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Got a smartphone or a small-screen tablet? check out the Uploader for Garmin!

Support for Sony Xperia going Alpha

2/28/2013

50 Comments

 
UPDATE: the instructions here apply also to Samsung devices with a (working) internal ANT+ chip: S4, S5, Note 3, etc, or any other phone / tablet with an internal ANT+ chip. Please read the specs for your android device. A directory of devices with built-in ANT+ capabilities is here:  http://www.thisisant.com/directory/


The Uploader for Garmin version 3.0 provides alpha-level support for the integrated ANT+ chip present on some Sony Xperia phones. I'm writing this just after releasing the new version, so it may take a while for Google Play to make version 3.0 available to you guys.

For a list of phones with an integrated ANT+ chip, see here. I did all my testing using a Sony Xperia Ion, LT28h, running Android 4.0.4. Please remember that if you installed an unofficial ROM on your phone, ANT+ might not be working anymore. If you have troubles with my app, please double-check using the official ANT+ Demo.

The ANT+ Radio Service from Dynastream is required. This service is usually pre-installed on the Xperia, but you might want to check the version you have, and maybe update. I did my testing with version 3.0.0 and 3.4.0, released a few days ago.

Last thing: on my phone, bluetooth must be enabled in order for ANT+ to work. However, I did all my experiments with GPS off (both phone and Garmin) and with WiFi off (phone). I suggest that you do the same.

Once you have checked the ANT+ Radio Service version, and enabled bluetooth, you can give the app a try. 

First, set up your watch as described here if you have a Forerunner 405 / 405CX / 410, here if you have a Forerunner 310xt, 610, or 910xt, here if you have a Garmin Swim or a Forerunner 50, 60, or 70.

Then, click options, and check Force ANT+ scan option. 

If you have a 405/405CX/410, check also the Delay Ack option. If you have another model, you probably don't need to, but if the app gets stuck while trying to find the device model, check that option anyway. Also, for the 310xt,610, 910xt, 60, 70 family, if file transfer times out and fails, go into options again, find File Transfer Chunk, and set a lower value, like default or small.

That's it. Click get activities, and give it a little time. While using the dongle, I send a special packet that is also used in the PC version, which speeds up device discovery. It doesn't seem to work with the internal ANT+ chip, so discovery may easily take 50 seconds or so. When the device is found, you'll be asked to pair. Just accept on your Forerunner.

Please note that this code is still in alpha. I recommend that you test it thoroughly before you purchase the app. The critical part is only the upload. Once the activity has been uploaded, the rest of the code is reasonably well tested. So you don't need to purchase the app to test the most critical part, which is data transfer.


Guys, if it works on your phone, or if it doesn't work :-), I would appreciate a log. 
Do it like this: select options, scroll down to diagnostics, check enable device diagnostics, turn on the watch again, and try an upload. The app will see that there are no new activities and will stop earlier. Send me that log using the red email log button, thanks :-). If necessary, add any text you want to the email before sending it. This will help me helping other people who may have the same phone but a different ROM version etc.
After you send the log, please turn off diagnostics again. Diagnostics will interfere with the timing of ANT+. 

50 Comments
Andreas
2/28/2013 12:07:25

Working ob Xperia Active without enabling bluetooth. Thanks!

Reply
carlo pescio
2/28/2013 16:03:56

Thanks Andreas, any chance that you could send me a log, so that I can see the exact ROM version, settings, etc?

Reply
Uwe
2/28/2013 18:14:24

Same here, combination FR410 and Xperia Active works fine. Thanks for this piece of fine software. Log is on the way ...

Reply
GrahamST
3/1/2013 02:19:15

Hi Carlo, thanks for including the skiing and snowboarding in the activities list. Now I would like cross country skiing to be added too after my recent return from Livigno!
Were the main changes for this version to do with the +ant service? I was wondering in case there were other bits of the 'coming soon' items you had included which I have not spotted?
Thanks
Graham

Reply
carlo pescio
3/3/2013 07:50:01

Hi Graham,
just a note: the list of activity types is fixed because my plan is to use that field to estimate METS and calories even when HR data is absent. In that sense, it's a coarse-grained classification. The kind of fine-grained classification you want needs an open list, where users can add their own stuff. That's one of the reasons to have tags, so that you can tag your activities as you want, filter, etc. Yeah, tags are not implemented yet, but they will come.

This release is all about supporting the ANT+ chip and a few more ANT+ improvements. I squeezed in a few new activity types but nothing else.

