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Issues with Varia Tail Lights, Radar and Remote working together

sabrown80
over 8 years ago
I have 2 Varia Tail Lights and a Varia Radar connected to my Edge 1000. I've also got the Varia Remote mounted to my bars. I know the remote 'breaks' the light network in some way (I remember seeing warnings pre v8.00/8.10 on the Edge 1000) but they don't seem to pop up any more.

I wanted to use the Remote to activate the turn signals whilst riding on the hoods. When I have the Radar on, the remote operates the turn signals correctly, but the feedback (the flashing zones you see on the Edge 1000 display) don't appear. Tapping the turn signals icons on the Light network page on the Edge 1000 results in nothing happening.

If I turn the Radar off, suddenly it all starts working. This means I either have to forgo operating the turn signals or the radar when it's dark. I'm intending to lead some night rides this summer so it would be really handy to have them all functional.

Does anyone know whether the remote does it break the light network? Did it (hence the warning on the Edge previously?) but now doesn't?

Should this all work together properly? Does anyone have the same issues?
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Hi.
    I have the same issue but with an explore 1000, or maybe quite similar, when you stop to use the remote for a period it is disconnected from the edge in that moment also light network and radar are disconnected. To connect them again you have to switch off l/on the radar or try to reconnect the remote.
    Currently I'm doing test about this
    Regards
    Isaac
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Confirmed, each time that the remote lose the connection varia its disconected too.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    I really don't understand why they even created and include this remote on the combo.
    It should work with the edge unit. It would be a great fix for the terrible menu system.
    I was never able to make the turn signals to correctly work.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    The light network sees the remote as a secondary controller, so it fights the head unit for control. I bought a remote so I could dip the main beam on the Varia headlight as I was getting flashed. When I did that I lost the auto sweep as it was no longer being controlled by my 520. I pinged Garmin and they confirmed it is one of the other. Crap really since the 520 is not touch sensitive so there is no way to dip the light. This renders the varia front light as an expensive light that is no better than anything else on the market. I think you are seeing the same thing with the rear lights. I think the soltution is to have the radar controlled by your head unit and let the remote control the turn signals on a seperate network - but I guess that may lose the brake function that I recall works off the speed to increase intensity when slowing?

    The whole integration has been poorly thought out by Garmin who dont seem interested in making their cool toys work properly together...

    The worst of it is that whilst my 520 and the remote control fought for control the Varia reset itself leaving me in total darkness for a few seconds. This happened numerous times until I just paired the varia with the remote and took it out of the 520 light network.
  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I'm having similar problems. My setup is 2 x TL300 tail lights, 1 x RTL 510 Radar, 1 x UT800 head light, 1 x Edge 1000, 1 x Varia remote, speed and cadence sensor bundle, heart rate monitor. All in all this is an expensive setup, so given the expense and the fact that Garmin are a technology leader you would expect the setup to work flawlessly; alas this doesn't appear to be the case.

    When setting up the light network on the edge 1000 with all lights included and the tail lights and head light paired with the Varia remote, I find it impossible to get the setup to work properly. The light network forms, then breaks, then reforms, then breaks causing the lights to turn off then on again, drop out of the network and functions such as the turn signals to fail. 

    We need a clear statement form Garmin, can the Varia remote co-exist happily with a Varia compatible edge unit such as the 1000 or not???

    I've invested heavily in a Varia setup to improve my safety whilst cycling, but in it's current unpredictable state it appears positively dangerous.

    How do I get a formal response from Garmin????

    This is a serious safety issue that needs addressing!!