Separate Light Modes for different Lights

same request here! (also posted to suggestions)

I guess that like many companies they only affect ressources (development time) when available and depending on priorities (severity of bug/popularity of demand) but I can tell Garmin does listen to us and does some changes (some changes made to the way my Vivoactive HR works were not bug fixes but actually useful improvements people had asked)... but this happened mostly early in the life cycle of the product.

the issue with the varia light is that it's been as it is for a while now (don't think I've seen firmware or software update for a long while now) and it probably works as designed now, so I'm not very optimistic in regards to wether they are going to release any improvements soon... especially if they are already developing it's replacement (it's been on the market for over a year now...)

what might change things is the fact that Bontrager recently released a Connect IQ app for their lights and it's just a lot more convenient to use than Garmin's: my Bontrager lights just feel better integrated to my Edge (also lighter, more powerful, better designed...) than Garmin's own Varia lights ! hopefully this makes Garmin realize they need to improve a few things and that some software improvement would be a good start...

I guess the more people that suggested it the more visibility (no pun intended) the idea will get. So anyone else also wanting this please suggested here: http://www8.garmin.com/contactUs/ideas/

Given the feature appears to be more of an EDGE function than actual VARIA function (I assume the EDGE commands the VARIA to enter a given mode) and most current EDGE's are still receiving updates (especially the 820 and 1000) then we are still in with a chance.

I wasn't aware of the Bontrager ConnectIQ app. Might have made me come to a different conclusion on what to buy. Which I guess is your point - unless they improve the Garmin product people will swap to competitors if they do what they want of them

yup, that's basically the idea. Changing the way the Edge units control the lights would be a very welcome change: it's quite useless now and the single button on the Varia front light doesn't work either (difficult to find, hard to press, and overriding settings cuts the connection to the Edge...). All this combined makes the remote mandatory...

by the way, I just noticed that my Bontrager Transmitr remote is compatible with the Varia headlight as well as the Varia radar! finally being able to control the Frontlight makes it a lot more useful!

So now, I have 1 button controlling the Varia Frontlight and 1 controlling the Bontrager 700RT independently (combination of both lights is pretty awesome: total power output really lights the night and I now have many lighting modes I can activate depending on conditions), and I set the central button to switch Varia to flash mode and Bontrager to full on when I need to be visible (2 other buttons control the varia radar and bontrager tail light). it also switches all my 4 lights on and off at the push of a button (without the need of the Edge 820)... really worth the investment IMO!

...
by the way, I just noticed that my Bontrager Transmitr remote is compatible with the Varia headlight as well as the Varia radar! finally being able to control the Frontlight makes it a lot more useful!...

Interesting. Just exactly can you control with the Bontrager Transmitr?. Do you get the full control/menu/status as you do with the 1000?

not too sure what you mean by full control/menu/status...
you can check this video which shows how the remote works (it's a commercial, but for once, it really works as advertised) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_Pi8VICw6Y.

one thing that was not obvious to me: the remote is paired directly to the lights, so you can control them from the remote even if the Edge is off! The lights are paired to the Edge, so it knows what mode they're on and controls automatic features. In full auto, the remote acts as a bypass to select beam power (auto angle is still on)

basically, all functions of the light are available from the remote, which just acts like the button on the device (except that it skips pairing mode when cycling between lighting modes and doesn't disconnect the edge obviously), and it even adds one function to the frontlight: quick recall of any 2 recorded modes with a push the central button, allowing to quickly jump from medium power beam to flashing mode for example.

not too sure what you mean by full control/menu/status.......

Well....my comments/explanation are in parenthesis


For the Radar:

Settings>Sensors>Radar(*)>Enable (on/off)
......................................>Name(*whatever name you choose)
......................................>Sensor Details>Sensor ID
............................................................>Alert Setting>Color Overlay(on/off)
................................................................................>Tones(on/off on head unit)
................................................................................>Vehicle Column(right/left)
......................................>Remove(yes/no confirmation)


For the Headlight

Settings>Sensors>Lights)>Enable (on/off)
....................................>Network Options(will only appear if both are connected)>Light Mode>Auto/High Visibility/Individual
...................................................................................................................>Test Lights>Radar(will suspend light operation, if any & tap to test)
...................................................................................................................>Headlight(will suspend light operation, if any & tap to test)
...................................................................................................................>Beam Angle Auto On(on/off:1 of 3 based on Speed Sensor or GPS speed)
.....................................Light Network(shows mode)
.....................................>Headlight(shows battery status graphic)>Enable(on/off)
..............................................................................................>Motion Activated(on/off)
..............................................................................................>Light Mode>(what shows and can pick depends on the Light Mode chosen above)
...............................................................................................................>(if on Individual, you can pick:Overdrive, High, Medium, Low, Flash or Off)
..............................................................................................>About>Battery Status(New,...?...don't know what others can be shown)
........................................................................................................>Software Version
........................................................................................................>Manufacturer#
........................................................................................................>Model#
........................................................................................................>Serial#
........................................................................................................>Remove(yes/no confirmation)

.....................................>Radar(shows battery status graphic)>Enable(on/off)
.........................................................................................>Auto Deceleration(on/off:not currently compatible with radar unit)
.........................................................................................>Light Mode>(what shows and can pick depends on the Light Mode chosen above)
..........................................................................................................>(if on Individual, you can pick:Overdrive, Flash or Off)
.........................................................................................>About>Battery Status(New,...?...don't know what others can be shown)
...................................................................................................>Software Version
...................................................................................................>Manufacturer#
...................................................................................................>Model#
...................................................................................................>Serial#
..........................................................................................>Remove(yes/no confirmation)
......................................>Add Sensor>(Will search for compatible devices that can be intergrated into the light network)


The above is what I can see on my Edge1000(s/w 11.20), RTL500(s/w 3.40) and HL500(s/w 2.50). I do admit that drilling down through the menus is a pain and that having certain configurable "hot keys" would be useful but considering all the device options that are available...it doesn't bother me. The only gripe I have is that I have to enable my preferred Light Modes after every Edge firmware update..but again...no biggie to me. I apologize for any omissions/mistakes that I have made...would welcome any additions/corrections. You should also be aware that, depending on what is connected to the Edge at any given time, the menus will change accordingly.

How does this compare to the Bontrager Transmitr?

I see... the purpose of the remote is to simplify things when you are riding. All it does is very simple and works independently of the Edge device.
The remote controls the lights (even if the Edge is not connected), and in turn the lights report their status to the Edge.
There is no direct connection between the remote and the Edge unit.

now regarding what the remote does:

central button:
- 10s long push: Pair lights and assign a light to one of the corner buttons
- short push: switch network on or if already on switch all front lights from current mode to Overdrive (or another mode if you prefer: simply select a different intensity or flash when in this mode and it will be recalled next time)
- 3s long push: switch all connected lights off

corner buttons:
- Radar: each push on assigned corner button will switch between flashing light and steady light modes
- Front Light: each push on assigned corner button will switch between the available modes set by the user in Garmin Express. if you didn't customize the list, it will thus cycle between Overdrive, High, Medium, Low, Flash

notes:
- the off/pairing mode is skipped when cycling between modes on the Front Light, it is always in pairing mode when connected to a remote. You can connect your Edge unit whenever you want, switch it off, and pair again from whatever mode if you wish so.
- when paired to an Edge, Beam Angle Auto works inOverdrive, High, Medium, Low modes: the remote controls the intensity, the edge controls the angle.