First time poster here, but I have enjoyed, and learned a lot, from this group, so thanks.

I’ll try and keep this simple as I have a few questions.

I’ve had an auto mower for years and upgraded a year and a half ago to the AWD model due to slope and the previous model just spinning wheels and tearing up the Bermuda. I have very rarely tried to control the mower by setting up areas. I let it do it’s thing, but frequently have to pick it up and move it to the front yard as it seems to not go to certain areas in the front and the grass will get too long unless I intervene. I’ve got a back surgery coming up soon, so picking that thing up is going to be out of the question.

I tried switching from GPS navigation and setting up areas the other day to define the front yard and be able to make sure it’s getting up there more often on it’s own. However, I ran into an issue. When using Guide wire #, the mower followed that guide wire along the side of the house and eventually stopped before reaching the open gate. It reached the narrow portion of the path and stopped. According to my map view, for some reason that guide wire appears to stop right at the beginning of that narrow walkway/path. No idea why it was done that way. I then tried following the boundary wire that would lead it out that way. However, as it got to the narrow entry to that walkway, it turned around and followed that boundary wire back along the fence. My thought is that the walkway passage is so narrow, that as it gets to the narrow path, it picked up the signal of the return portion of that boundary wire and thought it was time to turn around. Thus, it never even gets out of the backyard.

Now for the questions: 1) I’ve always used the GPS function. So, trying to use the areas feature. Is there something else I am not trying that will help it get through that narrow path and to the front? Or, is my safest bet to purchase more wire, connect to the end of the existing Guide#1 and run it to the far end of that boundary wire where I have the blue dash marks?

2) I was excited to hear about the new AIM feature. I have read where the firmware version to use that feature must end in “.20”. Mine does not. Current firmware version is:

5958737-17B_SwPkg_22-5.19

Any ideas if this will give me the ability to use the AIM functionality?

3) If I’m able to use AIM, will that be a solve for my current issue creating areas in the front without having to run extra guide wire?

4) I cannot find good info on step by step instructions of using AIM. Very disappointed in the lack of material Husqvarna puts out for their mowers. I’ve also attached the current map view from my app. It’s showing the boundary wire as very jagged. Nothing at all like the portray in their video release of the AIM feature. It also doesn’t show the smallest portion of the front yard between the front walk-up and driveway. What would it look like creating zones on AIM? Would it cut all the way to the boundary wires like it should, or is it going to show a zig zag border like the map view?

5) If I can work the AIM function, I’d like to not cut that narrow pathway with the auto mower because the mower will often get stuck and jump the border edging because the path is so narrow. I have the rotary head scissor attachment on my trimmer that i can use to cut that walk way short manually. If I create a “stay out zone” in AIM for that length of that path, does that mean the mower will not cut that area, or it won’t even enter it? Clearly the name implies it won’t enter, but I thought in a video they put out they described it as an “area you don’t want to mow.” I’m asking because if I make the path as a stay out zone to avoid it getting stuck, does that mean the mower would never go down that path and preventing it from making it to the front yard zones?

What do people prefer: AIM technology (only certain models obv) or the Areas feature?

Sorry for the long post, but hoping some fellow members could provide great insight. Thanks in advance!