Varia Series - Recent Threads

RE: Varia rear View 820 Radar Error

Cohen2501 — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 02:00:47 GMT

Experiencing the same issue that has been occurring over the last few weeks.

Date I experienced the issue (most recent): 7/25/2026

Edge 530 (SW 9.75)

RearVue 820 (SW 6.70.0)

Varia rear View 820 Radar Error

L. La Marca — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:34:43 GMT

I am seeing radar errors when riding. The error is "Radar Error, Radar Data Stale, Disconnected". If I touch the screen on the 1040, the error disappears and the radar appears to operate normally; threats are again displayed. The error appears at least twice an hour, sometimes more

I am running 6.34 on the Varia 820 and it's connected to a Edge 1040 Solar on software Beta 30.18 (1CA41AA835)

RE: Varia rear View 820 Radar Error

changrenyong — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:30:58 GMT

Verified the first four items.

Date I experienced the issue: 7/24/2026 15:27 (Pacific standard time)

Edge 1040 Solar (SW 31.33)

RearVue 820 (SW 6.70)

I turned on the Edge 1040 Solar and it connected with the RearVue 820 that was situated right next to it. Within a few minutes, the errors started appearing. This was before I even started an activity on the Edge 1040 Solar.

No specific pattern as to when/where/why the errors occur.

RE: Varia rear View 820 Radar Error

Garmin - KS — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:42:24 GMT

Hello everyone,

We're continuing to investigate reports of the "Radar Error / Radar Data Stale / Disconnect" message that some users have reported while using the Varia RearVue 820. If you are currently experiencing this, please first verify the following:

The software on your paired Edge device is fully up-to-date.
The software on your Varia RearVue 820 is fully up-to-date.
Power both the Edge and RearVue 820 completely off, then power them back on.
Remove (unpair) the RearVue 820 from the Edge and then pair it again.

If the error continues to occur after completing the above steps, please reply with the following information:

The date(s) you experienced the issue.
The model of Edge device you are using.
The software version installed on your Edge device.
The software version installed on your RearVue 820 (this can be checked through the Varia app or Garmin Express).
A description of what occurred when the error appeared.
Any patterns you've noticed (for example, specific ride durations, traffic conditions, startup methods, weather conditions, etc.).
Any troubleshooting steps you've already attempted.

The more details we can gather, the better we can understand the circumstances under which this occurs and continue our investigation. Thank you for your assistance!

RE: RearVue 820 remained active even in standby mode

changrenyong — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 02:28:11 GMT

100%. Once a device paired with the RearVue 820 is no longer detected, it should immediately go to standby mode (blue flashing LED).

RearVue 820 remained active even in standby mode

changrenyong — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 19:31:06 GMT

A few days ago I had fully charged the RearVue 820. I remember turning on my Edge 1040 Solar to see if I could update its firmware and turned if off a few minutes later. For some reason, I think the RearVue 820 did not go into standby mode as it's supposed to when its paired device - whether a bike computer or the Varia app - is powered off or not running (as in the case of the Varia app). Radar threat mode on the RearVue 820 appeared to be engaged every so often by flashing even though the taillight remained off the entire time. The following day when I wanted to actually go for a ride, I noticed the LED was already blinking red, indicating a low battery status. And indeed, not long after starting the ride, I received a low battery alert on the Edge 1040. The RearVue 820 is on the latest firmware version 3.70 and I remember seeing similar issue in a five-month old discussion that has since been locked.

Feature Request: Automatic switch to Radar Screen while vehicles are detected RearVue 820

8181612 — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:29:29 GMT

Dear Garmin Team,

First of all, I would like to congratulate you on the RearVue 820. The improved vehicle classification and lateral positioning are a significant step forward in cyclist safety.

However, I believe there is a software enhancement that could greatly improve the user experience and make much better use of the advanced radar capabilities.

Proposed feature

When the RearVue detects the first approaching vehicle, the Edge should automatically switch to the dedicated Radar screen.

The Edge should remain on the Radar screen for as long as one or more vehicles are approaching or overtaking the cyclist.

Once the last vehicle has safely passed and no vehicles are detected anymore, the Edge should automatically return to the previously displayed data screen.

Suggested options

Disabled
Switch for all detected vehicles
Switch only for medium/high threat levels

Why this matters

Currently, the Radar screen is only useful if the rider manually changes pages while riding, which is inconvenient and can even reduce safety.

