sigma-rox-12-gps

Sigma ROX 12 GPS — Overview & User Tips

My Preferred Settings set on the Unit

• Swipe down from the top
• Tap on top menu > on screen brightness, disable “auto” (only use auto at night) > Adjust slider to max screen brightness.* Runs for about 7 hours & then get a low battery (25%) warning with backlight on all the time, so I set the backlight to go off in 2 minutes.
• Check that the compass accuracy is “high.”
• Auto Pause should be on (disable for mountain biking).
• Strava Live Segments Off.
• Settings > User > Name = RR, HRmax = 150 BPM (for early 2019)

*If not clear enough, try Settings > Device > Display Settings > Color Mode > Night

My Preferred Settings set via the Sigma Data Center (iMac)

• Settings > Device > Auto Sleep > 5 mins. (only goes to sleep when an activity is not running)
• Settings > Device > Altitude Calibration > Automatic
• Settings > Map > Map Orientation > Heading Direction
• Settings > Map > Auto Zoom > Off (red)
• Settings > Connect Sensor > Heart rate monitor (if new firmware)
• Settings > WiFi > Connect locally as needed or use hotspot
• Settings > Display Settings > Backlight Time > 2 min.
• Settings > Display Settings > Color Mode >  Day
• Settings > Sigma Cloud > Auto Share Settings > All Disabled (instead, go to Data Sync > Sync there manually).

Importing RWGPS Routes Using a Desktop Computer

First, export the RWGPS route as a GPX Track (include cues as waypoints) onto a location on my iMac. From there import that file into the Tracks section of the Sigma Data Center app on my iMac. I then attach the ROX 12 to the iMac via a USB cord & upload it to the ROX 12 using the Sigma Data Center desktop (iMac) application.

Importing RWGPS Routes When Away From a Desktop Computer

I typically upload tracks to the ROX 12 via the Sigma Data Center app on a desktop computer via a USB cord, but oddly enough, the Sigma Cloud App on the iPhone doesn’t provide a solution to upload routes when away from iMac. I only use this technique as a backup, in case I get to the start line of an event and the file is somehow missing from the ROX 12 or, if the ROX 12 was to crash in the field, in which case I would need to re-load the file.

First, create the route in Ride with GPS and then export that file as a GPX on my desktop computer (or if using mobile, save to my iCloud Drive > Desktop). Then use this “Strava Labs project” link to import the file it to my Strava account: https://labs.strava.com/gpx-to-route/#12/-122.44503/37.73651. Assuming Strava is synced on the ROX 12, it will then be available on the ROX 12 via these settings: Home > Strava > Show Strava Routes.

Following a Track

Screen shown after selecting a route.

Question for Sigma Tech Support: When I want to follow an uploaded route or “Track” I do the following: Tracks > Select the given route from a menu > Select.
And then I see the words: “Start Point” and “Closest Point” with a “Start” button below both of them. Which of the three buttons do I press next if I am at, or near the start? What if I am in the middle of the route? Can you provide clarification on what should be obvious?

Answer: I think you can choose between those 2 Buttons, then press start.

Sigma Tech Answer: You can choose between those 2 Buttons, then press start. (Upon pressing Start or Closest, nothing visual happens so you are not sure it “took,” but it does seem to work).

If Navigation Seems Wonky

More than once, I will be in the middle of a ride trying to follow a pre-loaded route and things wack out. For example, one time, while on a 62-mile route, the ROX said my “distance to destination” was 74 miles! What the heck. Usually this works:

Home Screen > Navigation > Stop Navigation > Yes > Back Arrow > Home Page > Track > Reselect Route > Start

How To Power Down When Riding Multi-day Rides

I like to save multi-day rides or long brevets as ONE long event.

At the end of the day: Press Stop Button (lower left on front face) > Back Arrow. Optional step: Hold Down the Power Button For 3 Seconds > Lock Screen. Elapsed time will continue & screen will darken. Charge the ROX 12 overnight, otherwise it will lose 2 or 3% of battery life every hour.

To resume activity: Power > Unlock > Screen > RDW or MTB Training > Start (lower right button on front face)

Uploading to Strava After a Ride 

This is an old photo. I have now disabled the auto sync with the Sigma Cloud (top menu) as it takes forever to sync there. All I care about is getting my data to Strava.

First unlink from the Sigma Cloud, otherwise the unit will spin endlessly trying to upload the ride there, instead of uploading it to Strava first.

