Garmin software designed by chimps?

brindlescoops
brindlescoops Posts: 465
edited April 2013 in Road general
FFS, how hard can it be, really, just one piece of software, that I can connect my device to and manage all the data and look at my rides and performaces, Imagine a world where I can look at a GPX file i have found or been sent in a single piece of software and then actually send it to the device, maybe even review my recent rides and analyse the data, using the same piece of software, I mean is it really that hard? I have had an 800 for 6 months and put off uploading anything to it, as its such a frustrating ball ache. Please please if someone from Garmin is reading this, we don't need 6 pieces of software to manage the device, please give us just one, that actually works and allows me to do simple things like delete waypoints and destinations. Its like they have shared out the key functions of the unit and each person tasked has gone away and completely independently designed a piece of software just to do that, all on different platforms and formats, none of which actually work together.

Rant over, I need to go and retrieve my Garmin 800 from the garden, just need to guess where abouts it may have landed from my upstairs window.

Perhaps its just me. :cry:
My biggest fear is that should I crash, burn and die, my Wife would sell my stuff based upon what I told her I paid for it.

Comments

  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    Garmin Connect ?
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    A map?
  • griffsters
    griffsters Posts: 490
    What 6 software apps are you using :? Have you tried Garmin Connect?
  • danlikesbikes
    danlikesbikes Posts: 3,898
    Personally don't have too many issues with connect, can be a pain sometimes not uploading but creating & editing routes I find quite simple and easy to use.
    Pain hurts much less if its topped off with beating your mates to top of a climb.
  • Cleat Eastwood
    Cleat Eastwood Posts: 7,508
    bernithebiker wrote:
    A map?

    Nowadays it would a Mapp :lol::lol:
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    momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.
  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    Once you have taken it out in the rain and got the "wrong USB connector" error message telling you the USB is fried, you'll have less options.
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  • brindlescoops
    brindlescoops Posts: 465
    Yes, got garmin connect, but its still only really 40% of what it should be, i just think that it could be so so much better and intuative, there are literally hundreds and hundreds of web pages dedicated to trying to fudge the systems and how to make life easy with regards to the Garmin suite of software. To properly use the thing I end up with a host of different programs and websites open. I'm not a complete chump either I promise with regards to software. :shock:
    My biggest fear is that should I crash, burn and die, my Wife would sell my stuff based upon what I told her I paid for it.
  • chigman
    chigman Posts: 163
    BrindleScoops wrote:
    FFS, how hard can it be, really, just one piece of software, that I can connect my device to and manage all the data and look at my rides and performaces, Imagine a world where I can look at a GPX file i have found or been sent in a single piece of software and then actually send it to the device, maybe even review my recent rides and analyse the data, using the same piece of software, I mean is it really that hard? I have had an 800 for 6 months and put off uploading anything to it, as its such a frustrating ball ache. Please please if someone from Garmin is reading this, we don't need 6 pieces of software to manage the device, please give us just one, that actually works and allows me to do simple things like delete waypoints and destinations. Its like they have shared out the key functions of the unit and each person tasked has gone away and completely independently designed a piece of software just to do that, all on different platforms and formats, none of which actually work together.

    Rant over, I need to go and retrieve my Garmin 800 from the garden, just need to guess where abouts it may have landed from my upstairs window.

    Perhaps its just me. :cry:

    And this is just another good reason not to buy a garmin product. Im wanting a 510, but just to much bad press around at the moment for me to splash out on one. Anyone got an o-synce navi2coach and could they recommend it????
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  • deswahriff
    deswahriff Posts: 310
    ..in Garmin Connect, I'd be happy if I could have length in miles, height in feet, temperature in Centigrade and weight in kilos....
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    edited April 2013
    You can have all those things, I have miles and feet.

    I see, you can't mix and match. There is always sporttracks.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,745
    Completely agree with you Brindle - stupid isnt it!
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
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  • mr_joe0606
    mr_joe0606 Posts: 104
    deswahriff wrote:
    ..in Garmin Connect, I'd be happy if I could have length in miles, height in feet, temperature in Centigrade and weight in kilos....


    just change your settings on the device all i did.
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  • campagone
    campagone Posts: 270
    Be grateful you're not using Bryton, Garmin Connect is a hundered times better, I don't have any issues with connect but then I'm only using it with the edge 500 to upload my rides. Uploading runs from my Bryton gps watch on the other hand is a real ballache!
  • dee4life2005
    dee4life2005 Posts: 773
    I know what you mean, having to use different software / websites for different stats and having to convert files to GPX / TCX to do certain things gets to be a right pain in the preverbial after a while.

