Garmin Varia ANT+ Radar Battery Level Indicator // Garmin Edge Tip
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ต.ค. 2019
- How to keep an eye on your Garmin Varia Radar battery level on your Edge head unit.
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The simple way is to add the LIGHT Battery status field to one of your activity profile pages. This works because the Garmin ANT+ RADAR devices are also also ANT+ LIGHT devices.
Tail Light Field ConnectIQ Link: bit.ly/368Glp1
Bontrager Light Control ConnectIQ Link: bit.ly/347nOYn
Garmin Varia Radar/Light RTL510 (Amazon US): amzn.to/2Wdtayi
Garmin Varia Radar/Light RTL500 (Previous Model. Amazon US): amzn.to/2pOuXOh
Garmin Edge 530 Bundle (Amazon US): amzn.to/2KmpoQa
Garmin Edge 830 (Amazon US): amzn.to/2Xjp6zO
Garmin Edge 1030 (Amazon US): amzn.to/2Xbv71e
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gplama.com
#garmin #cycling #varia - กีฬา
Thanks for this! I ended up creating a new data screen displaying ALL three battery lifes: Varia, Di2, and Edge. Handy to have them all in one place!
I've had an RLT515 for almost a year. I just updated my Edge 830 to 9.30 today and thought I'd give the tail light field a go. Works perfectly, thank you! Love your channel in general, great work.
Shane, thanks for bringing this little widget(?) to our attention! Although I’ve only just seen the video now, a year on!
I only bought my varia tl515 6 weeks ago and hands-down it’s the best thing I’ve purchased for my bikes in the 8 years I’ve been cycling! And that’s something coming from a self-confessed bike tart😂
Just downloaded the widget from the IQ store on my phone, sync’d and it’s all up and running, no sweat!
Really like the idea of being able to easily switch off the light quickly from the head unit. And bonus, when you switch the light unit back on (from your computer), eg at a cafe stop it remembers the “mode” your light was in when turned off - something I find frustrating the the varia unit itself when I’d switch it off - doesn’t remember “last mode used” so you have to cycle through them.
The RTL515 is definitely a brilliant piece of kit but the low battery warning does come up surprisingly quickly so this data field gives you piece of mind. Thanks Shane, superb advice.
Seems to work well with the current generations as well. Works as expected with a RTL515 and a 1030 Plus. Thanks for the tip on that field.
Such continuous stream of uploads... Hats off Shane! ( aka GPLama )
So simple yet didn’t know it was available. Thank you Shane
just got the radar and this is a friggin top idea. thanks Shane! i havent tried it yet but i am trying to use the radar and ANT+ it to my and my partners Edge at the same time as we ride together alot. hopefully we can both get the same info on cars coming up.
You absolutely can pair several head units to the one varia device - 3 of my riding buddies have done so - since I’m the one that is the bike tart and have the varia! Only thing for you both to bear in mind, is that if a rider(s)is behind rider with the varia unit, you might get the occasional “false reading “ as the radar picks up the rider or the rider blocks the radar signal which might otherwise detect a car. Small inconvenience though for the overall benefits of traffic detection by the varia. Best bit of kit I’ve bought for my bikes.
Thank You Shane. Great video!! Have a great ride. T Mo
Also worth mentioning, the 830 has a built-in widget for changing the flash pattern and switching the light on and off.
this does not work in Germany. Non compliant.
Could you please give directions how to turn this on? I can’t figure it out Thanks!
@@gerard7829 I have this question too if you have since figured it out?
Im Cheaperthanyou sure, I unpaired the radar and then paired it as a “light “ and NOt a radar, that seemed to do it
@@gerard7829 thanks that did it. 👍
Well I never knew that, cheers mate
Interesting video. I use the Garmin Radar 510 in day lamping mode and I've no problem with battery in my long ride too. Of course I recharge it every time after the ride
More tips please Shane. Because the manual doesn't say you can do that. Great vid.
Point to note, these only work if you fully pair the devices, I had this problem, you can pair the device just by switching it on (not turning it into pairing mode) and it will still connect to your computer, but it will not form a light network, instead when pairing make sure the radar is in pairing mode when pairing to the computer, god knows why Garmin allows you to pair in 2 different ways
How do you do this?
