Fenix 5+ Running start point change

I have had an issue with my Fenix 5 since the start of the year - wondered if anyone else has this issue, or if anyone had solved it.

Effectively, my Fenix 5+ changes my route I run after I save it. This is shown by the green start pointer moving along the route and the route doubling up at the end to make up the lost distance. Overall, the time and the distance remain correct. Below screen shots show this - I pushed the start and end button at the same spot; yet it then shows the start point about 300 yards along my route.

Through trial and error I have worked out that this happens after I save the activity – when I am doing an activity I can see on the watch I have an accurate GPS lock and that at the start of an activity it drops the start pin in the correct location; this is also still in the correct place when I approach the end. It is only after I stop and save that the route changes. This happens before the watch syncs with my phone.

This does not happen on rides or walks. Looking back through my activities, this first happened on the 20^th January.

I've tried different GPS constellations, GPS soak and EPO refresh (although i am sure its not the GPS as the lock/positioning when I start and during is accurate).
I've also tried soft and factory resets; updating all the tracking based settings and I have no privacy Zone.

I've raised this with product support (three times) and am still waiting to hear back. To say its a pain in the a** is an understatement.

Anyone else had this or simiar?

Top Replies

ncjharris over 3 years ago in reply to Former Member +1

Well - a week on and no further along. Still getting the same error. I've tried another reset, I've taken Garmin express off, i've taken garmin connect off; I've turned off all the maps, i've updated to…
ncjharris over 3 years ago in reply to ncjharris +1

So - an update. I have been trying everything from the beginning again.

Wednesdays run (https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5170563064#.Xv8rKowZRrA.link) was with full update/syncing but nothing…
ncjharris over 3 years ago +1 suggested

So - final update for those that are still following this.

I've managed to sort this (actually sorted it a month or so ago; but for well publicised reasons i couldn't get on here to confirm!

After…

All Replies

0 Former Member over 3 years ago in reply to NamHo

NamHo

hi, sorry to see you have the same gps jump

did you find any other similarities in this thread
do you mind posting one or all fit files from the three activities (for check with FFRT)

you could pm ncjharris and chat about your settings, etc

happy & safe sporting

0 ncjharris over 3 years ago in reply to NamHo

Yup - this is exactly the same issue I have (assuming that your finish position is actually where you've started)!! Not much luck from garmin at all, but I'm trying my best to work through it!

0 ncjharris over 3 years ago in reply to ncjharris

So - an update. I have been trying everything from the beginning again.

Wednesdays run (https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5170563064#.Xv8rKowZRrA.link) was with full update/syncing but nothing changed on the settings on the watch. I have come to the conclusion that the settings on the watch are not strictly speaking to blame. So i did a full reset of the watch on Wednesday night and removed Garmin connect and express from my phone and computer. I also returned all my profile settings to pretty much standard - including disabling all third party app links

Thursdays run (https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5178080886#.Xv8rKpLHJ8s.link) was with a virgin watch (although the v12.0 update was still on there), but with no map, settings or account syncing. To upload the course I connected the watch to a new computer, and through Windows Explorer downloaded the fit file and uploaded to Garmin connect. The route was fine (note there is an overlap on the start / finish because i wanted 4miles :)). BUT - the odd thing was, the activity linked to my 3rd party apps even though I had them disabled (photo of the setting). This shouldn't have happened? I therefore deleted all links between Garmin and third party sites.

Todays run (https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5178080886#.Xv8rKpLHJ8s.link) still no link between watch and computer or watch and mobile. Route was perfect again (although GPS track was a bit wobbly) and no issues with the start or finish location. This time there was no activity linking between Garmin and Strava/Smashrun/MFP etc; so deleting the connections worked (meant i have to manually upload the .fit file 4 times.....!)

So - I am now certain that this issue comes about when the watch is connected to Garmin - either through Connect on my phone or Express on my computer. I think its either of them, because previously I only connected to my computer and used it and got the same results. However, I am now wondering if there was an issue with connections to third party apps (given the behavior on Thursday when there should have been no connection).

My original suspicions were always that there was something wrong with the way Garmin and Strava exchanged data - the issues seemed to be linked to segments (if I ran a Garmin created course - which doesn't have segments - then I had no issues), but I could never isolate the problem. I do have a lot (100+) stared segments that were on my watch; so this may have been linked. (note I did try to run with segment alert 'off' and by disabling Strava segments in Garmin, but there was still an issue before).

