Better gps sensor than VA3

Hi,

I own the vivoactive 3 and think about buying the fenix5 (non plus) for swimming. With my va3 I use the 3rd party apps "swimming app professional" and "any activity" for open water swim, but the distance is not accurate. It shows that I am swimming in the woods around the pool and not only in the pool (even in a 25*12 meters pool). Also when really swimming in open water the distance is too high.

My question now is: does the f5 have a more precise gps sensor than the va3 or is it the same and my 3rd party apps are bad?

In addition with f5 I would be able to use HR swim chest strap... Does it work good for HR measurement?

Thank you. BR,
Bernhard

0 jim_m_58 over 6 years ago

The va3 doesn't have the "smarts" for GPS while doing OWS, while the higher end watches do (like the 935 and F5 and f5+ families.)

For OWS, you can use a HRM-Tri or HRM-Swim for HR data while swimming. They "batch" the HR data while you are swimming and send it to the watcher afterwards. Again, something that the va3 doesn't support. But note, it only works with the Garmin HRM-Tri or HRM-Swim, and not the base HRM band.

0 Bernhard over 6 years ago

What do you mean with smarts for gps? I know that va3 has got no ows activity, but this problem I can solve by using 3rd party apps. Or do you mean that the va3 gps sensor is not made for ows and the f5 is made for it?

0 tmk2 over 6 years ago

The problem with GPS in open water swimming is that the watch is often under water, where GPS reception is problematic. This has severe impact on GPS accuracy. Watches with open water swimming capability have smart algorithms to compensate for that, but technically it has nothing to do with GPS accuracy or sensitivity. VA3 limitation in this regard is only software-based.

0 Bernhard over 6 years ago

Ok I see. So is there a possibility to solve that with an 3rd party activity on VA3? Or do I have to buy F5 or another watch with native ows activity for that?

0 tmk2 over 6 years ago

There is no way to do it properly on the VA3. You could have some success with a 3rd party app if you put the watch under your swimming cap, and not on your wrist, so that it has constant GPS signal. But this way you loose stroke metrics. So if you want it to work properly, then your only option is a watch with native open water swimming capability.

0 Bernhard over 6 years ago

Ok, I see. Thank you. And does HRM swim/tri work for pool swimming as well as for open water swim?

0 tmk2 over 6 years ago

Technically, both work for pool swimming and open water swimming, however the HRM-Tri is not optimal for pool swimming, because it does not stick to your body as well as the HRM-Swim and will slip down if not worn under a wetsuit, and it is not chlorine resistant.

And please remember that those straps do not provide the offline recording capability when used with the VA3.

0 Bernhard over 6 years ago

Ok, thank you. Anyway I would buy swim and only use it with F5, not with my VA3.