What is the point of Wifi on the 830?

You have already found out.  It is to be able to upload your ride data to Garmin Connect automatically when you are in range of your Wi-Fi so you don't have to plug the unit into a computer.

First off there is a bug in the current version of Garmin Express (6.21.0.0) that does not remember that WiFi is set up on a device even if it is.  Once you have set it up one time, you can safely ignore the prompt in the future unless you need to add another WiFi setting.

As for WiFi on the Edge itself, it is used to sync with Garmin Connect both upload and download any settings, activities, workouts, courses and anything else you can "send to device" from Garmin Connect waiting to be transferred.  When you first turn on the device, it will try to connect to WiFi.  If it connects, it will show transferring in the upper left corner.  Once it is done it will show download complete then just show the WiFi logo.  I don't use Strava to plan routes but I do use Garmin Connect and have saved routes and used the send to device option.  When I turn on the device once the download complete message is done, I can see the course on my device.  A couple other notes on WiFi, it is turned off during an activity, but turns back on to search for the AP once the activity is saved to upload the ride.  This is very handy when doing indoor training rides.  If the device is connected to the phone, the BT link is preferred over WiFi.  Some CIQ apps can use the WiFi to download images and communicate with the internet instead if BT is not on and not recording an activity.

Personally, I only plug my Edge into the computer to copy a new Beta FW for testing and to install a test version of my CIQ app.  My edge does all of its sync with Garmin Connect using the WiFi, including downloading new official FW updates.  If I am outside on a ride, it may use the BT connection through a phone.

But any of the functionality described above is done by bluetooth sync through cell phone as well. And all the users I know including myself have Garmin connected to the phone because of other functions not provided by WiFi, e.g. live track, sms and call notifications etc. So what is WiFi for then ??? The only purpose I understand is the backup for bluetooth regarding specific/limited functions. That is why I keep it off, and moreover, I suspected Wifi to drain battery overnight sometimes.

Not everyone wants to connect their device to a phone.  It gives you more options.  I don't use the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth on mine.  I just leave them turned off as I have no interest in using them.  They are there for people who prefer using such features.

True all of that functionality is also available over BT also.  WiFi, if available, is much faster if you have queued many updates to download.  The good thing is you have choices.  You don't have to use WiFi, but it is there if you do.

I use both WiFi and BT on my device, but only use the BT when I am riding outdoors.

I normally do not connect to the phone with BT as it increases battery drain and I do not need the features while riding.  Wifi will load my activity when I am done and does not  affect the battery much because wifi is turned off during an activity. 

I just got an Edge 830 (my 11th Garmin device...unfortunately I smashed my trusty old 800 recently) and I’ve had the same question.  The manual pretty much gives the answer at www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/edge830/EN-US/GUID-7089BCD7-BBA9-4AB1-BE0C-3FA4A2FAE861.html ... WiFi provides for:

1. Automatic uploading of activities to your Garmin Connect account,

2. Automatic download & install of firmware updates, and

3. Automatic download of workouts & training plans you’ve selected on your Garmin Connect account.

The thing that I find puzzling is that I can’t upload activities manually using WiFi, even when the 830 is connected just fine to a WiFi network.  Under normal circumstances, when “Auto Upload” is enabled under “Connected Features / Wi-Fi”, if you go into your activity history, then click into an activity, there’s an option under the shortcut menu (bottom-right...the three bar thing) to “Upload”.  But when you use that feature, even when connected to WiFi, it actually goes through Bluetooth to your phone for the upload, which is terribly slow.  In fact, if you disconnect from your phone (I just turn BT off on the phone) the option to upload activities disappears.

This affects me because I have disabled Auto Upload (it’s under “Connected Features / Wi-Fi”), which I assume DOES actually use WiFi, as I like to control if and when my activities are uploaded. So when I go to manually upload activities I have to be connected to my phone and wait for the stupidness long process of the activities to transfer over BT, even though the 830 is connected to WiFi.  As stated above, if I’m disconnected fm Bt and my phone, the option to upload activities just isn’t there.

Seems bizarre to hobble the device with forcing it to go over BT for a function it can obviously accomplish over WiFi, and also for a lot of the other functions you’d think it would have the capability to do independent of the phone, like downloading Strava and Ride With GPS courses and stuff like that.  I’d even like the ability to manually download and install firmware updates over WiFi; after nearly 25 years of dealing with sketchy Garmin FW updates I’ve learned to not do them until other customers have voiced their experiences as Garmin’s beta testers.  But unlike the Auto Upload function, there’s no way to turn auto FW download and install off.

So I’ve just turned WiFi off...as the OP alluded to, it really seems to have no purpose (to me, at least) other than draining the device’s battery.

Btw, I’m on the latest firmware: 7.10

-Brian

The 1030/1030+ will use wifi to download routes. The 830 should work the same.

With wifi disabled, the route transfer is much slower. I'll even use my phone as a wifi hotspot because BT is so slow.

You still need the BT connection (except, it appears, for uploading activities).

Wifi is disabled when recording an activity.

I use Wi-Fi also for Connect IQ apps like Komoot to offline download routes I've added to my favorites.