If you follow the sportablet account on twitter or facebook (see "contacts" in the top bar) you'll get notification about new features etc..

Reply
Gunnar Christensen
3/5/2013 08:02:39

Works with Xperia Acro S and 910xt. I'll send a log on my next upload.
Thanks for your work on this Carlo!

Reply
Florian
3/9/2013 09:33:06

No it works with xperia Acros S and 910xt for me too. Yes! Bluetooth, wlan and data transfer disabled; file transfer chunk set to default.

Reply
Michal Petrzelka
5/1/2013 17:20:38

My dreams became true...:-)
FR 910xt with rooted Xperia Arc S, works perfect no matter if I switch on/off BT/WiFi/GPS. File transfer chunk set to normal but it works with both Unlimited/Small as well. Enable buffering has to be off though.

Reply
Erik Skytthe
7/15/2013 14:39:22

Hi Carlo
Nice app!. But it seems that it is not supported on Android 2.3.4 on Sony xperia ray? - Google play says something like "not compatible for your device" and you cannot download it. ANT+ Demo works fine for me.
(On a Sony xperia ray with android 4.0.4 you can download the app. But because of some performance issues I am reluctant to upgrade to android 4.x).
Keep up the good work.

Reply
carlo pescio
7/15/2013 15:22:23

yes, sorry, the app does not support android 2.3

Reply
AoS
9/15/2013 09:03:01

I have a Sony Xperia S & Garmin 910XT ... working partially. The transfer log shows a lot of "file transfer failed - retry" errors although I switched off GPS & WIFI and set the file transfer chunk size to small.

Reply
carlo pescio
9/15/2013 10:12:38

Retry are not a real problem if the app can get all the activities in the end. It simply means that there is a transmission error and the app is requesting the chunk again.

Suggestions:

- try the delay ack option
- turn of data/3G as well
- stay away from strong wifi sources

Reply
Simon
12/22/2013 08:54:42

What do I need to get my Xperia M to work with my Forerunner 410?
I have an OTG and managed fine with Galaxy S2.
But no luck as yet with Xperia.

Thanks Simon

Reply
carlo pescio
12/22/2013 09:28:15

Simon, the xperia M was initially claimed to support ant+ but in fact it does not. See here:
http://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-M-M-dual/Ant-Support-on-Xperia-M/td-p/354006/page/3
look for the official sony answer.

It should still work with the otg if you install both the radio and the usb driver. The M should support host mode using the otg cable.

Reply
Simon
12/22/2013 13:06:48

Xperia M not compatible for the Ant usb service. Is there an alternative or do I have to wait and see if it will be made compatible?

carlo pescio
12/22/2013 14:33:14

when an android device is reported as not compatible with the usb ant+ service, it's usually because it is classified on google play as not supporting usb host mode. Sometimes, devices are not properly classified. So my suggestion is that you test your phone first, using your otg adapter and a usb keyboard.
If that works, it's "just" a matter of obtaining the dynastream usb service APK and installing it. If your S2 is rooted, you can get it from there. (can't help you guys on this side, it's forbidden in the agreement you accept when you develop apps using the dynastream service).

Reply
Chuck Greenfield
4/29/2014 12:21:28

I am trying to use this with a Forerunner 410 and a Galaxy S5. My understanding is that the S5 has ANT+ built-in, and it looks like the drivers are all pre-installed, but I haven't been able to get it to work. Any advice?

Reply
carlo pescio
4/30/2014 09:31:24

yes: send me a log. Unfortunately "I haven't been able to get it to work" tells me nothing about the real problem. A log may help. Instructions to create a log are in the answers page above (www.sportablet.com/answers.html)

Reply
Chuck Greenfield
4/30/2014 16:56:29

I will do that. My real question was whether YOU think it should work? If your software checks to make sure the phone is an Experia before trying to access its internal ANT+ hardware then of course it won't. I will take your answer to mean that isn't the case, so I'll get you a log tonight.

Thanks!

carlo pescio
5/1/2014 01:28:42

Chuck: no, it's not doing any checking like that. It's just that originally that chip was only present in the xperia family.
In fact, the app works with the internal sensor in the s4 and note 3 as well, as reported elsewhere in this blog (in more recent posts).

Reply
Nils
5/8/2014 06:49:34

Works with s5 and 310xt. Wifi and gps disabled, Chunk siZe default, Force ant+ scan checked. Hangs for a while during ant reset.

