GPS Performance really poor? Contribute to find it out

Regarding the GPS signal strength: you can read out the GPS signal strength every second in a datafield. I did this and included it in my datafield (YARF) in two ways:
1. You can visualize the signal strength live during your workout by activating it in the YARF's settings. By doing so, the signal strength is shown live as a ring similar to garmin's initial GPS fix.
2. Independently of the setting above the GPS strength is written to the fit file and can be analyzed in Garmin Connect afterwards.

The read signal strength is one out of 5 values:
QUALITY_NOT_AVAILABLE = 0 -> the ring is gray
GPS is not available

QUALITY_LAST_KNOWN = 1 -> the ring is blue
The Location is based on the last known GPS fix.

QUALITY_POOR = 2 -> the ring is red
The Location was calculated with a poor GPS fix. Only a 2-D GPS fix is available, likely due to a limited number of tracked satellites.

QUALITY_USABLE = 3 -> the ring is yellow
The Location was calculated with a usable GPS fix. A 3-D GPS fix is available, with marginal HDOP (horizontal dilution of precision)

QUALITY_GOOD = 4 -> the ring is green
The Location was calculated with a good GPS fix. A 3-D GPS fix is available, with good-to-excellent HDOP.

Notes:
- I don't own a Fenix 5, 5X nor a FR935. Therefore I need your feedback what is working and what not. You can help me to get one by spending me a beer or so (see the links in the app's description)

- The contributing to the fit file is very buggy from garmin's side. Please give me feedback whether the contributing was successful (successful is, if you can see a graph in your workout on Garmin's Connect site.

- Furthermore I am interested in those graphs regarding GPS signal strength of a Fenix 5.

The app can be found here (it's the link to the german's website. I hope the english speaking guys are redirected to the proper website):
https://apps.garmin.com/de-DE/apps/46016194-1fdf-4f9b-ae8b-16ceba51a548

It looks like this:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gqlmsfw8r05gqmd/YARF%20-%20Fenix%205.JPG?dl=0

Please share your results (the fit files) here and let's see how the internal status is. Maybe also some FR935 users contribute to this. Thanks.

0 topcaser over 8 years ago

This is a quite generic error message. Damn. Now it is very difficult to find the problem since I don't own such a device. The simulator doesn't find some problems especially crashes. And I did indeed change a fair set of code for the Fenix 5/FR935. Which means that the problem is maybe not in the fit contribution. I experimented for example with property overwriting which does in simple words overwrite the settings the user can do for the Fenix 5 since the F5 has much more resources.

Saying this I will try to track things down in the simulator.

0 topcaser over 8 years ago

OK, I have uploaded a new version. Can you please update your version to 3.4.1 and just test whether the datafield crashes (shows no "!")? Thanks for testing.

IMO, updating works as follows: Click in the browser again "Download". Typically (in my environment) opens Garmin Express. Nevertheless, I ignore the update message from Garmin Express and instead do a normal sync in Garmin connect mobile. Wait until it is synced and try again to start your running app.

What a pitty, I already get a bad review since it doesn't work on the 5X :-(

0 Jur1nator over 8 years ago

where in Germany do you live? If it`s in Berlin i might offer up my Fenix 5 for some Troubleshooting :)

0 topcaser over 8 years ago

In Nuremberg. Quiet far away for a short trouble shooting :-) Thanks for the offer. But you can support the development by pushing a five star review. I am pretty sure we get this beast running again with the help of the forums user.

0 scotthunter2 over 8 years ago

After several tests I have confirmed that the GPS on the Fenix 5 is rubbish (for running at least). It seems particularly bad in urban environments. I haven't experienced any major issues with hiking and cycling, though. I now revert back to my trusty Forerunner 630 for running and use the Fenix (mostly) as an expensive activity monitor.

I'm not sure if I can go back to the shop and ask for my money back? Since I brought it mostly for running, and it doesn't seem to do that well at all. I also find the optical heart rate very inaccurate (although I understand this varies from individual to individual). If the GPS and the optical heart rate aren't working properly, then all of the other fancy features of the watch like training status and VO2 max estimate are meaningless too, right?

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Sorry, crashed again... :(

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1700886955

Same ciq_log:

ERROR: Too Many Arguments Error
DETAILS: Failed invoking <symbol>
STORE_ID: 460161941fdf4f9bae8b16ceba51a548
CALLSTACK:
@PC = 0x00000000
@PC = 0x00000000

edit: could you include your rev-# into the apps-configuration field? I have updated but I am not sure if the newest version is running...

0 topcaser over 8 years ago

OK, thanks for the info. I have changed one single line now from:

if (info.currentLocationAccuracy) {

to

if (info.currentLocationAccuracy != null) {

I hope this was the problem. As you can see, it's really a small issue we are seeking for. The big issues are easy to find in the simulator, the small ones are only feasible with real hardware.

What I can see in your linked workout:
1. the graph is created. This means, the basics of creating a graph do work
2. there is written exactly one value to the graph right at the beginning. In your case it's 4 (very good signal quality). Since the datafield crashes at once, no more values are written and therefore the last known value is repeated.
3. if we could get rid of this annoying crash we probably are through
4. actually the graph should have the color blue. But this is another problem. Didn't get this running in my other apps, too since this Garmin interface is really buggy (from Garmin's site). Saying this, black would also be ok for us to analyze.

I have included a new switch called "Debug". This switch shows you the YARF version on top of the datafield). It should be v3.4.3. You can find the switch in the YARF settings: http://goo.gl/W7dGaV

0 topcaser over 8 years ago

Again this silly message that my post will be moderated. Hopefully a site admin can solve that problem since the posts which are moderated are shown not directly but seems to be in a long feedback loop.

Thanks god, I have copied the text before posting. Here it is:

OK, thanks for the info. I have changed one single line now from:

if (info.currentLocationAccuracy) {

to

if (info.currentLocationAccuracy != null) {

I hope this was the problem. As you can see, it's really a small issue we are seeking for. The big issues are easy to find in the simulator, the small ones are only feasible with real hardware.

What I can see in your linked workout:
1. the graph is created. This means, the basics of creating a graph do work
2. there is written exactly one value to the graph right at the beginning. In your case it's 4 (very good signal quality). Since the datafield crashes at once, no more values are written and therefore the last known value is repeated.
3. if we could get rid of this annoying crash we probably are through
4. actually the graph should have the color blue. But this is another problem. Didn't get this running in my other apps, too since this Garmin interface is really buggy (from Garmin's site). Saying this, black would also be ok for us to analyze.

I have included a new switch called "Debug". This switch shows you the YARF version on top of the datafield). It should be v3.4.3. You can find the switch in the YARF settings: http://goo.gl/W7dGaV

If this version does not help I will temporarily remove features like the fit contribution to trace the problem down.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

sorry, same behaviour:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1701040064

btw: I didn't manage to set the debug switch. It couldn't be found in the datafield settings...

edit: found the switch after reconnection to garmin express...
here short test indoors (gps-rating: 1)
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1701047101

0 topcaser over 8 years ago

Thanks for your patency. If you can't find the debug switch it indicates that the app is not updated properly. A further buggy Garmin process.

You are best to deinstall and reinstall the date field. Make sure that you have (now) v3.4.4 via the debug switch.