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Bluetooth cuts out when GPS activity starts

Chris
7 months ago

Hello. I found a good deal on a Garmin Vivoactive 5 music to replace my old Vivoactive 3.

The display and general functionality are a major upgrade on the 3, so far I’m pleased with it but I have one issue I can’t seem to resolve.

I use my watch 99% for outdoor running only, I just want some music, hit run and track my activity. On my previous watch I always started the music playlist just before I start the run but in the 5 I start the music, they go to run and the second it starts searching for GPS the music stops and I’ve no way of reconnecting it, it just fails to connect to the AirPods. I’ve search and it seems a common problem, various suggestions to remove headphones and pair again (done that) or connect music after I’ve started run but I’d rather not do this nor should I have to.

It seems the GPS interferes with the Bluetooth. Has anyone else had this issue on a Garmin and found a fix? Thanks

  • 0 7 months ago

    I have nearly the same issue. I have yet to find a fix. I have noticed that the music stops only when starting an activity that uses GPS. If I start an activity that doesn't require GPS, the music keeps playing.

    I also noticed that when I see waiting for GPS, the phone and headphone icons will blink to indicate they are looking for a connection. 

    Here is how I got around the issue:

    1. With headphones disconnected, start an activity.
    2. Wait for the screen to say ready
    3. Hold the bottom button to activate settings and navigate to music. 
    4. Power on my headphones
    5. Tap the name of my headphones to reconnect
    6. Tap the bottom button to go back one menu. 
    7. Tap on music providers and go in and start my music
    8. Tap the bottom button to go all the way back to the activity menu.

    This is a ridiculous way to have to do this. My theory was that when the watch is trying to acquire GPS, there is a change in the power provided to the watch's Bluetooth, hence the interruption to both the phone and headphones. I would love to hear from Garm, on what is going and if it will be fixed.

  • 0 7 months ago in reply to big_b

    Thank you for your reply, at least im not the only one. Thanks for your suggestion which is a ridiculous workaround, we can’t be the only users experiencing this issue?

    Which headphones are you using?

    On my old 5yr old Vivoactive 3 I would play music and walk the 2mins from house to the top of the road as a warm up, I’d then start RUN and be on my way. The workarounds would add another couple of minutes of faffing just to get a run with gps and music working, it shouldn’t be this difficult! For now I have turned off GPS which kinda defeats the whole purpose, really disappointing.

    I’ve also read a suggestion to reset the watch, I don’t really want to do that as I spent ages setting it up and I doubt this will magically fix it.

  • 0 7 months ago in reply to Chris

    I'm using JBL Reflect Aeros. Hopefully others will get some relief from the workaround. Would love to know if it worked for you. I know I saw a bunch of similar issues but yours was the most recent and the same model watch as mine.

  • 0 6 months ago in reply to big_b

    I’ve just been for a run, put the music on first, waited about 10 seconds and started the RUN with GPS and guess what? It worked no problem which is even stranger. I don’t know how it can work sometimes and not others?

  • 0 6 months ago

    I have the same problem and it's driving me nuts! I've tried using both my Trekz headphones and my Samsung buds - same problem. 

    Start music, start run - drop Bluetooth connection. If I start the run and then try to connect it either takes forever (walking a few blocks) or just doesn't connect. 

    I go for a run to help my sanity but this is the opposite! 

  • 0 6 months ago in reply to TLF80027

    I had I think 2 software updates recently and the last 4 runs the issue hasn’t happened. I’m not sure if this has been fixed (doubt it) but I am able to play music then start a run with GPS and not have the music cut out.

  • 0 5 months ago

    I’m curious are you still having this issue with your AirPods?  I just bought a Vivoactive 5 with basically the same use case as you and it’s driving me nuts.  If I can’t fix this I’m just going to return it and go back to running with my phone…

  • 0 5 months ago in reply to 4814604

    Amazingly, I’m not. I’m sure if this is down to luck or routine, but I start music at my house and walk 2/3mins to the top of the road and start run with GPS and the last 30/40 runs have been flawless, I can start the run and it’s perfect. But, every time I hit th run button I’m thinking it’s gonna cut out so I’ve no confident.

  • 0 5 months ago in reply to 4814604

    I'm still having the issue, although not EVERY time. It's odd - it seems to occur less frequently if I turn my watch off and then turn it back on. And then start playing music. And then start my run. I'd say it still drops 3 out of 4 times though. Which is a huge bummer. If I could, I'd return my watch until they figure out whatever this problem is. That said, I suspect that not many of us are having the issue else it'd be easy to find this problem out on the interwebs and I'm sure Garmin would fix it! So it is better than it was, but still not quite fixed.  @Garmin - please fix this! 

  • 0 3 months ago

    I'm having this same issue, it's quite annoying. Hoping Garmin can fix this.