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Configuration of the Forerunner without Garmin Connect?

PUFFOLINO
over 8 years ago
I would like to do as many as possible of the settings using the menus of the watch, because whatever is done using the incredible Garmin Connect app seems to result in flip flop results. Other settings are hidden even for the app (or I can't find it), for example flor activities...

* copying all data screen settings from one activity to other(s)
* changing an activity icon (or its color)
* changing internal parameter of activities (I created a "Stepper" activity by copying "Walking" and disabled GPS. Now I see a pace value, but how it is calculated?)

There are some settings (e.g. inactivity alarm) which have been disabled already multiple times but after a while they get enabled like magic :(

Garmin, please add more menu options to the forerunner, because they are more reliable than using the quirky app. I'll get nervous every time I sync the Forerunner - after doing so, some settings will have changed for sure.

I would be interested to have a simple app just handling the notifications (calls, sms and mails) and nothing else. I don't need to upload activities automatically or see tons of statistics - all activities are copied automatically when connecting my Forerunner to the USB port of my computer, so I do not need such a monster app like Garmin Connect.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    I don't think there's anything you CAN do on GC that you can't do on the watch.

    I agree that the syncing is bad and watch setting routinely get over written. For that reason I do as much as possible on the GCM app as those settings seem to stick.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Other settings are hidden even for the app (or I can't find it), for example flor activities…


    I don't think Garmin Connect knows or cares about the activity profiles and their configuration (including name, icon, colour, data screens, alerts, etc.) on your wearable device at all. You'll have to do everything (separately for each factory-installed or user-created activity profile) using the menus of the watch, which just as well is your stated preference.

    There are some settings (e.g. inactivity alarm) which have been disabled already multiple times but after a while they get enabled like magic :(


    Garmin Connect is considered to hold the ‘master’ copy of those settings, and upon syncing with your device, if there are any discrepancies they will be resolved in favour of what is in Garmin Connect. On the odd occasion such settings in a Garmin Connect account may get (unexpectedly and inappropriately) changed without any user intervention, due to something Garmin did to the platform in the back-end, but it's rare; obviously, when that happens, the user's setting on the wearable device will get repeatedly overwritten, until the preferences are changed back (by Garmin or by the user) in Garmin Connect.

    I would be interested to have a simple app just handling the notifications (calls, sms and mails) and nothing else.


    If you're able to prevent the Garmin Connect Mobile app from having Internet access (by having some sort of firewall at the device operating system level, for example), then you have get the notifications without ever syncing either activity records or device settings with your mobile handset.

    I don't think there's anything you CAN do on GC that you can't do on the watch.


    The first that comes to mind is report on sleep tracking, which is only data-processed in Garmin Connect itself, and of which the results do not get transferred to any paired/connected wearable activity tracker device.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    The first that comes to mind is report on sleep tracking, which is only data-processed in Garmin Connect itself, and of which the results do not get transferred to any paired/connected wearable activity tracker device.


    There are several things that get processed and/or reprocessed in Garmin Connect, but I was referring to the device settings. I can't think of anything you can't do on the watch.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    I started collecting all settings of the menu and will create an image then...
    forerunner menu structur

    And there are things which can't be done on the watch, like uninstalling a Garmin IQ watchface for instance. I didn't find to change the time for the sleeping period which influences the Do-not-disturb function as well...
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    There is one exception: to set up a Wi-Fi network, you must use Garmin Express (the PC/Mac app).
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    CLUZEAUX Woodford

    Updated the menu image (german menu names)...
    forerunner menu structur

    I did't find a possibility to set the period of time for automatic DND directly on the watch, but I haven't documented all menus for now. To display the time, you need to go to the second menu entry from Settings/System/DND (would be "D13e2" in my menu poster).
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    It's sleep time

    CW


    If it's the same "sleep time" I've mentioned, I am not able to change the values - maybe there's another menu to do so?
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Ah yes, you're right. If I remember correctly it is set up as part of the GCM pairing process so if you pair with GCM then it'll be set.

    CW
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Ah yes, you're right. If I remember correctly it is set up as part of the GCM pairing process so if you pair with GCM then it'll be set.
    CW


    Thanks, thought there could be a hidden menu I didn't saw so far...

    That means, the following things can't be done without GCM:
    • Garmin IQ related things (installing/deinstalling watch faces etc.)
    • sleep time
    • step width for running and walking
    • anything else?

    On the other hand, I didn't find how to control the inactivity notification with GCM, anyhow it will be activated every time I am syncing the watch - and I have to deactivate it using the Setup/Fitness Tracker/Inactivity Alarm menu on my watch...