I had to REMOVE and reinstall the Varia to make it work.
@@todd5963 did battery life change after that ?
You are the real hero. Fixed my problem. Guys if your battery indicator shows a question mark, or varia only shows in sensor as a radar and not a radar and a light. Do the following. Delete the sensor from edge. Put rtl-515 Into pairing mode. In off state, hold button for 2 seconds. Light needs to flash purple (not blue which is standard on mode). When that happens, search sensors and add it again via the Garmin edge. This time it will add it as a light and work as per the video.
Nice, thank you very much, i will try this with my new RT516! :-)
Nice one Shane!
Take note Wahoo!
I kind of hope Garmin will soon release a Varia Virb, a unit that is camera, radar and taillight in one. :)
yes me too
Is there an option for none touch screen edge devices?
Am I missing something? I don't seem to have the "lights" option under data screens on my 935.
It works fine with my RTL510, but I'd love to know the batter on the device.
Such a helpful video. After installing the Tail Light Field, I ran into a “No Network “ error. Only to learn that my Varia is pretty much two devices in one and both have to be paired separately. Love the on/off button on my second screen!
This is also accesible by the pull down widgets menu for “light network” where garmin puts all the light options in one easy to access page without having to create a whole page for it where you can change al the light modes and check battery status.
I already had my RTL510 paired before I saw this video. I modified my data screens in Profile to display the RTL battery and the Tail Light fields. But they had no information. I found that I had to remove the RTL510 radar as a sensor in Settings, and add it again in order to get the Lights (light network) to show up as a choice. I went back to my Profile and voila!, data and functionality were present.
thanksssssssss
Lol I've had the 1030 and radar for nearly 2 years and no..one tells me about these features. Im looking for the garage door auto open feature gotta be there somewhere...
@@shar935 I've used that app for a year or so, it's pretty inconsistent. Still the best out there right now though.
Can this ON/OFF function work on the 530 via the Di2 buttons? I could probably program one of the hood buttons. Do you know?
Great video - another lesson learned :-)
So the big question is... what eats battery most - radar or the light? If we get a low battery warning when we're out, does switching off the light save much battery or is its use only a tiny proportional of the total drain of radar and light together?
I'd be interested in an answer to this question
It does, as full on mode is 6h and day burst is 15h, light off should put it over 20h.
Haven't measured but mine lasts around 2 weeks - I have it turned off on group rides and use a different taillight when I solo.
Q1:How do you alter the mode settings on the light? ie: to toggle between on & off instead of cycling through each mode.
Q2: I will set my light to flash before I leave the house. When I am out on the road it has switched back to solid??? Please explain, is this a setting I can change?
Thank you for the content you provide for us and quality of it, both technical and knowledge sides of it.
Is it possible to charge radar while it's on ?
Yes, that'l work.
Shane. Will the Garmin Varia have the range using ANT+ to allow two or three head units to use one Varia in a group ride to warn everyone ? 1) what is the range and 2) how many head units can receive data at the same time. Thanks
Is there a similar thing for the Varia UT800 front light?
Ran out of battery just today...
Just found the Bontrager works with the Varia UT800... doesn’t support all modes, but it works. Nice find, Shane!
I uninstalled the radar and reinstalled working fine thx
Same here, only way to make it work. Thanks for sharing that. I was having a lot of issues with this till I saw your comment
It was posted in the Edge830 Garmin forum that the battery indicators for the Di2 battery field isn't 20% per segment as you'd expect. Instead, it's like this:
Battery % Status # of bars
0-10 Critical 1
11-25 Low 2
26-50 OK 3
51-90 Good 4
91-100 New 5
Does anyone know if this is the same for this light field, or is it 20% per segment?
Cool tip mate. Too bad it doesnt work with my other light (the on/off function).
Possible to make it work with Di2 D-fly buttons?
The ANT+ Light Network spec is horrible.... or more accurately, the implementation of it is horrible. SeeSense simply disable it on their "ANT+ Compatible" front light and point the finger at Garmin.... it's a mess.
That's exactly what I have as my other light. I dread the day when SeeSense Beam finally arrives...