I have some races over the weekend, so I won't be touching the settings for the next few days.

But on Monday I intend to link my watch back to Garmin but with no third party apps linked and see if that does anything. If anyone gets a chance to try it first, please update!!

0 Former Member over 3 years ago in reply to ncjharris

ncjharris

thx, that was a good read and summary

my résumé

wednesday run : bugger
thursday run : fine : no need turning of 3rd party sync because the route was ok
todays run : fine

Note that, Garmin Connect Mobile and Garmin Express are able to send direct commands to their devices.
You could test Garmin Explore, ruling this one out after the weekend

So the strava app provides you with courses through Garmin Connect Mobile.
Did you use a course on wednesday ? thursday ? or today ? instead of a free activity.

I only use the pc to offload my activities, nothing else connected or linked.

need to train some more getting your times

wish you success over the weekend

happy & safe sporting

0 NamHo over 3 years ago

So, I reset the my watch again but this time I didn't connect with Garmin app and went out for a run. The GPS was spot on, both start and stop points were right. I deleted Strava and then synced with Garmin app. Everything is fine. That's a good news!

Tomorrow I will test with third party app installed like Spotify and see if the GPS will mess up. Finger crossed!

0 ncjharris over 3 years ago

Another update for those that are following this/are lost/are bored.

Through out my running this week I have gradually (one at a time) reintroduced the connectivity settings (apps, third party sites and Garmin) back to the watch; and I'm pleased to say that there have been no issues, although I'm not fully there.

I did it in (roughly) the following order and with the following runs afterwards

- Sunday, started with no garmin connections, no wifi connections and all third party apps deleted/garmin synchronisation deleted https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5190442869#.XwnyAfQx5ak.link

- Monday, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5198136100#.XwnyAQkrRBc.link. Track shows fine. Added link to myfitness pal

- Tuesday, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5202224088#.XwnyAf8VW10.link. Track shows fine. Added link to Strava and smashrun

- Wednesday, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5207172405#.XwnyAWQwqYc.link. Issue with GPS part way through run (note, start position is fine). Deleted strava link, added link to Running Heroes

- Thursday, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5211793233#.XwnyAbis8VE.link Track shows fine. Added Garmin Connect onto Mobile and synced phone

- Friday, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5214056626#.XwnyAVsiXso.link, https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5217067008#.XwnyAdjDvzQ.link. Two runs. Both show fine. Didn't add anything

- Saturday https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/5221252219#.XwnyAXP58VQ.link, Track shows fine. After run, linked with Garmin Express on PC - note that no downloads/updates were needed. Linked with Train as one app

So - I have 5 days / 6 Runs where I have the correct track and no issues, and the day where it doesn't work is when its connected to Strava (this week I have been manually uploading my routes to strava. annoying, but better than where I was.

Tomorrow I will run with a watch that is now fully connected to Garmin and linked to every service that I use except strava.

I think that the issue is with Strava and Garmin connection..........

0 Former Member over 3 years ago in reply to ncjharris

ncjharris

hi,

thank you for the continuing updates

do you mind posting the fit files or send them via pm ?

strange gps fault on wednesday

I do not know or use strava, so what do you mean by deleting strava link ?
is it the connection with strava via Garmin Connect Mobile ?
to make it sure you have to do one more activity with strava link active

good luck with the watch on sunday's activity

happy & safe sporting

0 ncjharris over 3 years ago in reply to Former Member

Some of the fit files in the attached.

I'll report back after today

2020-07-11-15-31-51.zip

0 Former Member over 3 years ago in reply to ncjharris

thx

had a quick view...seeing nothing special...except wednesday losing GPS and not recovering sat fix

happy & safe sporting

0 ncjharris over 3 years ago

So - final update for those that are still following this.

I've managed to sort this (actually sorted it a month or so ago; but for well publicised reasons i couldn't get on here to confirm!

After disabling all my third party accounts I was tracking just fine, so it was a case of working out which one affected it.
By trial and error, it turned out the offending app was Strava so I had to disable it and manually upload it for a while.

After a week I relinked and allowed data sharing and - so far - its been ok.

So - in conclusion; if this happens it needs to be a full reset on the watch and then revoking all third party access, before re-enabling.

I hope this helps someone out!