GPS Accuracy

Chimpware, was the Stryd calculating the distance for the F5? With the current incompatibility with Stryd I bet the watch was using it to calculate your pace AND distance. It would explain why GPS calculation is spot on but the GC calculation is off.

I had the same issue today (short by 3%), but not seeing nearly as many drop outs as you're seeing.

Damn it Olu, why did you have to put this in my head......

So on my way your for a short 10k run today in not overly challenging area (a lot of tree coverage, but no foliage yet), I pulled the f5 out of the box, where I had already repackaged it and decided to test one more time without Stryd connected at all. Because I just pulled it out of the box I did not set it up ideally for the testing, just turned it on (it had been upgraded to the 2.72 Beta and soaked for 17 minutes already) so it was set for Smart Recording and GPS Only:

http://www.mygpsfiles.com/app/#wdSLNjKP

Track is not bad compared to 735XT (some places f5 wanders more, but in the acceptable but not great range) and distance accrual was well within <1% difference, especially considering I did not play any convoluted games to start them at exactly the same time. Lap markers at all points hit within <1% difference on all miles from 1 to 5.

Seems possibly that Stryd being connected may have impacted distance accrual due to drop outs (even though it was set for Pace only and not Distance), or possibly Smart Recording or GPS only performs better in my area. Unfortunately not a conclusive test really, but performs better than the test I posted prior.

Garmin Connect Files:

735XT
fenix 5 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1654583132

Almost wish I had not retested because this test gives me hope. Now I am back on the fence regarding return.

1st run with the new firmware today. Distance was spot on (8.7 mapped vs 8.69 recorded). Performance and pacing data during the run were as expected except for on portion where it was reading too fast. Interestingly there was no GPS abnormalities in the location. The same can't be said about the rest of the run. GPS tracing was mediocre. Poor lock at 1st put me several meters away from where I started. Track looks good for most of the run and then around 5miles I started noticing more and more deviations with no clear interfering structures.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1653903524

Chimpware I'd return it. I can't remember CT return policy but I know it's nothing like REI.

I think the 935 will be a better upgrade coming from the 735 and I plan on trying it out when it becomes available.

Chimpware I'd return it. I can't remember CT return policy but I know it's nothing like REI.

I think the 935 will be a better upgrade coming from the 735 and I plan on trying it out when it becomes available.

Yeah, still might. Have 60 days with CT return policy.

You seem to have less dropouts with Stryd than I am seeing, and some with 5x see no dropouts, wonder why that is?

Also seems Stryd is not impacting your distance accrual, like it seems it might have for me. Do you have it set for Instant Pace from Stryd?

By popular demand, Millwall Ward running is back for another F5X vs FR935 test- this time in really difficult conditions, where pretty much all watches I have tried have had issues.

Both were on every second recording, GPS+GLONASS
Altitude calibrated at 10m at the start of the run
F5X Stryd+HRM-Run
FR935 optical only

http://www.mygpsfiles.com/app/#wfplGGs0

F5X https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1654858175
FR935 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1654858466

By popular demand, Millwall Ward running is back for another F5X vs FR935 test- this time in really difficult conditions, where pretty much all watches I have tried have had issues

Must get myself down to Millwall Ward someday ;), but there seems no clear winner here. Is that really a surprise?

Yeah, still might. Have 60 days with CT return policy.

You seem to have less dropouts with Stryd than I am seeing, and some with 5x see no dropouts, wonder why that is?

Also seems Stryd is not impacting your distance accrual, like it seems it might have for me. Do you have it set for Instant Pace from Stryd?

I had the Styrd set for indoor only for both distance and speed. I think it might be how you have the power field configured. I haven't touched mine so it's recording all the data (instead of any averaging)

By popular demand, Millwall Ward running is back for another F5X vs FR935 test- this time in really difficult conditions, where pretty much all watches I have tried have had issues.

Both were on every second recording, GPS+GLONASS
Altitude calibrated at 10m at the start of the run
F5X Stryd+HRM-Run
FR935 optical only

http://www.mygpsfiles.com/app/#wfplGGs0

F5X https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1654858175
FR935 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1654858466

They both look good, but clearly the 5x struggled a bit more to keep you out of the drink ;)

You absolutely should! There is no better place to prove the likes of Garmin and Suunto that something needs to be done about the accuracy of their devices.

My flatmate asked me to come along on a run around the whole Millwall Ward, where many a GPS devices have fallen victim- no comment needed..VAHR versus F5X
http://www.mygpsfiles.com/app/#wfp90M17

By popular demand, Millwall Ward running is back for another F5X vs FR935 test- this time in really difficult conditions, where pretty much all watches I have tried have had issues.

Both were on every second recording, GPS+GLONASS
Altitude calibrated at 10m at the start of the run
F5X Stryd+HRM-Run
FR935 optical only

http://www.mygpsfiles.com/app/#wfplGGs0

F5X https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1654858175
FR935 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1654858466

You're a star !

Let's see :
- F5x with 2.72/4.22 clearly improved over F5x with 2.40/4.20 http://www.mygpsfiles.com/app/#wfp90M17
- Other than going "straight in the water" opposite from the start the FR935 gives a better track (and that with GPS 4.20 vs GPS 4.22 on the F5x)
- Just after Lap 1 did you go straigh like the FR935 shows or make a right angle turn like the F5x shows ?
- Doesn't look like you're getting pace from GPS ? Even with v4.22 pace remains problematic on my F5, a sign that the underlying GPS data is "so so".

Thanks again !