Hi, I’m having some problems with elevation accuracy with my Fenix 5. Today I run in a “urban” road track with my 235 and the elevation was accurate. Check picture. If I do the same route with my Fenix 5, I don’t get this accuracy. It’s very strange. Same place, different elevations with the Fenix 5. Can you please help me with the correct settings. Thanks. ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1459232.jpg
The reason for the differences is that the 235 does not have a barometric altimeter and any elevation data relies on DEM database built into Garmin Connect. On the other hand, the F5 measures elevation using atmospheric pressure. You can enable elevation correction for the F5 activity in Garmin Connect, and you should see a graph similar to the 235 activity.
This is a broad topic. Generally, barometric altitude measurement has its own strengths and weaknesses, just like any other method. DEM maps tend to be coarse, especially in some areas, do not take into accout man made objects (like bridges over ravines), and work on the assumption that you move on the ground.
Suunto 9 allows us to choose between altimeter and barometer in terms of elevation. When we run in flat areas, we can choose the barometer. In trail runs it allows us to choose the altimeter.
Garmin Connect has elevation correction enabled by default for activities recorded with devices not featuring barometric altimeter, and has elevation correction disabled otherwise. And I would keep it that way, unless there is a reason not to, like for example: 1. You were not moving on the ground with a non-barometric device. Disabling elevation correction in this case will use GPS altitude (which has its own pros and cons, to make things even more complicated :) ). 2. You have reasons to believe that the barometer is not operating as expected. In this case enabling elevation correction may make the altitude graph look more reasonable.
