Edge 840 Solar losing *so* much power data to ageing unresolved ConnectIQ bug

Scooby1680
28 days ago

I'm really sorry to be writing this.

Garmin support, you asked me to be patient when I asked for support on this bug back in May (I've been suffering with the effects of it somewhat longer even than that). I asked if there had been any progress in August, months after I originally reported it. You said there was no news and you literally had nothing else to say.

Here's how my experience has been with the Edge 840 in 2024:

  • On literally dozens of rides, I have lost power data whenever using WindField (or any other ConnectIQ fields, but I'm down to only Windfield now)
  • If I notice that the power fields are showing "---", I can stop and reboot the unit. This inconveniences whoever I'm riding with at the time.
  • If I don't notice, I lose all my power data until I do (if I'm on the map screen, I rarely notice)

I have lost *hours* of training data at this point. Some platforms interpolate from the last recorded value, so currently because power cut off during today's ride at a level over FTP, Xert thinks I've broken all my personal power records by saying I've been at 120% FTP for an hour! People will say "just reboot your Garmin before your ride" but rides have to be taken opportunistically between meetings. I barely have time to change before a ride, I already have a pre-flight checklist as long as your arm. This unit is supposed to help with training, not make me more work.

It's the ConnectIQ developers I feel for. They're a cottage industry that help you sell products and this bug effectively devalues their efforts. I am already considering not renewing my WindField subscription because removing it, at present, is apparently the only way to stop losing data. I love Windfield but I love accurate power data more.

I understand edge case bugs can be hard to track down. But the message it sends when you release another flagship product in the Edge 1050 while this bug crawls on towards its first birthday is not a good message: what I hear (rightly or wrongly) is "Garmin don't care about fixing this". This is my fourth Garmin head unit since 2011. They've always had issues, but at least support has been responsive to them. This has been the first time that I've experience basically radio silence on a ticket that's 6 months old. Please: talk to your customers, for heaven's sake!

In "being patient" as you asked, I'm out of the window in which I might have reasonably returned it.

  • 0 27 days ago

    I feel for you. I came to the conclusion to use no or a bare minimum ConnectIQ datafields. Mostly because they actually don’t add anything but also to minimize issues. I don’t have any issues with my 1050. I only use the MapdashboardMS datafield. That is the only IQ datafield I found usefull. I tried Windfield but removed it because I know where the wind is coming from from and it is just there. I can’t do anything about it.Ymmv.

  • 0 25 days ago in reply to lhol

    Thanks. This is a more helpful reply than anything I've had from Garmin. Today, I thought I'd noticed the dropout in the ride very early and was pleased with myself in "only" losing 3 minutes' of power data.

    I then find that when the sensors went off I was in the middle of a 200% FTP effort. During those 3 minutes Xert has just assumed I held that effort for 3 minutes, has increased my FTP by 25% as a result, and now all my training exercises will be way too hard until I can get support to help me correct for it.

    There's not a ride this bug can't ruin, but also it's making it so I have to fix my training platform too? Honestly, Garmin, it's a disgrace. TALK TO YOUR CUSTOMERS.