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 :
  • So with that info and the ability to calibrate during an activity thanks to the widget hotkey or directly with the sensor settings, it's not too bad, probably prefer that over an unreliable continuous calibration.


    I think I can live with that. Is there a way to set a hotkey directly for this?
  • Not that I can see but it's still only a few clicks ;-)
  • Since I wasn't planning on moving much and there was a storm incoming I switched from the usual "Auto" Barometer setting to "Barometer" to prevent any quick shifts in weather being confused for altitude changes and...well it was a complete fail with the altimeter dropping from 42 meter to 17 meters! Now my $40 Pyle ABC watch did the same but it only works in "Auto" mode so I'll give it a pass.

    Anyone else experimented with the Auto/Barometer/Altimeter Barometer modes ?
  • It is surprising that Fenix 5 does not have the option for continuous calibration. My previous watch, D2 Bravo - a derivative from F3, had continuous calibration using the sea level pressure information obtained from METARs (airport weather from the nearest airport). Even in this case, the altitude over a period of 1 hr (typical METAR update period) will vary depending the ambient pressure. So there is never a perfect altitude number all the time. There was also an option enter the station pressure or altitude, just like the F2.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Barometer is not working on Fenix 5X, period! Even went to the sea, calibrated the altimeter to 0m and the barometer was still off by 6 mmbar. Wrote to Garmin and they say it's is entirely within the norm :confused:
    And yes, the altimeter has increased by 4 to 5m when returning home to the same position after even short runs (approx. 10 min).
    And yes, the barometer arrow never changes. I had to put the watch in a plastic bag and blow it up to make the pressure change the arrow :eek:
  • My alto-baro was working spot on, before updating to V3.30... In fact I was very happy with its over all performance.
    Now it is constantly 2 mmbars above the real atmospheric pressure. I tried beta versions and resetting the device, but it didn't fix it...
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Hey guys
    I have had my Fenix 5 for a month now and it has been working perfectly until two days ago. I'm a pilot and I understand the link between pressure and altitude. My Fenix 5 is having reall issues with the altimeter and barometer. I have recalibrated it over 40 times and reset it to factory settings but I am still getting a massive error with the pressure/barometer. Right this moment if I increase in altitude the pressure increases!? It keeps dropping in altitude and goes to -500ft when I'm stilling at my desk at 20ft elevation!!?
    Super frustrated!!
    Is anyone else having this issue?
    I see online that the Fenix 3 had this issue!
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 7 years ago
    For Fenix 5 users there is now this widget where barometer calibration is possible: https://apps.garmin.com/da-DK/apps/c4c7fb2b-05ba-4b01-9dcd-f19fa2c298b5#0
  • Happy to report that it works great and if altitude was shown it could probably (once the offset of the watch has been determined) be used to calibrate the altimeter using the MSL pressure from a local airfield.