workouts and metrics from both devices in Garmin Connect, and then pulling that info back onto the device. I've noticed that Training Status is currently device-dependent in Garmin Connect, but I see no reason why this needs to be the case.

Isn't this sort of synergy between Garmin's various devices precisely the sort of thing they should be selling to their core audience who is willing to spend $600-800 on a Fenix 5?

What you want can be achieved TODAY by recording your bike rides with your F5. If you want your bike data in your F5, you have to record it with your F5.

One technological hurdle is the fact that many of the features you want to use in your F5 rely on R-R intervals which are not even recorded/preserved by your 820. So simply moving the file from one device to another to interpret, would not work, necessary would not be present.

I'm a software developer. I've never worked for Garmin but our industry has become pretty standardized. Nothing is trivial, anything requires planning, design, implementation, testing, full scale regression testing, and support. All feature requests get prioritized, programmers themselves don't get to decide what they're going to work on, we're assigned tasks just like any other type of employee. This particular feature you're describing has never been advertised and is not expected by most of Garmin's customers, so it's probably not something you should hold your breath for. But Garmin is famously tight-lipped about their operations so who knows. But recording the ride on your watch will get you what you want now.

As somebody who owns a Fenix 5X and an Edge 800, this type of feature means nothing to me. I use the Edge as a display, and the watch as a permanent recording device. Many people have a second Connect account to save their Edge data to without duplicating their rides, so that reports are accurate.