Pairing Garmin Foot Pod SDM4

I'm afraid that no one would be able to help you because of Garmin's strategy to artificially trying to distinguish some products from the others they only allow you to use footpods with some Forerunners or Fenix watches.

So instead of investing into Garmin's Foot Pod you'd be able to collect running data if you get a Stryd pod, and yes I know how expensive it is, but that's the reality for now.

Of course we can try to form a request to make foot pod compatible with Venu and Vivoactive4 but I doubt that would happen especially that I've heard that Garmin is going to discontinue foot pods.

I have two pieces of information for you:

1. The stryd uses the same ANT+ profile for speed and distance as the SDM4, so if the vivoactive 4 can work with stryd, then it can work with the SDM4 as well.

2. The vivoactive 4 manual says, that the vivoactive 4 is compatible with a foot pod.

So, going back to OP's question:

The foot pod needs to be woken up to transmit antyhing, so make some vigorous steps with the foot pod attached to your shoe. And I assume you've made the pairing process first, have you?

If this does not help, then perhaps the new battery is no good, so try another one, or perhaps the SDM4 is broken, which is unlikely, but not impossible, either.

If you still cannot pair the sensor to your watch, then try pairing it to another device, like for example your friend's garmin.

sensovision said:

I've heard that Garmin is going to discontinue foot pods.

The Garmin SDM4 has been long discontinued, and in fact is not easily obtainable for some time now. But for now all running watches from garmin still do support foot pods, and foot pods from other brands might be easier to obtain.

tmk2 said:

1. The stryd uses the same ANT+ profile for speed and distance as the SDM4, so if the vivoactive 4 can work with stryd, then it can work with the SDM4 as well.

2. The vivoactive 4 manual says, that the vivoactive 4 is compatible with a foot pod.

I could be wrong then, thanks for correcting me. I was researching this question from the point of view of obtaining running dynamics and from what I've found VO and other neat stuff only available on some Forerunners. Or if you get Stryd then you can get those in their app.

tmk2 said:

The Garmin SDM4 has been long discontinued, and in fact is not easily obtainable for some time now. But for now all running watches from garmin still do support foot pods, and foot pods from other brands might be easier to obtain.

I saw some sold second hand but never care to get one as was sure that there is not much use for them on VA4. What are the benefits of having one, does it only provide you with the more accurate pace or there is something else?

sensovision said:

What are the benefits of having one, does it only provide you with the more accurate pace

Yeah, that's pretty much about it. It's not that useful in every day use, but can make a difference in indoor running, or in conditions where GPS reception is problematic, like for example among tall buildings.

Thanks for the answer tmk2, I will test my foot pod with the Forerunner of my father this weekend.

This is exactly it!
I often run in the forest and the instantaneous pace given by the Vivoactive 4 is often catastrophic.
And I'm not even talking about the interval training sessions...

ah okay, thank you! I usually get a good GPS signal reception, so probably it shouldn't be a problem for me. I wonder if your pace with a foot pod adjusted faster than through GPS or not? As I've read mixed feedback on that.

In any case, it cannot be worse than with the Vivoactive 4!
I will tell you that when I get it to work :)

antonnetti said:

In any case, it cannot be worse than with the Vivoactive 4!

trust me, there is always a room for getting worse

I finally changed the battery and confirm that it works. My Vivoactive 4 correctly detects the pedometer. I just have to try it!
Thanks for your help.