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Change Display contrast setting and Activate backlight when riding

Former Member
Former Member over 9 years ago
First ride with my new 520 as the sun went down yesterday - couldn't see the display at all - how do you change the display contrast. And is there a way to set a button press to activate the backlight.
Only option appears to be double pressing the set brightness button. Isn't that a bit odd and dangerous when riding having a set brightness option??
Surely you'd do that as a setting and have a single button press when on the ride? - far far safer IMHO.

So 2 questions

1 - How do you change the contrast on the display?
2 - How can you set a single button press to activate the light?
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    Change Backlight timeout while workout

    To change the backlight timeout while workout
    - press the select key
    - select status page
    - select brightness level
    - select backlight timeout
    - select desired timeout (e.g. change to always on
    - press back few times to go back to training dashboard
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    None of the buttons appear to be able to just turn the light on without doing something

    I wonder if the firmware could be updated to turn the light on when the timer is running. Would make more sense than giving you a brightness level adjustment - not something you should be doing while riding

    and no contrast adjustment?

    tia


    I had the same problem with the backlight, how can i turn on without change screen. The only solution i think is turn on backlight (always) and adjust the bright at 20% to save battery.. am i right?
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 9 years ago
    I have changed my backlight to 20% brightness and also have it permanently turned on. It's the only way I can safely read my Garmin 520 whilst riding in a group at speeds around 30 kph or more when being alert and aware of other riders and vehicles is important. Even after making this change in settings I often get glare on the screen in bright daylight. Very disappointed with the Garmin 520 - and I'm hoping a firmware update can resolve this issue.
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    can't see a firmware update is going to affect the optics or electronics of the device. Its ok 90% of the time for me, backlight on always, 30 - 40% brightness, but when you are in bright sun/shade its not as readable. But then my 500 was even less readable in same situation.
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    +1 to separate settings for day and night

    I ride with 10% backlight all the time. If I do a long track in the day, I manually set it to 0%. I don't find any glare issues, but I have a mat screen protector. But I haven't ridden in very bright sunlight either
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    followup backlight question

    I agree with many commenting on the display quality. I think it's excellent, and in daylight I don't need the backlight, but I do set it for at least 80% and a 2 minute timeout. I share the criticism of the on/off backlight control. I guess I've gotten used to the double press of the power button to quickly pull up the brightness control menu and then press again to simply close the menu. Not elegant, but not too much hassle either.

    Does nayone find the buttons to be quite stiff? sometimes I have trouble actually pressing the buttons and getting a response. hopefully the buttons will loosen up with use. Note- my 520 is brand new since I returned the first unit under warranty because it wouldn't pair with the cadence sensor. new one works perfectly though for pairing (so far)
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    Edge 520 backlight

    Could not agree more with comments regarding backlight needing 2 presses of the Power button to access. The old Edge 500 used the Power button (single press) to toggle on/off the backlight and that worked perfectly. Can't think why Garmin ever thought that users would want to change their backlight settings every time they press the Power button??

    this is such a simple firmware fix let's hope Garmin sort it in the next release...
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    It would be best to have a single press to wake the backlight, and having it permanently on is a bit clutzy for Garmin's latest device. However, the quickest way to re-light the screen is press the up (or down) button to take you to the next screen then down (or up) to return to the original screen. So, one press if you have one screen or scrolling; two presses if you have more than one screen. I have one profile with two screens, so it's pretty simple...
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    Adding my vote for single press to turn on the backlight and double press to enable changing the brightness level.
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    Yes please

    Adding my vote for single press to turn on the backlight and double press to enable changing the brightness level.

    +1000, I looked all over the forum to find out how to wake the backlight with a single press.

    Can't believe it can't be down, so many features... but not the basic ones you want...
    Instead you have to "stop ride - start ride" or "menu down - menu up" or other 2 button combinations. At night it needs to be simple.