thank you for your answer. That's the problem, I've never stopped. I simply kept following the path, no changes in speed and direction. For no reason the tracking simply got crazy in a completely open space. I've tested the same route today too, same problem. It doesn't matter which tracking mode I use (Intelligent, Every second, GPS with or without GLONASS...) Has anyone else experienced the same behaviour?
I wasn't aware of the EPO... I made some research in internet and I found out that my EPO is current (under "Settings" -> "System" -> "About"). So, yes, there is no problem with EPO file. I tracked the same route with a FR 235 and, despite the fact that the GPS track is not 100% accurate, no crazy readings as the Fenix 5s. Is there a way to "force" the watch to install a new EPO file? Perhaps removing the one in the watch? Thank you for your answer anyway.
I'm now onto my second F5 (Garmin replaced the first one) and the GPS recording is no better. I've tried with both GPS and GPS+GLONASS, and both auto and 1 second tracking. Yet on my 5k race Saturday (a sea front out and back, on a clear day - ideal GPS conditions) it said I ran 4.75k, and on my 10k race it said I ran 9.2. My minute mile pace was off by over 1minute. So for pace and distance this watch seems functionally useless. I am doing something wrong? Is there a different setting to try? Or is this just the best to hope for from this watch?
How many people on here are using foot pods for pace/distance? (is it worth spending more for something other than the milestone pod?)
You may already have seen that I use a footpod. What triggered it was when I noticed that the total distance, and average pace registered by the watch would vary substantially between runs, and even more after a "recalibration" or whatever you want to call it when having switched locales. In addition, on my "standard" run, there is one specific lap where under any and all circumstances, the watch will lengthen the lap by between 8 and 10% - which then makes the whole run track useless for monitoring performance or even knowing the total distance. I have obviously also used the watch in other environments and the GPS performance seems to be better in environments where one would expect better GPS reception conditions; however, I did not measure this in detail and I cannot guarantee that there is sufficient precision there either. What I can say is that I use a footpod since December, and both distance and pace are massively better in terms of consistency across runs, so I'm not going back to "GPS only" any time soon. My GPS track now serves merely as an illustration of where I run and an indicative visual of the track.
Oh yes did it lower the VO2max - by a whopping 12% - and it hasn't recovered in 2 months. But I agree, probably the footpod-based VO2max is closer to reality.
Not sure if it's just me, never had much to complain about the distance accuracy of my F5, but still lately I've been getting very solid GPS tracks as well.
On one of my runs my Stryd dropped out mid run (forgot to charge the battery) so I had to switch to running by pace and TBH had to double check if my Stryd was really out of battery when I got home as the pace was actually usable and mostly showing me the kind of numbers I would expect. To be clear I don't use Stryd for distance, only pace (with auto calibration on) and power.
Only other thing besides recent firmware update I can think of is that the temperatures are now -10-20Celsius. Perhaps the watch just likes it cold :)
Can't replicate your experience about solid GPS tracks - just checked my last one and boy does it make me want to avoid zooming in ...
On the Stryd: I used it a couple times this winter at -20C and below, and it was erratic; Stryd support confirmed that that's too cold. I now try to avoid using it below -15.
Quite unsure about Fenix5 accuracy. After few updates I got faster "GPS find" on the beginning of the workout but.... long story short....
Nowadays I don't mind how many steps, floor, sleep hours I did during the day, nowadays I am focused of what can bring me the watch during outdoor workout (run, trail run, bike, hike etc.) which I compared below.
Two days ago I made with friend of mine 25 km of cross-country skiing and result was quite funny. He had Fenix3, I had Fenix 5 on one hand, Suunto Spartan Sport on the other. Summary. Distance plus/minus 1 km different, OK, I got it but speed, ascend/descent totally different. Watch - max speed - ascend - descent Friend's Fenix3 - 180Km/h - 475m - 465m Mine Fenix5 - 50km/h - 480m - 501m Mine SSS - 24Km/h - 414m - 411m
It was my second time on cross-country skiing and I am certainly sure that my speed was't 50 km/h and I 100% sure that friend's speed wasn't 180 km/h . Then I import GPX files to the map (https://www.outdooractive.com/en/) and compare ascend/descent. Be surprised or not but SSS does not have barometric altimetr and cost half price compare to Fenix5 but has the smallest deviation from reality (only +/- 20m, Fenix* has something about 80m).
It does not look OK for me. I hope that Garmin and specially Fenix is the best (the more accurate then others) on the market but as I can see it is not :-( ...
If your read the whole post sorry from my English, I am not native speaker...
