Fenix 5 bluetooth & Samsung Galaxy S7

I've had the watch for less than a month. When I first bought it, it was an absolute nightmare to pair. It just kept dropping out throughout the process. I performed a factory reset of my phone, and turned off auto-update. It still didn't improve. I also tried numerous factory resets of the watch. I took it outside and performed a time sync with GPS, and since then it's been ok.

However, last night I tied to use a `windsurf` activity I downloaded from Garmin connect. It crashed the watch. Since then, I cannot get bluetooth to connect properly. The one caveat is that if I try to start a running activity, the phone will connect fine whilst I have the activity start screen active. As soon as I leave the activity start screen, bluetooth dies again.

Has anyone else had similar problems? Any suggestions?

My phone bluetooth works fine with every other device (and my old Fenix 2). The fact that it'll work when starting a run also makes me think it's a software issue.

Thanks,
Dave

0 DaveStubbs over 7 years ago

I made the mistake of factory resetting my watch and now I can't connect at all! :( I should mention that I've also tried pairing with a Google Pixel and that also fails. Now I've lost all my training status and the watch can't talk to the phone at all.

Do they all suck like this, or have I got a bad watch!?

0 DaveStubbs over 7 years ago

I returned the watch and have a replacement, and so far I've not had any issues. I can only assume I had a defective watch! I nearly completely gave up on Garmin and assumed it was a software fault.

Dave

0 Johnmcl7 over 7 years ago

I returned the watch and have a replacement, and so far I've not had any issues. I can only assume I had a defective watch! I nearly completely gave up on Garmin and assumed it was a software fault.

Dave

Pleased to hear you got it sorted as the watch didn't sound right although it's quite a subtle problem, I've used a Fenix 5S with a Galaxy Note 4 and Note 8 without issue and from what I've seen the S7's have decent BT support.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

I have a Galaxy S7 and zero connection issues. If I wanted to gripe, I would say something about the relatively short distance (for example, my car connects to the phone form across the street, the watch usually loses connection if there is a brick wall somewhere even inside the same room) - but to be honest, I don't think that this is a huge problem - the watch is usually on the wrist (I mean, that's the idea, no?) and the phone needs to be at the very least within viewing distance to be able to do anything - so there's not much point in 30m connectivity.
Anyway, zero problems, and this goes for GC as well as all notifications from apps that I use.

0 Mourk.D over 7 years ago

Hi there guys.
I just wanted to share my thoughts because i have read many threads and posts about fenix5 and various phones and Bluetooth connection between them.
I have to say here that i got a fenix5 about a month now , i ve been using a fenix3 for 2 years and a fenix 2 for 1.5 years before.
I always used the Bluetooth connection for many reasons. One of them is that , I am a father of 3 kids (1-3-5 years old) so when i get back from work i put my phone in mute mode charging and i use a blue tooth earbud for calls and my watch to see who is calling/mailing/messaging. Its critical for me so i can answer an important call or message.
For 3 years i was using this method.
From fenix5 and on the connection is not stable , in fact i did some test and even in the next room (2 walls and some meters more) the connection drops. I used some othe devices to check phones signal. I ve been testing a friend's fenix5 with same results.
So my conclusion is that the signal for fenix 5 is weak( weaker from fenix3 even2) and i have to live with that.
Im so satisfied from the fenix series till now so i dont want to complain and start grumbling for this.
At least the battery is handling well this connection drops (with fenix 3 the continous connection dropping used 100% battery for a night )
We just hope if they can fix some software related issues with that with updates (im not betting on this)
Enjoy your runs/training with this nice sport watch with smart capabilities !!!!

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Hi Mourk.D The issues you describe occurred to me afterwards - in my case I use the watch for call screening as well, but not usually in conditions where I am actually in another room or a couple of walls removed (more during meetings and while working at a desk etc.). For your situation, indeed, I would agree that the bluetooth connection is too weak. That is regrettable because as I see it, there are not that many devices of this type around that allow the degree of flexibility with notifications and the range of notifications that you have with the F5 series.