Hey guys, i've had my fenix 5x for 2 weeks now, i think after the sw update 2.90 something happened with the barometer, meaning the msl adjusted pressure it indicates for a specific location (i know the exact altitude and msl pressure from the metar-taf report of an airport) is 4.5-5 mbar higher than it should be, with the watch on my wrist. If i'm not wearing it, it shows roughly 3 mbar more. I know that the algorithm through which the watch calculates the pressure from the user-input altitude or viceversa takes into account the temperature too, but what could the cause be for such an error? I do not know the specific moment when the value started to drift from the correct value, and some people on suunto forums said (and it is also stated in the suunto manual, suunto core that is) that if you use the watch in baro mode for a long time, with the watch not being in the exact same spot, meaning both the altitude and the ambient pressure change, the msl pressure can be erroneously calculated. But i haven't done that, it was always on auto mode. Thx!
My barometric pressure setting is very reliably just about the exact same amount off of the known pressure setting from every airport I go to at all times (as well as the corresponding difference in known relation to MSL) (as a pilot I get around). This shows consistency and reliability just not accuracy. The ability to simply manually adjust the pressure setting would be great!
My problem is that when I'm driving past the airport, that is, 100 m away from one of the runways (on my way home i drive past the airport here every day), calibrating the altimeter to the known elevation of the airport gives me a baro reading 5 mb higher than the one in the metar report, which in one case was half an hour earlier..is this normal? I guess not. And i don't understand the 3 different values of 3 different watches shown when at the reseller showroom..
My problem is that when I'm driving past the airport, that is, 100 m away from one of the runways (on my way home i drive past the airport here every day), calibrating the altimeter to the known elevation of the airport gives me a baro reading 5 mb higher than the one in the metar report, which in one case was half an hour earlier..is this normal? I guess not. And i don't understand the 3 different values of 3 different watches shown when at the reseller showroom..
Could it be because it's a tiny little wrist based device which will never be as accurate as the larger, far more expensive devices they likely use at an airport?
Especially when you are measuring something where the temperature of the device can affect the readings and it's worn on a wrist where the human body heat can transfer to the device.
Could it be because it's a tiny little wrist based device which will never be as accurate as the larger, far more expensive devices they likely use at an airport?
Especially when you are measuring something where the temperature of the device can affect the readings and it's worn on a wrist where the human body heat can transfer to the device.
On my opinion, some units are well calibrated and others don't... For this reason i think Garmin should let us set correct msl pressure value...
My 5x and 920 are within 0.1 mmHG and my old Casio reads the same to the nearest 1 mmHG (it does not display tenths). The 920 and Casio was calibrated years ago at my local airport. The 5x has not been and I don't see a reason to do so.
I perfectly agree with you, but others report spot on measurements, that's why i'm intrigued :)
So what are you going to do? Return it and ask for a replacement? I am not sure the seller will give me a replacement just because of this problem. I love this watch, but this baro thing is annoying :(
The supply is very short right now, they haven't even shipped all the preorders yet. I'll keep the watch for now, see what the future sw updates bring.
Could it be because it's a tiny little wrist based device which will never be as accurate as the larger, far more expensive devices they likely use at an airport?
Especially when you are measuring something where the temperature of the device can affect the readings and it's worn on a wrist where the human body heat can transfer to the device.
How would the size of the sensor affect the accuracy?
A pressure sensor outdoors at an airport is subject to temperature changes the same as one in a watch. Temperature compensation is always required for any reasonable accuracy. I've owned many ABC watches that were very accurate and consistent, including an F3.
How would the size of the sensor affect the accuracy?
A pressure sensor outdoors at an airport is subject to temperature changes the same as one in a watch. Temperature compensation is always required for any reasonable accuracy. I've owned many ABC watches that were very accurate and consistent, including an F3.
I have no idea what they use at an airport but I would assume since it involves humans up in the sky that it would be the most reliable type money can buy.
As for temperature, the airport barometer isn't worn on a human body and subject to heat transfer from the human body as well as the air temperature around it.
My point being, it's unlikely a wrist watch barometer would be as accurate as one in an airport.
