Epix 2 bike activity elevation "optimistic"

I've had my Epix for about 2 months now and have been using it for the Stamina functions in addition to my Edge 1030. The Edge historically has had altitude similar to both Strava mapping and friends with other computers on the same rides. When I started using the Epix for bike activities, I noticed that the elevation gain always seemed higher by 5-10%. I checked settings and the altimeter auto calibration is on. Two possibilities:

- the altimeter / GPS is off and needs to be calibrated or firmware updated

- The Epix actually has more sensitive altimeter /GPS than the Edge

Thoughts? Ways to possibly adjust the Epix?

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0 AgentMax over 3 years ago

Don’t wear it on the wrist during cycling. This seems to interference with the altimeter. Mount it on the handlebar.

0 ChrisF7 over 3 years ago in reply to AgentMax

While it may solve the problem, that seems silly. How am I supposed to get HR then?

0 AgentMax over 3 years ago in reply to ChrisF7

With a HR belt. Wrist HR during biking isn’t very reliable because of your wrist/arm position. That’s why I recommend a belt even if the watch is on your wrist.

0 bellostom over 3 years ago

I have the fenix 7 and I agree that the altimeter seems to be more sensitive in capturing elevation gain, especially in routes with small up and downs. In parts with constant gradient, I get the same results as my coros apex pro. However, I cannot tell which one is the right one

0 Zwangssteirer over 3 years ago

I always wear the watch on my right arm when cycling. The sensor then looks backwards. The altimeter is very sensitive to wind

0 bellostom over 3 years ago in reply to Zwangssteirer

I have it mounted on the bike. In general when there are windy weather conditions, all barometric devices suffer.

0 TobiasLj over 3 years ago

ChrisF7 said:
I checked settings and the altimeter auto calibration is on.

I would recommend that you turn auto calibration off. Unless the activity duration is very long and the conditions are changing rapidly a calibration at start and then leave it will give the best precision for elevation gain.

Even with barometric sensors Garmin (and the majority of other platforms) apply filtering to the altitude when counting elevation gain. Compared to GPS based, or mapping, I always get more with my Epix, and did with all previous Fenix watches. I don't think that it is wrong, rather the opposite. Riding MTB and running Trail has a lot of changes in altitude but not all of it counts.

Using two devices I think that you need to choose which of them to use for certain activities and just ignore the difference.

0 jhoff80 over 3 years ago

Elevation / total ascent has been way off on my Epix for the past month. Yesterday's ride was 1893 feet on another bike computer. Strava's corrected elevation is 1873 feet. Garmin's elevation is 3012 feet.

Some other rides: 1266 feet on Garmin vs 971 on the other computer, 1416 on Garmin vs 702 on the other.

It was accurate back on May 1 with 8.16: 2721 feet on Garmin, 2720 feet on the other.

By May 9 and 8.18 it was off: 839 feet on Garmin, 436 feet on the other.

0 jhoff80 over 2 years ago

Still way off for me in 8.37. Like double on the Epix compared to Strava's corrected elevation and the other bike computer.

0 guzz95 over 2 years ago