3rd party charging dock

Has anyone tried one of these?

www.amazon.com/.../ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_c1kLDb5KGB27T

Curious when used with the F6 whether the HR sensor touches the dock base and if so whether the dock base surface is rubberized. Also, is there much weight to the dock and do you just pick up the dock to remove the watch from it (assuming there’s not really a way to do it one-handed)

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tapuzzo over 5 years ago +2 suggested
I have not personally used that one, but I use these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PBW23XJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I guess they are probably the same but YMMV.
- Because…
acousticbiker over 5 years ago in reply to tapuzzo +1

Thanks, this is super helpful. From an ergonomic standpoint, I definitely want to try it and see the benefits. I'm a bit concerned though, about unofficial 3rd party charging/circuitry, as I don't want…
Pebbleheed over 5 years ago in reply to lindajm22 +1

It’s a known issue sadly. Many of the supplied chargers tend to fall out of the backs of watches. This also means the screen is facing up, so less chance of scratching.

It gives me piece of mind when…

All Replies

0 lindajm22 over 5 years ago

Aside from this not having any real benefit over a regular charging cable, I wouldn't use anything but an official Garmin charger.

0 C.sco over 5 years ago

If you enjoy fumbling around with the watch trying to perfectly line up a plug you can't see with a jack that you also can't see, then it seems like a great device. Otherwise, just plugging in the garmin cable on the back is going to be your best bet.

You can also see in one of the customer review images that the WHR sensor is lighting up, because it has a surface pressed against it that it thinks is your wrist. So it'll be recording who-knows-what for your HR while it's charging. If you charge it face-down or laying on it's side, the watch realizes there's no wrist and stops recording HR.

0 tapuzzo over 5 years ago

I have not personally used that one, but I use these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PBW23XJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I guess they are probably the same but YMMV.

Because the cable connection is precisely 180 degrees from the jack on the dock, and because the charge port on the watch is exactly 90 degrees from the watchband, it is trivial to place the watch on the dock correctly the first time one-handed.
The Optical HR sensor does not touch the divot. The divot on the charger is 2~3mm deep and the sensor bump on the 6X is ~1mm. The watch case rests flat on the surrounding plastic shoulder.
The dock divot is not rubberized, it is the same hard plastic as the rest of the puck
The watch does not record any HR data when plugged into the charger
The dock is not weighted. I either unplug it with two hands or grasp the watch with my thumb and index finger and then lift it off the dock by bracing my middle finger against the cable strain relief collar.
Both charge and data connectivity has been flawless after several uses. Still early days but no problems so far.

I greatly prefer charging with the dock to using the OEM cable as the watch stays flat and I can see the status of the charge easily and the cable doesn't flop around and put extra strain on the plug if I happen to move the watch while charging.

One very minor downside is that the connection is not strong enough to wear the watch while docked. I can just barely fasten the watch while docked to my wrist (mildly silly picture not provided) but I find that the connection is flaky while moving and it seems like a recipe for damaging something if used during an event -- too bad.

0 acousticbiker over 5 years ago in reply to tapuzzo

Thanks, this is super helpful. From an ergonomic standpoint, I definitely want to try it and see the benefits. I'm a bit concerned though, about unofficial 3rd party charging/circuitry, as I don't want to use anything that can damage my watch (one reviewer mentioned a smoke smell). I wish Garmin would make something like this

0 Pebbleheed over 5 years ago in reply to lindajm22

It has a huge benefit. The cable doesn’t fall out and it’s very secure.

I use one every time I charge mine. It’s a lot better than the original charger.

0 Pebbleheed over 5 years ago

I have one. It works perfectly.

Someone else suggested that it causes the sensor to start. It doesn’t. I’ve used one of these on a Fenix 3HR, Fenix 5X and now a 6x pro. None of them continued to use the sensor once plugged in as it goes in to charging mode. My partner also uses this on her Vivoactive 4s, again without issue.

0 RobCuadro over 5 years ago

I have that one and I also have this one

https://www.amazon.com/EZCO-Compatible-Vivoactive-Charging-Smartwatch/dp/B07L3WQSCS/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2JDZC4O3K7Q33&keywords=fenix+5+charger+dock&qid=1570040409&sprefix=fenix+5+charger%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-8

Works well enough for me. I use when charging my watch at my computer desk and use the garmin cable when traveling

0 lindajm22 over 5 years ago in reply to Pebbleheed

That's great. For me personally, I have never had a cable fall out of my watch and I have had many Garmins. Whatever works for you.

0 Pebbleheed over 5 years ago in reply to lindajm22

It’s a known issue sadly. Many of the supplied chargers tend to fall out of the backs of watches. This also means the screen is facing up, so less chance of scratching.

It gives me piece of mind when updating too. No accidental disconnect to brick my watch.

0 acousticbiker over 5 years ago in reply to Pebbleheed

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the dock. On Garmin OEM chargers falling out, I've never had that happen on multiple watches but have noticed on my F6 that the cable is sometimes super loose even after snapping in