I recently was forced through theft to upgrade from a Karoo 2 to 3. I was one of the 5% of users who had a sim card in their Karoo 2 and I was used to a fairly fast and seamless ride upload experience via mobile data (<10 seconds, worked every time).
With my new Karoo, I’m getting very inconsistent upload speeds. Sometimes it works via the companion app over Bluetooth, but takes at least a minute. Other times I need to turn on my hotspot and upload over wifi. Is this user error, a malfunctioning device (phone or Karoo), or should I just reset my expectations?
I have other data-related issues that make me think it’s not just an expectations problem - it takes 30-60 seconds to load a map after starting up, I’m not able to get data to the MyWindsock app consistently, I’ve had a couple live-tracking failures. Karoo firmware is up to date, phone is on Android 14.
Upload to Strava? There are a few hops - karoo to phone, phone to internet, then upload to Strava, which itself is sometimes slow to process and display new rides.
I’ve had no problems but I manually upload rides, and typically don’t check Strava for a few minutes. I’m using an iphone, with the Karoo on Bluetooth. I connect to wifi only for Karoo updates or map updates.
The delay on map is the same here, and sounds like the time to establish a GPS lock, which can depend on your view of the sky. For the MyWindsock app, it usually shows info a minute or so after the GPS lock is established. I suspect there is a polling delay of 30 or 60 seconds in that app.
OK thanks! It’s the initial Karoo to phone where I see the delays, very little lag between that and other services. What do you mean when you say you manually upload rides?
I think the k2 was using the cell signal to help with GPS lock which explains why it was so much faster.
On ending a ride there is a summary screen; on that there is an upload button, so I can choose to send to Strava or not. I tried this just now, upload was under 10 seconds on wifi, but about two minutes on Bluetooth.
I also noticed it was connecting to my phone’s wifi hotspot by default, so in fact it has been using the fast connection all this time!
I have problems syncing new routes to the Karoo 3. I usually have to reboot the karoo to force the sync, which is a pain.
The other thing is to ensure that the hammerhead app isn’t being restricted to save battery. I usually open the app up after a ride (whilst the Karoo is still on of course) and it will sync the ride over. Quite slowly though, I’ll admit.
Most of my rides end at my house. I press pause when i finish but don’t fully end until i’m in the house (in wifi). When i open the HH app moments later the ride is there already. This is K3. Not sure if the unit uploads directly to HH account via wifi or goes to my iphone first?
I tend to boot mine up a couple of mins before i’m ready to ride, then route loading works ok. Sometimes if i boot up and load a route immediately it doesnt quite work (can’t remember what happened).
Thanks Simon! I assume from your experience that you’re uploading via Wi-Fi. Unfortunately I live on the top floor of an apartment building, and my bike lives in the underground garage, so that’s not an option for me.
Yeah I forced Android to allow Karoo to run in the background at all times. I’ve even seen it unable to sync while connected, with the app open (just stays on “waiting for internet” until I reboot). Haven’t had the route problem like you but that’s super annoying.
I’ve now also had pretty inconsistent experience with live tracking, which is even more frustrating, since I don’t know when or if it stops (this is whether or not the app is open). The #1 reason I chose Karoo 2 over Garmin was that it just works and I don’t have to think about it - if K3 doesn’t just work I will look to switch. I’ll probably post on the HH support forum when I have a moment and see if I can get any help from them.
I am in wifi as most of my rides, at the moment, finish at home in full router signal. Not sure if the upload goes via the phone (iphone 13) or its straight to HH account from unit via wifi. Do you have trouble if you remove the unit from the bike and take that into your apartment after parking the bike?
Definitely no trouble if I bring the unit upstairs, or turn on my phone’s hotspot. However, I often forget it upstairs when I bring it, so I would like to leave it at my charging station in the cellar with my bikes.
The karoo connects to my iphone using blutooth. I have BT constantly enabled and have the HH app running if im using the karoo. So not sure why you need a hotspot enabled? Unless the unit doesnt synch via the phone but only directly with wifi, which it doesn’t see in that case. Sorry, i’m trying to help but clearly dont know the tech well enough!
The issue I’m running into is that syncing and live tracking via Bluetooth is slow at best, and nonfunctional at worst. I also have BT constantly enabled and have the Karoo app running.
My older Karoo 2 had a sim card and could upload directly wherever I had a cell signal, almost instantaneously.