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 SAHO over 6 years ago

I agree that you should be able expect the Fenix5 to be as good as the FR235 in terms of GPS accuracy, but I don't buy into the rationale that since the Fenix 5 cost more than the FR235 then the GPS performance should be better.

The Fenix 5 has a lot of different features that the FR235 doesn't have, and that's what you're paying for with the increased price, not quality of the individual features.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

I agree that you should be able expect the Fenix5 to be as good as the FR235 in terms of GPS accuracy, but I don't buy into the rationale that since the Fenix 5 cost more than the FR235 then the GPS performance should be better.

The Fenix 5 has a lot of different features that the FR235 doesn't have, and that's what you're paying for with the increased price, not quality of the individual features.

Yeah I see your point, don't get me wrong the additional features of the Fenix are well received. But I am just a little disheartened that the primary function I use the watch for is not as I had previously.

Thanks all for the help, i'll just try and avoid looking at my watch under trees from now on and pretend everything is OK :)

0 caballero600 over 6 years ago

Hello,

I have been able to compare several watches: Garmin Vivoactive HR, Vivoactive 3 and Fenix 5.
By far, both Vivoactive watches are more accurate than the Fenix 5.

My feeling is that Garmin did something wrong with this model than was corrected with the Fenix 5 Plus. This last statement is due to all the messages I have been reading in the forums.

Regards,

0 jose.cboliveira over 6 years ago

After more than one year running and cycling with F5 there is one thing that is always the same:
If the watch is facing up the track is muck better.

I'm not sure if the F5+ is better or not but maybe they increase the energy in the GPS receiver and that could explain the battery reports.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Hello,

I have been able to compare several watches: Garmin Vivoactive HR, Vivoactive 3 and Fenix 5.
By far, both Vivoactive watches are more accurate than the Fenix 5.

My feeling is that Garmin did something wrong with this model than was corrected with the Fenix 5 Plus. This last statement is due to all the messages I have been reading in the forums.

Regards,

I chose the F5 over the plus due to the reduced battery life and the current price. But its good to know I am not along with others experiencing similar issues. Thanks!

0 JSRUNNER_ over 6 years ago

jose.cboliveira the 5+ I don't think is better - I suspect it's down to the metal body - my 5+ is significantly worse than the 935 along with worse battery drain

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

jose.cboliveira the 5+ I don't think is better - I suspect it's down to the metal body - my 5+ is significantly worse than the 935 along with worse battery drain

To be fair the metal body had crossed my mind as a possible cause. Which if it is the case (no pun intended) then nothing can be done and I will happily accept it as is, since I bought it as a more rugged watch anyway. Otherwise I would have gone for the 935. But if it is perhaps in anyway software related, I hope Garmin would acknowledge and sort it out since my 235 was such a great and simple running watch and it would be a shame to wish I never upgraded.

0 Crispin_Ellisdon over 6 years ago

jpcutler85 I've long noted that the GPS tracks from either my Fenix 5 or 5+ are not, on average, as tidy under the trees as those from the entirely plastic bodied forerunner watches worn by others, when I've delved in to the Strava Flybys at organised races/events on a standard course. That said, I've never found that has stopped the Fenix watches from correctly operating when navigating a course or any other 'outdoor activities' related usage. So perhaps look at it this way. You have bought a highly capable outdoor activity tool that has the rugged looks to match for every day use; to achieve that it may have compromised a little on the pure running pace and tidy GPS tracks, when compared to a forerunner watch, but it's not purely a running watch. The nearest Garmin offering that does have the plastic body for optimum GPS performance, has already been suggested and is the Forerunner 935; but you've already said you prefer the ruggedness of the Fenix 5.

0 JSRUNNER_ over 6 years ago

There are two areas where the 5+ (for me) has big downsides

1. Battery life - this is variable and seems to change with software releases so hopefully is curable - but still significantly worse than 935
2. GPS for OW swimming - this is still at the moment bad enough to not really be usable - hopefully this is SW fixable as it is a key part of my activities

0 jose.cboliveira over 6 years ago

Maybe you are all right about the metal body and that could explain the differences in running (face left) and bike (face up).

By reading the F5+ forum I had the impression that the GPS was improved, the battery problems kept me away from the F5+ (the map option was interesting for MTB) and I decided for a Edge Explore to complement the F5.