Fenix 5 Plus open water inaccuracy

My new Fenix 5 Plus is very in accurate in open water. First time I did around 1,500 meters but it just showed 250. Second time I did around 2,500-3,000 but it just showed 1,500. However the map seemed to track what I did correctly. Also, I had 1,000 meters alerts on but instead it gave me 500 meters alerts. Data recording was set at "every second" mode and I tried all three GPS modes. I also have version 4.20. First reply from Garmin Spain was: "GPS measurement in open water will never be as accurate as when running or cycling because GPS looses connexion when paddling, so we don't think your watch has any problem". Anyone else?. Not surprisingly, the Fenix 5x Plus is also having open water issues.

Top Replies

Garmin-Heath over 4 years ago +2 verified

For those of you still experiencing incorrect distances when doing swimming activities, could you please try - 8.01 Beta Software

One of the key points of this new beta is 'Fixed an issue where the device…
LadoK over 5 years ago +1

Hey, I am not sure, if there should be big difference between real "open waters" and open pool but this was my first gps swim.ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1391991.png
frogbmth over 5 years ago +1

Swam this morning with firmware beta 4.61 and much better results

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2960430119

All Replies

0 Stewart.Fairbairn over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Heath

I do extensive open water swimming and find that the 5X Plus generally works very acceptably. I swim in the ocean and, occasionally, after a stop I need to check that the watch has maintained the track. If it hasn't, I just hold my wrist above water for a couple of seconds and the track re-starts. For instance, I did a 7km open water swim today and lost the track only once. I am running 8.02 and GPS 2.50. Prior to 2.50, the watch was not fit for purpose but now I am more than happy with it and can concentrate on my swim rather than worry if the watch is working or not

0 denglerfranz over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Heath

I have a Fenix 5 saphire (with no plus). I have the watch now for 2 year and OWS still does not work. It worked until firmware version 8.0. Really good. When Galileo support has been added everything got worse. It is a problem of the GPS-Software. It is a software problem! I cannot here any longer the support bla bla. Do a hard reset. I did. All data was away. The problem remained. What is even worse than the problem is the Garmin communication policy. DC-Rainmaker wrote that there is work on an OSW patch even for the Fenix 5. Why cannot that be communicated instead of wasting my time with hard resets.

0 philipshambrook over 4 years ago

Looks like Garmin are getting closer to making the 5+ usable in the water. Had a swim this morning and got the best result I've seen since having the 5+. Last Summer's swims were virtually useless. This suggests Garmin are making real progress on what appeared to be a pretty intractable problem. Kudos for keeping it going Garmin!

This swim is along a measured buoy line with the first buoy being approximately 25m offshore and other buoys at 250m intervals to 1000m, giving a marked course of ~2000m. I have alerts set at 250m and these were going off pretty close to the buoys. The final distance is close enough to 2000m for for OWS tracking with these types of watches. The 'wandering' around of the track pretty much represents my path as I did end up well south of the 3rd buoy in the line and had to correct.

0 EmkayRz over 4 years ago in reply to philipshambrook

I have version 10 firmware installed but still facing inaccurate result.

Mind to share ur gps setting? Gps alone or combination with Galileo or Glonass?

0 philipshambrook over 4 years ago in reply to EmkayRz

What stroke are you swimming?

GPS + GLONASS

0 LeoSP over 4 years ago in reply to Garmin-Heath

Version 10.10 and the problem keeps...:(

0 philipshambrook over 4 years ago in reply to LeoSP

And haven’t you also posted that the last post about this was 5 months ago? Yet only a couple of posts earlier in this thread, granted 3 months ago but...

THis wasn’t a one-off but typical of all the subsequent swims I did with the F5+ over summer before switching over to a F6

0 PaoloSweendog over 4 years ago in reply to philipshambrook

Hi Philip, Sorry to bother you. Are you saying you got the Fenix 5 working with relatively good accuracy for OWS/ I have a Fenix 5 (not plus) and did a swim 2 days ago and accuracy was terrible. I am on Software version 19.10, GPS 2.60

0 philipshambrook over 4 years ago in reply to PaoloSweendog

5+, See picture image and post from earlier.