Fenix 6x GPS Accurate - But Records Incorrect Distance

3-4% is a huge amount.  That not right.

are you using GPS 2.60?  It's the latest firmware that is available with the beta 4.64

My tests with GPS 2.60 have come out pretty good.  The traces look a bit smoother than 2.5, although not as good as the older Garmins, but distances are spot on.

I did sets of 400's and 1000's (meters) on an accurately marked path (not an oval track)- and the watch was nailing the distances. At least within a step or two- which is as best as I could tell since the intervals were about killing me and I was in a hypoxic daze.  So- no complaints on GPS accuracy.  I should note- tree cover was sparse, not heavy.  No tall buildings in vicinity. 

I also raced a Half Marathon on a certified course with the 4.63 version (GPS 2.60), and the total distance came out as 13.13mi Once again- no tall buildings and minimal tree cover.

So- I have no complaints about GPS accuracy.  eh- the traces don't look quite as clean as some other watches, but the distance is coming up accurate, so I guess I don't really care.

If you're getting 3-4% short, there's something wrong with your watch.  Certainly, try the latest firmware.

D3v01d said:

This is interesting, I wasn't aware that the watch could use another source for distance when running. Is it not possible that my HRM Tri+ is giving the watch enough data to estimate how far I am running?

The HRM-Tri do have an accelerometer (as well as HRM-Run) but it focuses on the vertical movement of your body and is used to get data such as stride length, vertical oscillation, ground contact time and balance between right and left.

A foot pod (running pod) also takes into consideration the horizontal movement of your foot which together with vertical movement (still measured by the pod) can be used to get distance and speed. A Stryd is on my wish list but I don't think it will give me anything that will actually improve my running :-)

phoglund_ said:

Read through this thread and I think that OP question isn't about the GPS accuracy. It's about why the distance measured in watch is so much shorter than the GPS track from watch.

Agree, and what I tried to explain is that even if the GPS accuracy (the plotted line) seems ok there is still to much errors to use the GPS coordinates alone to calculate distance. And when comparing distance and distance from the GPX on the same run from the same Fenix mostly ends up in better accuracy for the distance that Garmin calculates.

phoglund_ said:

I always run with a Polar V800 together with the Garmin 6x and 6x is always shorter and from time to time they differ considerably and I get a lower avg pace on the Garmin. Not so good for my ego:) or my more structured side of my brain.

V800 is probably the most accurate GPS watch on the market and I think it is the only one that can be used as a reference. I've never used an Ambit3 but many say it is very accurate to.

Check my latest run.... got 650m "fly" to the right, that gave my two new records... fastest 1k = 1:58 and fastest mile = 5:25

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4270163937

I never had something like that before on none of my Garmin watches.

morey000 said:

are you using GPS 2.60?  It's the latest firmware that is available with the beta 4.64

I am not on the beta firmware yet, I'll probably rather wait. That is good news though!

Darre80 said:

I never had something like that before on none of my Garmin watches.

I'm not too concerned about once-off anomalies like that although I have seen it happen on one of my Garmin devices before.

Garmin Sweden decided to replace my unit because GPS was too "jumpy"

I did a recent trail run with 15 of my fellow runners and finished about 10 minutes before everyone.  However, my watch (Garmin 6X Solar) was about 0.25 - 0.35 miles shorter than everyone elses.  Any idea how to correct this?

You can't fix this. It's an internal hardware problem of every watch that comes from the Garmin 6 series. Obviously Garmin employees can not and will not admit to this but it is what it is. Recently i've finished a 19km trail race, which in fact, was a 18.3km race. Only the newest Garmin watches have correctly registered the distance. Forerunner 255 reported 18.33 km, Fenix 6 Pro 18.16 km, Fenix 6X 18.11 km. I'm not mad at this, it's a minor inconvenience in my eyes, i bought this watch on a pretty good discount, knowing beforehand what i'm getting myself into, thus, i'm not dissapointed. Just aware, and overall, pretty happy with my purchase.