ANT+ dropouts and battery depletion overnight (since 8.00 firmware)

My watch has started to seriously misbehave over the last week - roughly since the 8.00 firmware (though I'm not saying that's the cause)

Firstly, on my last few runs I've had a lot of dropouts from my HRM (Garmin HRM-Run) and Stryd footpod/power meter - resulting in a distance recorded of about 5-10% short.

Then last night I charged the watch up to 100% a few hours before bed. Wore it overnight. It was alive this morning when I woke up (though I didn't notice the battery percentage)
I've just looked down at it to find it turned off (black screen). I turned it on and it announced the battery was on 3% - it's now charging and seems to be behaving normally.

Has anyone else experienced this? Or is it a hardware issue?

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

The 8.00 firmware has the 5.80 sensor hub update. I have found this sensor firmware level unusable. The one before it (sensor hub 5.30) is also bad for me. The last decent one is the Sensor Hub 4.10 version which can be found in the fenix 5X 6.71 beta version. The fenix 5X 6.00 release has this level of the sensor hub. But, the 6.71 might have a small change for broadcast HR fix.

Using the HRM and Stryd along with 5.30 and later sensor hub firmware, I have too many dropouts of sensor data. After i upgraded to the 8.00 version, I had almost non-stop disconnect/connect notifications Bluetooth connections to my phone. This could cause your battery drain.

I have been trying to work with Garmin engineers with the sensor issues. Giving them some data from runs using the latest sensor versions. But, I will not use the 5.30 or 5.80 for any run which I need the data from. Nor, will I keep the 5.80 version on my watch for any length of time.

Try copying the Sensor_Hub_v410\GUP2663.GCD file from 6.71 Beta to your \GARMIN\REMOTESW directory and restarting the watch.

0 DonatasD over 7 years ago

I've also noticed Bluetooth connection to my phone got less stable after 8.00 upgrade. Noticing once in a day or two that there is no connection is lost. Rebooting F5x and phone usually helps. Was rock solid before the upgrade... Haven't noticed ANT+ drops but I think connecting to HRM-SWIM takes more time now.

0 thigger over 7 years ago

The 8.00 firmware has the 5.80 sensor hub update. I have found this sensor firmware level unusable.

Interesting - and seems quite plausible. I tested the HRM-Run on the turbo trainer today (with a power meter and MO2 also via ANT+) without issues so it doesn't appear to be that. Presumably the data rate of the Stryd is what the sensor hub can't handle.

I'm reluctant to drop too far back though - do you know which sensor hub was used with 7.10? I haven't used my Stryd for a bit but it was definitely working fine at the start of January and I can see that my watch was on 7.10 at the time.

Also, do you know if downgrading the sensor hub resets the watch or has any other unwanted effects?

thanks!