Hi All,

Now that some Garmin devices are approved for GPSTC use, I was wondering if anyone had worked an ideal workflow to get data uploaded to GPSTC. I use my Garmin for many other types activities mostly using Strava. The work flow for Strava is very easy. You just stop the activity on your watch and save it. The watch automatically syncs to Garmin Connect cloud. Connect then pushes it into Strava. Very easy and nothing to do on either phone or computer.

Currently the way I do it for windsurfing is using the GPSTC datafield. On my watch this is done with a activity set to "Other". When you finish the activity, you stop and save and it ends up in connect. One problem is that because the activity is not set to windsurfing and is other, you can't easily search for a windsurfing activity, but it is probably the most recent anyway most of the time. Then I go to a PC with web browser and open my connect account and find the activity and open it. Then I hit the little setting icon in the top right and save the file to my downloads (in a .zip). Use Windows explorer to open the zip file and extract. Then open KA72 and upload the unzipped fit file and post to GPSTC. It works OK, but requires a PC. I was wondering if anyone had worked out a better work flow?

It is probably not worth the time and effort for Dylan, but I am not sure if it is possible to get Connect to push the FIT file over to KA72 automatically like it does for Strava? Not sure if it is a big task or relatively simple to do. If the activity type could be changed so it came up as windsurfing (This is done when using APPro), and connect could be convinced to push windsurfing activities to KA72, it would mean no need to download the FIT file locally and upload to KA72. Then you could maybe just finish the activity and save it, and wait a couple muntes for the magic to happen and login to KA72 and see your latest activity there where you can just upload it from your phone.

Any tips appreciated!

You can do the same process with your phone instead of your computer. Ideally do it before you undertake any other activities, While youre unrigging.
-Open the garmin connect website on your phone.
-Export your latest activity.
-Open up your file manger app and unzip the most recent file.
-Go to ka72 website on your phone and upload your recent file.

The whole thing takes less than a minute.

Thanks for that.

I tried it on my iphone and was indeed able to get to the stage where KA72 had uploaded the file. It took a bit of mucking around. I'm sure it would be much easier on an Android as the access to the file system is quite abstracted on iphones. The hard bit is saving the file somewhere and then unzipping it and finding it to upload fromt he KA72 site. I did it on Chrome. It took me a few minutes the first attempt but probably quicker once you have a system worked out.

It works though, but could be easier particularly for less IT versed people. For me it is easier to just wait until I get home and do it on a PC.... but that is also because typing is easier to add some session info to GPSTC.

Garmin allows many different third party apps to connect and grab data. So in theory KA72 could do this. No idea how easy this would be, but I suspect it would be a pita to get it working and keep it working. I would be surprised if Dylan would be prepared to do this for a free website such as his.

An alternative way of uploading which is much quicker than exporting via Garmin connect is to simply plug the watch into your PC with the USB Charging cable. Windows will automatically open the watch contents as if it is a USB Stick.

Then Goto to KA72 and login and goto to the upload page. Then simply browse your watch for the FIT file the path will be something like:
This PC\Forerunner 255\Internal Storage\GARMIN\Activity

Besides using Garmin Connect on your computer / phone (or copying files via USB) you can also do it via GPS-Speedsurfing. You can link your Garmin and GP3S accounts so that sessions are automatically uploaded (i.e. watch -> phone -> Connect -> GP3S). You can then post your sessions from GP3S to GPSTC with just a few clicks.

The activity type can't be changed by a datafield, but you can change it manually in Garmin Connect. This doesn't change the underlying data or the filtering that is applied, just how it is displayed in Connect; e.g. icon and key metrics. Apps get to choose the underlying activity type and thus the filtering that is applied to positions and speeds.

Sounds like GP3S is doing similar to Strava. Do you know if it does this for all acttivities? So if you do running/cycling on your connect account, will it attempt to load them to GP3S also?

I wonder if there is a way to hack the activity type to come up in connect as windsurfing but use the filtering algorithms of other? Changing it manually in connect is probably not going to work for controlling if it gets pushed to GP3S if it is only pushing limitted activity types.

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MHSA said..
You can do the same process with your phone instead of your computer. Ideally do it before you undertake any other activities, While youre unrigging.
-Open the garmin connect website on your phone.
-Export your latest activity.
-Open up your file manger app and unzip the most recent file.
-Go to ka72 website on your phone and upload your recent file.

The whole thing takes less than a minute.

I've been GPS sailing and posting on GPSTC since 2013. I've used Locosys, Motion and now Garmin GPSs. MHSA method of uploading Garmin log file into KA.72 is the easiest method I've used. Like MHSA says, it takes less than a minute.

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John340 said..

MHSA said..
You can do the same process with your phone instead of your computer. Ideally do it before you undertake any other activities, While youre unrigging.
-Open the garmin connect website on your phone.
-Export your latest activity.
-Open up your file manger app and unzip the most recent file.
-Go to ka72 website on your phone and upload your recent file.

The whole thing takes less than a minute.

