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complete useless device for navigation

Mar5us
over 4 years ago

I wrote this under Edge 820 but why not posting it here as well?

Now as my 820 USB connector went south, I finally had a reason to replace this much hated device with an Edge 530. After two rides I can say, that the new device is the same piece of *** as the old one:

  • the device doesn't know where it is after some kilometers
  • if it looses the route, it just displays "wrong route" but does not show the way back to the route
  • it is always behind, also in the beginning - showing the crossing and new direction after I passed it
  • the screen sometimes freezes and does not accept any input from any button
  • sometimes, it is beeping like crazy - one want to throw the *** piece far away

I can't believe that so many professionals have this device. And nobody complaining? Should I return the device or is this normal behavior? It seems to record the route quite well, so at least I can navigate after I'm back from riding. But is that really all this device can do well?

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Pro riders does not care about navigation...

    I also assume that they have not updating firmware because they need only data recording

    navigation is the selling point for garmin, but also week point as they did not improve anything for more than 10 years

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I can't say I've had any issues with navigation thus far. No screen freezes, and no lagging behind. The worse I've had is some slight GPS inaccuracies, which improved when changing from GPS + Glonass to GPS + Galileo. That and the Garmin maps naming the wrong exit from some roundabouts. I moved over to Velomaps and roundabouts are spot on too now.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to krazyeone

    Yes, I was assuming as well that pro riders might not use navigation. Interesting is that the Forerunner 945 GPS is very accurate and it's battery lasts forever, although the device is so much smaller than the Edge. Don't understand why Garmin can't  build a working bike computer.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Sgt_Stress

    Same here, seen none of the issues the OP is seeing,  

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Mine works as advertised.  No issues.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    After more cycling, more evidence why Edge 530 is worth nothing:

    • If loosing the route, the device wants to go back to the point the route was lost. Instead of looking ahead, directing the way to the next point along the route. Every car navigation can do this.
    • If there is a deviation, like a closed route due to construction work, the device is completely lost and cannot handle it. The worst car navigation can do this since years,
    • If I select the wrong route, the device is indicating that loud and clear. Okay, I go back and take the right junction. The Edge requires minutes (!) to confirm the correct route. No joke.
    • If I decide, for whatever reason, to take another route, the Edge is beeping like crazy (every second) for the rest of the route. There is no obvious way to stop it doing that while cycling. It does not recalculate the route; it does not try to bring me back to the route. It just beeps like hell. Until home, for hours.

    This device is so poorly programmed, one can't believe it. Either the Garmin programmers hate bikers or they have no idea about user friendly programming. I think they hate cyclists.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to Mar5us

    The problem is that navigation is their biggest selling point comparing with competion

    ....

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to Mar5us
    Mar5us said:
    • If loosing the route, the device wants to go back to the point the route was lost. Instead of looking ahead, directing the way to the next point along the route. Every car navigation can do this.
    • If there is a deviation, like a closed route due to construction work, the device is completely lost and cannot handle it. The worst car navigation can do this since years,
    • If I select the wrong route, the device is indicating that loud and clear. Okay, I go back and take the right junction. The Edge requires minutes (!) to confirm the correct route. No joke.
    • If I decide, for whatever reason, to take another route, the Edge is beeping like crazy (every second) for the rest of the route. There is no obvious way to stop it doing that while cycling. It does not recalculate the route; it does not try to bring me back to the route. It just beeps like hell. Until home, for hours.
    • Yes,  This is how navigation has worked on Garmin's cycling computers since the beginning. A car navigation unit just calculates a new route to your destination when you let it recalculate after going off course.  Your Edge will do the same thing if recalculate is turned on.  The newer 1030+ model does what you want.
    • Again, you need the 1030+ to handle these situations better.
    • My 830 did go through a phase of taking a long time to notice I have rejoined a route but it doesn't now.  Are you on the latest firmware?
    • My 830 will stop beeping at me I do this.  It may take a little while.  Just stop the navigation and it will shut up.  If you are navigating yourself you don't need your Garmin to do it.
  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Hi Mar5us, you sound angry... Garmin is an excellent device, though a bit technical, i guess you better can go for another brand, that is more usefull for people with other talents. 

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to 8029610

    Haha, I've had around 10 Garmin devices or more during my sports career and I'm a big Garmin fan, but still Edge 820 and 530 are unusable bull *** devices.

    And, although I don't like to mention, I have a degree in Computer Science and know what I'm talking about if it comes to poor programming.