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Garmin 820 Varia Radar Iphone 5s notifications no sound on phone

I asked Garmin technical support if I could get my 820 notifications on my smartphone (iPhone 5s) and then use my bluetooth headset to hear them. This is what they said:

"With Bluetooth headphones paired to the same smartphone you've paired Edge 820 to, you should get any audible alerts over the headphones. This may require some configuring in Connect Mobile, depending on your device. From the Garmin Devices menu, select your 820 to configure alerts."

Am running 10.2.1 on iPhone, 6.20 on 820 and 3.40 on Varia Radar. Running Connect mobile on iPhone connected to 820 via bluetooth. iPhone is running both BT and BLE at same time showing connected. No 820 sounds of any type come out of the iphone speakers or bluetooth headset for that matter. Notificatons are turned on, on 820 and on the iPhone. They are turned on in Garmin Connect and in iPhone, settings under Garmin Connect! It appears that when all this is set up there are then no notification beeps coming out of 820. So somehow the 820 thinks it is sending the sounds to my iPhone. ALL other sounds come out of my iPhone 5s speakers or bluetooth headset. I have never had any application that will not produce the selected sounds on phone and headset except this single one.

Any help would be appreciated.

Mark

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

This will probably not directly help you, but at least it will elevate your Post to the top of the pile again?

I am considering a similar set up, but only if it can be verified to function as claimed by Garmin.

My Edge 1000 and Varia Rear View Radar have been stolen.
When replacing the stolen items I have to improve the Alert Facility to make the System fully functional for me.
Before finding out about the 'alleged' abilities of the 820 I was set to replace like for like, hopefully achieving essential improvement by purchasing a Varia Vision. It is envisaged improvement will be provided by increased Vibration Alert effect due to the physical position of VV whilst in use?

A cheaper alternative would be purchasing an Edge 820, Varia Rear View Radar and [in my case] a Pair of BT Ear Pods should be able to provide the results I need?
However before proceeding an answer to your question is paramount.

Reading the 820 Manual, with regard to your problem, it says:

Playing Audio Alerts During Your Activity
Before you can set up audio alerts, you must have a smartphone with the Garmin Connect Mobile app paired to your Edge device.
You can set the Garmin Connect Mobile app to play motivational status announcements on your smartphone during a run or other activity. Audio alerts include the lap number and lap time, pace or speed, and ANT+ sensor data. During an audio alert, the Garmin Connect mobile app mutes the primary audio of the smartphone to play the announcement. You can customize the volume levels on the Garmin Connect Mobile app.
1 From the settings in the Garmin Connect Mobile app, select Garmin Devices.
2 Select your device.
3 If necessary, select Device Settings.
4 Select Audio Alerts.

Because the above appears far more comprehensive than the information you gleaned from Garmin Support may I enquire if you have followed these directions, including the sentence I Italicised? This information would surely be better Numerally Bullet Pointed rather than buried in a Paragraph?

Garmin have not provided a definitive list of Audio Alerts, that can be transmitted via a Mobile Phone and compatible Headset/Pods, leaving the subject open ended.

Garmin Support advised you that:

......you should get any audible alerts over the headphones....

Garmin seem to consider that the use of evasive words offer satisfactory support?

When your Garmin 820 is setup in Garmin Connect please can you confirm that you have access to Device Settings?

Garmin offer so much with Express, Connect and Device basic functionality, but there are too many instances like this that never get resolved.
So once again the best advice is don't hold your breath whilst awaiting resolution. I am really hoping that some knowledgeable reader can offer information to get this up and running.

0 Riverbrook over 8 years ago

Garmin 820 Varia Radar Iphone 5s notifications no sound on phone

Hi G

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. After my first email from Garmin Tech Support, that I quoted in my original post, I tried everything to no avail. I went through the 820 manual's instructions 10 times and also tried different combinations of connected devices, finally only pairing the Varia Radar, 820 and smartphone running Garmin Connect. Then I communicated with Garmin Product Support again with my dilemma and here is their response:

"Audible alerts only apply to laps, pace or speed, and heart rate information. This will not work for the Varia radar or any other types of notifications. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Please contact us if you require further assistance.

Thank you for choosing Garmin,"

I wish I was the barer of better news. You would think a firmware update would fix this issue. If I have to watch my 820 all the time, I might as well watch a rear view mirror all the time. The Garmin 820 beep is not audible while riding because of wind and traffic. I guess I bought the device because of Garmin's advice.

Mark

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Hi Mark.

Looks like I will be reverting to the mirror trick also.
We can only hope Garmin will amend relevant documentation to reflect the facts?
I trust you will be able to Return the Products on the basis of them not being fit for purpose?

A New Bike is due to be delivered in the next ten days or so, when the inevitable 'extras' are acquired and after funds recover I may action my Plan B.
The latter being to fully investigate the practicalities of using Varia Vision as a means of improving the Vibration Alert effect from the Varia Rear View Radar.
Questions on the subject raised in other Threads have received minimal response, perhaps this is due to a low User base for the Vision?
At least the functionality of the Vision accepting Vibration Alerts is documented by Garmin, so if it proves to be less than fully functional in real world use I will have justification for Returning the Products.

Happy and Safe cycling.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Absurd

It is absolutely absurd that the Varia audio prompts can't be transmitted to the phone / headset when other far less critical prompts can. Come on Garmin, sort this out - it's a SAFETY feature for heaven's sake and should be a simple fix!

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

I'm owner of Edge 1030 and I'm afraid there is no news about this issue, isn't it? It is very disappointing!