Dido!

I agree, most important tech on my bike as well.

That’s handy to know as I ride constantly with a buddy so he could use it also as he has the same head unit as me

Plug the Radar into a USB data cable and load up Garmin Express to see if it is on the latest firmware.

@@gplama Thanks Shane. It said that there were two updates available, so I have update to Ver 3.32. Will post on here if that fixes the problem. Thanks again 🙂

Unfortunately the firmware update didn't solve the problem. I've contacted Garmin support, explained and sent pictures of the display and one of the crossings where it happens.

1. The frequent 'Radar Error' messages started for me around February, which coincides with the following firmware: ELEMNT WF48-14187 - 25 January, 2022 New Feature: Custom Alerts to Fuel your Ride Important Update: Improved Error Notifications for ANT+ Radars 2. The 'Radar Error' messages occur at pedestrian crossings (always), temporary traffic lights (sometimes) and filter lights (sometimes). There are odd occasions that they happen for no obvious reasons. This, I assume, is when the ANT+ link between the Varia and Elemnt suffers interference from an external source (which is similar to my Wahoo Kickr & Climb when we have the microwave oven running in another room). 3. The 'Radar Error' message does not give enough information for the user to tell what has caused the problem. However, on every occasion, pressing the 'Dismiss' button removes the message and the unit works normally thereafter (On only one or two occasions have I had the 'Radar Error' message come up a second time in seconds). But pressing the 'Dismiss' button forces the rider to remove a hand from the handlebars. This can be difficult when riding in the dark when wearing winter gloves and (for me) adds a bigger element of risk than what the error message tries to convey. 4. Given the lack of information of the cause of the 'Radar Error' Garmin are unable to diagnose whether there is a problem with the Varia unit or not. However, they replaced my unit, so that I could test a brand new unit (that came preinstalled with Garmin's latest firmware). The new unit behaved in the same way as the old unit - I had 'Radar Errors' displayed on my Elemnt at the same locations on both units. 5. I’ve also noted that ‘Radar Connected’ has started to show after you press ‘start’ and irritatingly, ‘Radar Disconnected’ shows every time I get to work and go to turn my Elemnt off. I’ve not been pleased when I go home from work 12 hours later and find my Elemnt battery depleted as the ‘Radar Disconnected’ stops the Elemnt turning off and I haven't noticed! Really hoping they improve (or remove) this feature. It was alright as it was before the warning was added!

Excellent.

Why do you think the original Varia (RTL500) is better than the current one (RLT510)? I have both and RTL510 is better is every aspects than RTL500. Much longer battery life, brighter LEDs and a standby mode that last months. The RLT510 is definitely more sensitive than then RTL500 so if I am stationary, it does pick up people walking behind me.

Changren Yong The new one doesn’t have the variation in LED’s as the original which fellow riders commented that they learnt when the lights changed they too knew a car was coming, also I find the new one useless in a Peloton, the old one worked better, also new one often tells me a car is coming only when it’s just behind me far more often than the old one, I ride with a friend who has the old one and there are lots of times his indicates a car sooner than mine? I noticed this as soon as I upgraded, I prefer the design of the new one and my legs don’t catch it

@Adam Joy Makes me feel better that I'm not the only one :)

Excellent. Let me know how it goes AK.

I love it with my E1030. The larger screen gives a better perspective IMHO of course.

@@ihsangin5816 Good to know, thanks!

🐑 🐑 🐑

The Radar will pick up what it can see. Sometimes in a bunch it'll see 'around' other cyclists and still detect things coming up behind.

Thanks

Just ordered one for my 2019 Venge, will let you know. Fingers crossed.

if you have garmin headunit, you can turn the light off and keep the radar on via ant+ light profile

Chi Zhang how do you do this ? On the 830 it doesn’t seem to setup a light profile for me so can’t control the light

@@mikeprytherch8875 turn the radar on and try scanning again with the head unit for new Ant+ devices. It should show up. I have had to scan twice to pair it with some of my devices.

@@terreyhills I've figured it out now, previously all I did was do a sensor search on the head unit to link them and the Radar showed up, what I needed to do was turn on Pair mode on the Varia before linking, then I get the Radar and the Light Network, if you don't switch on Pairing mode the head unit will still find and link to the Radar but you only get the Radar and no light network

jaseken379 Hopefully Wahoo makes a radar device. I don’t want anything Garmin.

@@Jasonr606 why? I like them.

@@doktorbalaban Agreed. I have the fenix 5, Edge 1030, Vector 3, Varia Radar, and the headlight. All work as advertised.

@@rcuadro Same here + Forerunner. Everything works as advertised even after guarantee period expired. If I need something sport tech I will first look in Garmin shop

That’s what I was going to write as well. Though, since radar picks up the cars quite a distance back, by the time the driver starts hovering, you already know it’s there and you can also hear it/them.

ANT+ Light support is.... interesting. Even SeeSence can't figure it out with their lights... I suspect it's on a long term to-do list for Wahoo.

JerryMcM I’ve been a bar end mirror user for years and thought this was a gimmick til I tried it. I don’t always hear approaching cars, and like Shane, I’ve never had a false negative. This increases situational awareness even if you do use a mirror.

Yes

Nope, only Garmin make radar devices at this point.

It’s a standard Garmin 1/4 turn mount. You’ll need to get creative.

Yes, with the new 515 and 315 Radar units that support Bluetooth.