Problems with Altimeter

The port location on the Instinct being blocked by the skin and clothing is far more likely to be the cause of problems then perspiration.  But knowing our history, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind you'll be telling me that I'm wrong. 

Believe me, I experimented with it sufficiently, and know very well how it works. Dry skin is not a problem. It does not cover the port, unless you wear the watch too close to the wrist - in that case it is then covered each time you bend the wrist, and you'll see regular drops of elevation on the profile.

You can finally see it yourself on the elevation profile of the experiment I did - there is absolutely no problem in the profile as long as the skin is dry, but the elevation drops instantly when flooded. And it then slowly recovers as the liquid pours away and the skin dries.

It is really the sweat building between the skin and the port - as soon as the port is flooded sufficiently, you'll get a big error in the reading. There are plenty of workarounds posted here on the forum - like for example taping the port, using a sweat wristband, or piece of a mesh, or even a special 3D printed cover, but what I found the simplest to do when I sweat heavily, is simply wiping out the excess sweat with a finger of the other hand, or with a sleeve, or with a t-shirt. Works perfectly.

You learned that from me a while back. 

I am sorry, I learned it from the document Troubleshooting the fenix 6 or quatix 6 Series Altimeter and Barometer

there's absolutely no doubt in my mind you'll be telling me that I'm wrong. 

Like I said.  If anyone has an opinion that differs from trux, he'll go on and on to tell you that you're wrong. One of the few guarantees in life.  Lol! 

trux said:

. It does not cover the port, unless you wear the watch too close to the wrist - in that case it is then covered each time you bend the wrist, and you'll see regular drops of elevation on the profile.

Wearing it on my left arm, I get the same feeling. Statistics regarding altimeter problems and on which wrist the watch is worn, would be interesting. 

Barometer mode just locks the altimeter from going up and down.  The barometer will still read the correct pressure, it just adjust the elevation.  If you're running on a flat track (where you know elevation won't change barring an earthquake :) ), this prevents wind gust or approaching fronts from making the watch think the pressure change was due to elevation change.  It has nothing to do with GPS unless you have the altimeter set to "calibrate during the activity"

Reading that, I think part of my confusion has to do with 'how' elevation is computed during activities.

I guess the elevation profile I see at the end of a run is not (only) the altimeter-readings? Since if it was locked (by barometer mode) there would be no change in elevation at all.

Or does 'barometer mode' mean the elevation profile of my run is based on GPS only? 

Also I don't get the first sentence, did you mean 'it just *does not* adjust the elevation'?

Maybe my confusion also comes from the words themselves, I think of 'altitude' and 'elevation' as being synonymous. Is the elevation even the output of the altimeter?

Today I

• Turned off calibration during activity
• Worn the watch on my right arm
• Spent hours outside acclimatizing
• Calibrated the elevation
• Ran

I guess the steady drop I am experiencing is not due to 'calibration during activity' 

This is how the old Instinct behaved strangely. Instinct Solar no, I think you have a faulty piece of watch. I had an old Instinct (as Trux has now, or did Trux experiment with the new Solar? I don't know, maybe yes, he will answer us) that's exactly how he behaved and I had the same FW as on the new ones. I tested both watches before I sold the old one. The new one doesn't do this, you should complain about the watch. When this happens occasionally depending on pressure or humidity, but such fluctuations take the enthusiasm of such a device. Today we have a storm in the mountainous region, I was on a 6 km walk with a big change in altitude and the difference is 1 m high after arrival. The old Instinct would be 100 m elsewhere, Solar never did this thanks to the new chipset.

TeaRacer said:

or did Trux experiment with the new Solar?

Yes, it was the old one, although I'd bet the behaviour won't be much different with Solar either. Just try it, and you'll see.