FW16.22 makes DSW/Sprint much more difficult to use

This is something that i noticed too but was not sure if it was due to the beta release or something that they wanted to keep also for the official version.

The sound for the countdown is still there so if you have the watch connected with earbuds or if you don't use earbuds it's still ok but the vibration is gone.

Another feature from the countdown I miss is the longer indication of the target pace (my DSW is set to pace). Now, it just flashes quickly at the beginning of the interval, whereas it used to be displayed during the whole countdown, which made it easier to "catch" while running.

Pleaaaaase Garmin, bring this back ! :-)

Read your post before I went out for a run today so was conscious of what you’ve found. I got the countdown but it seems a lot quieter in my opinion. Also as Finnzose said, I got the target HR at the beginning of the interval not before. Surely this is a bug? Doesn’t make any sense to me.

It does seem that the beep is not as loud as before ! I wasn't sure it was the case, so it is nice to have a confirmation.

+1 Garmin, please bring back the 5 sec countdown! Thanks!

Today, in a DSW, I realized there is a 5-second countdown beep. It doesn't seem to vibrate anymore, and the 5-s countdown screen with the goal pace is still missing. The beep sounds less loud as in the previous FW version - but perhaps this feeling is due to a lack of vibration.

Still, would be nice to have the old system back, I didn't see anything wrong with it...

This is exactly what I was looking for, and I noticed the first issues with DSW starting from update 15.76. I reported my concerns back in November 2023, but unfortunately, Garmin hasn't resolved these issues even in the current firmware version.

I am really disappointed with the direction Garmin is heading. Each update is more frustrating. It seems Garmin no longer focuses on quality and its roots, designing increasingly unnecessary features. For example, why do I need a weather overlay on the map if the watch still needs to be connected to my phone? I can check the weather faster on my phone before the data appears on the watch screen. I hardly ever use this feature. Such gimmicks are unnecessary, especially since the sports functions (the reason I chose Garmin) are getting worse. The same applies to the irritating sounds that have been accompanying workouts (DSW) since November 2023. All these jingles, fanfares, and various beeps are very annoying. I really don’t like it. Before update 15.76, running with Garmin was a way to relax after a hard day at work. However, after training with Garmin with firmware versions 15.76, 15.77, etc., my frustration reaches its peak.

But to the point.

Firstly, since update 15.76, there have been discrepancies in interval training plans. For example, a DSW should be 5x1:00@4:00/km, but when started, the voice prompts: "Run for one minute..." and gives a different pace. I noticed that update 17.28 has the same problem.

Secondly, in the latest firmware version (17.28 and previous ones), there is now a countdown before the start of a short sprint, but the pace and time information appears on the watch screen after the sprint has already started. If you have to run at 2:50/km, there's no way you can read what's displayed on the watch face. In versions <15.76, the countdown to the next stage included a display with a circle that decreased by 20% each second, and inside this circle was the information about the next stage's parameters, i.e., the sprint. Since the audio prompts contained many errors, I had 5 seconds to verify if the audio prompt matched the planned exercise pace or to familiarize myself with the pace if you disable the sounds (recalling the annoying jingles during the workout).

I might not be an expert, but I would revert it to how it was before November 2023: (graph)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TqmQ-HmC0Vwe64S43dOXWFId41jWqcpk/view?usp=sharing

Garmin-Jimmy maybe you could help with this issues...?

Epix (Gen 2) Series Updates

I’ve just received a replacement Epix Pro 51mm. It came with 15.77 installed and it’s working a treat! I’ve got back the interval info before the next stage!! Only had one false nap recorded when I first got it as well! Massive improvement on all the firmware that followed it! I’ve turned off auto update and never updating again! Better the Devil you know!

Well, such things happen if you decide to make the development after release and let the customer do the hard work of collecting data. As fsr as all issues I had so far support asked me to Senf the data. 

In my opinion this means we all bought an unready product and it's up to is as customers now to deliver the data and hope that Garmin will fix all issues.

Good luck, Garmin!