Garmin's best effort at epic rubbishness so far.

[ufkacbln]

I really don't like Garmin things. I've been given one that someone didn't want, and I never look a gift horse in the mouth. Today, the Garmin excelled itself. It switched off ( for no apparent reason ) no surprises there, but this time, when it came back on, it was set to a very strange looking language. I don't have any idea what this language was ( looked like Klingon or something ). Anyway, the only way I could think of getting it back to normal, was a 'factory reset'. The problem is, I don't speak bloody Klingon, so I couldn't see which button to hit, 'cos I couldn't understand what was written on the buttons. After 20 minutes buggering about, jabbing random buttons, I got it right. That's another 20 minutes of my life I won't get back then. Garmin based rant over.

There is always an option to google....
Clearly show which buttons to press
Regardless of language

 

[fossyant]

I really don't like Garmin things. I've been given one that someone didn't want, and I never look a gift horse in the mouth. Today, the Garmin excelled itself. It switched off ( for no apparent reason ) no surprises there, but this time, when it came back on, it was set to a very strange looking language. I don't have any idea what this language was ( looked like Klingon or something ). Anyway, the only way I could think of getting it back to normal, was a 'factory reset'. The problem is, I don't speak bloody Klingon, so I couldn't see which button to hit, 'cos I couldn't understand what was written on the buttons. After 20 minutes buggering about, jabbing random buttons, I got it right. That's another 20 minutes of my life I won't get back then. Garmin based rant over.

If you find Garmin's hard work, just wait till you get that new fangled TT bike that will catapult you into the nearest field on a tight descent - there is a reason you only race TT's on a TT bike !

 

[Racing roadkill]

If you find Garmin's hard work, just wait till you get that new fangled TT bike that will catapult you into the nearest field on a tight descent - there is a reason you only race TT's on a TT bike !

I decided not to go for the TT bike in the end. The last TT bike I had, finished up badly broken, as did I. To add insult to injury, I secured what was left of it ( Shiv Pro race ), aiming to get someone to go and fetch what was left of it, and see what was salvageable. But someone had nicked it, by the time I got back to where I'd left it ( only about 4 hours later). That was an expensive lesson in why not to spend loads on a bike with a specialist application.

 

[Racing roadkill]

There is always an option to google....
Clearly show which buttons to press
Regardless of language

Googling would be even more of a faff.

 

[Racing roadkill]

The Garmins that are powered by AA batteries have always been a bit prone to turning themselves off - it only takes a microsecond's loss of power as a battery is bounced off its contact by road shock. It helps to use a mount that doesn't transmit shocks so well - eg on a Spacegrip rather than directly on the handlebar. A non-touchscreen version would also avoid button labels in ИНОСТРАННЫЕ too.

That looks like the language right there.

I still don't understand it thoughthis is a Touring Edge 500 or something. It's not powered by AA batteries, it's a USB charger job.

 

[huwsparky]

Nice story.

 

[numbnuts]

Having used Garmin on bikes, cars and marine never had any problems with them and their after sales service is second to none IMO, maybe it's down to the operator

 

[ufkacbln]

Googling would be even more of a faff.

Open Google
Type "Reset Garmin XXX"
Open first answer
Press two buttons


20 - 30 seconds, far faster and less faff than spending 20 minutes pressing buttons at random

 

[huwsparky]

Open Google
Type "Reset Garmin XXX"
Open first answer
Press two buttons


20 - 30 seconds, far faster and less faff than spending 20 minutes pressing buttons at random

Yes, but that means doing things logically.

 

[Tiger10]

Perhaps you need to peddle faster, as it may have thought that you were finished..

 

[Dirk]

My Garmin 510 occasionally changes the data fields to something else. This usually happens after a lunch stop. I get back on the bike and find that distance has changed to calories, speed has changed to cadence etc.
Very strange.

 

[ufkacbln]

My Garmin 510 occasionally changes the data fields to something else. This usually happens after a lunch stop. I get back on the bike and find that distance has changed to calories, speed has changed to cadence etc.
Very strange.

Drink less beer?


Strange things happen to me after "lunch" sometimes

 

[Racing roadkill]

Having used Garmin on bikes, cars and marine never had any problems with them and their after sales service is second to none IMO, maybe it's down to the operator

Doubtful. I've had a few, they've all been a bit cack.

 

[Racing roadkill]

My Garmin 510 occasionally changes the data fields to something else. This usually happens after a lunch stop. I get back on the bike and find that distance has changed to calories, speed has changed to cadence etc.
Very strange.

That's quite a common occurrence as well. It happened today in this one. I set it up with 10 fields on the screen, when I started it after the stop, it only had 5 fields on the screen, and the auto pause ( which I had turned off) had turned back on.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Open Google
Type "Reset Garmin XXX"
Open first answer
Press two buttons


20 - 30 seconds, far faster and less faff than spending 20 minutes pressing buttons at random

Really? Not on my planet it isn't.