I've been GPS sailing and posting on GPSTC since 2013. I've used Locosys, Motion and now Garmin GPSs. MHSA method of uploading Garmin log file into KA.72 is the easiest method I've used. Like MHSA says, it takes less than a minute.

What phone are you using? I tried it with iphone and could manage it, but the file system management on iPhone seems a bit clunky. It worked, and could probably do it quick with practise. It might be easier if Garmin allowed the FIT file to be downloaded as FIT rather than ZIP so there was no need to unzip in the file management app.

I use Android. I open the Garmin connect web page in Chrome immediately after sailing. Open the latest Garmin activity. Click on the setting (gear) icon and Export. I then open the downloaded zip file and extract the FIT file. I then open KA72 and upload the fit file and have KA72 send it to GPSTC.

I find it faster than turning wifi on and off to connect to the Motion. Also there is the hassle of a secure download with Chrome, so I have to switch to Firefox for another layer of hassle.

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vosadrian said..
Sounds like GP3S is doing similar to Strava. Do you know if it does this for all acttivities? So if you do running/cycling on your connect account, will it attempt to load them to GP3S also?

I wonder if there is a way to hack the activity type to come up in connect as windsurfing but use the filtering algorithms of other? Changing it manually in connect is probably not going to work for controlling if it gets pushed to GP3S if it is only pushing limitted activity types.

As far as I know only windsurfing activity is synced, for my Garmin Fenix 8 i use APP Pro (-> apps.garmin.com/apps/9567700b-6587-44be-9708-879bfc844791?tid=1 ) , this provides the correct activity type, in combination with with the auto-sync as described by K888 this gives me the most easy upload ever.... (see also some short video here -> ) . In general the APP Pro is also a bit easier to install and use...

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vosadrian said..

John340 said..

MHSA said..
You can do the same process with your phone instead of your computer. Ideally do it before you undertake any other activities, While youre unrigging.
-Open the garmin connect website on your phone.
-Export your latest activity.
-Open up your file manger app and unzip the most recent file.
-Go to ka72 website on your phone and upload your recent file.

The whole thing takes less than a minute.

I've been GPS sailing and posting on GPSTC since 2013. I've used Locosys, Motion and now Garmin GPSs. MHSA method of uploading Garmin log file into KA.72 is the easiest method I've used. Like MHSA says, it takes less than a minute.

What phone are you using? I tried it with iphone and could manage it, but the file system management on iPhone seems a bit clunky. It worked, and could probably do it quick with practise. It might be easier if Garmin allowed the FIT file to be downloaded as FIT rather than ZIP so there was no need to unzip in the file management app.

A Pixel 7. It's file management is easy.

I just looked into the GP3S sync with GGarmin connect option. It seems to auto sync windsurfing, kite and foil sessions. This won't help me personally at the moment since my sessions are other. I could change to APPro to fix that though.

Once in GP3S is there an automated was to move a session from there to GPSTC? Is such a way even allowed by GPSTC? As in does GPSTC accept the processing done by GP3S (instead of KA72/Speedreader)?

I don't see why not, once processed you always keep the original track in .FIT format in case of any discussions. In a way it's even better than just putting the numbers manually in GPSTC ??

I'm sure we could engage Dylan and see what/if it would be worth his time and we setup a gofundme for it... With the Garmin now being accepted I'm sure there would be a few that would happily contribute to this

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vosadrian said..
I just looked into the GP3S sync with Garmin connect option. It seems to auto sync windsurfing, kite and foil sessions. This won't help me personally at the moment since my sessions are other. I could change to APPro to fix that though.

I think GP3S also imports the "other" type from Connect, so you should be able to use the GPSTC datafield.

I'm happy to contribute if Dylan was considering it. Not sure if it is a simple thing or quite complicated.

That would be great if GP3S imports the "other" activity type. This is the only activity type I use for windsurfing, so would not get anything unplanned. I will try it out.... when some wind comes!

I like a backup so use a mini-motion, EPIX and Forerunner 255. (exGT31 and GW60 user, both trashed by constant mediocre speed use)
GPSSPEEDSURFING site allows GARMIN fit files to be uploaded almost no hands, or automatically, once the Garmin Connect app processes the GPSTC V4 bit files from the watches, and if I forgot to turn the shoulder mounted mini-motion ON (TWICE!) at least there was a backup on GPS-SS, and when I go to GPS-SS, I have the choice of the motion file and the watch files and delete the watch files at the next step. And KA72 gives the choice of using the two files as well.
I think the systems are fine to use after completing the learning curves, unlike jibing...

Just to weigh in on this, I had a look a few months back at getting ka72 to accept .zip files as uploads. I thought it would be easy but I hit a few snags, and abandoned it. If that was done it would at least avoid the painful step of unzipping the file first.I don't sail myself and have never used GP3S, though I do wonder if the entire file is being uploaded there or just the results by the Garmin connection? If it's the entire file, then that does sound like a connection worth exploring.

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Dylan72 said..
I do wonder if the entire file is being uploaded there or just the results by the Garmin connection? If it's the entire file, then that does sound like a connection worth exploring.

The backend of GP3S website uses a Dockerised version of GPSResults to process files and calculate results from the Garmin FIT files.