An automatic switch would allow cyclists to:

Keep their preferred data or map screen visible during normal riding.
Instantly benefit from the advanced RearVue visualization when traffic is present.
Keep both hands on the handlebars and avoid interacting with the device in traffic.
Automatically return to their previous screen once the road is clear.

This feature would not require any new hardware and would significantly improve the integration between the Edge series and the RearVue 820.

I believe this would become one of the most useful and appreciated safety features in the Garmin cycling ecosystem.

Thank you for your consideration.

As an Edge 1040 and RearVue 820 user, I would love to see the advanced radar capabilities used in a more intuitive and safety-oriented way. I hope you will consider this feature for a future software update.

RE: Feature Request: Automatic switch to Radar Screen while vehicles are detected RearVue 820

George — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 10:30:04 GMT

My suggestion is that Garmin enables three columns rather than 2.

For me, I don't like the side bar because it often obscures data fields as well as the time of day and, if you live in a country where you drive on the left, it also obscures the yes/no buttons.

My solution would be to squash up the two existing colums on a normal Garmin data screen so that rather than seeing the radar information as an overlay it sits beside it (as on the main radar screen). The difference would be that rather than sacrificing data for the radar screen you would still see the same number of fields. The downside would be that the data fields would be a little more squashed but still usable imo. This way there would be no need for the dedicated radar screen with reduced data fields.

RE: RearVue 820 remained active even in standby mode

George — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 10:18:10 GMT

The problem with the 820 in that sometimes the sleep signal from it's paired device doesn't get through, leaving it on. Also it doesn't go to sleep when its paired device is turned off but for some reason known only to Garmin has a further 2 minute delay.

It seems only go to sleep when it no longer senses it is moving or has no threats. Thus if you put the light in your bag after finishing a ride, it will continue to flash. Also, as it's designed to work outdoors, if you leave it indoors it will continually pick up false positives from reflections in the room and again continue to flash.

I do hope Garmin fixes this useability issue.

My suggestion is that sleep really should mean sleep, not sleep sometime later or not whilst still moving or not when it thinks there are no threats.

RE: RearVue 820 needs option to ignore cyclists

George — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 10:07:47 GMT

Garmin have sort-of fixed this problem. Since a recent update, bikes going at the same speed will not activate threat mode. The problem seems to be (a) this doesn't always work in my experience and (b) some cyclists are recognised as cars (especially if they are in a tight group) so to fix that you would have to disable all same-speed vehicles.

RearVue 820 needs option to ignore cyclists

ArminMW — Sun, 03 May 2026 13:35:27 GMT

I am a longtime user of the Garmin RTL radars. I recently upgraded to the new RearVue 820 which I use with my Edge 840.

While my previous RTLs such as the 510 and 515 were perfectly usable in group rides (with the light off or in peleton mode, and only flashing when larger vehicles were approaching), the RearVue 820 is not usable in group rides, because it constantly warns about other cyclists in the group.

I need an option to make the radar ignore cyclists behind me.

When in a group ride, I want the radar to ignore (not warn about) cyclists riding in my group, but I still want to be warned about larger vehicles approaching, such as cars and trucks.

Thus ideally a new option should be introduced with three settings:

(1) all cyclists trigger a warning (current behaviour)
(2) only cyclists approaching trigger a warning (ignore those cyclists riding at same speed = group ride)
(3) no cyclists trigger a warning (ignore all cyclists = RTL 510/515 behaviour)

It would also make sense to make (2) the default in peloton mode.

RE: RearVue 820 remained active even in standby mode

brian416 — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 10:59:03 GMT

Mine does the same thing, I have to manually turn it off every time

RE: Rearview 820 Permanent False Postive when riding in a Group/Peloton

Rory_Loveland — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:35:58 GMT

Could not be more frustrated w/ the constant beeping when riding in a group.

Rearview 820 Permanent False Postive when riding in a Group/Peloton

mikeprytherch — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 21:32:19 GMT

I have reported this to Garmin but interested if others are getting this issue.

Today I did a club ride, once I was riding at the front or mid group my Edge Computer showed a cyclist on screen permanently, this meant the radar overlay was permanently on screen and the lights flashed and no doubt annoyed the group riders behind me, the 515 did not suffer at all like this and ignored riders in a pelaton.

