Garmin tempe sensor discontinued! Alternatives? Perhaps Ruuvi sensor?! Come on Garmin, give us the Tempe sensor back!!!

Because Garmin unfortunately discontinued the Garmin tempe sensor (bad move, Garmin!), I looked around what maybe could replace the tempe sensor. I stumpled about the Ruuvi Sensor (the sensor is using an bt connection), which is available with different functionalities (2in1 (temperature, motion), 3in1 (temperature, humidity, motion), 4in1 (temperature, humidity, pressure, motion): Ruuvi - Ruuvi and I found a widget from a iq developer for serveral Garmin devices: Connect IQ Store | Watch Faces and Apps | Garmin

In theorie the widget/app (not availabe to add to the widget list) should look like this on the wearables:

  

but it looks like this on my F8xAmoled:

I have already written to the developer, but there are some comments and this issue seems to exists longer (?). Although it was only recently added for use in the F8 series. He will try to fix it with the next build. Update (fixed): forums.garmin.com/.../1875256

The developer has provided the code, maybe someone can develop something, maybe even a data field (with all the data)?

The Ruuvi sensor is a real beast compared to the Tempe sensor and has 36 grams (Tempe about 9 grams)- but for attaching at a backpack, it would be ok for me. 


You have your own little personal weather station with you (if it would be displayed properly on the Garmin wearables).
Ruuvi has its own app for the iPhone, where you can even set alarm areas for the various sensor functions.
    
So I will use it while hiking connected to my Iphone (I have 2 Garmintempe sensor left for my wearables). The Ruuvi seems to be intended for stationary mounting (two screws for mounting are included), but I will give it a try while doing a hike etc. Why do they make the sensor cover also black? I have paid € 53 for the 4in1.
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Btw: Temperatur accuracy:
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Ruuvi : absolute accuracy ±0,1 °C, output resolution 0,01 °C (see specs in Ruuvi link above).
Garmin Tempe: within 1 to 2 degrees (https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?
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For clarification: the Ruuvi sensor values aren’t integrated into the activity files. Therefore I think we need a iq data field with appropriate programming.
  • I was told the overlapping problem visible above is:

    „The issue is that he uses the same layout for all watches, rather than a different one depending on the watch, and the layout specifies the same absolute position for the text rather than using a different layout per watch or using a percentage for positioning:

    So, this probable works ok on 240x240 MIP displays, but will only use the top part of an OLED 454x454 display and will result in the text overlapping.“

    On the F8xSolar (Mip) it looks a little bit better/already more usable:

  • This is a sign of someone new to CIQ and Monkey C.  Handling different display resolutions is kind of a basic thing, where you can use different layouts for different resolutions, or use the font height for spacing.  You may want to direct the dev to the CIQ developer forum as it should be an easy fix. 

    https://forums.garmin.com/developer/connect-iq/

  • I had already contacted him via the iq store. He will integrate it in the next build.

  • Update: the developer has already released a new build and the issue is solved.

  • Just some small remarks.

    I still have 3 Tempe. I have been using them for years not as native ANT+ sensors, but via a CIQ datafield with which you can apply an offset (one can call it a calibrating offset) and you can trim the first X minutes of data to get a proper min, max and avg. I made a comparison of my 3 Tempe to some semi-pro thermometer and now I dare say their corrected values are quite accurate.

    I also tested the temperature and humidity of my 3rd Gen Stryd ( w/ Wind), but its humidity data is a joke (if real humidity is 80-90% then it shows like 50-55%), so I dont suggest its use. As a thermometer I also suggest to be avoided, although first its offset was a stable +1-1.5 celsius degrees, but as my Stryd  became older the offset seemed to increase a bit. So Stryd is neither accurate, nor precise.

    As regards Ruuvi I say without any offense that its accuracy claim seems to be too boastful. Having read a lot about digital thermometers I state we have to forget the goal of having such an accuracy. Even a real accuracy of +/- 0.25 C• is quite good.

    All my accuracy related comments above were about measuring temperature in a way where the device constantly gets an airflow, it is either properly shielded from sun or any light, or the sky is strongly covered by clouds, and its position is at least 0.1-0.2 m from your torso or 5 cm from your forehead or 1-2 cm from your instep. 

    Regarding the colouring it is the 1 million dollar question: why is their case is always black (plastic)???? A simple applyication of a white case can increase their accuracies itself.

  • I have still 2 working tempe sensors left. I use tempe sensors also for years. If the discontinued message for the Tempe had arrived me earlier, I would have ordered another two as spare parts (but I wasn’t able to find a shop with sensor in stock in Germany etc…anymore; except one shop who offered it for €80 (!). So I looked for an alternative in advance. I hope some ciq developer will create a ciq datafield for the Ruuvi (with temperature recording in the activity files). Btw: via Ruuvi station app you can also add an offset for temperature, humidity and pressure. But because the it’s size, the Ruuvi isn’t a good choice for attaching it on a shoe while running and to find a good place to attach it to the bike could also be challenging…but for my hiking activities the size is no problem.

    Yeah, why black!? I have asked Garmin about this a few times over the years, but never got an answer…

  • With a Tempe, I don't attach it to my shoe.  I use a small clip so I can attach it about mid-body in open air.  Say the strap of a belt pack.

    The problem with attaching to the shoe is how close it is to the ground, and on some surfaces the temperature there can be much higher than the actual air temp (20F+) - say you are running on asphalt or concrete.  The expression "hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk" is true as the sidewalk soaks up heat.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member 6 months ago in reply to Tisztul_A_Visztula

    Why black, I guess because they used the same mold and material as for most foot pods and the Chirp (geocache beacon) without thinking about the colour. I experimented a lot with paper sunshades, mounting under a cap visor, and painting it with Tipp-ex (don't do that, it attenuates the signal).

    Still have 3 working Tempes and one that is broken.

    Foot pods and RD pods are on the way out. All data from the wrist sensors and HRM-Pro is the way to go I guess.

    I am intrigued by the Ruuvi sensor, but hesitant. I have a Tempo Plus sensor that is also BLE but eats batteries for breakfast lunch and dinner. Well not that bad, but one CR2032 never lasts more than two weeks. The nice thing was you could download data and export to CSV.

    How good or bad is the battery life of the Ruuvi?

    So now I am torn between the Ruuvi and a Tempe I saw for 50 Euro lately (if someone else hasn't bought it already). Edit: went for the Tempe, "only" 40 Euro. Can remember when they were 19,95.

  • anymore; except one shop who offered it for €80 (!)

    I also saw it on idealo.de. :-)

    I guess one can fish one or two pieces on ebay. And maybe for a more reasonable price.

    The pricing of Ruuvi is a bit strange, your saving is virtual if you choose 3in1 vs 4in1, and actually the price of 2in1 is the same as that of 3:1.

    These show that it is not really a thermometer, but a mini weather station as you wrote.

  • Yep, convection is a real problem. I tested more visors, some were really thick and big enough, some were even curvy enough to be a good shield from direct sun. But when I ran wearing these visors with a Tempe beneath them, there was an overestimation of temperature. Even when there was no sun at all.

    So I use 2 Tempe under the saddles of my bicycles, and one Tempe, but only on those days where I see at least a slight chance of a succesful hiding from sun.

    I gave up finding a good shield when running or hiking. But when I use this third Tempe for these type of activities and I do not have a backpack or a  bigger beltbag, only my boots or running shoe then I use a clip where under the clip there is an extra layer of insulator just to create some “gap” between the material  of my boots/shoes and the sensot itself.

    But yes it works properly only if the ground is not tarmac or similar.