Understandably! I've just been using GPS, no GLONASS, and the results are generally acceptable - indeed very precise with a decent sky view, and certainly never the kind of bizarre jumps you have there. Smart vs one-second recording should make no difference at all - the watch is doing exactly the same GPS position calculations every second in either case, it just doesn't save all the points. It's only Ultratrac where there is a difference in how often location is calculated.
What really works for me is to ensure that you do not actually start the activity before the GPS-based instant pace goes to dead zero (--:-- on watch screen). You will notice that shortly after GPS indicator going green, the pace moves a bit -- this is as the accuracy increases with a better fix and your position gets closer to where you really are. Other alternative is to have the GPS accuracy data field shown and don't start running until it's stabilizes at a value lower than 10 metres.
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I get pace from a foot pod, so I cannot see GPS-based instant pace going to zero.
Where is the GPS accuracy data field? I can't find it in the f5. nor in IQ.
You are right, the field is gone now (I used the pace field on Fenix 5, accuracy on earlier devices).
Since you are using footpod the only way I can think of is to look at the "map" screen and wait until the position indicator stops moving (vs a waypoint, i.e. your home/start location).
I was complaining a lot about GPS accuracy. The recorded distance was always too low ( by 2/3%). I have to admit that since 6.0 firmware update, it?s going better. I ran a 20 km today (? 20 kilom?tres de Paris ?). And it recorded 20.1 km which is pretty fair!
I've owned my fenix 5 for several months and have loved everything about it until this weekend when I ran a 50K race and the mileage was off by over three miles. Apparently, the watch lost GPS signal and reconnected multiple times during the race. I've uploaded the tracks from my race and someone who finished 2 seconds ahead of me. We ran the exact same course, but you'd think I got lost from looking at the maps. I'm not nitpicky and haven't cared that my previous runs haven't followed the road precisely or cut a corner slightly, but the watch completely failed during the race and this is unacceptable for being Garmin's flagship watch. I've never had this problem with my Forerunner 220 or just using Strava on my iPhone (even running the same course).
I had been using GPS NORMAL and Smart Recording and I've since changed to GPS+GLONASS and Every Second Recording so we will see if this makes a difference. Curious if anyone else has experienced this problem and found that the settings made any difference. Again, I don't expect the GPS to perform flawlessly as I understand the limitations of a wearable. but I'm very disappointed that the fenix 5 let me down during an important race.
First congrats on the race. I have had similar issues as well - its very frustrating. I actually called Garmin support on it just last week - they suggested to turn on 1 second recording and also the 3D speed and 3D distance. I have another race this weekend we will see if it makes a difference. For me I did a 13.1 race and the F5 showed 12.2 so almost a fully mile off. It was a trail race so I can see how maybe these 3D settings might make a difference. Thought I would share.
I mean, even my VivoActive HR had a MUCH more solid track. Why would a watch this is almost 1/3 the price have such better GPS performance than one of their newest "high-end/flagship" devices?
I used the DCRainmaker comparator tool so you can see my tracks. Please let me know if it doesn't work.
ONWARD AND UPWARD.
Your device was in Lock-on-Road mode. Obviously Fenix was not storing the real GPS data, but the position locked on the nearest road instead. Once it detected you were an another road, it insisted on staying on that until the real GPS position was way too far from the guessed one. Then it jumped back to the real route. See similar post: https://forums.garmin.com/forum/on-the-trail/wrist-worn/fenix-5x/154519-
Recently I've bought a Fenix 5 Sapphire version to reward myself for bachelor degree :) For three years I've been using TomTom Multisport watch and I decided to try something new. To test GPS accuracy I went with two watches. When I upload activity I was very disappointed. Gamin track was definitely worst than 3 years watch. I don't know how it is possible considering to price. GPS accuracy is very important for me. Unfortunately I returned Garmin to shop. I used GPS + Glonass system. Below I attach a comparison of two track:
Wow, you need to readjust your expectations. To me that’s well within the boundaries of GPS accuracy. The feature set of the F5 is far better than the TomTom, I’d say you made a mistake returning it. Hope the TomTom keeps the sub 1Mu accuracy - you may be disappointed!