Reply
Steve
5/16/2014 09:39:13

Just a quick comment to state that this worked with my new Xperia Z2 (though I had to install the Ant+ software myself, which is easy enough) and my 910xt.

However, without the ability to edit the title and comments of the activity in app, this still has limited use for me.

Reply
Steven
5/16/2014 09:55:56

Also, I didn't require bluetooth to be switched on either.

Reply
carlo pescio
5/17/2014 05:05:04

well then just don't buy it : )

Reply
Steven
5/17/2014 06:51:05

Too late :-) I've already bought it to try and support development. Sadly my Android development skills are almost non-existing or I would try and help out that way.

Keep up the good work.

carlo pescio
5/18/2014 04:01:04

Steven: the main reason the app is not doing that is maintenance, not development. Garmin connect offers no official API, and neither do some other (endomondo, runtastic, etc). Some apps have official APIs, but recent experience shows that they don't care much about breaking them.
So the tighter the integration, the more likely it is to break.

Unfortunately, when that happens, people do not react particularly well. Just look around in the blog, like here:http://www.sportablet.com/blog/garmin-connect-fixed

Bottom line: sorry, but you'll have to edit those details in your web app of choice for the time being. Given a different response from the community, things may change, but so far, all I can say is that a more sensible person would have shut down everything long time ago :-)

Reply
alil
6/29/2014 09:42:17

Hi sir, im having problem to pair my acro s and garmin vivofit..im stuck at confirming pair at vivofit..really appreciate your help!

Reply
carlo pescio
6/29/2014 09:49:54

Right now the vivofit is in alpha, so it's not officially supported. I still need to work out a few things. Watch out for an official announce in this blog, or follow the sportablet account on twitter / facebook to get the news...

Reply
Rotem
10/18/2014 12:37:51

Hi

I have just bougth the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. I have installed both your Sportablet app, and the ANT Radio Service. I have turned off wifi, mobile data, 4G and GPS on both phone and watch. The bluetooth on the phone is on.

I am trying to get activities from my Garmin Forerunner 405, but after waiting several minutes it is still "Recieving data". The transfer log says:

app version 6.5
debug: false
build: MSM8974 / s1 / Sony /armeabi-v7a
/ armeabi / D5803 / 23.0.A.2.93 / Sony/
D5803/D5803:4.4.4/23.0.A.2.93/
ovf_Rw:user/release-keys / qcom /
BuildHost / 23.0.A.2.93 / Sony / D5803 /
D5803 / YT910X85PB / release-keys / user
device not found
forcing ANT+ scan
Enabling ANT
Enabling ANT
ANT enabled
claiming ifc
ANT interface claimed(1)
ANT Interface claimed(2)
Ready
ANT reset

Reply
AoS
10/24/2014 23:26:46

With my Z1 Compact, I usually have to cancel and then retry and it goes fine in the second run ...

Reply
carlo pescio
11/29/2014 10:13:58

see http://www.sportablet.com/blog/improvements-on-ant-connection

Reply
Rotem
12/6/2014 09:10:29

Thank you for your help. Now it finally transfers data. However, after I paired it for the first time, and transfered all my runs and laps to sportablet, it only seem to transfer every second run no. When I am trying to transfer a new activity, it finds 1 new run, and 1 new track with gps, but it says 0 new activities.

Any solution here?

Thank you!

steven barrett
11/16/2014 08:57:22

My Sony xperia z and tablet are not compatible with my garmin 620 forerunner

Reply
carlo pescio
11/16/2014 09:12:55

they are compatible, but you must follow the instructions on the help page as suggested by the app.

The 620 does *NOT* use ant+ to communicate with a computer (or mobile device); it uses ant+ only to read from sensors.

Just like you use a usb cable to connect the 620 to your computer, you should do the same with your phone / tablet. Instructions, as linked from the help page, are here:
http://www.sportablet.com/file-based-garmin-devices.html

Please read them carefully.

Reply
Ben Curll
12/7/2014 10:26:44

Does this app work with the forerunner 305? I have a galaxy s4 with built in ant+ chip....

Reply
carlo pescio
12/7/2014 11:04:10

yes, the app supports the 305. However, the 305 can't send / receive training data over ant+. It has limited support and can only read from sensors (hr belt, pods, etc). So you need to use an OTG adapter and connect the 305 using a cable, just like you do with a PC.

