F5 - Barometer settings/modes/issues

So there it goes ;-)

A bit disappointed that there is :
- no altimeter calibration using local MSL pressure from an airport (calibration using known or GPS altitude only)
- no fine tuning of barometer so that it matches the local MSL pressure after the altimeter has been calibrated. In my case MSL pressure is 1020.6mb and the F5 is showing 1022.1...

Am I missing something ?

On the plus side the barometer module can be set to :
- Altimeter : it assumes constant weather so any changes in pressure will be altitude related
- Barometer : it assumes constant altitude so any changes in pressure will be weather related
- Auto : it selects the mode based on "movement" per the manual. Not sure if that's GPS or accelerometer movement ?

UPDATE : after a week no issues with erratic Altimeter/Barometer values like those reported on the F3HR

F5 compared to Motorola X :

0 bellostom over 8 years ago

Regrading the Auto functionality:
I have been a Suunto owner for many years
Suunto's auto mode, works by detecting altitude change. So if your altitude increases/decreases 5 (I think) meters in X seconds, it assumes
that you are moving and so changes to altimeter mode
I believe Garmin will be doing something similar

0 webvan over 8 years ago

Yes I clarified the calibration part, oh I see you modified your message too ;-)

Do you find the auto it works well on the Suunto ?

0 bellostom over 8 years ago

It is not 100%, but overall pretty good
If for instance you enter an elevator and you go up/down several stories, it will pick it up for sure
Sometimes however, if the difference is close to the threshold, it might not pick it up
But as I said, very satisfied with it
I have placed a pre order on the F5 sliver/blue. This will be my first Garmin (have owned 3 Suuntos and I am very pleased with them), but they lack many features
compared to Garmin

Keep an eye on the alti/baro though. Let's hope the F5 does not suffer any of the issues some of the F3HR users experienced, with
crazy altitude readings

Regards

0 kitenski over 8 years ago

quick search of the manual shows :

Calibrating the Barometric Altimeter
Your device was already calibrated at the factory, and the device uses automatic calibration at your GPS starting point by default. You can manually calibrate the barometric altimeter if you know the correct elevation.

Hold MENU.
Select Settings > Sensors & Accessories > Altimeter.
Select an option:
To calibrate automatically from your GPS starting point, select Auto Cal. > On.

To enter the current elevation, select Calibrate.

Altimeter Settings
Hold MENU, and select Settings > Sensors & Accessories > Altimeter.

Auto Cal.
Allows the altimeter to self-calibrate each time you turn on GPS tracking.

Calibrate
Allows you to manually calibrate the altimeter sensor.

0 webvan over 8 years ago

And ? This does not address the issuesI highlighted in my first message in any way, shape or form.

@bellostom - does your Suunto allow for setting of the altitude using the local MSL pressure ? And can the pressure reading be fine-tuned so it coincides with the local MSL once the altitude has been set ? My $40 Pyle ABC watch can ;-)

0 kitenski over 8 years ago

and? That is what you have with the Fenix 5 to manually calibrate. Nothing more, nothing less.

0 KUBALIBRE over 8 years ago

Hello Gentlemen,

Suunto allows setting of the altitude by using the local MSL pressure since many years. Never had a problem with the X6, ambits or traverse.

Greetings :-)

K.

0 webvan over 8 years ago

Wrong, reread the issues/limitations highlighted in the first message.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

So, your issue is that the watch does not do something you knew it didn't do?

I'm going to guess that you're specific request is a .0001% edge case.

I understand your disappointment, but a comparison to your Pyle watch is completely apples to oranges. It's like saying I also have a $10 timex watch that is able to run on a watch battery for several years, why can't Fenix 5 do that.

0 webvan over 8 years ago

You're talking apples and oranges but yet compare battery life and ABC features ? Really ?

If you're not familiar with how ABC watches work feel free not to pitch in here and try to tell those who know about them that they're wrong, it just looks silly.

The bottom line is that it's just ridiculous that Garmin hasn't bothered implementing these two basic feature that are available on all decent ABC watches, including the $40 Pyle, yes, and that would probably take them 10 minutes to implement. As a matter of fact the Fenix 2 let you set the altitude using MSL pressure but you couldn't tweak the pressure to put them "in sync" and as a result people (rightly) complained, so it seems that they took the easy way out and removed that feature instead of letting you adjust the pressure.