I’ve owned every Garmin and Wahoo since they came into business. I’ve never had persistent problems like I do with the Roam 3, which I initially chose primarily for its GPS, which is supposed to be the same as the newest Garmins. Wahoo customer service has been not be very responsive, and they took over 4 months of written communications to finally replace my unit with a new one and with “no guarantee that this one will be better or not have the same problems” (I had problems with live Strava live segment GPS data while riding). The new device is worse. The GPS is all over the place. It will not respond to auto-pause at a traffic light. God forbid I go ride to the coffee shop and sit for an hour…it only uploads my elapsed time (even when manually pausing, even when manually pausing AND stopping and then resuming). Interestingly, the Wahoo app and RideWithGPS has the correct data with the paused time. The .fit files are accurate. So weird. I did a bunch more tests with auto-pause off (and manually pausing), pausing while riding and pausing while standing perfectly still, etc. Today, I replaced the battery in an old Wahoo speed sensory, and FFS, the live GPS was so wrong almost the entire time, like dropping out completely: there’d be a “—mph” on the screen while riding downhill at 25 mph. I did a few more comparisons (like to just recording on Strava via my phone), and my average mph was 4 mph slower on my device/app than Strava for a short segment. I disengaged the sensor and rode the 19 miles home, and other than stopping at the traffic light (which it DID average in despite auto-pause), everything was pretty close because I was only stopped for a minute. Other info: My profile is NOT in race mode; it’s in Ride mode, but it’s functionally race mode and will NOT pause no matter what. I’ve read it could be GPS drift but this is pathological drift, not minor differences. Using a speed sensor is NOT the solution because it doesn’t address the core problem, but I did try it and even that failed and I don’t know why. I opened yet ANOTHER ticket at Wahoo. I think they hate me there because I haven’t gotten a reply yet. I’m done with Wahoo. Anybody have these problems? If so, what was your solution? I’m pretty sure I’m going to trash this Roam 3 and go back to Garmin. Advice?
I had a lot of issues with roam 3, and similar issues were reported by other users. It seems related to defective units. Maybe worth checking this thread Element Roam 3 stopped recording GPS data mid-ride - #23 by gd5tfab
The issue I face is not exactly the same as yours but I wonder if you’re not experiencing two concurrent issues, configuration + defect.
Interesting. Yes, some of the same issues. Thank you. I’ll be looking for a replacement - and not Wahoo, unfortunately. They’ve not kept up with the technology (and customer service) while claiming to do so. Thank you.
Ya had the same gps issue. Wahoo CS suggested (when you’re outside) goto the map page on the computer and wait till it acquires gps signal. Since then, i haven’t had any issues.
The GNSS receiver in Wahoo V3 devices is multi constellation, presumably uses GPS, Galileo (maybe GLONASS or Beido).
To receive positional data when new (or powered down for a long time), or after full reset, an Almanac must be downloaded. Then for accuracy Ephemeris data is downloaded. From satellites this download process can take a long time.
I understand that a faster assisted A-GPS is available from WiFi or Wahoo App on a phone.
Recommendations
- Wahoo bike computer outside with clear view of sky
- Wahoo bike computer near WiFi access point that it is configured to access
- Phone also connected to WiFi and running Wahoo App, connected to bike computer
- According to other posts, Start and select Map page. Zoom in, check position arrow is correct location and stable.
- Should be accurate and ready in less than 15 min or when arrow stable and accurate.
Thanks. That was an issue I resolved with CS when I first got the device. My prior Bolt did not require that, but the Roam 3 did. So, I regularly already do this. Thanks.
Yes, thank you. It’s the same multiconstellation that the newer (now standard) Garmins use. I have compared multiple devices (Phone Strava, Garmin, and Roam 3). Today, I will compare my old Bolt to my Roam 3. I already get clear “GPS acquired” notification before riding. I’ve never heard of it taking 15 minutes to the “GPS acquired” though. If that’s the case, then Wahoo should be telling us all to do this, no? That’s a major flaw IMO for a new device. However, I don’t think the acquisition of an accurate signal is the problem. I live in the high desert, not many trees here… Thanks for you input.
Hi, Almanac acquisition is usually factory set so not normally experienced by user. Suggested procedure just in case there has been a full reset or very low battery for extended period.
If you have the device in a static fixed location, start a route, expand map page. Does the position move around by more than a few yards? If it does, then maybe interference? Seems odd that two units have same problem.