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Fenix 5 Plus: GNSS options - GPS + Galileo + GLONASS (7.10 firmware and later)

What's the latest view on GNSS options on the Fenix 5 Plus?

The vast majority of my efforts using my Garmin Fenix 5 Plus are in the 51-67 degrees zone north of the equator (UK + Nordics), which from what I understand suggests that GPS alone is almost never the best option (I believe GPS is best below 45 degrees). Galileo whilst finally up and running is still relatively new and probably has not been optimised yet in the Garmin firmware, but has overall technical improvements over both GPS and GLONASS. Unfortunately Garmin only supports using GPS as a baseline, and then adding in an additional GNSS constellation.

From a technical standpoint, how are other users that like me tend to play in more northern areas find the performance of your fenix 5 plus series watches when selecting the various GNSS options? I suspect in an ideal world, Galileo + GLONASS combined would probably yield the best results for those of us using these watches in higher latitudes, something not possible using the current firmware.

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0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Positioning systems (GPS, Galileo...) are no geostationary systems like your sat-tv.

It does not matter where on earth you are.

0 Traveller over 6 years ago in reply to Former Member

Not quite true. Some GNSS systems work better in higher latitude environments.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to Traveller

have a look here, it answers a lot of your questions and is also very interesting! GNSSview

0 OEAGLEO over 6 years ago in reply to Former Member

There's also a phone app for the GNSS View, so you can actually check coverage at your starting location, and project what will be available throughout your activity.

0 Dr Phil over 6 years ago

Same applies for us up here in the Southern Latitudes (NZ). I'm getting good results with GPS+GLONASS so not fussed about using anything else.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to Traveller

Again... It does not matter where on earth you are.

0 AllanOlesen67 over 6 years ago in reply to Former Member

Again... It does.

The orbits of the satellites are tilted relative to Equator. Glonass orbits are tilted more than GPS orbits, and the Glonass satellites will consequently reach more Southern and Northern latitudes than GPS satellites do.

How far north you have to be before this makes a difference? Well, that is what this thread asks.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to AllanOlesen67

That's why i say... It does not matter!

0 AllanOlesen67 over 6 years ago in reply to Former Member

Errh, no, you said it was because they are not geostationary. So you haven't in any way written anything about the consequences of differently tilted orbits.

If your claim is that the differently tilted orbits don't cause differences at higher latitudes, then you will need to back it up with something more substantial than "It doesn't matter".

Remember, that to me and everyone else here, you are just a stranger on the internet. You could be a scientist, which have worked his whole life with GNSS systems. Or you could be some random bloke with no clue. We have no way of knowing. Even if you post your credentials, we have no way of knowing if they are real. So the only thing which can persuade us is arguments, not just unsubstantiated claims.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

Hey Phil. I've seen you post "up here" when referring to New Zealand before. "Up here" from where? Lol. Are you posting to all those residence in Antarctica?