Do I still need a PC ?

Linux user here also, I keep an old laptop with Windows only for map updates. I never succeeded in updating maps via Wfi, not even sure that is an option.

Express on Linux, maybe with Wine, but when I tried that (years ago), it was a deep rabbit hole with all kinds of Windows prerequites, never managed to get it to work. I think Express in Windows on Qemu should work, but I never tried it.

Satellite orbit predictions are synced via Connect Mobile on a phone or Wifi. So for those, you don't need to sync with Express.

Firmware and ephemeris data updates are quicker and more reliable with GE, but they do happen OTA from GC too. However, when relying on the OTA updates, you get no feedback, so do not see whether something updated, or when an update failed, and you do not see any details or changelogs, so personally I prefer using GE frequently, checking for updates manually.

Also, for example the CPE file (ephemeris) updates every time you connect the watch to GE, while at OTA, it is updated when expired in the moment you are starting the activity. And since it often happens just when you are leaving the home, getting out of the Wi-Fi range, and the mobile data connection may not yet be established, it can easily happen that the CPE file update fails, and then you have to wait a long time for the GPS lock.

So yes, you can live without GE, but using it is more comfortable and safer.

I get regularly the maps updates AND the software updates via my wifi network on my Fenix 7 sapphire solar.

No need to connect via Garmin Express.

So if satellites positions are also sync via wifi I do not need garmin express any more.

Thanks.

I do think it is best to have some arrangement to use Express, on a friend's compute for example. For map updates you have to use Express, and if you ever run into problems, Garmin Support will almost always tell you to sync and check for updates with Express.

True, but also every time I connect GE I have new problems. It randomly rearranges the glances, the data fields in activities go crazy, etc. I would only connect my watch to GE if that's the last resort before sending my watch to garmin

flocsy🤠 said:

It randomly rearranges the glances, the data fields in activities go crazy, etc.

Strange, I connect my Garmins to GE practically every day, and never saw a problem on any of them after that.

Indeed I confirm I have to rearrange/change some fields in my Data fields  on my Fenix7 after an update via garmin connect or garmin express.

At a firmware update I can imagine it easily, but not at a simple connection over the USB cable to a computer with Garmin Express. If it is really so, and it is something you can reproduce, then I recommend reporting it to the Product Support through their website at https://support.garmin.com.

Not related to this issue, but if you connect to GE with USB almost every day, don't you get problems with the connector? I mean with the connector on the back of he watch, not the cable. 

My apologies for hijacking this a bit, but I'd like to ask something similar. I've been solely using Garmin connect on my Fenix 6 for everything. The watch is not Wifi-connected and I've never used GE as well. Is there any reason to do so, say for updates not available over GC? I'm a runner (not in trails).