This discussion has been locked.

You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Firmware v5.20 user discussion / feedback

The release announcement for firmware version 5.20 certainly makes this sound like a compelling update:

Changes made from version 4.70 to 5.20:

Added support for Connect IQ 1.3.0 SDK. See the Connect IQ 1.3.0 SDK for a list of new features.
Added support for broadcasting optical heart rate over ANT to other devices during an activity.
Added support for phone apps to subscribe for more frequent data updates.
Added support for Apple Media Service - users can now control any active music player, e.g. Spotify, as well as volume (requires iOS 8.0 and higher).
Fixed an issue in which text on some Connect IQ watch faces may not display correctly.
Several improvements to optical heart rate.
Various bug fixes and stability improvements.

I'd managed to hold off updating to firmware v4.70 (from v4.60) for many weeks – after transferring the firmware file to my watch but dismissed the update manually – after seeing all the reports of issues, especially around garbled notifications, but the other night the watch somehow got updated to v4.70 anyway. I might as well take the leap and go to v5.20, now that it appears in Garmin Express for me several minutes ago.

Who else is game? :)

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Thanks a lot man, very helpful!! I will give Garmin another day or so to put out an update, and then I'll have to bite the bullet and revert I think. Appreciate the assistance.

I would be hesitant to put 235 firmware on your 230. They might be the same, but I wouldn't risk it.

However, you can still downgrade your 230. If you go to the Garmin site for the 230, on the right hand side of the page will be a "Check for Beta software link", which has the older beta firmware and 4.70. (I don't want to post the link here in case someone with a 235 accidentally clicks on it. ) You can follow the same instructions, but with that firmware download which is made for your 230.

Good luck!

0 scottj2 over 8 years ago

You're very welcome. I wouldn't expect Garmin to release anything in the next day.

0 rtperna over 8 years ago

You're very welcome. I wouldn't expect Garmin to release anything in the next day.

Yeah, here's to hoping something hits this week though. I don't remember a firmware screw up this bad since Apple inadvertently killed cell service in one of their iOS 8 releases. Microsoft does it on the reg, but people kind of expect it from them at this point. :D

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Yeah, I have all of them at home I believe... Will post here later this evening when I get back (and if nobody else already did ;) )

dude pls save us, upload that firmware 4.60 pls.

4.70 is kinda for me as well as 5.20 :(

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Hi,

I successfully reverted back to 4.7 using the instructions in the thread. As warned, I did lose my settings and had to re-pair the watch. My problem is that when syncing the watch to the iOS connect app, it is not updating my steps. I synced just before reverting and it is showing my steps as they were this morning. The watch has the count since installing 4.7. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Matt

0 FlipStone over 8 years ago

Did anyone download (and keep) any betas which would have had the backout file as the 4.6 release?
There are different levels of going to sh1t, but it appears that 4.7 was one of the higher levels and 4.6 was one of the better updates, depending on how you measure it (24/7 HRM went to sh1t on the first update and we still haven't got the much requested choice over battery or sampling accuracy)

I held of 4.7 deliberately and it would be nice to go back to 4.6.

dude pls save us, upload that firmware 4.60 pls.

4.70 is kinda for me as well as 5.20 :(

Allright, can't upload the firmware it seems but I wonder if it will be of use anyway.

But check this thread: https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?341414-Is-there-somewhere-(Garmin-other)-where-the-different-software-versions-are-stored

This is the page with all the firmwares: http://www.gawisp.com/perry/forerunner/

Direct link to 4.60: http://www.gawisp.com/perry/forerunner/Forerunner235_460.gcd

Thing is, only the betas contain a 'downgrade-firmware' and there is no beta between 4.60 and 4.70. Meaning all the betas afterwards have 4.70 as 'downgrade'.

But who knows, perhaps it works with 4.60 as well. Good luck!

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Well, after seeing the difference in my pace graph between 5.20 and 5.07b I decided to revert back to 5.20 afterall. Especially as I plan on doing lots of interval training the next weeks. On average the pace works out, but it indeed fluctuates a lot:

5.20:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1303106764

5.07b:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1291524688

As you can see the 5.20 is way more spikey, ups and downs, etc. Very strange, looks as if no averaging is done at all or something and pace is also recorded per 1 second or so. (And with gps not being precise enough that would cause these fluctuations). Luckily 5.07b works great. Hope they fix this soon.

Just another poster confirming same issue here too and current pace is now completely useless, changes far too often and erratically.

Maybe I'm imagining it but I always thought that pace was normally rounded at 5 second steps, I'm convinced whilst it was flicking between 3mins and 7mins as I maintained a relatively constant pace that it was showing down to the one second granularity too?

Grrr. There really needs to be a statement released from Garmin about this.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I can confirm that they're aware of the issue! This morning, at their request, I sent them links to the same activity with a 235 on one wrist and a 15 on the other.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Allright, can't upload the firmware it seems but I wonder if it will be of use anyway.

But check this thread: https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?341414-Is-there-somewhere-(Garmin-other)-where-the-different-software-versions-are-stored

This is the page with all the firmwares: http://www.gawisp.com/perry/forerunner/

Direct link to 4.60: http://www.gawisp.com/perry/forerunner/Forerunner235_460.gcd

Thing is, only the betas contain a 'downgrade-firmware' and there is no beta between 4.60 and 4.70. Meaning all the betas afterwards have 4.70 as 'downgrade'.

But who knows, perhaps it works with 4.60 as well. Good luck!

can confirm. try all means but there is no going back to 4.60. it seems 4.70 is the only you can revert to. sad.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

so after holding out since 4.10 for a stable version of the firmware i finally caved and upgraded.
the bad news is that instant pace is now screwed. the good news is that auto calibrate now works for the footpod so i can use that as a pace source.
...swings and roundabouts.

im not completely disappointed with the watch but given the choice i certainly wouldnt buy it again. the main reason i stuck with Garmin was the lack of Ant+ compatibility found elsewhere but i think its time for a change.