When does the RTL 515 car approach lane show up on a Garmin Edge 510 screen? Or is the unit too old? The radar connects fines, updates to the Edge and radar are recent but no lanes.
Shane does battery life take a hit with the more screens you have on the 830 or 1030.…?
Not that I'm aware of. One for Garmin Support for a direct answer though.
Doesn't seem to provide battery status via this field with RVR315 and Edge 810. I did update both devices. Wish Garmin would provide an integration/hacking toolkit across their devices. Also be nice to have Apple Watch integration with radar warnings (Habtic) not just on the phone. PS. I can open my garage with MyQ app on my watch.
If that’s an edge 1030, how did you get the rtl500 to connect? I can’t seem to get them to connect … thanks for the help. Great vid 👍
Put the RTL500 in pairing mode by pressing the power button for two seconds.
Is this also possible with a 520 plus? I've added the field but only get the "?"
As long as the RTL510 is paired as a light this should work.
Once again great video @gplama :) I am a Wahoo user fo you know if these features are coming to @Wahoo?
The Wahoo units will show basic ‘good’ or ‘low’ status in the sensor details, and alert when the Radar battery is low. That’s it for now.
Shane Miller - GPLama Too many presses to get to that though especially out on the road. Would be handy to have it as a configurable field.
Agreed. I'll put a word in :)
Shane Miller - GPLama Please do! 😀
@@gplama Thanks :)
Hi GP Lama - great video and a topic close to my heart commuting in the 🇬🇧 often in the dark!
I’d set my heart on a new 530 (as I value simplicity) and I’m even in the process of flogging my 820 on eBay NOW you’ve made a compelling case for the (more £££) 830 dammit! No touch screen, no light controls, right?
Bigger is better! Go the 830! ;) (The 530 is also fine. You can control the light with it, but it's a lot more buttons and finger ninja'ing)
@@gplama cheers, that's what I figured after seeing the vid. At 0600 on the way into London I'm not sure I want to press many buttons esp with gloves on 🥺
Can this ON/OFF function work on the 530 via the Di2 buttons? I could probably program one of the hood buttons. Do you know?
Both the Tail Light Field or the Bontrager Light Control doesn't exist in Garmin IQ anymore?
"smart bike lights" widget by maca88 is so much better. You can use it with two Bontrager lights or lets say ION 200 on the front and Varia 515 at the back. Both on one widget screen. And the buttons are configurable and even their names can be modified. So you can have only those light modes visible on the widget, instead of all of them, which can be more tricky to press while riding.
Shane, I’ve watched this video 5x, and for some reason I swear I’m missing something. I have the latest firmware updates on my 1030 and my new RTL510, but the “Talilight” ConnectIQ data field isn’t working. In the selected field I get a “No Network” message and with the light battery option chosen, I get a 🔋 with a ❓. Could you lead the way so. Can be cool like you?!? Thanks in advance. 🤪😉
Sources like it’s not pairing as an ANT+ Light. Go into the sensors, delete any light network info and Radar, turn the RTL off, go into pair new sensor, press and hold the RTL power for 2 seconds or so (the light will flash differently), then search for new sensors. It should find the Radar and also the ANT+ Light.
In short: The Radar needs to be put into pairing mode with a press and hold of the power to pair the light function.
Shane Miller - GPLama, I just deleted it as recommended and then selected it as Light versus radar. Within light selection the radar showed and from there selected it and it worked as advertised (light, radar, and responsive field on 1030). Thx for the guidance. 😇
Is something similar available on the wahoo element?
I hope so but I cant see it
FYI I just uploaded the data screen and it doesn’t work with the Garmin edge 1030, I had to do a reset to get computer working again. Now to add my sensors again and recreate my data screens. Bugger. Updated 1030 to 9.0 and taillight is field still screws up 1030.
I have bontrager fields working on a 1030 v9 firmware. I had to reinstall the bontrager app though.
Richard Hamilton I’ll give it a go
Must be a UK thing. Can’t use the bontrager fields either, it will not find the radar or light. The 1030 Will not form a light network either with tail light data field or bontrager field. The radar battery field does work. Tried it twice in case it was me doing something wrong. Nope totally screws up the light network, and no battery indicator either. Reset and gave up.
Any tips for the roam Wahoo units?
