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The same step count with different distances

Wesleypipesyo
over 1 year ago

I have a Garmin Lily. It records an accurate number of steps through out the day. However the distance vary even though the steps do not.

Example: One day 10,114 steps = 4.9 miles.  Then the next day 10,112 steps = 5.7 miles.  

This happens regularly.  I have not noticed a pattern.  This is just walking around a classroom while teaching.  Not during runs or hiking.  

Sorry if this has been discussed.  I searched a few different times and couldn't find anything that seemed to match. 

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Strange indeed. Didn't you, by hazard, change the Custom Stride Length, or the body height in the settings between the two days? If not, then I recommend reaching out to the Product Support at https://support.garmin.com and asking them to investigate it. Please let us know what they tell you.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to trux

    Nope, nothing has been changed. It's like this just about every day.  I figured I would ask here before I ask them.  But I will contact them now.  

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Wesleypipesyo

    Normally, timed outdoor activities, where you use GPS, may result to variable distance results, because the stride is not constant. The combination of GPS and accelerometer (especially the cadence) is used during the outdoor activities to get the true distance. However, I can see on your screenshots that there were no such activities on those two days.

    Normally, on the Daily Timeline only the Custom Stride Length is used to calculate the distance (see The Step Distance Recorded on My Garmin Watch Is Wrong | Garmin Support) when there is no outdoor activity. I do not know whether Garmin changed the algorithm, and they now use the cadence to adjust the distance at indoor walking too, but since both days show rather similar curves (so probably also similar cadence), it is surprising the difference of the distance is rather important. Definitely contact the Support, and please report back if they answer - it may help others too.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to trux

    I did contact them just a few minutes ago.  I was thinking that maybe if the steps are clocked faster that the watch might think she is running.  And longer steps mean more distance.  That's the only thing I can think.  But there is no running. This is just walking around the classroom where she teaches. 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Wesleypipesyo

    I'd recommend also writing down the current Custom Stride Length, and checking whether it changes from day to day, or whether it remains constant.