hey my inst2 solar is still on software 10.10

Same here. Not impressed Garmin!

Connect to a computer with Garmin Express and check for updates.

Sure... can you point me to the Linux RPM download of Garmin Express? Thx!

Garmin Express runs fine under Wine

May I ask why the advice is to use Garmin Express on a computer? Why doesn't the regular update work? I never use Garmin Express and don't want to have to install it just for this.

Rob_in said:

Why doesn't the regular update work?

Hard to tell. For most people it works. It may be for a number of reasons - for example an insufficient storage, access to the download server blocked by CloudFlare, network problems, your phone dropping the BT connection to the watch prematurely, power mode on the watch preventing the connection, disabled auto-updates in the settings, some users may have an incompatible APAC model, or who knows what more. If you use an Android phone, you could perhaps find the reason in the Device Sync Audit (in GC menu » Settings).

The advantage of Garmin Express is, that it may show the error message instantly, if it is unable to complete the update.

I still don't like the idea of installing software that shouldn't be necessary to perform an update that even then may or may not work.

What would be more useful is that if one could download the firmware file directly using a browser or whatever then place that in the 'new files' or whatever directory of the device when connected via USB, then reboot device. IIRC this is how updates on Edge bike computers used to work. Is this possible with the Instinct 2 series? If no, why not?

Rob_in said:

Is this possible with the Instinct 2 series?

You can visit the Beta Program forum and install the latest available Alpha version manually from the downloadable installation package. Between the last alpha and the release there are often only minor changes (if any at all). No such download is available for beta or release versions, but with some networking skills you could be able to capture the URI of the package by eavesdropping the network communication of the GC app, and place then the main .gcd file into the //GARMIN/ folder, and the sensor firmware into the folder //GARMIN/REMOTESW/

Or you can contact the Support, and ask them to send you the firmware, or help you with detecting the reason why your watch did not update over the air.

I don't want Alpha or Beta software though.

I imagine sniffing network packets from the GC app is pointless because if it actually was receiving notification of a newer version surely that would be being installed?

Basically you are telling me that manual install without Garmin Express is possible but only if Garmin make the correct release publicly available. Which they haven't done. Yet another screw up.

Rob_in said:

if it actually was receiving notification of a newer version surely that would be being installed?

Reread my earlier post - I listed a number of reasons that can prevent the OTA update, and the list is far from complete.

Rob_in said:

Basically you are telling me that manual install without Garmin Express is possible but only if Garmin make the correct release publicly available. Which they haven't done. Yet another screw up.

They do not intend releasing the firmware publicly. You can 1) use Garmin Express 2) Contact the Support, but it looks like you are not looking for a solution, but rather for making troubles. I am afraid I cannot help you more.