Fenix 5 Barometer Arrow Readings

Hello,

ive had the Fenix 5 for a few weeks and while still in the “Honeymoon Phase”, I’ve rather enjoyed the features and functionality of this watch. That said, I have a question and the “data” Baro display on a watch face. I only was able to find a post from 2015 but it didn’t answer my question.

Currently my Baro arrow is point in a straight line at roughly the 4 o’clock hour (tried uploading picture but it was too large) but other times it’s facing at the 2 hour marker or in a straight line down/up etc. The catch is, when I power off the watch it resets itself to a straight line.

is there a guide or pictures anywhere on what these mean?

Thank you in advance.

0 AllanOlesen67 over 7 years ago

The arrow shows a rough trend of the Barometric Pressure during the last 6 hours.

When the arrow is pointing slightly upward, the pressure is rising. When it is pointing slightly downward, the pressure is falling. When it is horisontal, the pressure is stable. If it has a bend midway, the pressure has gone from stable to rising/falling or vice versa during the latest 6 hours.

If you switch the watch off and on, I guess that the watch resets its recording of pressure so it has no data to create the arrow. But it is just a guess.

Please note that the reading of Barometric Pressure is only correct if your altimeter reading is correct. So you will need to keep your altimeter calibrated all the time to get correct Barometric Pressure readings.

The relationship between Barometric Pressure, Elevation and Ambient Pressure is basically one equation with two unknown variables (Barometric Pressure and Elevation) and one known variable (Ambient Pressure). So when the watch shows Barometric Pressure, it shows the result of a calculation from a known Ambient Pressure and an assumed Elevation. And when the watch shows Elevation, it shows the result of a calculation from a known Ambient Pressure and an assumed Barometric Pressure.

So figuratively speaking, both calculations are standing with their feet solidly planted in free air, trying to lift each other by the hair. Which is of course impossible. So they will drift away if nothing is done to keep them fixed.

0 Volker over 7 years ago

There are 9 different baro trend arrows.

https://www.facebook.com/sportsandoutdoor/photos/pcb.638474729624672/638474709624674/?type=3&theater

0 AllanOlesen67 over 7 years ago

There are 9 different baro trend arrows.

https://www.facebook.com/sportsandoutdoor/photos/pcb.638474729624672/638474709624674/?type=3&theater

So the watch is unable to show "Steady, then rising" and "Steady, then falling"? Sounds strange to me. Are you sure that your list is complete?

0 Odie21 over 7 years ago

Thank you for the reply’s everyone, it’s much appreciated.