FR30 - always record running as cardio

Why don't you track your run manually?

I could.
But even with the GPS turned on, when the activity is registered as cardio, it won't show up a map of the run and associated info.
Which is not what I paid for.

Do you press start to record your run or not? It sounds that you don't. If you want your run recorded as a run with all stats and the map then record it manually. Move IQ is nothing for stats and map.

I do press start to record the race.
And then I press stop at the end of the race.
And I record the activity once the FR30 is finished computing the stats.

Have you chosen "Run" for recording?

No I haven't.
Because you can't choose on the FR30. Everything relies on Move IQ. As stated in the manual. And in my initial post.

Are you familiar with this device?

Anyone else having the same issue?

Isn't it possible to switch off MoveIQ? MoveIQ is when you forget so start an activity. It also recognizes walks. But if you want stats and a map you have to record your run manually. I don't know why you can't choose run on yout FR 30. I have a FR35 and FR235 where I can choose my activity.

I hate to jump in here, but:

Isn't it possible to switch off MoveIQ?

Like he said, the FR30 manual explicitly says that the manual activity type is auto-detected using Move IQ

I don't know why you can't choose run on yout FR 30

I'm guessing it's for the same reason you can't lock your keys on the FR30/35: because Garmin wants you to buy a more expensive watch for that feature. It probably sounds ridiculous to you that a basic feature such as "selecting your activity type" is missing from the FR30, but that's the whole point of having an FR30 that's cheaper than an FR35.

The way tech companies usually do "market segmentation" and/or create different models at different prices is they make the model with all the features first, then they take away features that some might really want from the cheaper models. Most people hate this (especially when it's done in software and not hardware), because it seems like companies could "easily" add that feature to all models.

Yeah, they could, but that would defeat the whole point of creating the cheaper model in the first place.

I only wanted to give my 2 cents because I work for a tech company (in a different industry) that does the same thing. All companies that make electronics do the same thing. And everybody hates it, even people who work for companies that do it (but usually only when they look at competitors and not their own products), because it's basic human nature to think "that's not fair", because that one extra feature they need is not "worth" the extra $50 (or whatever). Unfortunately, that's the way it works. The other business model is to have free apps with micropayments and/or subscription models, which I really wouldn't want to see on a sports watch.

antoinemollereau I would recommend getting directly in touch with Garmin support at [EMAIL="[email protected]"][email protected][/EMAIL]. There's no guarantee that a Garmin employee is gonna read this thread....

@WillNorthYork: thank you for your reply.
I was really hoping for a Move IQ switch hidden somewhere but since my initial post, I've read about the FR 30 and 35 and I have to align on your comments on market segmentation.

This is sad really.
I kinda like the Garmin products so far and the solid improvements they did on the mobile application. But as you pointed out, the extra-feature here is probably not worth it.
Actually, the differentiation between the 30 and 35 makes no sense to me now. I should have spent a bit more time looking at the features and the fact you cannot choose your activity.

And on a larger note, maybe tech companies will have to review their standards at some point.

Thanks again.

antoinemollereau you're welcome!

It still sounds like there's something wrong with your watch, so hopefully Garmin can help you with that. Even if you can't select your activity, the watch is supposed to figure it out for you, and if it can't, then I think you could be entitled to a replacement or a refund. It could just be some weird software bug. Garmin will probably ask you to turn your watch completely off and on, and if that doesn't work, to do a factory reset which wipes all settings and data.

You can try those steps before you contact them.

Power off/reset (probably won't lose data): hold down Light for 15 seconds until it turns off, then press Light again.

Factory reset (will lose all data): Menu > Settings > System > Restore Defaults > Yes.