No support for ANT+ Lights on the Wahoo units, or battery levels of the Radar.
How do I pair this light the older version with Garmin edge 25 ?
That's one for Garmin Support.
Hi Shane, trying to add my Varia RTL510 as a data field on my Edge 1030, it keeps coming up on my screen with a battery icon with a ? inside it. What am I doing wrong. Also trying to add the connect IQ and it it comes up with No Network. Thanks T Mo
Delete the sensor. Then press and hold the power button on the RTL for 2-3 seconds. Re pair the sensor and it should pickup both the Radar and Light profiles from it. Let me know how this goes.
Hi Shane. I had the same issue with my 520.Followed the above instructions and success. Thanks for all of these helpful videos.
Is the light battery the same as the radar battery, is there just the one battery, but you check it under the light thing?
Yes
@@gplama Thanks, I got it working.
But confusing still, I have the 516 model, which doesn't flash, can I use the light just as a light, or would you use a regular back light and save the battery for the radar?
Hi! It doesn't work by me! I have an RTL 515 and Garmin Edge Explore. The app(s) are on the Edge Explore but there is a battery with a '?' in the middle by the battery level and 'no network' by the other.
does it support auto decelaration??
I don’t understand the question sorry.
@@gplama i mean brake light like varia tail light ?
@@waleeddawa2168 No. There's no brake detection.
Shane Miller - GPLama you know I’m asking because I have varia light and the tail light understand the auto deceleration from my garmin Edge 830 and it get brighter and I was thinking to upgrade to Varia radar
I have so many problems with dropped signal on mine. I use the Garmin out front mount and the only 'advise' I've seen is don't use the mount
Hmmm. Have you updated the firmware on the Varia?
@@gplama up to date in express just checked v3.50. some rides it's fine then half way through dropping every 15 seconds no obvious reason.
Il looks like NONE of these apps is compatible with a Garmin 530.
How can I check the battery level of my varia on a 530?
The 530 should have a Light Battery Level field, so when the RTL510 is paired as a Radar+Light, you'll be good.
There is a way to turn off radar and use only the light on?
You can mute the radar tones on Edge units.
@@gplama Tanks for the quick respond..
I want to turn off the radar and Leave only the light without my screen working on the radar When I ride with my mountain bike.
What’s the difference respect to the widget field for lights on the edge 1030
Luca Bizjak I use the widget also
Data field can be on screen at all times. The widget is a bit of finger gymnastics to get to quickly.
None of these options work for me. The battery field displays a question mark, and the Bontrager field says "Waiting for Network to Form" whatever that means. When using the battery status field, I get a battery with a question mark, but the radar and the lights are working fine.
Ohhh and I'm using a Garmin Edge 830 and a Varia Radar 510 Unit.
Check the Light Network sensor pairing. If that's not working the battery info won't display.
@@gplama yes, it now works; really not intuitive, maybe in the next version of this video, you can touch on this topic, most people just connect the radar... Thanks a lot.
your mentioned apps are not compatible with edge 530 anymore
I’d be surprised if that was the case.
@@gplama yea I was surprised as well. When I tried to install them through connect IQ I could not download them. Then when I looked at the updated 2022 compatibility list I don’t see 530 there.
@@gplama just got a reply from developer. 530 is not supported because it is not touch screen.
Shame this doesn't work with the 935 :(
What about health concerns from the radar radiation ? Think of people riding behind me for long durations... how much radiation will they absorb ??
Given the frequency it uses (and that a LOT of other things use) and it passes certifications.... I don't expect it to be doing any harm. The technical specifications are published if you need to research this more.
Have had to almost cease using this device unfortunately due to complaints of the flashing on group rides before the sun rises. Wish there was a way to keep it solid and not flash with a passing car.
not for the 530
Can the radar function be turned off but the light kept on? Live in a city but often ride out into rural areas and would like to have the light on until I get out where the radar wouldn't be going off constantly. Thanks!
I'm not sure. I guess you could try pair the light only and disable the Radar. Or just mute the warnings on the Radar?
It is funny, but this DataField doesn't support Edge 530.
It works on 830, 1030 etc but 530 is not on the list 😃
I have the 530 as well, so I guess it won't function on the device 😢