Reply
carlo pescio
12/7/2014 11:06:23

Rotem: send me a log - it's likely to be the settings on your app, or wifi/data turned on (they must be off). Please follow the tweaking sections in the 405 tutorial: www.sportablet.com/blog/get-ready-for-ant

Reply
Rotem
12/8/2014 11:01:22

Hi, and thank you for your help!

As I said, it seems to only happend with every other training activity, but here is a log file when it does not work:

device not found
forcint ANT+ scan
Enabling ANT
Enabling ANT
ANT enabled
Got ANT interface - give it time to synch
ANT Interface claimed (1)
ANT Interface claimed (2)
Ready - give it time to synch
setting channel period
try linking - freq: 3
try linking - freq: 3
try linking - freq: 3
restart search, will link on another freq
setting channel period
try linking - freq: 7
getting serial number
trying to connect
setting channel period
try linking - freq: 7
try linking - freq: 7
try linking - freq: 7
restart search, will link on another freq
setting channel period
try linking - freq: 15
try linking - freq: 15
getting serial number
sending authorization key
authenticated
requesting product data
requesting runs
reciving run 1
1 activities found
1 non-duplicated activities found
1 with GPS track
requesting laps
0 laps found
0 new activities
transfer completed - no new activities


I have mobile data and wifi turned off. Also, it does not always try to link on different frequencies, often it recives data rigth away, but the rest is equal.

Rotem

Reply
carlo pescio
12/12/2014 04:22:06

Rotem, we can't solve this over the blog. Get in touch with the contact form as I'll have to look at the more detailed log that the app can save.

Are you sure these are not just empty activities you somehow get by fiddling with the touch bezel? Because that's what they look like from the log you posted, tracks with no laps inside.

Jimmy
12/7/2015 10:48:50

Hi Carlo.

I bought the app and it worked fine but the phone was wiped when sent off for a repair. I am now struggling to get it to work again.
It links and gets the serial number
It pairs and it sends the authorization key and authenticates.
I then get the following two lines which repeat a number of times.

Requesting directory
Directory transfer failed - retry

Any ideas ?

Reply
carlo pescio
12/7/2015 15:57:46

I need to know your garmin model to be more specific, but my suggestion is that you start from the answers page above, find a link to the tutorial for your model, and follow the tweaking section.

Reply
Jimmy
12/7/2015 21:13:48

Carlo,
It is fixed. I had the force model option selected by mistake.Thanks. great app by the way!

Lorie
12/15/2015 23:06:24

my garmin ant says usb1. Is all hope lost? i really want to sync it to my iphone. I love my 405😃
pls help

Reply
carlo pescio
12/15/2015 23:14:14

iphone: no way. my app is for android devices only.

Reply
Adrian link
1/26/2016 14:41:33

Hi, Any idea why it's taking forever to sink my Garmin 800 with Sony Xperia M4 Aqua? I know there is an earlier reply saying it's doesn't but every review I have read says the M4 Aqua has built in Ant+.
Can not connect via cable on Garmin anymore as connection endings have corroded, but still charges OK, hence the need to connect with the ant+
Many thanks

Reply
carlo pescio
1/26/2016 15:35:17

well if you read the last paragraph in the tutorial for the 800:

www.sportablet.com/file-based-garmin-devices.html

it explains why it won't work over ant+.

Reply
David Webber
9/21/2016 05:16:15

Carlo - been very happily using your App with my Garmin 305 on my Nexus 5 for a year. Just this week the upload to Garmin Connect is now failing with "communication error". Do you know what is going on; has Garmin changed their API again? :-(

Reply
Carlo Pescio
9/21/2016 22:16:11

that's why I keep telling you guys to follow sportablet on twitter or facebook, or at least check the latest post in the blog :-).

garmin has made changes to their servers days ago. see here:

http://www.sportablet.com/blog/garmin-connect-issues-solved

please read the whole stuff as updating the app might not be enough, you may have to change your password as well...

Reply
Jimmy
9/21/2016 08:40:41

David, I had the same. Garmin have changed their password policy. You need to log in to Garmin on a pc and 'strengthen' your password. Type the new one on the app and it will work again.

Reply
Gustavo
2/9/2017 01:44:56

Tenho um Samsung s6 edge e um garmim edge 500. Nao to sabendo instala o aplicativo

Reply



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    About me

    I'm a decent runner, ex mountain biker, and a good swimmer. I created Sportablet to squeeze a little more fun out of my Forerunner.

    In my everyday life,  I design software-intensive systems at different scales, using a number of paradigms, languages and technologies. ​
    You can read some of my thoughts at carlopescio.com

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