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New to Epix (from F6) - BIG disappointment (AOD is a big failure)

Jeremy
over 2 years ago

Hello to all,

Am the unhappy new owner of an Epix, and was until recently the happy user of a Fenix 6. This isn't really a question as I have checked this subject at length but is to make my point to @GARMIN if they ever read posts from this Forum.

So as it turns out Epix (supposedly the best sports watch on the market) cannot keep its screen on the brightest mode always on display (AOD for the Epix users) during activities... depending on the options available, it will either dim to an unreadable low light screen or go completely black and activate if you press a button or make a big gesture to put the watch in front of your face similar to checking the time of the day.

After a week of using Epix, I can now say for sure that the gesture mode is completely inadequate during runs: the watch dims instantly as the watch goes down and the 8 seconds of brightness are significanlty shortened (or maybe you're supposed to keep your wrist in front of your eyes while sprinting) - leaving you with a nanosecond to get the information you're looking for, which in any event you won't have since the gesture mode does not anticipate (no AI on Epix yet) and activates the screen right when the arm is going down if you're running at speed... and if gesture is not activated you only have the unreadable dimmed scren or you are forced to press the light button which in any event will go dim if the watch ever makes the down movement. Hilarious right? I can picture Mr Bean training for a marathon with Epix...

And I can also say that AOD is very misleading to say the least as in reality it's always on dimmed display rather than always on display (dim screen by default and bright screen when either pressing the light button or gesturing like crazy...). 

So, folks, how are you supposed to run tempos when you need your watch to tell you if you are in or out of the tempo thresholds and you cannot even see what's on the screen!! The only answers I have found so far are either to bother a big chunk and go Mr Bean or more simply not to use Epix.

Which makes Epix disapointedly unusable for runners. It was so simple GARMIN, [KEY MESSAGE FOR GARMIN:] you just have to enable the option always on the brightest display during activities with no dimming nor gesture pollution. 

The fix is easy and should have been implemented when the whatch went out. Big screw up and I am really surpised that no review mentions this as a massive turn off.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Jeremy

    Hello Jeremy. Since I've also had an Epix 2 Pro for a few days, I'm just as dissatisfied as you are when it comes to the AOD and gesture recognition. And not only when running, but especially when cycling. As far as I know, the problem with gesture recognition is that the arm has to be brought almost horizontally in front of the body so that the display stays bright for the preset time - 15 seconds for me. If the arm hangs down a bit when running or is on the handlebars when cycling, the Epix interprets this as sleep mode and remains in the dimmed state. If your arm hangs down a bit while running or stretched out on the handlebars while cycling and then moves your wrist or taps the screen with your other hand, this will brighten the display, but only for 1 to 2 seconds. The Epix therefore immediately returns to dimming mode, since the arm is hanging or stretched out on the handlebars. Taking your hand off the handlebars and moving it relatively far up and to the side is not really practical when cycling and, in my opinion, in some situations it is not entirely safe. Even with demanding running training, I find this attitude bad and throws me out of rhythm or demands too much of my attention.

    In my opinion, activities such as cycling or running would therefore require a separate sports-gesture-mode for activities that would also illuminate the display brightly for the preset time when the arm is stretched.

    I hope that Garmin will take this into account in a future software version. I have version 14.23 (beta) and it's not really usable yet with regard to the problem described above.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to talamera1

    There is no doubt for the bike the Edge is best..   But when I do my zone 2 training, I have my Epix on and with my hand on the bars, I just tilt my wrist a little and it works great and stays on for the full 8-sec I have set.  I don't seem to have any frustrations with it (and I thought I would too coming from the MIP displays).  

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to 7828711

    7828711: This is how it should be. Hand on the handlebars, a small turn of the wrist to the side and the display lights up for the preset time. But it's definitely different for me or the way I already wrote.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to talamera1

    Gocha.  No doubt.   Would you be willing to take a video with your phone and post?  Even just inside sitting on the bike as a test.  I can do the same too if you want and we can compare.. 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to talamera1

    Here is a video in simulated bike mode: Hand on the chair (arm stretched) and the display is dimmed. Hand up and arm horizontal, short arm movement and display comes on. With activated display arm back on chair, display is immediately dimmed again.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to talamera1

    I can't see your video.  Is it a link?   

    Here is my video (sound on, as I talk too).

    https://youtu.be/nKc0U16Org8

    Now, on the other hand.. if I stand up (like walking) and bring my arm up to see the watch and then after say a second, put my arm back down, yes it will go back off before the set timeout period.  Maybe this is what you were referring too?   But this is a great feature.  Saves from having it on when not needed and I have never had any issues with it.  

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to 7828711

    As shown on DCRainmaker's video is exactly as it should be. Unfortunately, that's not the case for me. It doesn't matter whether I have paired sensors or not, or what GPS mode I'm using. My display always goes straight to sleep mode on the handlebars. By the way, I have version 14.23.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to 7828711

    your issue with video is that you aren't tracking an activity - launch indoor cycling for an example and check to see if it works like that when an activity is active.

    wrist gesture works differently when in general use compared to tracking an activity. The wrist gesture sensitivity is a lot lower (presumably to stop it over triggering for wrist based activities) - and while it is possible to trigger with a wrist movement it requires much more movement, especially if it hasn't been triggered for a while.

    PS - a quick slap of the watch face with your palm will put the watch back into ambient screen when tracking (i.e. if AOD off - will turn off screen, if AOD on will put in dim mode). If in general use it will do the same - but also take you back to the watch face.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to jaamgans

    This is most likely the case when actually cycling (i.e. not simulated indoors) the sensitivity is set much lower. In any case, while driving, hand on the handlebars, I can wake up the display by violently (sometimes repeatedly) turning my arm, but after 1 or 2 seconds the display goes dark again. This behavior is exactly the same when I tap the display with the other hand. In the DCRainmaker video, the gesture to trigger it is very moderate and just as I imagine it to be in practice. Of course, there can also be false triggering due to vibrations, but that shouldn't be a problem, since the battery drains a little faster.