Altimeter data field shows incorrect value

I recently got an Epix 2 and seem to have a problem with the altimeter data field showing incorrect values.

I use meters as unit of measures (and I have the Garmin connect app set to use the metric system). When I'm at home and calibrate the altimeter using GPS, I get a value of about 41-42 meters, which is about right I would say. Having done that, the altimeter value on the calibrate menu displays that value. But when I go back to the watch face, where I have the altimeter data field displaying, the value on that field says something like 139. The same value is displayed in the ABC-widget. I'm not sure what's going on or how to troubleshoot further.

This might be a coincidence, but 41 meters is about 135 feet, making me think that the data field displays the incorrect unit of measure. But when I change unit of measure to feet, the value displayed in the data field increases to something like 400.

I would appreciate any suggestions how to fix this.

0 dorin_boca over 2 years ago

apparently even discrepancies of up to 150m are normal as within the expected readings...that's what garmin told me

0 m-r-andersson over 2 years ago in reply to dorin_boca

Thanks for the reply!

However, this does not seem to be about discrepancies in terms of readings. To me, it looks more like the altimeter data field simply does not show the correct unit of measure. The images below are taken within seconds of each other and without the watch being moved at all. The first shows the calibration screen after just having calibrated altitude using GPS. The second shows the watch face with the altimeter data field a moment later.

0 Etupes25 over 2 years ago

I changed my watch to meters for elevation, did a GPS calibration and noticed a difference of 12m between the GPS calibration and the data field on the watch.

I went to the sensor menu, altimeter, changed it to altimeter only, so that changes in pressure from weather are ignored.

Then, the data field on the watch and the altimeter calibration number match.

I have no idea whether your discrepancy could be attributed to weather. This article shows an example where temperature only can add 100ft to an altimeter reading, but 90m seems like a lot.

Why (and How Much) Temperature Affects Altimeter Readings – Airplane Academy

Anyway, try the altitude only setting in the altimeter to see if that eliminates your discrepancy.

0 m-r-andersson over 2 years ago in reply to Etupes25

Thanks! That actually did the trick.

So, for others wondering, changing the sensor setting to altimeter only solved this issue for me.

Going to read up on how all of this works now, thanks for the reading suggestion.