Big issues with GPS tracking on road cycling.

Former Member over 8 years ago

Hello, I'm an owner of a Forerunner 920XT and the new fenix 5X.

What I first did was compare the GPS accuracy to see if it's worth the +700EUR investment, I noticed a horrible bug related to GPS tracking in cycling activity (I don't know if it exists in other activities as well).:mad:
Surprisingly, the Fenix 5X goes crazy when cycling along NATIONAL roads, even to the point of losing segments on strava because the app doesn't recognize them, although, when you get out to a regional or local road the tracking it's just fine.
I can't understand it and I think that is has to be a software problem so please GARMIN fix it in an update as soon as possible.
Data recording was set on SMART and the GPS was set on GPS+GLONASS on both devices.

Anyone has noticed something similar? It's not conceivable buying a +700EUR sport watch to go out cycling with the old one because the new just DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY.

I attach some captures of GC:

Regards,

0 sis651 over 8 years ago

Firstly, Garmin Connect is not a good place to look at the tracks, because it over simplifies them. So displays more straight lines and more sudden turns. I have similar issue in one of my activity but its almost the same in both F5x and both F3, 'cos the distance is 100KM! So more distance, with simplification causes worse track display. I prefer looking at them on Strava < Runalyze < JOSM. JOSM displays them just as they are as its not a service running in a browser but a mapping application running on computer.

But my issue is F5x draws the tracks on the roads and not on the GPS position I think. It sticks them to the way on the road.

Also use every second recording instead of smart as smart does simplification too. I'm not sure Fx smart setting does so much simplification thou...

0 NoTex over 8 years ago

But my issue is F5x draws the tracks on the roads and not on the GPS position I think. It sticks them to the way on the road.

Did you set the option 'lock on road' in the navigation settings of the respective activity?

0 FryeX over 8 years ago

Did you set the option 'lock on road' in the navigation settings of the respective activity?

I see the track locking to road too. However my ride settings are actually using the system settings. I have to try today to configure the ride separate from the system settings and see if the lock to road disappears. Clearly at the moment for me the use system settings does not work for the road lock on ride activity at the moment.

0 Kitepops over 8 years ago

Has anyone had success turning the 'lock on road' feature off? my 5x is clearly locking on to roads where its not meant to in spite of the settings having this feature turned of at the system level, I've just turned off 'use sys. settings' and double checked no road locking anywhere so will try again in the morning...

Example below, green track is a previous route (F3), red was recorded today on F5X, both days I followed the GREEN route (cutting corner off signed cycle route) but the 5x is clearly confused by this and shows me following the 'signed' route with the occasional glitch back to reality...

0 cjcates007_ over 8 years ago

I turned LOR off in System Settings, but then had to go to Bike Settings, deselect" USE SYS CONFIG" under Map, and then turn LOR off there as well. This fixed it.

Has anyone had success turning the 'lock on road' feature off? my 5x is clearly locking on to roads where its not meant to in spite of the settings having this feature turned of at the system level, I've just turned off 'use sys. settings' and double checked no road locking anywhere so will try again in the morning...

Example below, green track is a previous route (F3), red was recorded today on F5X, both days I followed the GREEN route (cutting corner off signed cycle route) but the 5x is clearly confused by this and shows me following the 'signed' route with the occasional glitch back to reality...

0 Kitepops over 8 years ago

I turned LOR off in System Settings, but then had to go to Bike Settings, deselect" USE SYS CONFIG" under Map, and then turn LOR off there as well. This fixed it.

Yep this worked for me also today- just a bug that 'bike' isn't correctly respecting the system settings, hopefully an easy fix in the next beta...

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Hi guys,

Thanks for your tips related to LOR, I didn't know about that point. I've tried today a ride with the next configuration:

F920XT: as always, smart data, GPS+GLONASS.
Fenix 5X: smart data, only GPS, LOR off.

I've also tried the elevate sensor with the fenix, and the HRM-run with the 920 to compare heart rate data.

Both devices have recorded a similar ride, I will post them compairing with my Blackburn ATOM SL 3.0 (a cheap wireless cycle computer working with magnet)

Blackburn ATOM SL 3.0 F920XT Fenix 5X

Av. Speed 26.3 26.4 26.4
Time 1:13:24 1:13:14 1:13:25
Dst 32.198 32.26 32.35
Ascent - 502 512
Av heart rate - 148 147

The conclussions are much better than other rides, tracks are pretty similar and correct on both devices, av heart rate reading was right in spite off the elevate sensor has a lag with strong efforts, i found it to be more precise after warm up, maybe because capillars are already expanded and beats can be read more accurately.

I will keep on with these tests frequently, but I'm not an obssesed of GPS accuracy, what I just want is a precision enough to don't lose strava segments, just like my old 920. For the momento things are improving. :D

0 jmv_colorado over 8 years ago

I have noticed the same issue when using the "Cycling" activity. However, as a mountain biker, I normally use the MTB activity. The MTB activity does not lock on to roads, even using the system settings (with the system lock on roads set off).