    I got so fed up that about a month ago I started writing my own software (to work with my Garmin 500, but it seems to work with Bryton .TCX files and Mio Cyclo .GPX) to do all the things that I wanted. It currently does the following:
      - parses .FIT, .TCX, .GPX files (excluding power data, though it could be added)
      - supports batch importing of above file types
      - supports connecting to, and uploading ride data to Runkeeper, Strava, Ridewithgps and Garmin Connect
      - keeps a local SQLite database of all the files imported, grouped by month. This gives summary information at a glance, and each ride can be opened to view route map, altitude / speed / cadence graph.
      Creation of "courses" from an activity, which can be attributed to rides to allow you to compare performance history for said course. Also gives you fastest avg. speed over course, and shorted duration.
      Monthly / Weekly charts showing Total Activities, Total Duration, Total Calories, Total Ascent.
      It detects when the Garmin 500 is plugged in (not tested with Edge 800, Edge 510 etc. but it should work in theory) and reads the user/bike profile data as well as analysing the activities stored on the device and marks for batch processing any activies that haven't yet been imported.

    As the parsed file data is stored in a local SQLite database it means that all of this information is available for viewing offline (except the map, which uses Google Maps).

    It's at a very early stage, but if anyone is interested send me a PM and I`ll tell you where you find the installer - sorry linux/mac users, it's Windows only and requires .NET Framework 4.0 (which the installer will download if needed).

    Just wish there were an API for BikeRadar as that's the one upload that I'd really like to add support for.

    Edit, the app is currently hardcoded for miles / feet / celcius - mainly because that's how I like it displayed. But I do have it on a "todo" list to make each configurable so you can choose what format for each value - meaning you could have a mixture of statute and metric (e.g. miles for distance, metres for altitude).
    http://app.strava.com/athletes/307297
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    Just learn how to use it instead of ranting on here. I have used a 500 and later an 800 for about 3 years and have not had any problems that were not my fault. It is quite complicated as it has rather a lot of functions so getting to know it is worth while.
    The only Garmin programs I use are Connect and very occasionally Webupdater if a software update is available. I also use Strava for a bit of a laugh and ridewithgps for route creation and ride analysis. I could do the routes on Connect but prefer rwgps. I use free OSM maps which are worth the effort in finding out how to get and install them.
    My Fleet.
  • deswahriff
    deswahriff Posts: 310
    mr_joe0606 wrote:
    deswahriff wrote:
    ..in Garmin Connect, I'd be happy if I could have length in miles, height in feet, temperature in Centigrade and weight in kilos....


    just change your settings on the device all i did.


    ....what model have you got?...for the 500, all you have is a choice of 3 presets same as in Garmin Connect.., statute, metric, staute UK...I can't find anywhere you can tailor individual measurement settings..
  • Mikey23
    Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    500, connect and strava... Works for me. Not sure what else you would want
  • Bar Shaker
    Bar Shaker Posts: 2,313
    edited April 2013
    To download routes, use any of the above programmes, select the route's gpx file and save it to your desktop. Go to your desktop and right click copy the file. Plug in your Garmin and open it to 'view files and folders'. Go to Garmin>Newfiles and right click paste the gpx file. It is now on your GPS unit. Go to courses and scroll down to see it.

    To upload files from your Garmin, any of those websites have large buttons marked "Upload". Plug in your Garmin and click the button.

    If you find that too hard to do, maybe you should return it to the shop.
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  • surfatwork
    surfatwork Posts: 82
    Not sure what the problem is in uploading to garmin. I have a 800, connect to PC and it shows up as drive, drag and drop .tcx file to the Garmin->New Files folder and it shows up as a route in the garmin. done!!!
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  • Superbalicious
    Superbalicious Posts: 136
    I use Connect with my 800 and whilst it works, I find the functionality a bit limited...

