Popularity routing fails route calculation almost any time

I recently was cought off guard by bad weather and wanted to abort my ride and take the bus and train back home. Luckily I am from Europe, so there is such service even on the country side. The closest location was a small local airport and the bus was to arrive there soon. I tried to get my 830 to navigate me there. I even found it on theap. But it would always give me route calculation errors. In the end I used my phone Gmaps sent me right up a road that was completely mud. Everything was covered in it and this was my second ride with a new road bike! In the end I forced it to use car navigation and arrived a little too late for the bus connection, having to wait half an hour in an empty terminal.

This was a really bad experience and I then tried to replicate this problem. The last time I always used Komoot routes on the edge. I can't remember when I last relied on the on device navigation. It turned out, that even 10k distant destination and places that I very well know can be reached easily could not get a route. Only very minor navigations worked. Like once around the block.

I contacted Garmin and they asked me many questions. I reset the entire device and reinstalled all maps. Nothing helped. I also removed any connectIQ content. The last question they asked changed the behavior, however: Turning off popularity routing entirely allows me to navigate to all places again.

Have you ever heard about such an issue? iMO when there is no popularity info, Garmin should still be able to calculate something on standard methods. Is the popularity info completely missing on my device? Any idea on how to refresh it?

I use those maps:

INTL Standard Masemap, NR; Garmin Cycle Map Europe East 2024.20, Garmin DEM Map EU 2023.10; Garmin Geocode Map EU 2024.10, Garmin Cycle Map Europe, Central, 2024.20; Garmin Cycle Map Europe, West, 2024.10

Those seem to be standard. I also use the road base setting and ask it to prevent getting me on ferries, toll roads and small paths.

I will keep you updated on my support case.

  • Same here. Got affected both Garmin devices: Edge 830 and Fenix 6 Sapphire. In both cases disabling popularity routes solved the problem. It seems that new map (2024.20) is causing the problem. My girlfriend have Fenix 6S Sapphire with previous map version ane everything works like a charm.

    I've also contacted Garmin support (Polish branch) but their "help" is pretty useless.

    My theory is Garmin new maps, which support reporting obstacles, isn't compatible with older devices. And for Garmin is not worth it to create 2 versions of map (for old and new devices).

  • Sorry to hear that. Please also ask them to add you to their internal support ticket. They wrote this to me (in German):

    Thank you for your feedback and the detailed description.

    We found a ticket regarding this in our database. We have just added you to it. The more customers report this to us, the more critical it becomes for our US colleagues to process it. Our developers are already working on a solution. Until then, we ask for your patience. We recommend disabling popularity routing so that you can use the route calculation.

    We wish you a pleasant Friday and a nice weekend.

  • Same here with an Edge 830. As soon as I deviate from a route, for example because a section is closed, the ‘route calculation error’ appears every time. I have now read in many threads in various forums that switching off ‘popularity routing’ is a solution. Only Garmin seems to be playing dead so far, there has been no troubleshooting so far.

  • A well known problem, and has been for years, but Garmin has given up on the 830 and solving any known problems. I finally just turned off popularity routng last year and have not had a rerouting problem since then.

  • A well known problem, except for Garmin's technical support team.
    I contacted them twice and they asked me to pay for a device exchange or to wait for an update of the firmware or of the maps
    See my previous post

  • With latest map update (TopoActive Europe 2025.10) it seems the problem with popularity routing has been solved.

  • Not here. 2024.20 is still current North America map offered.

  • From https://support.garmin.com/de-DE/?faq=LR6HR5Xul6A9zoxySC5KM9

    Ab dem 7. Mai 2025 werden die Garmin Fahrradkarten (Cycle Maps) für Edge®-Fahrradcomputer und Garmin-Uhren nicht mehr angeboten. Der gleiche Karteninhalt wird künftig in unseren TopoActive-Karten enthalten sein und kann auf kompatiblen Geräten gekauft oder heruntergeladen werden. Weitere Informationen zu Garmin TopoActive-Karten finden Sie unter TopoActive-Karten auf Garmin-Uhren oder Überprüfen der auf einem Edge-Fahrradcomputer installierten Karten.

    Translation:

    Starting May 7, 2025, Garmin Cycle Maps will no longer be available for Edge® bike computers and Garmin watches. The same map content will be included in our TopoActive maps and can be purchased or downloaded on compatible devices. For more information about Garmin TopoActive maps, see TopoActive maps on Garmin watches or Checking the maps installed on an Edge bike computer.

  • If that is really the case now, then that's another reason why my 830 will be the last Garmin I will every buy. I will NOT pay $60 for maps on top of what I paid for the device that had been getting free updates until last year. So I guess the unit is pretty much worthless now, at least for routing.

  • www.garmin.com/.../010-D1566-00

    Haftungsausschluss: Für Produkte der Edge® 540/840/1030 Plus/1040/1050/Edge® Explore 2 Serie müssen keine Garmin TopoActive-Karten erworben werden; außerdem können Karten kostenlos über die Garmin ExpressTm Software ausgetauscht und aktualisiert werden. Edge 530/830/Edge Explore Produkte verfügen nicht über MicroSDTm/SDTm-Karte-Kartensteckplätze. Für diese Produkte müssen Abdeckungsgebiete als Download erworben werden.

    Translation:

    Disclaimer: Edge® 540/840/1030 Plus/1040/1050/Edge® Explore 2 series products do not require the purchase of Garmin TopoActive maps; maps can also be swapped and updated for free using Garmin ExpressTm software. Edge 530/830/Edge Explore products do not have MicroSDTm/SDTm card slots. These products require coverage areas to be purchased via download.

    The 830 seems to be so popular that Garmin has shut it down. After all, you're supposed to buy new hardware...