the IRNSS has only L5 frequency , there is no L1... (the other is in S-Band but that is a totally different and higher band than the "normal" GNSS freqs, only very special and professional GNSS receivers…
That was a really bad decision on Garmin's side because in my opinion the multi-band was one of the most anticipated features
And those that wanted it could choose to buy it. Those…
Supposedly the same Airoha AG3335M chipset is used in both versions. At least I don't see another multi-GNSS Airoha chipset without L1+L5 support and with all other parameters the same as AG3335M.
…Because I saw it. :)
Did you take it apart?
Forerunner 9 series are usually as capable as Fenix line but have some quirks to make them cheaper. And usually that is plastic case instead of metal, smaller screen, cheaper glass etc. So when I bought my Garmin Fenix 7X Solar, I was sure that newer Forerunner's would have that multiband thing that Garmin didn't want to sell me. So I bought my watch knowing that. We buy the watches Garmin sell, not the features we want. If oneday, I don't want to pay the price of a Fenix I'll probably buy a Forerunner.
Yeah, that would be better if Garmin wouldn't make such stupid decisions.
I always do. :)
OK, that confirms that L1/L5 multi-band is impossible in the base Fenix 7 model. Case closed.
That was a really bad decision on Garmin's side because in my opinion the multi-band was one of the most anticipated features.
That was a really bad decision on Garmin's side because in my opinion the multi-band was one of the most anticipated features
And those that wanted it could choose to buy it. Those that didn’t want it could choose to buy a watch without. Why is giving that choice a bad decision on GARMIN’s side?
And those that wanted it could choose to buy it. Those that didn’t want it could choose to buy a watch without. Why is giving that choice a bad decision on GARMIN’s side?
Those who want to buy FR 255 or FR 955 without multi-band can do that, right?
Those who want to buy Fenix 7 with Gorilla glass and with multi-band, can do that also, right?
It doesn't make sense, from a competitive point of view, to offer a watch without it. The cost difference is likely non-existent too. The only reason Garmin did that is that they likely had a shortage of chips.
That is not exactly giving a choice tho, giving a choice is having the system and you can disable it anyway on the settings if you dont want it.
This way if you don't like sapphire+solar combo due to lower visibility you are kind of left without any gnss system in the fenix line. So it is a bit unfortunate that you can find it on the lower cost 255 but not on higher end fenix. So now some consumers are just left in a bit of limbo. For example, I wanted to upgrade to fenix 7 but I dont really like the SS combo, but now seeing there is GNSS on 255 line I don't feel as compeled to upgrade and miss out on newest tool for gps accuracy. So in the end I just end up not upgrading anything at all, which kind of blows. But in any case I can understand there were probably technical limitations at the time and with supply chain that probably made this happen like it did.
then i think You made many photos during the teardown, pls share with us.
upd: ah, You have non-sapphire F7X Solar, then the AG3335MN is "ok".
We need a teardown of any of the sapphire models (or of FR255/955), i strongly believe that there will be the AG3335M in those...
You know a chip alone can not do anything without the right antenna right?
Those who want to buy FR 255 or FR 955 without multi-band can do that, right?
If you want multi band on the Fenix 7 you have no choice to accept solar and sapphire.
That isn't really giving a consumer a choice in any meaningful sense of the word.
And the visibility issues with sapphire + solar are blindingly obvious. It's far worse than sapphire on the F6, and that sucked too.
Bofh of these have All systems + multiband....