    I create courses and send them to my 800 and also upload data from the 800 to Connect at the end of each ride, although that's more of a formallity now. I also use Endomondo and paid the £10 annual fee to go 'Premium'. Uploading straight from the 800 to Endo' gives me so more usable/interesting data such as bar graphs showing percentage of ride in each HR zone and the ability to hover the mouse anywhere on the ride graph and highlight that point on the route map. I can also compare my stats against friends, such as my best 1 hour distance, 10 mile time, etc for fun. Endo' also works great on my iPhone, something which Connect won't do... It even tells me ill have limited functionality on a mobile device/tablet, which in this day and age is pretty poor. I've got the Garmin Connect app, but I don't find it much use as its geared towards the 510/810 devices.

    Then there's little things, like the feature in Strava to hide your start end end points. Garmin could do more and hopefully they're working on some of the points raised in this thread.
    Still trying to convince the missus of the n+1 rule...!
  • deadhead1971
    deadhead1971 Posts: 338
    I wrote a "foolproof" (famous last words...) guide to navigation on the Garmin Edge 800.
    You might find it useful, I get lots of comments and emails saying it helped people.

    http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/2012/11/fo ... -edge-800/
    Alan
    http://www.scarletfire.co.uk

    The Ultimate List of Strava Add On Sites!
    http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/strava-sites
  • Mikey23
    Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    @sf... Just to say I have read your stuff and found it very helpful and useful. Garmin manuals are not in my experience the most helpful and you can often miss out on a whole range of advanced features because you cant work out how to do it so just get stuck in the factory defaults. Fortunately I went from a 405 to a 500 so was used to garmin little ways of doing things
  • rich164h
    rich164h Posts: 433
    Bikeroutetoaster for route creation, and Sportracks for post ride-analysis. That's it!

    Both are simple to use and do pretty everything that you could ever want to do with garmin data. I really don't see what the problem is.

    Why you feel the need to use 6 different pieces of software I have no idea.
  • n1ckster
    n1ckster Posts: 158
    Am I alone when creating a route in GC and downloading it to my 800 that the course profile does not show on the device; it simply displays a flat line??

    When I create in ridewithgps and download (.tcx) it displays a profile of the course and my point on it.

    Nick
  • junglist_matty
    junglist_matty Posts: 1,731
    I found this website to be the best for mapping a route....

    www.ridewithgps.com


    Otherwise, I only upload rides to Strava because its nice and simple and gives me all the info I want.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    junglist_matty wrote:
    I found this website to be the best for mapping a route....

    http://www.ridewithgps.com


    Otherwise, I only upload rides to Strava because its nice and simple and gives me all the info I want.

    Likewise use just strava, just now and then plot a route using garmin connect.

    Both connect and the garmins software is rather clunky. The garmins remind me of 80's watches! This said the hardware is good.
  • forward_loop
    forward_loop Posts: 314
    I dont really use G Connect any more.

    Funnily enough though, for an archive of routes, some flexibility of moving files around etc I still use GTC. I know they dont support it any more - which is a shame but I find it really useful - and again the mapping is as good as you want it to be - you can transport to google earth, or install osm/city nav maps into at will - and export files for any of the online sites.

    And you dont have to be connected to the internet - so its pretty fast.
  • Bagggers
    Bagggers Posts: 348
    deadhead1971 wrote:
    I wrote a "foolproof" (famous last words...) guide to navigation on the Garmin Edge 800.
    You might find it useful, I get lots of comments and emails saying it helped people.

    http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/2012/11/fo ... -edge-800/


    Great guide mate. Im brand new to the forums and was looking for just this.

    Much appreciated
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  • deadhead1971
    deadhead1971 Posts: 338
    Bagggers wrote:
    deadhead1971 wrote:
    I wrote a "foolproof" (famous last words...) guide to navigation on the Garmin Edge 800.
    You might find it useful, I get lots of comments and emails saying it helped people.

    http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/2012/11/fo ... -edge-800/


    Great guide mate. Im brand new to the forums and was looking for just this.

    Much appreciated

    You're welcome :-)
    Thanks for taking the time to comment.
    Tell all your mates on facebook and Twitter if you like.
    Cheers!
    Alan
    http://www.scarletfire.co.uk

    The Ultimate List of Strava Add On Sites!
    http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/strava-sites
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    Garmin's software is indeed very shoddy (both the web stuff and their firmware on devices), until Bryton catch up though or someone else enters the market they can unfortunately get away with it. Mind you I've never been able to update my TomTom satnav due to it's crappy software either so maybe it's just failed programmers always end up working for satnav companies?

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