VA3 Bugs

3. Sometimes the GPS just comes on during a non GPS activity. This leads to some interesting "maps" and some battery burn.


That is apparently a firmware bug related to certain 3rd party watchfaces (Line sets it off for example)

6. Setting Favorites is just buggy.

In my experience thats Garmin Connect Mobile at fault, and yeah it works badly. If I set them on the watch its fine

1. Most of the time I can't dismiss text messages. They just stay there and if I click on them I get a red X screen that says Error. If I power off and on the messages disappear.
2. The heartrate during workouts seems low. While on the elliptical the machine is telling me 125 and the watch says 90.
3. Sometimes the GPS just comes on during a non GPS activity. This leads to some interesting "maps" and some battery burn.
4. The band just stinks compared to the VAHR!
5. Connect allows me to create my own SMS responses. I have done that, saved and synched, but they're not available on the watch.
6. Setting Favorites is just buggy.
7. Vibration is almost non-existent

I wonder if Garmin has ever released a product with good firmware from the beginning?

1. The text notifications on the VA3 was designed with the thought you didn't have immediate access to your phone. What you described is normal if you read or dismiss the text on your phone first. Not a bug.

2. All oHRM watches have this problem, not just your VA3. There are too many different reasons why one device works well for one person and not another to list here. It's just the current technology. I prefer to use a chest strap for all workouts and use the oHRM for nothing more than sitting around or during sleep. Not a bug

3. This is a known bug with many Connect IQ watch faces. According to support, they are aware of it and are working on a fix.

4. Personal preference. Not a bug.

5. I've noticed this too. When I called support, I was told that feature hasn't been released yet??? Same way Garmin Pay wasn't immediately available after the VA3 went on sale.

6. Buggy how? Need more info.

7. Tricky one here. Many say the vibration is too weak when compared to other devices. Others say it's how the watch is worn. Some claim there are defective devices out there. Best bet is to compare it to another VA3 if possible. If the vibration is the same it may be a personal preference issue. If you find it stronger, may be a bad device. I find the VA3 vibration is much weaker then my FR235, but still strong enough to do it's job properly.

As far as wondering if Garmin releases products with functioning FW from the start? My opinion is no!

1. The text notifications on the VA3 was designed with the thought you didn't have immediate access to your phone. What you described is normal if you read or dismiss the text on your phone first. Not a bug.

2. All oHRM watches have this problem, not just your VA3. There are too many different reasons why one device works well for one person and not another to list here. It's just the current technology. I prefer to use a chest strap for all workouts and use the oHRM for nothing more than sitting around or during sleep. Not a bug

3. This is a known bug with many Connect IQ watch faces. According to support, they are aware of it and are working on a fix.

4. Personal preference. Not a bug.

5. I've noticed this too. When I called support, I was told that feature hasn't been released yet??? Same way Garmin Pay wasn't immediately available after the VA3 went on sale.

6. Buggy how? Need more info.

7. Tricky one here. Many say the vibration is too weak when compared to other devices. Others say it's how the watch is worn. Some claim there are defective devices out there. Best bet is to compare it to another VA3 if possible. If the vibration is the same it may be a personal preference issue. If you find it stronger, may be a bad device. I find the VA3 vibration is much weaker then my FR235, but still strong enough to do it's job properly.

As far as wondering if Garmin releases products with functioning FW from the start? My opinion is no!

I'm coming from a VAHR that I used for quite awhile and liked.
1. This is happening when the notification isn't deleted on the phone. I get two or three on the watch and I can usually dismiss the 1st and then the rest just error out. When the phone shows "error" and has notifications that can only be removed by powering off the phone...it's a bug and needs to be fixed. This also means I can't reply to anything but the latest SMS...as all of the others are "locked." This feature worked on the VAHR (dismiss), it does not work on the VA3.

2. This watch is reading significantly lower than my VAHR.

3. I'm using No Frills. As one of the more popular watch faces I hope they're going to fix it.

4. It still stinks.

5. Well, the feature is released on Connect. It'll be nice when the implement on the watch itself.

6. On Connect sometimes it will show only one app as a favorite and will not allow me to add others by pressing the PLUS. I can move them there on the watch itself, but it still may not show properly on Connect.

7. It's weak compared to the VAHR, It's weak compared to the VivoSport (wife's) and it has been weak on the two VA3s I've owned (I returned a Slate because the stainless was $80 cheaper after the BF sales $329 - $249. Personal preference means having settings. On high this is too low to be recognized.

I do fear that the HRM and Vibration issues might be a result of the shape of the watch and the crappy narrow band as I never had either of these issues on the VAHR. I'm using a 3rd party band now that is a little better, but it still feels too narrow compared to the watch.

I've used Garmin products for a long time...generally, they're good about updating the firmware to fix problems.

Are you using Garmin Connect on Android? I ask because adding favourites is definitely broken on Android GCM. On Garmin Express is works fine, can’t speak for iOS though. Do you have any other 3rd party watchfaces installed though, because they don’t have to be the active one to set off the gps bug , because some can run in th background to pick up weather data

I must admit though, I’m not seeing any HR reading problems ... it’s reading pretty much on the money for me.

Are you using Garmin Connect on Android? I ask because adding favourites is definitely broken on Android GCM. On Garmin Express is works fine, can’t speak for iOS though. Do you have any other 3rd party watchfaces installed though, because they don’t have to be the active one to set off the gps bug , because some can run in th background to pick up weather data

Yes, I'm on Garmin Connect for Android.
I have one 3rd party watchface installed (it's active) - No Frills.

The HR stuff is strange. I know it's coming in low. There's no way I can do 40 minutes on an elliptical with an avg HR of 87.

There can be differences based on how loose or tight you wear the watch. Also, if you happen to be a bit hairy, that can impact things too. (I've known people that shave a small spot for an optical sensor)

Yes, I'm on Garmin Connect for Android.
I have one 3rd party watchface installed (it's active) - No Frills.

The HR stuff is strange. I know it's coming in low. There's no way I can do 40 minutes on an elliptical with an avg HR of 87.

im using No Frills, as I like the mix between simplicity and data. Looking through the settings I don’t see any weather related malarkey. Mmmmm version 2.7 of the firmware better be coming soon....!

I think a lot of the problems right now could be traced to one or two firmware bugs (which smack to me of rogue processes being spawned that just sit there eating power) and GC for Android being...well, a little flaky shall we say. I know there are a few bugs on the iOS version but right now I think the best we can do is report these issues direct to Garmin. In all fairness they were excellent in live chat when my first VA3 died.

GPS accuracy is not really good. Definitely worse than the FR235, which is a much older watch.