Awful GPS track, any fix incoming?

Based on a few weeks of observations, GPS track on the Fenix 6 Pro is absolutely horrendous, probably the worst I have had on any device. Yet, surprisingly the total distance displayed is about right.

Case in point, I recently I ran a marathon in mostly open/forested area in Maine. Most other GPS devices had no issues, it was easy reception. Check out the traces, I picked a dozen or so other runners around me in Strava flyby; the 6 Pro is the black line

https://imgur.com/a/Lkw6ooH

It's not just these three areas, during the entire 26 miles it was almost always the outlier. It is BY FAR the WORST GPS track of all of them. The guy I was running with had an ancient TomTom and his trace was pretty much the entire time on the road, spot on. Yet, this brand new, premium priced device from the market leader MISERABLY FAILS in the one thing it should do well, GPS tracking. It’s sad and I feel like a fool for purchasing it.

Are we aware of any incoming fixes for this? I have a few more days before I have to return this to REI.

Top Replies

indymtb over 4 years ago +8

3 chipsets:

Fenix 6 = Sony. Sony got panned on the new Suunto.

Fenix 1-5= Mediatek. Not great at all.

310XT, Polar 800, Suunto, Etc. and older = SIRF chips (now owned by Braodcom)

SIRF was great.

MediaTek…
C.sco over 4 years ago in reply to ncelik +6

ncelik said:
You want a link? Here is the link

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4130815708

Wow.... that is unbelievable to me that you consider that track to be "piece of *** GPS". Whatever, to…
ncelik over 4 years ago +6 verified

Let me finish with the official Garmin stance:

This is a consumer device and Garmin considers consumer devices deviations of 15m on one side or another as within specs. That is, being on the same spot…

All Replies

0 Former Member over 4 years ago

What GPS settings were you using?

0 ncelik over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

The default -- GPS + GLONASS

0 DCeremuga over 4 years ago in reply to ncelik

Yeah, comparing my measly 5 to 6 miles runs (to your marathon), my Garmin 6x Pro is way off the mark compared to my Swooshing turns Apple Watch. But like you said, the distance seems ok. I'm also using the defaults. I mean, mine had me going through shopping centers. LOL.

You Marathon people. sigh. But then again it's rare to find someone with a large body structure like mine running a marathon. 6'1, 205, Not a beanpole build, more husky and "big boned". Ha. Love Running and Swimming laps though.

0 Loen82 over 4 years ago in reply to ncelik

Default record setting is smart, did you enable this to 1s? Since the distance is on par I expect that this is related to logging instead of GPS accuracy.

Real GPS issues would have led to more severe delta's

0 JSTEELIO over 4 years ago in reply to Loen82

I'm not the OP but my Garmin 6 Pro GPS also has bad tracking and I tried changing the record setting to 1s on my last run and it did not improve.

0 fabrice9164 over 4 years ago in reply to ncelik

GPS + GLONASS is not the best choice fellrnr.com/.../GPS_Accuracy

0 ncelik over 4 years ago in reply to JSTEELIO

Yes, I have 1 second recording enabled, that's the first thing I do on new Garmins.

0 ncelik over 4 years ago in reply to fabrice9164

I will try GPS only.

0 AndreiDracul over 4 years ago in reply to fabrice9164

Wow! That's huge. I wonder how other watches are set up? It's Garmin the only one bragging about GLONASS, and failing short on delivery?

This indicates Garmin has done almost no testing. Or better put, doesn't care itsi a half baked product. #$$$

Looking at my Fenix 3 hr stats... I see almost NO improvement over GPS accuracy :/ . Sleep tracking was spot on though lol!

0 PatrickNSF over 4 years ago

I’ve noticed that my F6 tracks are worse than my 245 tracks, though the distance mostly matches. I typically use a Stryd so I haven’t been too bothered...yet.

That being said, I opened a case with Garmin concerning spikes in my OHR readings and sent them all of my files. I also noted the problems with GPS tracking and am waiting for feedback. I’m considering riding it out a bit longer with the 245 (which does better in both areas) and returning the F6 if Garmin doesn’t address these two issues I’m having promptly.