Various issues with my watch
Laura L
Posts: 8 [Apprentice Traveler]
My watch used to take a long time to sync activities with the Sports app on my Android phone (several minutes, easily 15 or so). Now it just doesn't sync anymore, I can only sync by connecting the watch to my computer. I'd like it to sync with the phone, and quickly, as it is meant to.
My watch sometimes takes a very long time to get ready to track a new activity. I especially noticed it with running. I have been out for group runs, starting out on the street where satellite signal should not be an issue, and the watch stays in 'please wait' for a good few minutes, meaning I have to start running and miss recording for up to 1 km or so.
When swimming at the swimming pool, my watch does not keep accurate count of laps. Sometimes it records a full lap when I am only in the middle of one.
How do I get it to work properly? Unpairing and re-pairing didn't make any difference.
Thanks
Laura
My watch sometimes takes a very long time to get ready to track a new activity. I especially noticed it with running. I have been out for group runs, starting out on the street where satellite signal should not be an issue, and the watch stays in 'please wait' for a good few minutes, meaning I have to start running and miss recording for up to 1 km or so.
When swimming at the swimming pool, my watch does not keep accurate count of laps. Sometimes it records a full lap when I am only in the middle of one.
How do I get it to work properly? Unpairing and re-pairing didn't make any difference.
Thanks
Laura
0
Comments
Superusers
For the GPS issues, are you updating the QuickGPS file a minimum of every three days by syncing the watch? This caches the expected satellite locations and makes for quicker attainment. Also, do not try to get signal while moving, you are just making it harder on the watch. Best to just sit still with the button pointing skyward (or take it off and place it on a flat surface) until it finds the GPS. Make sure the watch is in an unobstructed area without large buildings, tree cover or reflective surfaces as this will cause a lot of interference. It will also take longer the first time you are in a new location but will speed up thereafter as it caches the location data for that spot. Once you get the Go it is best to give it another minute or two as Go is just the minimum satellites locked on. The longer you wait the more it will grab and the better your signal will be.
For swimming, miscounting laps is common with most swim watches to some extent. It is using an accelerometer to try and figure out when you are reaching for the wall to turn, but you need a very strong turn to trigger it. You also need to be consistent in your stroke (freestyle works best), do not pause or slow at all mid-lap, among other things. It counts strokes in the same way it counts laps, by the accelerometer, so any variation in stroke may cause it to miss a stroke. Just like with lap counting, it is meant to give a rough estimate, it will never give you a perfect count, the technology just isn't there yet. You can search the forums for swimming accuracy related posts (try a variety of search strings) and will find a lot of posts on it. In a nutshell, it is only an estimate and is highly variable based on the user. You need to be using a consistent stroke (freestyle is best), push very hard into the turns (it recognizes a turn by the accelerometer using a force thrust), do not pause mid lap, among other things.
I hope this helps answer your question. If so, please mark it as a solution so others can look for it if they have the same question.
I really appreciate your reply. Very comprehensive and gave me a lot of hope. I performed the full uninstall/ reset/ reinstall / pair new procedure last night and I recorded a new activity this morning. Unfortunately the phone still didn't sync the activity. The app was connected with the watch, updated QuickGPS, and the status showed as synced however my activity was not coming up on the app at all. What is happening??
Your reply to the other issues was helpful. I do a weekly run in the city centre so I can't avoid having tall buildings around. Yesterday the GPS signal was picked up ok. Fingers crossed. And with swimming, ok, I will have to accept that the technology is not perfect yet.
Any other suggestions to fix the syncing issue will be much appreciated.
Laura
Superusers
I can try again tomorrow and check for that, though it would be very strange if the sync is done through the app but the activity does not show up on the app, but shows somewhere else...
Superusers
The app on the phone goes through:
- Preparing to sync
- Updating QuickGPS
- Tidying up - and gets stuck at 100%. It never syncs the activity.
I waited 1 hour or more. I tried closing the app and opening again. Same thing.The app appeared to be connected to the watch, and said it was last synced "just now" but my activity was not appearing on my phone or on MySports.
I see that a lot of people have that issue of getting stuck at the 'tidying up' stage. How do I fix this?
Thanks
Laura
Superusers
Superusers
I imagine this is not what you were hoping to hear but let me know if this answered your question. If it did, please mark it as a solution so other can look for it if they have the same question.
I really appreciate your answers and am marking the last comment as a solution because it's probably the final answer - though, for the benefit of other readers, I must say it's not really a solution.
Thank you
Laura
Superusers
Superusers
If it is not syncing by computer it is likely a faulty dock. Are you getting any error messages when you plug the watch in or is it being recognized at all? Does the clock face change to a battery charging icon (which indicates it is getting power so there is a partial connection)? A few things to look at (and I apologize if some are very basic, but it is best to get past the obvious issues first):
1) Are you plugged directly into the machine and not a hub?
2) Does the port work, can the computer detect other devices (like flash drives) in that port?
3) Is the watch firmly snapped into the cradle and the USB plug firmly in the port?
4) Is the USB port free of any debris or blockages?
5) Is the Connect software running (is there an icon for it in the notification area)?
6) Did you install Sports Connect, not MyDrive Connect? It is downloaded from tomtom.com/123
7) Do you have administrator rights to the computer?
8) Is a firewall or antivirus running that is blocking the software from connecting to TomTom (try turning them off before docking the watch)?
9) Does the computer have a good Internet connection (Internet is required to sync)?
10) Can you try installing it on a different machine to determine if it is an issue with the computer versus the watch?
Is there any damage to the pins in the charger or the contacts on the watch? If any of the pins are bent or deformed straighten them out with a pin and make sure the contacts on the back of the watch are free of tarnish or grime. Also make sure it is fully snapped into the cradle.