Opinions on Garmin Varia

[Mike_P]

Also, switch it on and stand back from it and then walk towards it.

You will see how it reacts to your approach, its pretty cool.

Mine goes off wheeling the bike through the side gate. I am to the side and there is nothing approaching so always completely foxed as to what is detecting.

 

[Slick]

Mine goes off wheeling the bike through the side gate. I am to the side and there is nothing approaching so always completely foxed as to what is detecting.

Yeah, strange that.

I noticed mine by accident as I parked up and went out the garage to do something without switching everything off. As I approached the bike, it went into a frenzy and I realised exactly why I was getting more wide passes when using it.

 

[Sea of vapours]

Mine goes off wheeling the bike through the side gate. I am to the side and there is nothing approaching so always completely foxed as to what is detecting.

Perhaps, as you open your gate, the bike goes backwards slightly. The Varia only needs a slight movement to detect relative movment so it would 'see' a static object behind you as 'approaching'.

 

[Mike_P]

Perhaps, as you open your gate, the bike goes backwards slightly. The Varia only needs a slight movement to detect relative movment so it would 'see' a static object behind you as 'approaching'.

Gate is opened before wheeling the bike.

 

[Mike_P]

Didn't happen going out this afternoon so occured to be it might be detecting the movement of a shrub when the wind is stronger but tehn when I got back it did it and the only thing behind it was my parked car

 

[Mike_P]

Garmin have at last issued a firmware update which claims to cut down on the 0:9 Radar Error

 

[HLaB]

Garmin have at last issued a firmware update which claims to cut down on the 0:9 Radar Error

Ive had the 3.36 update for months and there's been various other updates that have promised the same thing btbh I haven't really seen any difference in 0.9 errors.

 

[Mike_P]

Ah sorry. I had lost my varia last week and misread the date on the firmware update for the replacement. It might actually do something as the new one pre update came up with the error in a place the old one did not.

 

[HLaB]

Ah sorry. I had lost my varia last week and misread the date on the firmware update for the replacement. It might actually do something as the new one pre update came up with the error in a place the old one did not.

I could be wrong but I don't think I got error messages until Garmin started to issue updates to correct it 🤔

 

[Mike_P]

I'm wondering if the insides have altered at some point which explains why the update does not appear to work or causes it to happen. I was thinking of trying the new one out in a location where the old one always came up with the error but the 30mph+ gusts are putting me off doing that this afternoon

 

[cougie uk]

I discovered the function to turn the flash off from my garmin computer at the cafe last week, You can do it from the settings. Seemed ok on the ride home last week, and I did a ride midweek with it too - I'm pretty sure it was flashing ok.
Today I set off but no flashing - I had to change it in the settings again. I think I'll just do the manual turn off next time.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I discovered the function to turn the flash off from my garmin computer at the cafe last week, You can do it from the settings. Seemed ok on the ride home last week, and I did a ride midweek with it too - I'm pretty sure it was flashing ok.
Today I set off but no flashing - I had to change it in the settings again. I think I'll just do the manual turn off next time.

I only really want the radar function, not bothered about the light (I have a couple of Cateyes on the bike) so to extend battery life I'd be happy if there was no light at all but as far as I know this isn't possible. I set it onto flash only (by pressing the power button repeatedly). Am I missing something?

 

[Sea of vapours]

I'd be happy if there was no light at all but as far as I know this isn't possible

It is possible. I can do this using a Wahoo Roam V2 as the head unit, so it is bound to be possible with a Garmin head unit (!). On mine, I can go into 'Radar Settings', within 'Settings', and there are options for light mode and alert (radar alert) mode separately, and the light one includes 'Off'. I have mine set so that it only flashes when the radar alerts and battery life is the 16 hours or so Garmin quote.

 

[Dogtrousers]

It is possible. I can do this using a Wahoo Roam V2 as the head unit, so it is bound to be possible with a Garmin head unit (!). On mine, I can go into 'Radar Settings', within 'Settings', and there are options for light mode and alert (radar alert) mode separately, and the light one includes 'Off'. I have mine set so that it only flashes when the radar alerts and battery life is the 16 hours or so Garmin quote.

Time for a fiddle with my Garmin ...