Fenix 5 Altimeter Auto Cal does not work as described in manual

Former Member over 6 years ago

The F5 Manual states: "Altimeter Auto Cal - Allows the altimeter to self-calibrate each time you turn on GPS tracking."

My F5 with latest FW, does not behave this way. If I start a Bike ride (which tracks Altitude), then the Auto Cal will grab the Altitude from the GPS and set the Altitude to this value correctly. However, if I start a Run, then the Auto Cal will not read the Altitude from the GPS and the Altimeter is not altered. Consequently the Altitude and Barometer are almost never correct and are worthless information.

As a result the Altimeter has been one of the biggest disappointments of the Fenix 5.

Why can't can't the starting altitude (set once at my home) be used whenever I wake up each morning or whenever the GPS (for any activity) matches my home location? This is how the brilliant Edge 500 works and I see that Garmin are promoting this as a big new feature in the Fenix 5 Plus.

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0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Yes, even in my case my F5X doesn't grab Altitude from the GPS with the Auto Cal on. A solution could be what you said or to grab DEM from in-built maps ( for F5X only).

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to Former Member

The solution is very easy and exists on the 5 Plus and 10 year old Edge 500. The problem is that Garmin cannot be bothered to make the Altimeter usable on the fenix 5.

0 phoglund_ over 6 years ago

For me it is working for running. It doesn't change the watch face altitude, but the one visible in the data screens in run app.

I've also saved the altitude at home once and with auto on it always start with that.

I'm not saying it is perfect, though. Lot of noice, 1-2 m bumps in the graphs and if pausing it sometimes autocal to a new altitude with a big change in the graph.

0 stavrosd2006 over 6 years ago

same here, using f5 exclusively for cycling, just posted request to be fixed on next update 13.51. at the beginning of the ride everything ok, however over a three hr period, when i end my cycling ride next to the sea , altitude is -17 meters!!!!!!,For info i start from an altitude of 47 meters.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago in reply to stavrosd2006

I would argue that the Altitude should only be set only once at the start of a bike ride or run using either GPS or a known altitude at your home for example (then GPS not required). Then even if there is a change in barometric pressure, the Altitude will not jump in steps when the new auto calibration occurs. This will throw out the Total Ascent calculation which is already wrong anyway by undereading by 10-20%, even more.

The auto altitude method used in the 10 year old Edge500 and Fenix5Plus who'll be adopted, AND the Total Ascent calculation used in the Edge500 be adopted. Shameful that a 10 year old design puts the Fenix5 to shame when used as a device to add up ascent.