Garmin Edge Custom Start Up Text

This is an off-topic post, but something that the members of the cycling community who use Garmin Edge cycle computers would find useful.

While exploring the file system of my Garmin Edge 830 device I stumbled across a method of displaying a custom start up message which I have used to display my details as owner and my wife’s details as an emergency contact.

The Garmin Edge 830 is a great cycle computer with GPS and navigation capabilities using a touch screen interface with buttons for primary controls. While they are expensive, they are well worth the cost as they can track many statistics, including GPS Location, Elevation, Speed, Cadence, Heart Rate, Respiration Rate, Temperature.

While looking at the file system, I found a file called \Garmin\startup.txt and opened it to find the text below:

<!-- Edit this file to display a message while your unit is powering on -->
<!-- Allow one full power cycle after editing for your message to be updated -->

<!-- Set the display number to the minimum number of seconds your message is displayed -->
<display = 0>

<!-- Type your message on the next line -->

So, I modified it adding in my details and my wife’s details and saved the file.

<!-- Edit this file to display a message while your unit is powering on -->
<!-- Allow one full power cycle after editing for your message to be updated -->

<!-- Set the display number to the minimum number of seconds your message is displayed -->
<display = 1>

<!-- Type your message on the next line -->
Owner: David Musgrave 
       +61 XXX XXX XXX
ICE:   Jennifer Musgrave 
       +61 XXX XXX XXX

On restarting the Garmin device, the details I entered for the owner and emergency contact are displayed on the initial boot up screen.

I decided to share this as a blog article and did a quick search on the internet and found other references to this feature.

For more information, see this article on the Garmin Support site:

• Custom Message or Text on Start Up Screen

Hope you find this useful

David

This article was originally posted on http://www.winthropdc.com/blog.