5x Plus distance accuracy

I did a little distance check this morning with my 5x Plus. MTB ride with low speeds (4-5 mph tight and twisty). Fenix 5x plus (mounted to handlebars), Garmin FR 305 (mounted to handlebars), and Strava Andriod app on my phone (in pocket). All devices allowed ample time to get solid GPS signal/sync. I split the ride up into 3 separate 'rides'. About a 1 1/2 hour total. This is in a wooded city park w/ good cell service, no buildings, just trees. First 2 'rides' had Fenix in GPS+Galileo. On 3rd 'ride' switched to GSP only.

The 305 and the phone actually were very close in total in all three 'rides' created. They almost exactly aligned. Very impressive. The Fenix, on the other hand, consistently lost close to a 1/10th of a mile every 1 mile. I mean really consistently. It did it in both GPS+Galileo and GPS only. I also noticed a big difference in distance when I first got the watch (about 2 weeks ago) compared to my phone in GPS+Glonass mode, but didn't pay too much attention to it at the time.

What is the deal with this? I don't see a issue with the Fenix tracks (had a couple weird ones w/ Glonass), but this distance thing is unacceptable to me. Could it be that the Fenix is the actual accurate one? I doubt it, but I could be wrong.

***Edit: Need more rides before coming to conclusion. Rode again (3.5 miles) and all devices were pretty close.****

0 fitnessfreak over 6 years ago

Had a similar experience with my Fenix 5X. While performing a running with GPS active, if I stop for a while , the distance meter still keeps counting. This doesn't happen with my Apple watch though.

0 joshtee over 6 years ago

I paced the Wineglass 1/2 Marathon last weekend using a calibrated STRYD. I definitely did not try to run tangents, ran through a short concrete tunnel, and the final distance was 13.14. Pretty happy with the results and the track looked great.

Maybe you missed the point of this thread. This thread is not about external sensor accuracy or using the watch in open areas. Using a STRYD or speed sensor does not seem to be a problem. This is about the Fenix 5x Plus distance accuracy on it's own and it's not so accurate distance measurement in singletrack and heavy tree cover conditions. Running/riding in open areas doesn't seem to be a problem for the 5x plus, so you probably would have gotten decent results in those conditions even without using your STRYD. I am not looking for perfection, just somewhere in the ballpark, which has not been the case so far.

If it happens that you do run in tight turning trails w/ decent tree cover w/ out using your STRYD and get accurate distance results, I would be surprised, but would be interested in that info..

Also, as I previously posted, my tracks are awesome looking, it's the extremely inaccurate distance that is the problem.

0 Krzysztof over 6 years ago

jrodss, thanks for pointing that out. I did not know that was a option and just now found it. My watch was definitely on the "Smart" setting. I will try it on the 1 second update setting. BTW what is the Smart setting?

Anyone knows what is the Smart Settings? by the way, where are those settings?

0 AllanOlesen67 over 6 years ago

Settings | System | Data Recording

Can be set to Every Second or to Smart.

Smart will make the intervals between each recording longer, depending on how you move.

0 anthonytee over 6 years ago

Ok, I MAY have something!
I realized last night that my watch was set to the factory default profile setting of wearing the watch on my left wrist, but I actually wear it on my right!
I remember reading somewhere that this setting is primarily for Activity Monitoring uses, but I figured, what the hell, and gave it a shot. I got a MUCH better result on the trails that have been giving me so much trouble.
One run is a very small sample of course, but maybe a glimmer of hope.

0 joshtee over 6 years ago

Interesting. Try it out some more and let us know. I still have the problem and always have the Fenix mounted to my MTB handlebars :(

0 HrLover over 6 years ago

I find the 5x+ does not record distance, speed , pace very well when power walking or jogging. I don't have cash to shell for a stryd pod. What is a competent pod I can buy on amazon for less that records speed, distance, pace accurately ?

0 AllanOlesen67 over 6 years ago

The Garmin foot pod is pretty reliable for instant pace, but it will need different calibration factors for different activities. Walking needs one calibration factor. Slow running needs another. Fast running needs yet another. I would not trust it to be better than the GPS at distance measurement.

I used it for some time, but got tired of having to change calibration factor before each activity, so I caved in and bought a second-hand Stryd.

According to other posts in this forum, there are other brands of foot pods which are internally identical to the Garmin, for example Adidas. Those can often be bought cheaper than the Garmin.

0 HrLover over 6 years ago

The Garmin foot pod is pretty reliable for instant pace, but it will need different calibration factors for different activities. Walking needs one calibration factor. Slow running needs another. Fast running needs yet another. I would not trust it to be better than the GPS at distance measurement.

I used it for some time, but got tired of having to change calibration factor before each activity, so I caved in and bought a second-hand Stryd.

According to other posts in this forum, there are other brands of foot pods which are internally identical to the Garmin, for example Adidas. Those can often be bought cheaper than the Garmin.

Thanks Allan. Would you say the stryd is more accurate over the watch in detecting correct distance/pace/speed? Is calibrating it easy ?

0 AllanOlesen67 over 6 years ago

For instant pace, there is no comparison at all. When I walk at constant velocity, the GPS will fluctuate 1-2 minutes/km. The Stryd will fluctuate +/- 5-10 seconds.

The Stryd is also faster to pick up on pace changes, which is an indication that it can do with less smoothing.

For distance, I am not sure what is most accurate. If you look in the Stryd Facebook group, people are complaining that their Stryd is less accurate for distance than their Garmin watch. If you look here, people are complaining that their Garmin watch is less accurate for distance than their Stryd.

I use my Stryd for distance, but it is mostly to avoid bad data from when I am standing still, running through a tunnel, etc.