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Garmin GPSTC Datafield - to complement the Motion Simple Logger

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Created by tbwonder > 9 months ago, 3 Apr 2020
BRUCE H
NSW, 185 posts
2 Nov 2025 2:48PM
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Hi Andrew,
I bought the 965. Any hair I had left is now torn out. I have followed your instructions but maybe they don't apply to the 965. I get the data fields loaded but can't do a new activity with them in it.
No use saying I'm stupid, we all know that but are you planning an update for the 965?

tbwonder
NSW, 733 posts
2 Nov 2025 3:53PM
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I personally have not done the install on the 965. So the process may be a little different. Tony Dingle has it working on the 965, he helped with getting this device approved.

Which step in my instructions did you get upto?

BRUCE H
NSW, 185 posts
2 Nov 2025 4:13PM
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I got both data fields installed, named the activity but never could get the option to select field 1 etc. I selected connect IQ fields but it imported all the fields and I can't see how to just get field 1 etc. Matt may be able to help though he hasn't used a 965. Thanks

tonyd
QLD, 400 posts
3 Nov 2025 8:33AM
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Dont remember the 965 install being any different from the 255 have it running perfectly

vosadrian
NSW, 456 posts
3 Nov 2025 9:39AM
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I have the 965 and am running the datafields. I followed the instructions but may have had to adjust them for the 965. I did it some time ago so cannot remember exactly but I will try to help.

It sounds like you have the datafields installed but have not added them to a data page. Can you get to the settings->activities and apps->GPSTC activity settings->data screens->Add New (or Edit existing)->Custom Data->1 Field-> Connect IQ fields and select it there?

John340
QLD, 3366 posts
3 Nov 2025 1:17PM
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Select to expand quote
BRUCE H said..
I got both data fields installed, named the activity but never could get the option to select field 1 etc. I selected connect IQ fields but it imported all the fields and I can't see how to just get field 1 etc. Matt may be able to help though he hasn't used a 965. Thanks



Installing the data fields to the Garmin watch was really counterintuitive. After much swearing, hair pulling and finally help from IT savvy sailors, I successfully installed to my 245. However I had to relearn the process when I installed to my 255 two years later.

BRUCE H
NSW, 185 posts
5 Nov 2025 11:16AM
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Thanks Adrian. I got it working with 4 fields on one screen. Can't see how to get to choose 1 field per screen. Anyway I sailed yesterday and it worked. Hooked it up to laptop and screen froze on the recharge screen and I can't get it to do anything else
So I'm leaving it running till the battery dies in the hope that it'll do a Lazarus when powered up again.

vosadrian
NSW, 456 posts
5 Nov 2025 1:48PM
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BRUCE H said..
Thanks Adrian. I got it working with 4 fields on one screen. Can't see how to get to choose 1 field per screen. Anyway I sailed yesterday and it worked. Hooked it up to laptop and screen froze on the recharge screen and I can't get it to do anything else
So I'm leaving it running till the battery dies in the hope that it'll do a Lazarus when powered up again.


I'm not sure why you can't select 1 field. It works fine for me if I add a new screen and select custom data. I just did it now.

I am not using my laptop with cable to transfer data after an activity is saved. Mine activity goes to Garmin Connect Cloud automatically. I just login to my connect account and export the activity to a (FIT) file and then you can do waht you want with the file. No cables necessary. I rarely connect my 965 to a laptop. Mostly it only has a cable ever connected to it for charging and that is off a USB charger. So I have not run into any freeze up issues with mine. I have had it freeze before on its own without a cable. I held the power button down for a long time (>30s??) and it rebooted and worked fine after that. Garmin products do have some bugs that come up from time to time.

BRUCE H
NSW, 185 posts
6 Nov 2025 4:46PM
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Thanks Adrian,
Restarting after battery went flat fixed the freezing.
Is your phone Android? I went for a walk to get a file, saved it, synced with connect app and looked for the file on my Android phone. I found it but it was a PDF. Can't find any mention of fit file anywhere.
Will try hooking up to the laptop again. Wish my black box was still alive.

vosadrian
NSW, 456 posts
10 Nov 2025 1:20PM
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BRUCE H said..
Thanks Adrian,
Restarting after battery went flat fixed the freezing.
Is your phone Android? I went for a walk to get a file, saved it, synced with connect app and looked for the file on my Android phone. I found it but it was a PDF. Can't find any mention of fit file anywhere.
Will try hooking up to the laptop again. Wish my black box was still alive.

