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Varia car approaching notification not appearing on Edge 1000

The Varia pairs up fine with my Edge 1000. I've enabled the device in devices and turned it on in the data screen section. Both have up to date firmwares.

The Varia is mounted just above my seatpost clamp - height wise approx. 32 inches from ground to centreline of Varia.

I went for a ride and despite being passed by many cars, the alerts (dots and flashing red bars etc..) did not appear at all on the Edge 1000 display. The connection logo appears in the top right hand corner fine.

What am I doing wrong? Is the Varia set too low or is there an issue with it I'm unaware of? Garmin haven't exactly specified the minimum height the Varia needs to be to ensure adequate detection...?

Thanks

0 nmugridge over 9 years ago

Thanks.

I'll try the demonstration function this weekend.

Would you be able to advise how to downgrade the firmware, please? It's the RTL 500 (UK/France) version.

0 aweatherall over 9 years ago

To put the RTL in to demonstration mode you need to create a file of zero size called "enable_demo.txt" and place that file in the Garmin folder on the RTL. Remember to remove this file when you had completed your testing otherwise it will remain in demo mode.

To downgrade from 2.20 get the 2.00 software file from here http://gawisp.com/perry/edge/VariaRadarTailLight_200.gcd Place the file in the Garmin folder on the RTL and rename it to gupdate.gcd. When you switch the RTL on it will apply the update. Make sure that Garmin Express is not running when the RTL is connected to the PC otherwise GE will update the RTL to 2.20.

0 nmugridge over 9 years ago

Thanks - will try it this w/end.

After speaking with Garmin yesterday, they reckon the issue is the Edge 1000 not the Varia and advised me to reformat it.

0 BumbleEroak over 9 years ago

Did that work nmugridge?

Hi
I've had exactly the same problem. Radar is recognised but sees no cars; testing the lights show it communicates with my Edge 1000. The demo test suggested by aweatherall showed positive, I downgraded to 2.0 and still see no cars.

Could you please point me towards instructions for reformatting the Edge 1000 (I assume it worked or you'd have said).
Cheers

0 aweatherall over 9 years ago

When in demo mode did the Edge show any vehicles? If so then the problem appears to be with the radar unit not detecting vehicles and not with the Edge.

0 BumbleEroak over 9 years ago

Yes, the demo showed several vehicles - what I'd expected having seen videos.

Agreed, it definitely sounds like the radar isn't detecting. That's going to take me down the path of returning it and waiting for a replacement. Before I go back to the store I'd like to be ready with "I tried that".

I was hoping (from silence) that nmugridge had got it working. 'Reformat the Edge 1000' might be another way of saying "the interaction with Varia isn't right, try reinstalling everything and it might sort itself out". I've already tried "switch them both off and on again" so wouldn't mind trying the more extreme version.

Aweatherall - your earlier questions were about positioning the device. I'd originally used one of the mounts (screw in) and found that the angle was ever so slightly not parallel with the ground, pointing marginally up. I've put the other mounting on and it seems more horizontal (pointing back). Is this likely to be a factor? Should I try standing by the side of the road with the Aria in my hand and pointing it back towards passing traffic?

0 aweatherall over 9 years ago

Ideally you want the radar unit to be parallel to the ground to maximize the range of the radar. If it is pointing down towards the road then it will reduce the range.

If the Edge is showing traffic when the radar unit is in demo mode then it is receiving and processing messages correctly from the Edge. It looks like the radar unit is not detecting targets when out of demo mode.

What is the serial number on the radar unit?

One final test. If you switch the radar on and hold it so that it detect traffic and you can see the lights. Does the light pattern change as cars get closer.

0 BumbleEroak over 9 years ago

Thanks AWeatherall. The angle was only slightly out and pointing up - but I straightened it with the rubber-band fixing rather than using the bolt-on one. Worryingly, cycling home without the Varia connected the band came off (I hear it and recovered the bits). I'll try again with the bolt-on.

I took the Varia back to Evans and am awaiting a replacement. Your advice was helpful as I could say that I'd tried everything.

Serial number is 48000388.

I've left it at work (near the shop) so can't test for light reaction right now. Hopefully I will get a new one that works - but, if not, it will point to some problem with the Edge 1000 (I'd found out how to reformat it but that didn't make any difference).

0 WilliamLuk over 9 years ago

Hi BumbleEroak,

May I ask if evans mean evans cycles? As I bought one from them with the exact same issue.

0 K3VNHBIKE over 9 years ago

Same issues ! With edge 520

Hi I'm having exactly the same problem with my edge 520 , Been on phone to Garmin and never really got anywhere . Took Varia unit back to Evans and they seem to think it could be faulty . I went through all the reformatting etc where I lost all my data courses etc on Edge , now waiting for a new Varia to try . I'm not convinced with Garmin as they tried to convince me that I needed VDU to work with my Varia and it is advertised that edge 520 is compatible and no need for VDU bundle version . So far I'm very dissatisfied !