Giving up on the 820; Garmin, I want a refund!

+1 for ordering the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt, goodbye garmin edge 510 :rolleyes:

not that best sales pitch. Lol.

not that best sales pitch. Lol.

Heck, I left out the elevation graph zoom and units problem! I don't even use that screen any more it's so problematic, and it was one of my most used screens on my 800....

OK, I've finally had enough of this unit, and the constant software updates that don't seem to fix anything. I'm running 6.50 after a master reset and yesterday tried to ride a saved tcx course built and transferred from ridewithgps.com. Super annoying. The turn notices show up late, literally after I'm into or through the intersection.

Are these turn notices course points? If so the issue is probably that they are not in the correct position to notify you. The maps used to create them may not quite line up properly with the features on the ground. I have had this issue with course points in the past.

Are these turn notices course points? If so the issue is probably that they are not in the correct position to notify you. The maps used to create them may not quite line up properly with the features on the ground. I have had this issue with course points in the past.

Thanks for the tip. I agree. I found tcx courses are worse than gpx course in this regard, and if I have course guidance enabled, as opposed to relying simply on tcx course points, I can get different results. Plus, premium ridewithgps allows you to set the turn cue a pre-determined amount ahead. But regardless, Garmin just makes it too frustrating. Add to my list of woes on this morning's ride, with a gpx course, I got a virtual partner the entire way.

I found tcx courses are worse than gpx course in this regard, and if I have course guidance enabled, as opposed to relying simply on tcx course points, I can get different results.

There are two forms of turn notifications:

1) "course points": only available using tcx files. These are in the tcx file (they serve to provide notifications for Edges like the 500/510/520 that don't use maps).
2) "turn guidance" (big white arrows): available using either tcx and gpx files. These are calculated on the device using the map installed on the device.

You can use "course points" and "turn guidance" at the same time (or each separately).

Since these are generated differently, you'll get "different results" (popups at turns for "course points" and big white arrows about 0.1 miles before the turns for "turn guidance").

"Course points" are very dependent on location. They are placed according to map used to plan the course but the path you actually ride might not cover them (the map might not match the physical world close enough). (I often see the "course points" pop-up after turns.)

Ridewithgs has an option to move these earlier in the track but the map/reality issue still exists.

"Turn guidance" is much less sensitive to differences between the map and reality. And they are more visible and they are displayed for much longer.

There are two forms of turn notifications:

1) "course points": only available using tcx files. These are in the tcx file (they serve to provide notifications for Edges like the 500/510/520 that don't use maps).
2) "turn guidance" (big white arrows): available using either tcx and gpx files. These are calculated on the device using the map installed on the device.

I appreciate the learning. Unfortunately, I tend to stay away from turn guidance because the course calculated on the device often doesn't match up with what I plotted at ridewithGPS (e.g., if I'm using a bike path not on the unit's maps). And, if I stray off course, the 820 recalculates whether or not I've ticked that option in settings. But if you have any further solutions/suggestions, I'm all ears.....As for Virtual Partner, the 820 no longer seems to give an option to turn it off in the course settings....

I appreciate the learning.

It's not just for you (other people are reading this thread).

Unfortunately, I tend to stay away from turn guidance because the course calculated on the device often doesn't match up with what I plotted at ridewithGPS (e.g., if I'm using a bike path not on the unit's maps).

If you want, private message me with the ridewithgps route (and tell me where you had the problem).

The maps on the device are based on OSM. Ridewithgps uses Google maps by default but you can select OSM maps (at the upper right). OSM and OSM Cycle are the same maps (they just look different).

Some of the "turn guidance" issues you describe are dependent on location (it's better for some and worse for others depending on location). I haven't run across the issue that frequently in even in different locations.

If you are using the unit for navigating, keeping an eye on the map makes using the device for navigation more reliable. I often know about turns before they get announced and it's not that hard (with some practice) to recover from blown turns. Though, being able to turn off the recalculation is important.

(Note that I use an ancient 800. The newer devices basically work the same way but they might not quite equally good at it.)

The "course points" have nothing to do with the map (so, these won't have "match up" problems).

Ridewithgps lets you create custom cuesheet entries. So, that means you can create extra course points.

Bikeroutetoaster doesn't move the course points earlier in the track. It copies the course points earlier in the the track (which means you get two course points for each turn).

And, if I stray off course, the 820 recalculates whether or not I've ticked that option in settings.

That's unfortunate. (The 800 lets you disable that (for each course separately). On the 800, it's disabled for tcx and enabled for gpx (but you can change it).)

As for Virtual Partner, the 820 no longer seems to give an option to turn it off in the course settings....

That's unfortunate. (The 800 has the option (for each course separately). On the 800, it's enabled for tcx and disabled for gpx (but you can change it).)

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Things like recalculation not being able to be turned off are just bugs (they should work). Things like "course points" not showing up where you want them to aren't bugs (these problems are the result of normal mismatches between different maps and the real world and even GPS inaccuracies.

Car navigation units have the same sort of issues but the way they are used kind-of hides them (makes them much less noticeable).

People expecting the Edges will match their experience with car navigation units are likely to be disappointed (and, maybe, confused).

I think people will less frustrated if they treat using these more-like wilderness navigation (where understanding how things work makes using them more reliable).

I appreciate also every good clue to resolve the TbT issue and I will try a few thinks after your advice
But now, what ever we will try I am now about sure that as long I have not done more then 40 km, I can do all the detours or out of tracks as much as I want (even more then 5 km) once I am back on the good route the 820 works perfectly with exact guidances and the turn by turn on the right distances and street names (in fact exactly like the 800 do) but once I do more then 40 km I don't dear to go out of track even 15m (meter) it is finish! first wrong street names (mostly street near to my home) and no distance to next and after a short time the distance to end is equal to the total distance of the route.
So I think it is a matter of memory, rom or ram (let us hope not) I don't know but somebody have to tell this to the Garmin boys
I also think a lot to ask a refund but there is not really a better alternative