Garmin 520

[eccc whippet]

Been playing around with the 520 asking a lot of questions.

everything is linked via garmin connect and garmin express and uploading to strava.

Can you have more that 1 heart rate monitor loaded in the sensor parameter...yes 

learnt something today...if you have a HRM from a 510 and try connect it to the 520 and it doesnt work...remove the battery cover and leave it face down for a few seconds then reattach the battery cover and try again...the 520 HRM which comes as part of the bundle should be already connected.

can you connect a polar HRM to a 520...havent been about to get it to connect yet...has anyone tried...i dont see why not if it is an ant+ device.

the speed and cadence units/pods which come with the bundle are pre loaded on the 520...no need to pair...but i have speed and cadence units/pods from a 510 which i have fitted on other bikes...once paired with the 520 will automatically display as you active them...so now if i am going to do a ride on the IDT...i clip on the 520 and turn the pedal the 520 picks up the unit/pods and display the data...no pressing of buttons or pairing etc required once setup...if i ride the trek...same thing...just clip in the 520 and start pedaling.

it seems to be a little more challenging with the HRM...will post once i have tested it tonight.

still trying to figue out how to get estimated power to work with the 520 or garmin connect...not sure that i can.

the only thing i dont enjoy about the 520...which i might be doing something wrong...when the backlight switches off i cant see the screen...so i either have to leave the backlight on or wear my glasses to see the screen...you can just touch the up or down button to activate the backlight...this was one thing the elemnt points out...,that thier unit may not be colour but the display is visible under all conditions.

not enjoying the ability to see how my poor heart is beating while putting in a little effort while out riding...worried i might have a heart attack when i see it hitting numbers like 187...at 50 i am told i shoulnt be going over 172 (cant believe everything you read on the internet)...yikes...as you saw in the other thread my poor heart reached a max of 187 and the avg was in zone 5  for 98 % of the ride...the avg was 169.

 

***i am very inexperienced using a garmin product...so please feel free to correct me if you know better.***

 

 

 

[lechatnoir]

Backlighting

The 510 has a setting that keeps the screen legible during the day, and once the sun goes down (using GPS to work that out) it swaps the display to night mode that is legible in the dark.

 

Since I shoved my thumb through the touch screen, I now have a 520 and need to find that feature

 

EDIT... oh, Menu > Settings > System > Display > Colour Mode

[tombeej]

"when the backlight switches off i cant see the screen". That probably means you've got your Brightness setting at 0%. The On/Off button (top left corner) also works your brightness. Try that and it should sort it out.

 

EDIT: You just need to push the top left button once (when the unit is already on). That gives you access to the 'Brightness' setting.

[eccc whippet]

let me try that again...i know what i am thinking but sometimes putting across gets distorted.

i understand the top left button displays the level of brightness...which you can adjust with the up/down buttons...mine is set to 100 % for the test.

then there is backlight timeout...with various settings from stay on ---1 minute...if i set it to 1 minute when it times out i cant see the screen...if i put my glasses on and look at it i can see the screen with the backlight off...if i switch the backlight on i dont need my glasses...i dont wear my glasses while riding so i will have to leave the backlight switched on at a low brightness...or just touch the down button which will switch on the backlight for 1 minute.

i have tried color mode on auto--day and night

the other solution might be to get bifocal riding sunglasses.

the cheapie bike computers i dont need to wear glasses to see the screen...

i have set the display screen fields to 3 to see if would be easier to see...will have to try out o the road and see how it works...or reduce the fields to 2 or even just 1.

[eccc whippet]

just tested the HRM on the IDT.

HRM 1 (unit which came in the bundle) switched on 520 and started to pedal...HR displayed working ok...removed HRM 1 and moved away from the IDT (more than 3 m) 

fitted HRM 2 (came in the 510 box) back to the IDT and start to pedal...no HR displayed...un clipped the unit/pod and re clipped onto the strap...HR displayed.

one thing i have learnt is that it is better to unclip the unit/pod from the strap on one side when not in use...then there is no interference...

when i go to settings ---sensors---i have a whole page of sensors each with a number...the ones not activated flash...as soon as you turn the pedal or fit the HRM and clip it in...and the 520 detects the sensor...the ones which are activated stop flashing.

 

there is so much to learn about this unit.

 

what i like is the select active profile...you can setup up different profiles for different rides and select different data fields...alerts etc etc.

i like the idea of having a recover advisor.

 

i see garmin connect also has training...personal best and many other features which i use in strava...i am starting to wonder why i need to strava...or pay to connect to strava premium...i am sure i will learn why in the near future... as i get smarter using the 520.

[MEYER1]

https://bike-addict.co.za/collections/tranning-devices/Garmin

[Furbz]

New Update on Garmin 520 adds Incident Detection