3d speed and distance: advantages / disadvantages?

KrapfenKringel over 3 years ago

Are you using it? I which cases do you use it? Are there advantages and disadvantages when using or not?

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kskilskyj over 3 years ago in reply to Former Member +4

So here's a real world example so people can get an idea of the magnitude of difference between 2d and 3d and determine if it's meaningful for them. A popular hike in Colorado is Mt. Elbert - the…
C.sco over 3 years ago in reply to AndersB +3

Posted signs and 2d trail maps will indicate the distance from a strictly 2d perspective.

So using an extreme example of hiking up a 45-degree slope, if the posted signs and your 2d paper maps indicate…
Daniel_Bacon over 3 years ago +1

If you are hiking the AT like in the whites the 3d distance will match more the trail distance on the map not using 3d it will be short on your watch then the map.

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0 Daniel_Bacon over 3 years ago

3D Speed: calculates speed using elevation change and horizontal movement over ground 3D Distance: calculates distance traveled using elevation change and horizontal movement over ground Once these features are enabled, the watch will calculate speed and distance in the data pages using 3D speed and distance.

0 KrapfenKringel over 3 years ago in reply to Daniel_Bacon

I can read the manual, but it does not answer my questions. If not active its probably all done by GPS, so in what situations is that better or worse?

0 AndersB over 3 years ago in reply to KrapfenKringel

My thought about this is, why not use it? It would be more accurate if the algorithm works as it should. Depending on how much elevation changes there is on the course, the bigger difference it would give. A few 0.x % perhaps.

0 Daniel_Bacon over 3 years ago

If you are hiking the AT like in the whites the 3d distance will match more the trail distance on the map not using 3d it will be short on your watch then the map.

0 AndersB over 3 years ago in reply to AndersB

Some people will probably say that it increases delays in pace changes but in my opinion its only very very small pace delays. The ´pace algorithm has much delays with or without 3D setting = on.

0 Daniel_Bacon over 3 years ago in reply to AndersB

If the train is flat then 3d will be affected by the pressure changes adding error.

0 C.sco over 3 years ago

AndersB said:
why not use it?

I think there's a case against using it if you're doing an activity with little or no actual elevation change - you'd wouldn't want your speed/distance measurements to be affected by the minor barometric pressure changes that occur throughout your activity.

Also like Daniel mentioned above, it will affect your distance covered when you compare it to a 2d map.

Generally I turn it off on my walking/running activities, and turn it on for my hiking/climbing/skiing/trail running activities.

0 AndersB over 3 years ago in reply to Daniel_Bacon

I don't understand, can you explain a little bit more?

0 C.sco over 3 years ago in reply to AndersB

Posted signs and 2d trail maps will indicate the distance from a strictly 2d perspective.

So using an extreme example of hiking up a 45-degree slope, if the posted signs and your 2d paper maps indicate 10 miles, in 3d distance mode your watch will measure the 3d hypotenuse (14 miles, your actual ground distance traveled), whereas in 2d mode it will measure only the 2d distance covered (10 miles, your distance traveled from a 2d "bird's eye" perspective). Likewise with speed.

0 AndersB over 3 years ago in reply to C.sco

But if the altimeter works as it should the barometric pressure changes will not falsely affect the 3D pace. If the algorithm is correct.