Garmin Bricking Edge Devices (1050)

[nogoodnamesleft]

I had someone try to tell me on Reddit that Edge 1040's like mine were impossible to read. It was rather bizarre. They ended up deleting their comments when I challenged them on it, it was baffling.

Mine is the "Solar" version and whilst I used to use it on "Auto" screen brightness (summer touring in EU) I've recently been manually setting to manual max (which does impact battery use a lot typically 40% for a 2 hr ride).

I use the 1040 Solar on my upright-DF and on my tadpole bent I use the 1050 which has a fabulous screen so maybe part of the 1040 visibility is my being used to the 1050 clarity as well as I wear sunglasses (for eye protection) and in winter with dull days, sunglasses, expectations ... I find I need the max brightness on the 1040 Solar.

nb I keep adding the "Solar" as apparently the solar version screen is not so bright as the non-solar version but the 1050 screen is fabulously bright and clear.

 

[Boopop]

Mine is the "Solar" version and whilst I used to use it on "Auto" screen brightness (summer touring in EU) I've recently been manually setting to manual max (which does impact battery use a lot typically 40% for a 2 hr ride).

I use the 1040 Solar on my upright-DF and on my tadpole bent I use the 1050 which has a fabulous screen so maybe part of the 1040 visibility is my being used to the 1050 clarity as well as I wear sunglasses (for eye protection) and in winter with dull days, sunglasses, expectations ... I find I need the max brightness on the 1040 Solar.

nb I keep adding the "Solar" as apparently the solar version screen is not so bright as the non-solar version but the 1050 screen is fabulously bright and clear.

Yeah, mine is a 1040 Solar too. It certainly could be brighter, but of course that comes with faster battery use even if it was able.

I was just baffled by this strange person on reddit claiming it was so dark it was impossible to read.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Never had any readability problems with my 1040.

A feature I would like is to be able to just turn the backlight on for 20 sec and do nothing else at all. Stay on the same page. Don't open up a menu. Just turn the light on.

But touching the screen always initiates some other action. I just want to read what's there. I don't want to change the page go to the home menu or anything like that.

Minor gripe

 

[Dadam]

Never had any readability problems with my 1040.

A feature I would like is to be able to just turn the backlight on for 20 sec and do nothing else at all. Stay on the same page. Don't open up a menu. Just turn the light on.

But touching the screen always initiates some other action. I just want to read what's there. I don't want to change the page go to the home menu or anything like that.

Minor gripe

I don't have and aren't interested in getting a 10x0 device, just have an Explore 2 so this is just curiosity. Pretty sure my EE2 backlight is on all the time if it's dark. Surely that's what you want, i.e. data or map or whatever at a glance? Unless you're doing all night rides and want to save battery I can't really see the point of an auto-off backlight.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I have backlight off during daylight on my Explore 2. When dark I have it at 10%. It’d be good to be able set different backlight setting for daytime and night.

 

[fossyant]

Garmin messed up the last but one update on the Edge 705, fortunately you could roll it back, then wait for the not faulty update. As it wasn't 'automatic', the news hit the forums before most people updated. Didn't brick the device, but messed up the GPS accuracy and speed recording.

 

[fossyant]

Yep. I had one 500 which was pants. Sold it on. Decided to get another 500 a while later for use as a back up device and it works flawlessly. Despite both using the same os.
The 200 I had never had a problem. Changed the battery and was good as new.
The 105, though great for connectivity and ease of use. The battery life was absolutely crap.
I then got an Explore. It was a bit temperament along with a poor battery life. Sold it on and got an Explore 2. Talk about chalk and cheese. It works flawlessly with a huge battery life.

Still running my Explore - it's been fine - turned off some alerts etc, and can get four plus hours from it. I do use a backup Anker single cell battery for long events/bike packing.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I can't really see the point of an auto-off backlight.

You might be right.

It might be my miserly attitude that causes my problems. I got into the habit in the 2010s of saving every last electron on my rechargeable AA powered GPSs and my Edge thingummy (I forget the model) because I kept running out of charge.

Now I don't ride such long distances and have the super battery capacity of the 1040 perhaps I should treat myself, push the boat out, and leave the backlight on in poor visibility.

Now if only I could remember the menu commands to do that

 

[T4tomo]

Anyway, I don't care. I just checked and it's only la-di-da swankpots with 1050s who are affected.

Us salt of the earth types with 1040s are unaffected, and can only dream of having such problems.

some of use are still running an 800, just saying!!!

the on / off button has fallen off it but it can still be turned on and off with the prod of a door key or similar so all good!

 

[Buck]

I’ve got a 530 on the bike and it works fine. Any issues have always been user error.
I also have a Fenix6 watch which is excellent and does everything I need (and more!) so I guess everyone’s experiences are different.

I recently had an issue with my Garmin HR monitor and Garmin support were excellent.

One thing I’ve learned is not to think the world has fallen in just because a vocal minority are active on a forum/SM.

 

[Dadam]

I liked my 530 but sometimes struggled to read the map on the screen, and controlling it with the buttons (changing views and especially panning the map) was a pain, so very happy with the upgrade to EE2. Especially as I recouped nearly half the cost from selling the 530.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I can't really see the point of an auto-off backlight.

Better for night vision to have it off.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Now if only I could remember the menu commands to do that

Just get Chat GPT to do it. Then fall about laughing.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

I’ve got a 530 on the bike and it works fine. Any issues have always been user error.
I also have a Fenix6 watch which is excellent and does everything I need (and more!) so I guess everyone’s experiences are different.

The issue raised was a duff software update and Garmin's (lack of) response. When they make a software release you don't get the option not to update just "Now" or "Later" and if you say "later" you don't get asked again it just updates at its convenience normally within 12 hrs. Thus to wait several days to see if it's stable is difficult and not offered. Add that if the release is a bad one that bricks devices (as happened on the particular 1050 release) they don't allow any means to revert to the previous and properly working version, even when they recognise there is a major issue - they just force you to live with your bricked device (that you didn't want to update anyway) until they sort the issue which in the instance this thread started about was several weeks.

Imagine the impact if you were mid cycle tour in a foreign country needing the device for navigation. You'd be in big trouble.

When I'm touring I won't make any software updates to anything. I make sure everything is stable and working before departing so I have no need for any updates and any updates are just a risk of disaster and for no benefit (at that time). Garmin don't seem to recognise of accept that consideration.