It looks my new Fenix 5X isn't able to sync the clock (and I believe other data, like temp / elevation etc.) with GPS... Each time I select that option, it just starts, after 3 seconds displays the advisory message on GPS signal strenghts and stays with this message on screen forever. The red line around the face is not moving at all and I believe it should (am I correct?). I've tried mutiple places with no effect. Anyone can advise me how to overcome this issue?
What is your GPS version in settings:about? I reckon it might say 0.00 which indicate the GPS isn't working. If I remember correctly there is a fix using the webupdater which works for some. If not then you should phone Garmin support.
Thanks for your reply! It says 4.30, so it looks OK. I've actually went far away from anything that could hamper the GPS lock and it worked.
However I'm a bit disappointed as it looks I really nned to be in the middle of nowhere to make GPS run, which is hard when you spend most of your time at the office / home / gym.
First F5 (slate/black) I had would not get a GPS lock for anything until I deleted the EPO.bin file off the watch. Do that, then go outside and it'd get a lock fairly quick. Go outside after synchronizing with Garmin Express, thus rebuilding the EPO.bin, and it'd take forever, like 10 minutes. Even after a lock was obtained, it'd flake out and lose lock, regain, lose it again.
The first F5 was exchanged at REI for a silver/blue and after the initial setup, even without an EPO.bin, got a lock within 30 seconds. Once it had a current EPO.bin, locks are pretty darned quick. Not as fast as my Spartan Ultra, but still quick enough.
I find that my F5x locks extremely quickly provided that the EPO (ephermis) data is current, and that I haven't moved too far from the last time I used it. If I have then it takes a bit longer. 5-10 second lock times are not unusual if I'm still in the same general area as last use (~100 miles or so) and it's within a few days. If I've moved a few hundred miles or so since last use then it usually takes ~30 seconds or so to get a lock.
You won't get a lock indoors in most cases since GPS signals are well into the gigahertz range and very weak in terms of power level (since a satellite has limited power to send with!) and thus don't penetrate through building materials well -- and not through metal or concrete to any degree at all.
Reading your other posting I'm getting the feeling that you are expecting GPS to work inside (home, office gym). Please tell me I'm wrong here.
In a way - yeah. I mean I don't expect to have a constant lock and be filly operative, but it would be good if Fenix was able to update some info while I'm away for a while (out of the building) or simply sit next to window. Phone GPS have no issues with working inside, yet I do believe the power of phone GPS is way stronger than the tiny one that can fit Fenix. So some crippled watch GPS functionality inside would be highly appreciated! :)
bad.badger - I guess the question is what do you want from the watch, especially inside.
you mentioned temperature - the built in temperature sensor works inside and out but is useless for measuring ambient temperature when on you wrist. The weather widget gets the outside temperature thru the phone. Altitude/barometric pressure (they are related) is available through the built in sensors without GPS but subject to many factors (creep, calibration requirements etc) that impacts all barometric sensors (it is complicated). However, relative changes are generally very good - GPS based altitude is 2 or so time less accurate than horizontal measurements, so although can be used for calibration, has issues as well. I assume when you are indoors you know where you are!
Indoor exercise activities provide a great deal of information from a fitness perspective. Activity tracking provides more general information - I can go on and on - think you need to figure out more about how a sport GPS watch works (and limitations) and decide if you need one at all. So far, nothing you have mentioned it related to this particular watch but general limitation for all sport GPS watches and devices.
GPS acquisition also depends on how fussy the manufacturer is when they say they have satellite lock. For example, one manufacturer may be content with a lesser level of satellites acquired and with a lower level of accuracy, but stil state that GPS lock is acquired.
While I believe in this category the Tomtom watches have one of the best GPS systems, I had two Tomtom watches (with QuickGPS up to date) take around two minutes for satellite acquisition, while the Fenix 5 took around 15 seconds. The Garmin, which has previously returned more "wiggly" tracks, albeit with the same distance, got more time to fully acquire satellites as a result of its early lock, while the Tomtom units were still searching. During the run, the Tomtom units performed as well as always, but the Garmin also provided its best track (looked on par with the Tomtom units). That was encouraging, given it was my first run on 2.9. However, neither brand gets satellite lock in my house. If they did, it would be more by luck than good design. Elevation gain was within a few metres of each other. I now have a 5 and a 5X and when calibrating the two devices this evening, they returned elevations within one metre of each other, which incidentally is spot on with what the Tomtom watch returns from the same spot. This is encouraging.
I don't think expecting watch to get satellite lock inside is fair. Most GPS units struggle under trees, so under a solid roof with thick walls is an extreme challenge. We all have different expectations of our units, but it needs to be tempered with some realism. If the unit does not have line of sight with the satellites, it makes it very hard for them to perform with any level of accuracy.
