Wahoo is trying to fix a general issue with the first generation Wahoo Elemnt, Bolt, and Roam devices at the last minute

Last weekend, many users of the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and Roam cycle computers began to encounter problems when storing their routes or simply when the device could not acquire the satellite signal. A widespread problem whose origin is reminiscent of the famous Y2K bug that threatened a widespread computer disaster at the turn of the millennium.

The "Y2K bug" leaves Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and Roam users unable to use their cycle computers

To younger people, the Y2K bug may not ring a bell, but in the last years of the 20th century, it was a real headache for computer professionals worldwide. The reason was that early computers, to optimize the limited memory capacity, used only 2 digits to store the year in dates, which threatened to create chaos with the arrival of the year 2000 as programs would think that the date change from 99 to 00 would place them in the year 1900.

Well, believe it or not, this same problem is the origin of the widespread failure that has affected users of first-generation Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and Roam cycle computers since last weekend, causing numerous issues such as being unable to store their routes, corrupt data files, and even being unable to acquire the satellite location signal.

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We say it is their particular Y2K bug because the origin of the problem, as recognized by Wahoo, is that the device's memory uses 10 bits to store the GPS time that counts weeks. A counter that, in the case of these devices, has its start date on January 1, 2006, so when it reaches its limit of 1024 weeks, the counter resets to that date.

As many of you may know, the operation of GPS systems essentially involves measuring the time it takes for the signal to travel from the satellite to the receiver with absolute precision so that, since the position of the satellites in the sky is known, the exact distance between the GPS receiver and the satellite can be determined. By combining the signals from 3 or more satellites through triangulation, the position on Earth is pinpointed with tremendous precision.

For this to work, it is essential that the clocks of the cycle computer and the satellites are synchronized. Satellites have atomic clocks that ensure the stability of their clocks, and when devices acquire the satellite signal, they also receive time synchronization to be in line with the satellite's time. However, if there is a significant difference between the device's time and date and that of the satellite, this synchronization is not possible, leading to the failure to acquire the positioning signal. In cases where the signal is acquired, there have been reports of incorrect positioning or speed and mileage readings due to the alteration of distance measurement caused by the date discrepancy.

Similarly, files stored with an incorrect date are treated as corrupt by processing platforms, preventing their storage.

Wahoo has issued an apology to users of all affected devices and is working urgently on a firmware update to correct the problem as soon as possible. However, for now, they ask for understanding and patience from their users.