My phone is iPhone.

The trick here is to setup you watch so it automatically uses the Connect app on your phone to upload the activity to your connect account. Once it is there, you can use any device (not paired to watch) to export the file and upload to KA72.

It sounds like you are looking for the file on your phone, but it will not be on your phone unless you use your web browser on your phone to go to Garmin connect, login and find the activity and export the file to your phone. It does not automatically appear on your phone.

The process is a little complicated, as Garmin connect is not really made for accessing the files regularly in this way. It can do it (complicated) but most Garmin device users do not need the files on their phone and just do everything using the app which gets the info out of the files for you.

vosadrian
NSW, 456 posts
13 Nov 2025 11:19AM
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tbwonder said..
It's that time of year again when Garmin start to discount the older models.
Most of the Fenix 7pro range are heavily discounted.
However the supply of the 255 appears to have almost dried up. I don't see any good deals on them.

The good news is that the excellent (and already Approved for GPSTC) 965 is currently on special at $699.
This is a premium watch with large amoled screen and full built in mapping.


JB Hifi have a black friday special on the 255 Music for $374:www.jbhifi.com.au/products/garmin-forerunner-255-music-watch-black

BRUCE H
NSW, 185 posts
15 Nov 2025 5:32PM
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Thanks Adrian. Tibor showed me how to upload my Garmin 965 activity on my Android phone.
Press stop for the current activity.
Choose to save.
It will automatically go to Garmin connect so find that site in your browser, sign in and the activity will be there.
Hit the activity.
Move down the page and if you have good vision you will find one of those wheel things that usually mean set up, it's tiny.
Hit the wheel and from the list of options hit GPX.
It downloads to Download in the file folder on your phone and you can find it in ka72 to post.
Thanks Tibor.

vosadrian
NSW, 456 posts
17 Nov 2025 9:40AM
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BRUCE H said..
Thanks Adrian. Tibor showed me how to upload my Garmin 965 activity on my Android phone.
Press stop for the current activity.
Choose to save.
It will automatically go to Garmin connect so find that site in your browser, sign in and the activity will be there.
Hit the activity.
Move down the page and if you have good vision you will find one of those wheel things that usually mean set up, it's tiny.
Hit the wheel and from the list of options hit GPX.
It downloads to Download in the file folder on your phone and you can find it in ka72 to post.
Thanks Tibor.


Sounds good!

The only thing I would say is that I think if you choose the GPS option, the doppler speeds are not included so it is only track points (which is not good enough for GPSTC). I think you want to choose the FIT file option which is the default when you just select download file. The FIT file includes all the information from the session and KA72 can upload that. The only issue is that it downloads as a ZIP file with the FIT file in it and KA72 cannot handle the ZIP file, so you need to unzip the FIT file and then upload to KA72. I think Unzipping should be pretty easy on an Android phone, but I have not got one to know for sure.

tbwonder
NSW, 733 posts
17 Nov 2025 3:37PM
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BRUCE H said..
Thanks Adrian. Tibor showed me how to upload my Garmin 965 activity on my Android phone.
Press stop for the current activity.
Choose to save.
It will automatically go to Garmin connect so find that site in your browser, sign in and the activity will be there.
Hit the activity.
Move down the page and if you have good vision you will find one of those wheel things that usually mean set up, it's tiny.
Hit the wheel and from the list of options hit GPX.
It downloads to Download in the file folder on your phone and you can find it in ka72 to post.
Thanks Tibor.


As vosadrian says you can not use the GPX file. You must download the file as a FIT then unzip it.
This is the only way to get the doppler data. Posting the GPX to GPSTC will get those cranky admin guys really upset.

BRUCE H
NSW, 185 posts
18 Nov 2025 5:53AM
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So Tibor led me astray, who would have believed it.
Will try again.



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"Garmin GPSTC Datafield - to complement the Motion Simple Logger" started by tbwonder