Fenix 6 Pro GPS Problem accuracy

Hi Guys,

This is from today. May 20 

• Data recording  every second
• GPS + GLONASS
• 3D speed OFF
• 3D distance OFF

According with Garmin "The GPS location accuracy of Garmin outdoor watches is around 3 meters (10 feet), 95% of the time." but I always (100% of the time) I getting very bad accuracy. and definitely this is more than 3 m. At least 15m

support.garmin.com/.../

it depends on how close you are to the starting line :-), and i'm not kidding. i ran almost all my last marathons in the 42.350-500m margin, but i've been in the first or second starting section; from there - as it's not crowded- you can cut all the corners and so always taking the apex - and that's how the course is actually tracked and measured. plus you won't 'drift'  left / right with the pack too much, as the faster runners usually have an economic way of running. this way you'll save (a lot of) time and energy and will get you to the finish line a bit faster and less exhausted

Luko79 said:

We dont know it because it is not validated with a footpod/Stryd. I think who wanna get accurate distance (trail or normal running) must use these , the GPS datas (and the distance from these points) are so inaccurate with low speed + multipath errors with these wristwatches...

True. I love my Stryd. I use GPS just to visualise track. GPS inaccuracy has a heavy impact on distance and pace. Last time when I tested F6x GPS vs Stryd, there was 520m error on 15km running track. So if you want accuracy then invest into Stryd, same as you will invest into HRM chest strap just because wrist HRM is inaccurate and is suitable only for monitoring, not training (especially when you do intervals or another heavy running activity).

About to compare Fenix GPS to smartphone GPS etc. - remember that each software has different algorithms to process GPS signal ale some of them cut "possible invalid points" or smooth track just to look good (endomondo do a lot of this).

But, looking into some of the pictures with the track in this thread, my GPS track was never as bad as this (even on Fenix 5s plus). Looks that some the people have serious problems with GPS and this may or not may be a problem with Fenix. This may be a problem just with the place where these people run (noise, a lot of buildings etc. even weather have impact on GPS signal).

Is different each day, some of my good and bad results with GPS on F6x:

Some reading about GPS accuracy etc.: https://fellrnr.com/wiki/GPS_Accuracy

A couple of us have mentioned in the past that there is a need to be careful commenting about the tracks created by Garmin and drawn on the map and their relationship to the track shown on the map. Basically, the track on the map is not necessarily correct. Here's an example from tonight's run. The first is the map on Garmin Connect:

The second is the map in DC Rainmaker's Analyser, which gives me wet feet.

I'm not suggesting for one moment that this explains the problems that some people are having with their GPS but just putting it out there that sometimes we cannot always rely on the map being accurate. BTW, the second map is a run tonight with two F6 watches, one on each wrist, while the upper map is the Garmin Connect map of one of the watches on the same run.

I'm one of the happy owners of a 6x.

From start when I bought it in October, I've compared it to my Polar V800. Its accuracy has been a lot better than my old 5x. Both gps and elevation. Never using the OHR, by the way.

Lately I get more and more gps tracks from my 6x that beats my V800.

See what you think. Here are my 12 latest runs:

(V800 green, 6x red, some details about settings and sensors in Notes section. A lot of bad hr-data due to a over-used strap that I've not been able to pin-point)

analyze.dcrainmaker.com/
analyze.dcrainmaker.com/
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analyze.dcrainmaker.com/
analyze.dcrainmaker.com/
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analyze.dcrainmaker.com/
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analyze.dcrainmaker.com/

Map alignement is maybe not perfect indeed. But when you run back and forth on the SAME track and there are 20m between the two lines, it's not a map pb :) 

And you are using it the "traditional" way, GPS only, external wirst I guess ?

Following your discussions in the other thread, a lot of the latest runs have been on inside wrist. Probably mentioned in Notes section.

Most of the times I use GPS and Glonass. One feeling I have is that GPS only is worse when passing under viaducts/bridges. Probably just coinsidents, though...

It's a long time since Garmin and their Fenix watchs are having GPS accuracy problem and I don't undersand why peaople are so keen to accept that.

A watch that costs this price would be perfect in GPS position, we are in 2020, not 2000. My ambit 2 is much more accurate than Fenix watches. I had a Fenix 5X plus and I returned it because of that problem. I was expecting Fenix 6 should resolve this issue but it seems not.