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GPS Accuracy - left/right wrist

LukasZahorec
over 5 years ago

Hi, I've made some tests on a 400m track to see if it matters if you wear a watch on your left or right wrist. I use to wear a watch on my right wrist and I wasn't happy with accuracy on a track. Used model Fenix 6 Sapphire. 

I ran 2km intervals on 400m track in 2. lane with GPS & Galileo - 1s.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4118010146 

1st 2k - Left wrist (settings - left wrist) - lap 2 - 1.98k

2nd 2k - Right wrist (settings - right wrist) - lap 4 - 2.09k

3st 2k - Right wrist (settings - left wrist) - lap 6 - 2.09k

lap 9,10 I was running on 630m measured track - again left wrist (settings - left wrist) - 0.62k and 0.63k

So on the left wrist, watches are far more accurate on the track than on the right wrist. For me, it is quite uncomfortable to wear it on the other hand, settings on the menu seem to not affect the GPS accuracy. I will provide more tests and update the post. (todo: run with the watch on right wrist on the opposite direction of the track, then I will try these runs with GPS & Glonass)

  • +1 over 5 years ago

    Interesting stuff. Sounds like it's measuring pretty spot on when you wore it on the left wrist, and measure about 5% too far when worn on the right wrist.

    The Fenix 5 had 2 large GPS antennas inside, one on each side of the watch - I would assume the same is true for the 6, but I don't think anyone has taken one apart yet to see. Theoretically, at least, it shouldn't make any difference which wrist it's worn on, but it would be interesting to see if long-term testing shows that one side is actually more accurate for some reason.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to C.sco

    Before I had Fenix 3, never wore it on my left wrist always on my right and results for 2k on the track were usually around 2.15 - 2.2k so very inaccurate. (I don't care about it much, but then a lot of functions from the watches are calculated with faulty values - vo2max, threshold pace, etc.). 

    I think it doesn't matter where you wear it if you run on the track other than a small circle (200, 400m lap)? But it is just mine guessing :) 

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Well if you run counterclockwise it makes sense somewhat that it measures shorter on the left wrist. Try the same test again but running clockwise.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Pascal

    haha, that's actually true, I didn't even think about that. I'm guessing it only adds up to a couple meters each lap though.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to C.sco

    Yes indeed, about 16m if i did the right math ;) But still, to do a real comparision you should do the left wrist tests ccw and the right wrist tests cw. By doing that the watch should be on the same track and the GPS signal is the same (from body blocking etc.)

    But certainly could be that its because of the antenna placement inside the watch.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 5 years ago

    I agree - i have been wearing on the left for almost 12 months with limited issues. Shifted to right wrist for improved wireless music connectivity (bose soundsport), and the GPS accuracy is really unpredictable.....its driving me nuts actually.

    Garmin Forerunner 645M

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Another thing to consider is if there are stands, trees, buildings, etc that obscure the horizon on one side of the track, when compared with the other side.

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Coincidentally I was talking about this with reference to our measured parkrun course. Our course was measured using a calibrated wheel so we know the exact distance. I've been told that this distance can vary when measured by GPS can differ between the watch worn on the left or right wrist. I'll give this a go over the next couple of weeks swapping between a F6 and a F5+ on each wrist and see what the results are. Our local parkrun course is a three lapper.