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520 keeps dropping the Speed and Cadence sensors.

Hi all,

I've been using the 520 for a few weeks and for the life of me I can't figure out why it keeps dropping the signal to the speed and cadence sensors. I'm using the ones that came with the bundle so they're separate devices unlike the GSC-10 I used to have. I haven't tested/noticed it on outdoor rides but since most of my weekday training is on on an indoor trainer with pre planned workouts, this is a bit of a deal breaker for me if I can't get it solved.

Link of this mornings workout showing it cutting in and out during my intervals

https://www.strava.com/activities/416751717/overview

In previous workouts it would automatically auto-pause, I since then have turned that feature off.

(Saturday's trainer ride it was non-stop) https://www.strava.com/activities/414722987

Has anyone had this problem? Any help would be appreciated

Thanks!

0 max-au over 9 years ago

Thanks, I'll contact customer support... shame it's close to non-existent here in Australia.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Related to Garmin Connect?

My Edge has started dropping phone and sensors (hrm, speed, power) repeatedly in the last few days (seems to be since the latest version of GC arrived on my phone (android). Turning off the phone's bluetooth stops the sensors disconnecting. I haven't bothered turning off bluetooth on the Garmin itself, just switching off the phone is sufficient to fix it.

0 rutheey over 9 years ago

I'm having a similar issues with my 520. It has been working fine for the first 2 months but since my last 2 rides ALL the sensors (including iPhone blue tooth connection)will drop in and out during my ride. They all drop out at the same time for a few seconds or minutes and then reappear together. I've got a hrm, speed and cadence sensors that I purchased as a bundle. It is very frustrating! I don't think that switching off the blue tooth signal is a suitable fix for this issue since I like to receive sms on my garmin and would lose this function if blue tooth is off. Is this a software/firmware issue?? How can I fix it properly?

TIA.

0 DEEPAKVRAO over 9 years ago

Been using a 520 for a couple of months with no issues. Just added speed and cadence sensors. The cadence worked well, but the speed gave issues. Kept auto pausing and re starting. When I switched off the sensor and went back to GPS it worked fine.

I got the speed sensor for indoor rides. It's going to be an issue for me.

0 8BITMARLON over 9 years ago

So after my issues I ended up just wiping all the battery surfaces clean and it seems to have corrected the ANT+ issues. But I've been riding the indoor smart trainer since October, at first it didn't want to read the trainer as an indoor trainer, just as a power meter via ant+.. After working out some bluetooth issues via trail and error restarts and re-pairing devices, it now recognizes it as an indoor trainer and power meter for some weird reason. But It's working enough to log my zwift and trainer road rides as backup. Outdoors it is keeping the speed and cadence sensor connected.

More of a headache sometimes than anything else..when it works, it works well.

0 DEEPAKVRAO over 9 years ago

OK, so I put on the speed and cadence sensors, and the speed sensor had an issue. The Garmin kept pausing and resuming even when riding at a decent pace. Disconnected the sensor and all was well for the rest of the ride.

Then I read some posts here, and opened and cleaned the battery. yes, there was some greasy stuff on one surface, not all over though. How the heck can that happen? Anyway, on todays ride, same issue but I noticed it happens at the same area as last times ride. No high power cables around, so am wondering what it can be?

Put it on the front wheel and had the same issues.

Should I try a new battery? Maybe try on the trainer and see?

0 aweatherall over 9 years ago

The substance on the battery is a mineral oil based film that is there by design to prevent pitting on the battery surface from the electrical contact. It does not affected the operation of the unit.

A new battery would be the first thing to try. If that does not correct the situation then you will need to contact Garmin Support. I have not see this myself, but there are few reports on the forum of users who have had a similar problem that needed to have the 520 replaced.

0 DEEPAKVRAO over 9 years ago

Alan,

Strange. I mentioned this to my wife, and she said that at the same spot she has had an issue with her older 500 not recording HR on and off. She described the very same 800 meters or so where I have the issue. maybe some interference?

I need to try on a trainer, which leads me to another question. Can I set up my 520 so that it reads only GPS on outdoor rides, but still reads the speed sensor on indoor rides?

0 aweatherall over 9 years ago

It could be that you are passing by something that is generating radio interference such as a cell tower for example.

You can make the Edge use GPS for speed, but not automatically if you also have an active speed sensor. You would need to disable the speed sensor under the sensor settings when riding outside or alternatively only put it on the bike when riding indoors.

0 DEEPAKVRAO over 9 years ago

Thanks Alan. Easy enough to put on and remove, so I guess I'll do that.