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Edge 1030 Bluetooth connection only works when Garmin Connect is open on phone

Hi there,

I upgraded my Edge 1000 to an Edge 1030 some months back, and I like the unit except one (vital) thing, which is the bluetooth functionality. It is only connected to my OnePlus 6 when the Garmin Connect app is open. If not, it simply will not connect. And if I make sure that it is connected before a ride (by having the mobile phone screen on and the Garmin Connect app open), then it only works until the BT connections is dropped, then it never reconnects again.

I never saw any issues like that on my Edge 1000, and neither on my Forerunner 735XT, the connection just works perfectly.
I wrote to Garmin (in Denmark), and their response is that the Edge 1030 works differently than other Garmin devices when it comes to Bluetooth, and they are aware of the problem, but the problem is actually on the phone side, so they are not necessarily going to do anything about it.

It may very well be true that the phone is the problem, but now I have a solution that does not work for me. All online features are essentially no good, as the connection is too unreliable. And for example the incident detection was one of the reasons I bought the unit, but obviously that cannot be trusted at all.

Anyway, I see post here and there with people experiencing the same thing. Perhaps it would be a good idea to gather those experiences in this thread? Perhaps people would be kind enough to post which phone they have that DON'T work, so that we can get an idea just how many phones will have issues with the Edge 1030.

As mentioned I have a OnePlus 6

Thanks.

0 reneeske over 6 years ago

Perhaps I should also ask if anybody has a OnePlus phone that works as expected?

0 ClaudioDurocher over 6 years ago

I can confirm: I have a OnePlus 6 fully updated (OOS 9.0.3) and the 1030 won't connect if the app is not opened. I did not have this problem with my old Nexus 5. I did not tested it on a ride. Very annoying!

0 Edu_Hopman over 6 years ago

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

Also loosing connection often. And also found out that opening the app is some sort of solution, but not for 100%. For example: livetrack stills stops all of a sudden during a ride.

Another solution that might do the trick: delete the phone from the 1030 and delete the 1030 from the BT on the phone. Clear bluetooth cache on the phone. Restart both the 1030 and your phone. Pair 1030 and phone again.
Did this a week ago and last week everything was fine. I wonder for how long.

Only disadvantage: clearing BT cache clears all BT connections. So you have to do some more pairing than only the 1030.

0 ClaudioDurocher over 6 years ago

So I did some more digging and contacted tech support. I tried to re-pair the device but it did not help. The problem seems to be solved by rebooting the phone. So far after more than 25 mins, the connection is still alive

0 reneeske over 6 years ago

I noticed an odd detail. If I unpair the devices, and pair them again, it will connect as it should for a couple of days, then it goes back to the behaviour where the app needs to be open.

0 NathanCampbell82 over 6 years ago

For me this worked.

I have reset all settings to factory default on the Edge 1030. Done both types of factory reset offered in the menu and this has solved the issue. I first made sure to backup various FIT files so that my screen setup, personal records and other items were saved. I copied these back onto the device once I confirmed everything was working.

The connected features are working the best they ever have. The phone connects once I boot the Edge up, Live track works, strava beacon works, I get SMS, Whatsapp and anything else I want. All happens instantly. Not sure what the issue was as I only recently bought the Edge 1030. Maybe it requires a reset from the factory. Good luck.

0 Martin868 over 6 years ago

It has been my understanding for years that one need to have the Connect Mobile app opened for the Live features to work. It certainly behave like that for me with the Edge 1030, my older Edge 1000 and my Fenix 3 watch. I don't think that's a bug but rather the way they designed it to work. No really a big deal. Just load the GCM app. Does not have to be active, just loaded on the phone and in running in the background. The app acts as a bridge between the Edge device and the servers at Garmin, so if it is not loaded it cannot do that. The Edge does not access the Internet directly. That is my understanding anyway.

0 reneeske over 6 years ago

For me this worked.

I have reset all settings to factory default on the Edge 1030. Done both types of factory reset offered in the menu and this has solved the issue. I first made sure to backup various FIT files so that my screen setup, personal records and other items were saved. I copied these back onto the device once I confirmed everything was working.

The connected features are working the best they ever have. The phone connects once I boot the Edge up, Live track works, strava beacon works, I get SMS, Whatsapp and anything else I want. All happens instantly. Not sure what the issue was as I only recently bought the Edge 1030. Maybe it requires a reset from the factory. Good luck.

What phone do you have?

Thanks,
René

0 reneeske over 6 years ago

So I did some more digging and contacted tech support. I tried to re-pair the device but it did not help. The problem seems to be solved by rebooting the phone. So far after more than 25 mins, the connection is still alive

I also have some luck with rebooting the phone. However after a couple of days, it will start not connecting unless GCM is open. Well, perhaps this improves with future phone updates. Maybe it would be a good idea to notify OnePlus about this issue...

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

I never saw any issues like that on my Edge 1000, and neither on my Forerunner 735XT, the connection just works perfectly.
I wrote to Garmin (in Denmark), and their response is that the Edge 1030 works differently than other Garmin devices when it comes to Bluetooth, and they are aware of the problem, but the problem is actually on the phone side, so they are not necessarily going to do anything about it

I don't believe Garmin on this - the problem lies with the 1030. On my phone (Google Pixel 2, Android 9), my Edge 1000 does not need GCM to be running for the 1000 to connect, automatically start Livetrack when an activity commences, and automatically upload the activity when it is ended. With the same phone, my 1030 won't do any of those things unless GCM is actually running.

I also notice that the Bluetooth connection between the 1030 and the phone becomes much less reliable on bikes where I also have ANT+ sensors connected to the 1030 - it drops out repeatedly on those bikes and not on bikes where the only connection is BT. No such problem with the 1000.