Continued problems, sensors, inaccurate readings. Ready to move on from Karoo
I am having problems with this device. These issues have just started cropping up in the last month. Sensor connection issue are mainly the problem.
1. I use a Varia radar and my Garmin watch for HR. Both dropped off the unit two days ago mid ride. They wouldn’t reconnect then. I tried repairing but that doesn’t work either. Karoo sees them, pairs but then won’t connect.
2. Speed sensor- I used garmin speed sensor. I have somewhat the same issue. Karoo sees the sensor, pairs to it but won’t connect when I actual want to use it.
This is coupled with other issues. Some minor, some not so. The distance seems very inaccurate. I changed the sensor when it was connected from auto calibrate to manual and I still get a higher mileage than I should have. I use a Garmin watch connected to the same sensor, same calibration bit at the end of the ride Karoo has me about a mile further in distance. How that happens I don’t know. The last ride I also used my Apple Watch as test and it was only a 1/10 of a mile from the Garmin watch which was almost a mile short of what Karoo had. Again why, Both Garmin and Karoo are using the same sensor.
That coupled with other minor annoyance have me ready to ditch this device. I would return it but I am a good 30 days outside the return window.
This device seems well thought out and has a nice screen but it really seems like it is a first gen item, which I thought Karoo 1 was. The Karoo 2 should be much more than that. It should be a match for at the Garmin 530 and probably 830.
I know this seems like a rant and is some steam blowing but I am very unhappy that I ditched my old Garmin 1000 for this computers to add to the enjoyment of the ride. If it doesn’t do as billed then why use it.
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Hi Paul,
My suggestion is a hard reset.
https://support.hammerhead.io/hc/en-us/articles/360058853573-Performing-a-Hard-Reset-on-your-Karoo-2
Note:
Login to your Hammerhead Account to restore your Routes and Activities automatically.
You will then have to download Offline Maps and pair your sensors again.
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I will give that a try. Maybe it will work.
Hopefully it does for now but I question whether they will fix the shortcomings of this device.
I am not sure how a device maker without a steady stream of revenue from other items can afford to keep software up to date and add the things it should have had from the beginning.
I am hopeful because I am outside the return window.
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Yes, have double checked the wheel size. I have also done a factory reset on the unit and will repairing the sensors shortly and testing to make sure all is well.
I had a confusing response from Karoo support. From the fit file I sent them the tech said the problem is I have to many sensors connected and that is causing the problem. That if one is Bluetooth and cause an issue with the ant+ connections. Only problem is I only had 4 sensors connected and none were Bluetooth. They were speed, radar, cadence and heart rate.
The chart they used to show this, shows all sensors paired. That is what they based their reply on. I have two bikes that I use the Karoo with there will be a double set of sensors. If that is a problem for the device then that is an issue for me. It doesn’t connect to all the sensors all the time only when they are awake. I can’t be connected to all sensors when I am 20 miles away from most of them. I haven’t responded yet to their response I want to give them exact info on the sensors that were connected.
From reading others issues and my own I am starting g to concerned that this device is ready. It has a beautiful screen and has an OS that should be expandable. But if it can’t do the everyday standard things all the time and do them accurately then that is a problem. Now I understand then there are others that have had no issues and neither did I for 2 months. But I don’t expect problems doing the basic thing that the device is supposed to do.
Stay tuned.
Thank you all.
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Why you have to set the wheelsize correct when it should be calibrated automatically. But I doublechecked with my fenix which also calculates it automatically it and it was just 1mm difference which doesnt explain the difference of 2kph difference in speed and more anoying the wrong distance in the end of the ride.
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It’s more accurate to set the wheelsize manually, but you have to do it the right way, not a readout from a table. It also depends on the pressure in your tyre and weight. FYI when I’m mountainbiking my wheelsize is 2263mm with a pressure of 1.6 bar. When I do a ride on the road (sometimes) the pressure goes to 3,7 bar and then the wheelsize is 2306mm.
