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Firmware Versions

How does one know what firmware version is on the Varia Radar ?

How does one update the firmware on the Radar ?

I noticed there is 2.00 firmware available and was wondering how to get it there if my radar had an older version...
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 9 years ago
    Mine came with 2.0 but I upgraded before I rode with it. Where does one find 2.0 to downgrade? OK downloaded the file but reading the posts here does not make it clear to me where to put the file within the GARMIN Varia drive root folder on the Varia device. I don't see a "Varia" sub folder under the device drive.

    Thinking about what I saw when upgrading to 2.2, Do I just copy the GUPDATE.GCD to the Garmin root drive and when I restart the Varia, it self-installs? I did see what looked like a progress bar with the LED's when restarting the device after the upgrade and then it shut down by itself. When I restarted it again, all was fine with 2.2 installed.
  • Where does one find 2.0 to downgrade?



    It was already posted on this thread: look here
  • I tried downgrading

    I tired downgrading. Dowloaded file, changed to GUPDATE.gcd and put it in Garmin Folder. I turned the Varia on and it looked like it was updating - then turned itself off. GC though still shows 2.2.
  • I tired downgrading. Dowloaded file, changed to GUPDATE.gcd and put it in Garmin Folder. I turned the Varia on and it looked like it was updating - then turned itself off. GC though still shows 2.2.


    1) Download firmware 2.00 from http://gawisp.com/perry/edge/VariaRadarTailLight_200.gcd

    2) Plug your Varia into your computer. DO NOT START GARMIN EXPRESS

    3) Your Varia should show up as a drive

    4) Copy the downloaded file VariaRadarTailLight_200.gcd to the Varia to \Garmin\GUPDATE.GCD

    5) Unplug your Varia from your PC

    6) Power on the Varia. The leds will slowly light up from left to right. This is the new firmware installing on the Varia. At the end of this, the Varia will shutdown.

    7) Turn on your Varia.

    8) Use your Edge 1000 to verify the firmware version. Go into Tools / Sensors / Varia sensor / Light Network / Tail Light / About


    Under NO circumstances should you plug your Varia into your PC and start Garmin Express. It will AUTOMATICALLY upgrade your firmware to the latest version. Always use your Edge 1000 to verify the firmware version.
  • I have a 520 so my Varia is pretty much a fancy paperweight at this point. Im sure that when Garmin actually makes it work with anything else - the firmware will be fixed. Good to know though. Thank you.

    btw - I followed your same procedure (including renaming the file) other than I would use GC to check.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 9 years ago
    Thanks Pig61. That worked fine and I verified 2.0 using the Edge as you said. The only thing different I would add is that I slightly modified your #4 to read:

    4) Rename the downloaded file VariaRadarTailLight_200.gcd to: GUPDATE.gcd and drag it into the Garmin Folder.

    Thanks!
  • Well, I decided to move back up to 2.20. On today's ride, on two separate instances, the radar stopped communicating with the Edge 1000. The radar icon showed up on the top right but I never got any car notifications. I had to delete the sensor and re-add it to get it working again. (I didn't want to shut the 1000 down).

    This might explain the Change History item "Made improvements to ANT+ connection stability when connecting to Edge 1000"
  • You should not need to delete it if you lose communication. Just disabling it and then re-enabling it should cause the Edge to go and find it.
  • You should not need to delete it if you lose communication. Just disabling it and then re-enabling it should cause the Edge to go and find it.


    Righto. When your futzing with your GPS while pedalling, you don't always do the easiest thing...

    Thanks

    :-)
  • I've done a couple rides with the v2.00 firmware and was jumping on to check if there were updates to fix what I was noticing. And from what I can tell... What I'm experiencing everyone is saying is the problem with v2.20.

    I'm using a bundled version (luckily, since I was planning on using my 520 long term). With the v2.00 firmware, I've been riding residential neighborhoods, so I can ride near or at the speed limit most of the time. The area is VERY common for un-enforced speeding. What I noticed is when someone paces me... The Varia completely ignores them and says they are gone. I'm riding in very early hours (long before sunrise) so I can still see their very close headlights. I also noticed that when they are only overtaking me by a small difference... It would not alert me until I could actually see them to my side overtaking. When a car would turn in behind me, if they did not accelerate to greater speeds than my own, it would also not show them until they were directly beside me. Same goes for me sprinting away or taking off from a stop sign. If they did not go faster than me, they weren't there.

    Another issue I'm having... Garmin Express says my product ID isn't valid. So I have manually just added the v2.20 firmware and I'll take it out in the morning. Can it really get worse?

    Now... When it does detect a car... Most of the drivers that I swear are aiming for cyclists are actually giving me a much wider gap when overtaking (3ft law here that has never been enforced, even when a driver is at fault for an acident). Now if only it would help that they still want to right turn or stop as soon as they pass me.

    -MadManX99