I changed the light setting to peloton mode but that no difference, not surprised it made no difference as that is a light setting but I thought it was worth a try.

I suspect this is the new algorithm which stops same speed vehicles disappearing, but it renders the unit virtually useless and annoying when riding in a group, fo sure it can be fixed with a software update, but this is bad news for anybody riding in the group until it is fixed.

RearVue 820 downgrade to 6.34

1525804 — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 05:27:57 GMT

Hi,

I am using the RearView 820 with firmware version 6.70 and am experiencing the issues already mentioned in the forum. Is it possible - or could someone provide me with the previous firmware 6.34 so that I can downgrade?

Thanks.

RE: RearVue 820 downgrade to 6.34

1525804 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:09:39 GMT

Gibt es mal Info´s, wann die nächste Firmware ohne diese ganzen Fehlermeldungen erscheinen soll? Das Schweigen hier ist recht groß und die Fehlfunktionen nerven. Für dieses viele bezahlte Geld unverständlich. Nun?

RE: Varia rear View 820 Radar Error

Ivanb1964 — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:06:23 GMT

Getting radar error with the latest public beta 32.12

RE: RearVue 820 needs option to ignore cyclists

changrenyong — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:57:35 GMT

Disabling radar threat mode does not prevent detected objects from appearing on your bike computer. Disabling radar threat mode only prevents the taillight from flashing at higher intensity when an object is detected (this is more subtle in peloton mode). You don't put it in peloton mode in group ride?

RE: RearVue 820 needs option to ignore cyclists

Craig.thebiker — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:47:07 GMT

Sure, but what's the point of having a radar unit, if the threat mode is disabled. I firmly believe that the 820 model needs to have an option to disable objects behind that are at the same speed. Otherwise, this unit is useless in any kind of group ride.

RE: RearVue 820 false positives

changrenyong — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:26:24 GMT

I have reported this to Garmin support and I have an active case with them.

RearVue 820 false positives

changrenyong — Fri, 01 May 2026 04:12:19 GMT

I have owned every Varia radar from the original RTL500 to the current RearVue 820. The Varia radars had pretty much been the gold standard in bike radars and that's why it's quite shocking to me that I am getting a lot of false positives with the RearVue 820. Who else is seeing false positives with the RearVue 820?

RE: RearVue 820 false positives

3381756 — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:22:36 GMT

So many that I had to turn off the audio notification on my unit this morning. I was riding alone, on the Westchester (North County) bike path with no one around and the alert kept coming up showing someone right on my tail. Not sure who the ghost was, but he or she was driving me crazy.

This happens all the time. Pretty much everything here is a false positive except at the occasional street crossings.

RE: RearVue 820 needs option to ignore cyclists

changrenyong — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:17:03 GMT

You can disable radar threat mode in the Varia app.

RE: RearVue 820 needs option to ignore cyclists

brian416 — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:29:57 GMT

I solved this issue by running an RTL510 with groups and leaving th 820 at home. Another issue is that others with 820s constantly detect other cyclists in the group as “threats” and it does the flashing pattern for cars which is incredibly irritating and blinding if you’re in shadows and the Varia is mounted up high.

RE: Varia rear View 820 Radar Error

Zoli — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 10:07:15 GMT

Hello Garmin support,

It looks like you do not know yet what cause the issue.

Let the community help you: and share the source code, share the technical details.

This is apply to other thing like Virb360 camera. It is no longer sold nor supported what does keep you away and what is the reason behind Garmin does not share the source code and technical details?

Also it looks like a few of public email address does not work as there is no response. If you need IT help to repair email system just ask.

Garmin products are expensive and it looks like we "so called customers" pay high price to help you to test. Example: Vector3 pedal, Rally 200 pedal. Why 1 pair of pedal body costs 300 eur in Hungary? Why the left pedal body is no longer sold and why do you make your customers to pay the same amount for upgrade that is enough for a New pair of pedal from your competitor that called Assioma? Why do I want to replace the pedal body? Because the material may be weak: right side of both pedals has a wear like it was described in Garmin forum a few times. Only the right side of both pedals. So it does not depend how I remove my shoes from the pedal. It has a wear only at the right side of the pedals.

Keeping the price on premium and Keeping the quality medium to low means your so called customers will slowly choose a competitor.