Antenna towards Ground or towards Sky

Now it is only a couple of days until we know if they placed the antenna facing towards the ground https://medium.com/personal-notes-on-the-garmin-f%C4%93nix-3-hr/f%C4%93nix-3-hr-a-non-destructive-teardown-bcfb45f1b746#.2kmze34pl or facing up towards the Sky and the satellites.

On the 18'th of february the internal photos should be public...
https://fccid.io/IPH-03095

0 sis651 over 8 years ago

If I interpret the pictures correctly the antenna is placed where there is a void in the inner layers of the PCB at the bottom of picture. When we see the USB connector the board is rotated same as picture 2 in the external photos which means that the antenna is placed on the opposite side of the unit compared to fenix 3 => antenna is placed towards the sky if you run with the watch on your hand.

=> Better possibilities of good GPS performance.

Circuit extension in the bottom of the board is probably BT or WiFi or both antenna. Just look at the buttons position and the three springs above the board. These are the GPS antenna module connections, highly probably the chip under them is MTK GPS chip. Right side of the watch has three buttons, so that those springs will look at outside and antenna will look at the ground too. :D Actualy, GPS signals is more than antenna looking down or up as the passive reflector they'll use which they name exo antenna has importance too... We'll see how much it improved, if any. :D

0 s_orange over 8 years ago

The only issue I have with the F3 is the occasional and annoying GPS glitch. If this isn't fixed in the 5 series then I really see zero reason to upgrade.

here's hoping.

0 chong67 over 8 years ago

One way you can tell if get good GPS signal is getting 3D lock inside building.

When I sit near a airplane window, I give my Note 5 about 2 minutes and I get a GPS lock and I am able to see the airplane path using Google Map. I wonder if The Fenix 5 sensitivity is this good.