Feature request - save altitude for a location

Would be really useful to be able to enter and store an altitude, either manually or via GPS, and give the location a name. Then to be able to select a saved location to calibrate the altitude. So, for example, when at home, the current altitude - and therefore the barmometer - could be quickly corrected, without having to manually recalibrate or use GPS. This functionality has existed in the Garmin Edge GPS cycle computers for years

0 KrapfenKringel over 7 years ago

Sounds interesting, lets make it more easy. Allow to save heights for registered WiFi networks. Usually HomeWifis are stationary, so whenever you sync your watch at home it could auto correct the height.

0 thr4 over 7 years ago

Only a few models have wifi. I believe a better approach would be to adjust elevation in a proximity of a GPS waypoint with known elevation. For example you set Home as waypoint; when you start (or end) your run close (+/- 10m) to home, the elevation adjusts. I actually thought this is already enabled in some devices.

0 Mathias.Bjorklund over 7 years ago

I'm pretty sure it is already there undocumented (at least it was present on fenix 3).

If you let the unit get a GPS fix and then calibrate the height for this position.
The next time you start a session and you get a lock near this position it autocorrects the height from the stored one.

0 PubBike over 7 years ago

Auto cal. on the fenix 3 only calibrates the altimeter automatically at the start of an activity based on location proximity. It does not calibrate the altimeter when restarting an activity with "Resume later". It does not calibrate the altimeter when passing through the location of a previously saved calibration point during an activity. It uses the list of "Saved locations", but it also uses a hidden list of previous manual calibrations that were performed either using the Settings menu during green ring fix, or during an activity.

In-activity automatic calibration to previously saved locations and calibration points would be a nice feature though I agree.

Submit it here perhaps?

0 mcbadger over 7 years ago

I'm pretty sure it is already there undocumented (at least it was present on fenix 3).

If you let the unit get a GPS fix and then calibrate the height for this position.
The next time you start a session and you get a lock near this position it autocorrects the height from the stored one.

Yes, my F5 definitely does this (most of my runs start from one of two points near home and work, and it autocalibrates every time after I calibrated post-fix).

Sounds interesting, lets make it more easy. Allow to save heights for registered WiFi networks. Usually HomeWifis are stationary, so whenever you sync your watch at home it could auto correct the height.

I live three floors up, but my F3 could catch the WiFi from outside. Bit of ambiguity there.

0 KrapfenKringel over 7 years ago

I live three floors up, but my F3 could catch the WiFi from outside. Bit of ambiguity there.

Since the watch doesn't care about Wifi unless you press the sync button I don't see a problem, just sync on the correct level.

0 mcbadger over 7 years ago

You're advocating a system which works only if you explicitly sync and make sure it's on the same floor as where you calibrated.

The existing system based on GPS location is probably better as it will work whenever you turn the GPS on at a known location. (To be fair, if you leave your watch on an upper floor balcony to get a GPS lock before heading out, it may have a similar ambiguity problem - not sure how the F5 deals with that. I'll check.)

0 PubBike over 7 years ago

I made the assumption that the proximity required for Auto cal. was in any direction (including vertical), but I haven't properly tested it. It will be interesting to confirm.

0 mcbadger over 7 years ago

I think you're right that there will be a limit, but I think three floors up will be too small to trigger that. I'm interested in seeing what it does if it sets the elevation to the calibrated value when I'm three floors up, then head out without starting the activity - will it follow what the barometer tells it, or stay locked to the calibrated number?

0 steve_j_p over 7 years ago

Well, I guess a first world problem, but it ought be be trivial to provide some functionality to simply store a location height - let’s call it “home”, and then calibrate the altitude without having to go outside to get a GPS fix... The benefit - if that’s not too strong a word - is that barometric pressure is then adjusted too. So, for example, I know I live at 140 meters but my Fenix thinks I’m at 116 today - so the barometer is reading too high. Another “solution” would be for the Garmin Connect app to simply tell my Fenix when I am at home - all Android and Apple smartphones are geospatially aware - and set the correct altitude when syncing.