1. First, unlink the Sigma Cloud on the iPhone: Sigma Link > SIGMA CLOUD > Log Out
2. Second, unlink Sigma Cloud on the ROX 12: Main screen, scroll to SIGMA CLOUD > Gear > Log Out

• With WiFi nearby: it should do it automatically otherwise go to Home Page > Data Sync > Tap on 2nd menu (Strava logo) & then check for today’s date, confirming upload is done, or plug it into USB on iMac for latest upload.
• With no Wi-Fi nearby: Turn off WiFi on phone. Enable Hotspot on iPhone. On ROX 12: Home button > Settings > WiFi > Select iPhone & Input Password. If it doesn’t sync automatically then go to ROX 12 > Home Page > Data Sync > Tap on 2nd menu (Strava logo) & then check for today’s date, confirming upload is done.

Error Message

Upon start-up the ROX 12 may give you this error message “SIGMA APP is not responding. Do you want to restart it?” Press “WAIT.” If you hit OK, it my lock up the whole unit.

If ROX Freezes: How To Reboot

If the device doesn’t boot at all we need to wipe the whole system.
Following the instructions. Please be sensitive with this data as the user can brick his ROX if he does other stuff in this recovery mode. It’s OK to tell him how he gets there and what he needs to do there but he should be informed to not do anything else:

Sigma app is not responding…wait or restart. Hit wait, not restart.

• Press and hold the power button and the home button simultaneously till you see “Recovery Mode” on the Display (needs 20-30 seconds). This alone may wake up the unit and the following steps are unnecessary.
• Press the home button and you will see some options.
• With the left and right buttons navigate to “wipe data/factory reset” and press the power button.
• Navigate to “yes” and press the power button. (My note: If it keeps repeating, hit the power down button or “reboot system now”).
• The system gets wiped, choose to reboot the system afterwards.

Heart Rate Strap Problems

When the heart rate strap doesn’t sync (after syncing it once before) try:

1. Home > Settings > Connect Sensor > Paired Sensors > Heartrate > Pair, using the number 4105 or search.
2. Home > Settings > Connect Sensor > Paired Sensors > Heart Rate ID 4105 > Show Sensor Details > RSSI (signal strength): -40 thru -44 is excellent. -67 or higher is worse. https://www.metageek.com/training/resources/understanding-rssi.html
3. Home > Settings > Connect Sensor > Paired Sensors > Heartrate > Disconnect & then re-pair per step #1.

Charging While Riding

Initially when you plug in and turn on an external USB battery you will get an error message that says you cannot upload tracks while recording an activity…simply press the round home button and continue navigating/recording your activity and the unit will charge.

Auto-Pause Thing

With Auto Pause on, it records the correct elapsed time, assuming I start moving immediately, BUT it appeared to “lose” 5–10  seconds, or more, if I started the GPS but didn’t start moving immediately.

Screen Brightness

As an ultra-distance roadie I frequently travel in areas where I need the navigation features. Since the audible beep “turn” feature is only 70-80% effective, I have to ride with a navigation map always up. My number ONE COMPLAINT with the ROX 12 is the navigation maps are hard to see in most daylight conditions, especially early or late in the day when the light on the screen is skimming across it and not directly hitting it or if the unit is in the shade of my body or head. I am using polarized sunglasses, but it doesn’t really seem to matter (I remove the glasses from time to time and have the same problem). The red “follow me” line against the dark green background field makes it difficult to see surrounding streets. A light-colored background, or a map with MORE CONTRAST as found on the default setting for Google maps, WOULD HELP IMMENSELY. With the backlit on the screen turned on all the time I barely get 5 to 6 hours of use before the low battery (25%) warning pops up. Zooming in a lot helps (to 750 ft), but then I can’t see what is up ahead.
Here is my solution: set the backlight so it goes off in two minutes and then during the ride, when brighter viewing is needed, tap on the screen and it will brighten up.

Navigating to the Start of a Route

The ROX 12 does not support navigation to a route, when that distance is over 300km: https://www.randonneurs.fi/sigma-rox-12-0-is-unsuitable-for-randonneurs/

Updating OS (or checking to see if you need an update)

1. Backup sport profile to an external source like a hard drive of computer using Sigma Data Center.
2. Plug unit into a wall outlet (not a computer) and be connected to WiFi.
3. Using only the ROX 12 (not the Sigma Data Center): Home Screen > Settings > Update Firmware

Screens on My Road Bike Sport Profile