Learning to use the Edge 840

Exie

Hi Folks,

Long time Garmin user and fan here. I started with an Edge 705 for cycling, and eventually upgraded to an 800 and I've been using that same unit up until now.

My work mates gave me a brand new Edge 840 and, well, I'm lost. I just cant figure out how to navigate this thing. The last few rides I've gotten so angry with it I just switch it off and put it away in my pack.

This is no good, why have a GPS if I cant use it!

So, I'm not here to rant and rave, I'm here to ask for help - what tutorials or guides exist on how to navigate the menus on the Edge 840 ?

I have found I can download the tracks via the Garmin Connect app, but its slower and more cumbersome than putting a GPX file on the SD card.

There's a bunch of other questions about maps, but I think I need to start with learning to use it properly first. :)

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    I definitely sympathize.  I started with a 705 back in 2010.  I had a number of different Edge units since but the 840 was a big change in the UI and organization compared to those.  It was a learning curve.  The first thing I did was figure out how to turn off all the automatic features like ClimbPro, Forksight (Mtb), Road hazards, Auto rerouting, etc etc.. That made it more manageable to use while riding. Working through the 840 manual got me partway there, and from there just poking around and figuring things out as I went.  I create courses in RWGPS, and also upload courses from elsewhere there.  From there, they can be wirelessly downloaded to my 840 (usually).  

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    Thanks @looigi!

    I did a ride yesterday, I got the RWGPS and this time I authorised it to publish the route directly into Garmin Connect. This actually worked pretty well to get the route onto the device.

    However, I obviously marked it wrong, and when I was riding the course the Garmin kept trying to re-calculate, 3-4 times it just came up with something about "recalculating error" which felt a bit crappy. Fortunately, I knew where I was going anyway. So I'll try switch that stuff off.

    I also found a Youtube video about setting up the data screens, and I think this helped too, I can navigate them easily now.

    One thing I'm not clear on is there's a screen with shows "Mountain" and has my last route and a hamburger icon, and then there's this other screen with the battery ad GPS signal and stuff, and that one has its own left/right pages you can navigate with the up/down button. I just cant get my head around all these different modes - I just wanna ride my bike man! ... and hopefully know where I'm going.

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    1. RTFM

    2. Disable all features you do not use (yet)

    3. You can still pull gpx-files to the /Garmin/Newfiles directory on the edge

    4. You can email a gpx to your smartphone and when Garmin Connect is running on it you can then save the gpx-attachment to Connect and with Connect sync it with the Edge.