This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Thought I was upgrading from Edge 800!!!

Senior Vagabond
over 4 years ago

Just got the Edge 830 and have used the 800 for over 10 years which was a great little device. However, I wanted to move up the tech ladder mainly to support Varia light/radar and later di2. So far I am not impressed. The low level of sound is terrible. My Vaira  is in the mail and I am now concerned with reading so many posts about the volume I am going to have issues with notifications from the radar unit. How could Garmin let this happen as I have to think it should be an easy fix to a potentially major safety issue? My 800 had good sound levels even with the speaker in the middle of the quarter-turn mount. I have to think there have been or still/should be some lawsuits regarding this terrible design flaw by Garmin. Someone is going to have a bad accident because they never heard the notification. Garmin, please either statically increase the volume or make it variable with a control. Also, I have noticed I am missing several on the bike notifications that I always had like start route beep, power-on beep, auto-stop and auto-resume alerts. Is this normal or just more flaws or omissions in the software? I am just so disappointed in what could have been a favorable and more safe product upgrade for me. Thinking about returning it all. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I found the alert beeps to be too loud and annoying. I turned them off. YMMV

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Not hearing a notification is not going to cause an accident. The Varia exists to enhance your situational awareness, not replace it.

    Changing your line and pulling out into the path of a faster vehicle without looking because the Varia didn't notify you, for example, is on you, not the unit. There won't be any lawsuits due to accidents where the rider trusted the Varia to the exclusion of all other evidence (at least in any country with sensible laws)

    The sound on my 830 is perfectly loud - in fact it's so annoying that I have it turned off. I just look at the moving dots before I look over my shoulder.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to peteb478

    I hope you are correct in that I want to like the 830 after such a good experience with the 800 all those years. However most comments on this forum and others bring up the same lack of volume issue for all type notifications. I have done some new placement positions of the Edge in order to try and reduce any muffing of the sound.  Only time will tell. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Senior Vagabond

    I find the volume is fine.  I am using a non-garmin mount so maybe that makes a difference?  I find the 830 is light years ahead of the 800.  Battery life, di2, IQ apps, wireless download of routes and upload of activities, etc. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to ronnierbryant

    The battery life on the 800 is far superior, the OS maps are better too. If only it had bluetooth! The volume on the 830 isn't loud enough for me either!

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to PHILVANTWO

    I find the volume lower on the 830, especially with the turn by turn prompts.  That’s mostly the only one I care about.  The maps seem ok but I usually use just the TBT. 

    As to battery, my 800 was down to 4 or 5 hours, even after a replacement battery. I think it was maybe 8 hours when new.   The 830 is much better.  I’m getting about 7% per hour.  This was the main reason for the 830.  It was actually 5% before the last firmware update.