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Elevation Display

I have a vivoactive3 using Garmin Connect. I'm trying to understand the Elevation display.

I run an out and back course (same course both ways). I would think the elevation readout at the end of the run would be the same as the beginning (symmetrical), i.e., starts at 800ft and ends at 800ft, for example. My display never shows that. It always starts high and end lows. Am reading this wrong? - Thanks

0 trux over 4 years ago

If your device has a barometric altimeter, then it is influenced also by the changes of the atmospheric pressure, by the changes of temperature, and also the wind, sweat or dirt entering the pressure sensor port may influence the readings. In Garmin Connect Web, you can enable the option Elevation Correction, at every activity individually, and the elevation profile is then recalculated using the topographic data, instead of the barometric elevation.

0 Glenn over 4 years ago

Thank you. My senor port seems to be very clean. I enabled elevation correction and it appears to be much more accurate. If I understand correctly, this needs done on each individual activity. Is that correct? Can it not be enabled for all activities going forward? Thank you for your help.

0 trux over 4 years ago in reply to Glenn

Yes, you can only enable the correction individually at each activity separately, and there is no default setting. As soon as your device has a barometric altimeter, the Elevation Correction is off by default.

0 Bitti over 4 years ago

It's possible that your altimeter wasn't properly calibrated at the beginning, and the watch corrected it gradually during the run. Depends on your altimeter calibration settings. It's best to let the gps soak in a little before you actually start the activity by pressing start. This allows the altimeter to be calibrated before starting (if you haven't disabled that in the settings).

0 Glenn over 4 years ago in reply to Bitti

Can you tell me where the settings are so I can make sure it's not disabled? I'm a little hesitant to press start and wait because that will affect my overall pace for the run. Thank you for your help.

0 Bitti over 4 years ago in reply to Glenn

What I meant is that you select your activity from the activity menu, then wait roughly a minute or so after gps says it's ready, before you start your activity. That's actually crucial, because starting the activity (which would affect your overall pace) prevents the elevation calibration at start.

0 Glenn over 4 years ago in reply to Bitti

Thanks. Understood. I will try. It's interesting to note that my wife has a 4Runner 645 and runs the same course and her elevation works. No need to wait a minute or so. Maybe my vivoactive 3 is broke?