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Fenix 5s GPS never ceases to amaze

Former Member
Former Member over 5 years ago

I've never had great GPS tracks on my (pretty old) Fenix 5s. Tried a while back to get it exchanged but was told to do a hard reset instead, so I was stuck with an SGD 1000+ watch for running that cannot track GPS properly.. Anyway, today's map really takes the cake -- I was SO CLOSE to getting a nearly perfectly tracked run until the last few minutes..! Now I'm just wondering if I should buy another CHEAPER garmin watch like the forerunner 245 or just get a prettier Apple watch.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

    I don't run but mountain bike. I use a speed sensor to help overcome GPS distance and speed issues. I guess similar concept to the Stryd - the GPS track can be off but I know my distance and speed are correct.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    I just bought the Fenix 5 just over a week ago and really like a lot of the features that it provides and it is a great motivator (but can't really comment on the accuracy of some of the metric that it gives me.  e.g. V02 Max).  However, the GPS tracking on the Fenix 5 has been a bit disappointing. Prior to this, I was using the Forerunner 225.  So after examining the maps of my runs (in the same location with some variation in some twist and turns), this is what I found.

    Forerunner 225 - tracking was very accurate (9 out of 10)

    Fenix 5 with GPS only - tracking was the least accurate (5 out of 10)

    Fenix 5 with GPS + Galileo - tracking was an improvement over GPS alone (6+ out of 10)

    Fenix 5 with GPS + Glonass - tracking was in improvement over GPS alone but was slightly more issues than GPS + Galileo (6 out of 10)

    I also did a simple straight line up and down my street (approx 150m) using GPS and Galileo.  Judging from the gps map, I must have been drunk and running with one snowshoe on my left foot.

    Anyways, I hope this issue with my Fenix 5 is a software issue that can / will be rectified by Garmin.  After all, isn't Garmin's brand built on its GPS map capabilities?  Or maybe I'll go back to my Forerunner 225 which is a fraction of what I paid for the Fenix 5.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

    They released an update firmware for the GPS yesterday. I would honestly not expect miracles from it. Personally, if its not where your 225 is I would return it and use that or look at the newer 6 or 945 which have a different GPS chipset and appear, from reviews, to perform better than the 5x.