My Fenix 5 hates trees

Former Member over 6 years ago

Hello,

I recently changed from a 235 to the Fenix 5 for running and I have noticed a poor GPS signal under trees with the Fenix 5 compared to the 235. Having spent a lot of money on what I would hope to be an upgrade it has been a bit rubbish in the GPS department. Especially since I rely heavily on knowing current and average pace at all times. These tend to go haywire under trees with the Fenix 5 but were solid as a rock with the 235.

I have added two screen shots of a Parkrun I do every week. Along the top at 4 km is a tree line and you can see the 235 does a much better job at recording the GPS. As a result the Fenix 5 actually records to distance as 3.08 miles instead of 3.1.

Any ideas of the cause, or possibly solutions? I have tried both GPS Normal and GPS GLONASS but they are no different. I know GPS watches can be a bit iffy under trees and around houses but for a Fenix 5 to be worse than the 235 is a bitter disappointment :(

Thanks, ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1471100.png ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1471101.png

0 scottj2 over 6 years ago

What firmware versions are on your Fenix?

0 TrippyZ over 6 years ago

Use galileo

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

If GPS + Galileo doesn't help, perhaps set aside some time where your watch and trees can get together and work things out. I've found the trees in my neighborhood to be quite reasonable once you get to know them a little better. :D Seriously though, were the two screen shots on the same run or different days? Is the difference on every run?

0 jim_m_58 over 6 years ago

If you are using both watches on the same day to record the same thing, you may want to have them on the same wrist if you are comparing the GPS.

Otherwise, your body may interfere with GPS slightly differently at different times along the way.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Thanks for the reply’s. Firmware is 12.50.

I have been running that same route for over two years most Saturdays so I have plenty of gps data from the 235 to compare. This weekend was the first time I tested the fenix 5 and noticed the poor accuracy on that route along the tree line.

But I have also noticed on other runs that the fenix doesn’t like trees and the current pace can go from 7 m/m to 11 m/m which also screws up my average pace for a while until it balances out again.

This never happened on my 235, pace never dropped. Not noticeably anyway.

I appreciate gps can differ from day to day but having been doing the same run and the gps data on the 235 is always consistent, makes me think the fenix is not as good for some reason.

If I never had to wave my arms in the air or wait ages to get a good gps lock with the 235, I don’t expect to have to do it with the fenix surely?

attached are a couple more runs with the 235. Still accurate through the trees.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

urgh, cant upload images sorry. Garmin Forum keeps saying invalid file even though it's just a jpg that worked fine previously. But take my word for it all the runs on that route using the 235 are very similar, they do not jump out so much along that top tree line like the fenix does.

I have always used GPS + GLONASS on both watches. Never tried Galileo, I was always under the assumption its not fully operational yet until 2020 and didn't want to rely on something only half working. Unless I am wrong in saying so, and it is all good and better than the other GPS options? I live in the UK btw.

0 meste7 over 6 years ago

Unfortunately this is something to expect from Fenix 5. The GPS may not look the best but some/most of the times the distance is correct, though the instant pace is bad...

0 SAHO over 6 years ago

I rely heavily on knowing current and average pace at all times.

Then I would strongly advice you to look into adding a good foot pod to your setup.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Unfortunately this is something to expect from Fenix 5. The GPS may not look the best but some/most of the times the distance is correct, though the instant pace is bad...

So it's to be expected that the Fenix 5 has poorer GPS/instant pacing than the Forerunner 235? That's a shame if that is the case given the price difference.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Then I would strongly advice you to look into adding a good foot pod to your setup.

If I had never owned a 235 prior to the Fenix then I would just accept it is what it is and would source a foot pod. But the fact that I know the Fenix is worse than the 235 makes me question why.