I've not looked at the specifics of the Garmin Connect API, but my expectation would be a notification of each new session to be sent to GP3S, then GP3S would initiate the file transfer(s). There would of course be some kind of authentication involved... presumably OAuth. So far as I know, such integrations can only use the FIT files, never GPX / TPX / whatever.

If you'd like to know how it's done, I can ask for some pointers from someone who has already integrated their own products.

I suspect it is like K888 stated above.

* An initial process allows a user to open up access to a 3rd party app to their data
* Connect sends a notification to the app when a new activity is available
* App can download the activity as FIT using some sort of API.

From a KA72 perspective, I guess the newest aspect would be to get it to respond to the notifications. Some sort of database may be required to manage user authentications ot maybe just added to the user profile data already stored. Once it has the FIT file it could just upload to the users account in a similar fashion to what it does now. Then I guess the user could login to KA72 and choose the upload to GPSTC or maybe make that happen automatically... but they may be risky at least at first, as sometimes an unplanned activity may be uploaded.

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MHSA said..
You can do the same process with your phone instead of your computer. Ideally do it before you undertake any other activities, While youre unrigging.
-Open the garmin connect website on your phone.
-Export your latest activity.
-Open up your file manger app and unzip the most recent file.
-Go to ka72 website on your phone and upload your recent file.

The whole thing takes less than a minute.

I would be the least I.T. savvy person who is uploading from my Garmin 255 to Ka-72, but i do the above and takes no time and never have an issue.

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K888 said..

vosadrian said..
I just looked into the GP3S sync with Garmin connect option. It seems to auto sync windsurfing, kite and foil sessions. This won't help me personally at the moment since my sessions are other. I could change to APPro to fix that though.

I think GP3S also imports the "other" type from Connect, so you should be able to use the GPSTC datafield.

Not sure what went wrong. I have a free GP3S account started recently. I connected it to my Garmin account. I did a session with the TBwonder datafield (activity type other). It landed in Strava as normal, but was not pushed to GP3S. Not sure if I have a setting wrong somewhere of perhaps GP3S is not uploading that activity type. I might do a test using APPro and see if that gets pushed across.

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vosadrian said..
Not sure what went wrong. I have a free GP3S account started recently. I connected it to my Garmin account. I did a session with the TBwonder datafield (activity type other). It landed in Strava as normal, but was not pushed to GP3S. Not sure if I have a setting wrong somewhere of perhaps GP3S is not uploading that activity type. I might do a test using APPro and see if that gets pushed across.

I did a walk at lunch using APPro (and activity as windsurf), and it also uploaded to Strava but not GP3S.... so must be something I have done wrong. Either that or it did not included it because it recognised it was just walking.

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vosadrian said..

vosadrian said..
Not sure what went wrong. I have a free GP3S account started recently. I connected it to my Garmin account. I did a session with the TBwonder datafield (activity type other). It landed in Strava as normal, but was not pushed to GP3S. Not sure if I have a setting wrong somewhere of perhaps GP3S is not uploading that activity type. I might do a test using APPro and see if that gets pushed across.

I did a walk at lunch using APPro (and activity as windsurf), and it also uploaded to Strava but not GP3S.... so must be something I have done wrong. Either that or it did not included it because it recognised it was just walking.

Adrian, it would seem more productive to figure out how to simplify the file extraction and handling on your iPhone, because once you have done that, loading the FIT log file into KA72 and GPSTC is simple..

^agree. I prefer to be in control of what I upload.

Downloading, extracting and uploading on Android only takes about 30 seconds.

The only thing is the website doesn't seem to remember that I've accepted cookie agreement.

Edit: ive tried saving a url that points directly to the Activities page of Garmin Connect web site. It seems to work but it may forget the login again in a day.

I'm all good with the way it is now. I have for many years enjoyed the integration from Garmin->Strava. Literally nothing to do except stop and save the activity on your watch and a few seconds later it is in Strava. It works great, but may take some effort to get it working that well and Strava is much better resourced that anything in windsurfing.

How it is now, I just do it on my PC when I get home. I can do it on my phone but it is a bit fiddly and I need my reading glasses which I often don't have handy at the water. It is easier to type some extra session details on a PC keyboard than a phone. I am all good to continue with that. I just started this thread to see if I was missing something and maybe there was a better way.

This link seemed to remember my login details in Chrome on my phone. But I need to test after a session though.


connect.garmin.com/modern/activities

Iphone users, do you know way to get file from garmin connect to ka72 using the phone?
I see no way to save fit file from the activity in garmin connect.

Go to the garmin connect website and look for this... It will be in a zip file.

Yes it's really silly the Phone app does not allow the export of FIT files. So you have to open the Web version of Garmin Connect in a browser on your phone.
It's hard to believe in 2025 that things can be so difficult.

Thanks, that helped.

I don't know if it's things or me, but that seemed very tricky. Zip files, extraction, iphone.
I thought i was tech savvy until i started sailing and found i could not figure out some tech stuff and yet the speed dinosuars could. wow. Speed must make the brain young. 6am and i'm heading to get me some!