Inconsistent altitude readout

The altitude is determined using a barometric (air pressure and temperature) sensor on some devices (like the fenix3). If there are changes in temperature or air pressure, it will affect the calculated result.

I haven't tried this, but you could start the altitude display and check the result. Then toss it into the refrigerator for thirty seconds and see what happens. If this reproduces the problem, then it seems there isn't much that you can do. The altitude readout may seem inconsistent, but so is the air pressure and temperature.

That said, I'm not sure I'd want to use a device designed for hiking or running for skydiving. Garmin already put the kabosh on scuba apps; if that was done for safety reasons, then it would not surprise me if they did the same for skydiving and base jumping apps as well.

Travis

The altitude is determined using a barometric (air pressure and temperature) sensor on some devices (like the fenix3). If there are changes in temperature or air pressure, it will affect the calculated result.

I haven't tried this, but you could start the altitude display and check the result. Then toss it into the refrigerator for thirty seconds and see what happens. If this reproduces the problem, then it seems there isn't much that you can do. The altitude readout may seem inconsistent, but so is the air pressure and temperature.

That said, I'm not sure I'd want to use a device designed for hiking or running for skydiving. Garmin already put the kabosh on scuba apps; if that was done for safety reasons, then it would not surprise me if they did the same for skydiving and base jumping apps as well.

Travis

Indeed! Here is the story;

I set an alarm to got off on the watch when I was skydiving at1000ft, it didn't go off as the value was wrong by -2000ft.

I am writing this from my hospital bed. I am doing one finger typing for obvious reasons.

Also, as I'm sure you are aware - in addition to temperature (colder air is more dense), barometric pressure varies greatly with weather. If you are around aircraft, you've heard pilots getting recent pressure reports from ATC and weather stations to set their altimeter. Given the response here, I wouldn't risk your life on the devices' inaccurate baro+temp altitude calculation.

It's cool, it's only being used for a glide slope calculation for training purposes.
There are other devices on the market such as flysight that Log gps data and give feedback.
The Fenix device should be able to serve the same function.

My feeling is the problem comes from the barometer reading as well.
Is it possible to disable this and go purely off of the GPS readings?

Negative.

The altitude is determined using a barometric (air pressure and temperature) sensor on some devices (like the fenix3). If there are changes in temperature or air pressure, it will affect the calculated result.

I haven't tried this, but you could start the altitude display and check the result. Then toss it into the refrigerator for thirty seconds and see what happens. If this reproduces the problem, then it seems there isn't much that you can do. The altitude readout may seem inconsistent, but so is the air pressure and temperature.

That said, I'm not sure I'd want to use a device designed for hiking or running for skydiving. Garmin already put the kabosh on scuba apps; if that was done for safety reasons, then it would not surprise me if they did the same for skydiving and base jumping apps as well.

Travis

All,

Please see the updated information in this thread: https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?362498-App-Approval-Exceptions-(Updated-11-01-2016)

Thank you,

The Connect IQ Team