When set to auto it’s measuring the wheelsize every ride and there will be differences in it.I did lot’s of tests and the Karoo 2 is exactly the same as my previous Sigma: in distance, avg and speed.
@Robert try to set a smaller wheelsize so the 2kph difference will be gone.
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well I believe everything you are writing but my Garmin auto calibrates it everytime correct and I dont have to think about it ... that has to be the case at the karoo too ... and as I wrote already the automatic calculated wheelsize was on my garmin watch and the karoo 2 the same just 1mm of which makes it more weird ...and measuring spped and distance just by gps on the karoo was fine too ... anyway that algorithm or bug has to be fixed and no .. I dont fix it by typing in a wrong wheelsize to compansate it ... then I dont need a speedsensor and dont had that issue on my karoo one ...
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I agree that you should have to fudge a number in a calibration field in order to get the correct distance and speed numbers. The auto calibration should work and must work.
Also the device needs to be able to handle multiple sensors of the same kind. I have two bikes and other than the radar unit I have sensors on each bike. The tech from hammerhead stated that i should only have paired sensors that i need for a particular ride. I have asked for further clarification on his statement. He implied that the Karoo unit was looking for sensors that weren’t there on the ride.
If this is the case then I won’t be using Karoo much longer.
Any thoughts.
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Well it should work excellent with several sensors, there are enough people which do have this. You can also read it in the manual:
“ Your Karoo can connect with any number of Bluetooth® Low Energy and up to seven ANT+™ sensors simultaneously.”About the wheelsize, auto should work fine but manual will always be more accurate, especially when you’re directly going into the forest on a singletrack.
@paul if it worked perfect on your Karoo 1 with exactly the same wheelsize then it looks like your Karoo 2 has a problem. Mine has exactly the same wheelsize as the previous one and it works like a charm.
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What what they don’t tell you that if you have multiple bike with each bike having it’s own set of sensors you may have problems. It seems you have to prioritize the sensors for each ride so as to avoid conflicts. It seems that Karoo will connect to sensors correctly but will continue to search for all sensors that it is paired with. This may cause conflicts with OS which may lead to disconnects ins sensors connected. This may or may not happen. You can ride 20 rides with no problem and then it may happen or it may never happen. The tech support recommended that I prioritize for each ride and possibly unpair duplicate sensors.
it seems like Karoo is great if you have 1 bike or multiple bikes with only one set of sensors. That coupled with the distance inaccuracies, sorry but auto calibration doesn’t always work correctly- which is a know issue with tech support, manually calibrating can help but isn’t perfect because of tread differences or as one commenter suggested insert calibration number that an accurate reading.
The Karoo 2 is a beautiful looking device that does some things very well. For most people it works perfectly as far they know. I have now had issues with it and the response basically is that I need to change what I want it to do so it can work correctly. Sorry but they have lost me there.
I would have thought that the Karoo 1 helped them work all the kinks out. I expect my cycling computer do the normal day to day things correctly from day 1 and I shouldn’t have to fudge things in order to get to work correctly.
I am very disappointed and dissatisfied with the Karoo 2 and have requested a return.
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well I wouldnt go that far ... I like the device and constant improvement of it! anyway the whole sensor thing should be completley regoranized ... for example my garmin ask me if i want to switch to another powermeter when I m on my kickr as I can get power from my spider or the kickr ... thats fine and I know where I get data from ... but speedsensor really has to work and calibrate automaticly without any issue ... thats really basic stuff ... and yes people who buy a karoo 2 often own more then one bike ... maybe five :) ... anyway I like the Karoo 2 especially of its navigation capabilities and the nice smooth android navigation instead of the retro garmin touch screen :) .... hopefully they fix it soon ... its a lot about data and sensors!
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Paul,
I have the same issue! Happens frequently! It happened again today on my ride. Everything looks connected, Varia, Duotrap Cadence Speed Sensor and HR monitor.. I doubled check it before I start. Just a few miles down the road, everything was dropped. I am very frustrated. Garmin never have that problem for me. I love the Karoo but I am getting to a point that I am reconsidering getting another Garmin!
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