Tactix 7 Pro not keeping precise time

I am a merchant mariner and having precise time is extremely important when doing celestial navigation. Recently I've noticed that my tactix 7 Pro will be off 10 seconds only a few hours after syncing using GPS. Though I love this watch, it's inability to keep precise time is troubling. Anyone else have this problem?

0 Andrew over 2 years ago

Hmm mine is connected through my phone, so it's using that as it's time correction, it's spot on. Have you done a time sync prior to casting off? System Settings-Time-Time Sync

0 ApoC over 2 years ago

Try this solution:
forums.garmin.com/.../fixing-time-drift-on-the-watches-vs-time-on-the-mobile

0 razmichael over 2 years ago

This topic keeps coming up over and over again through the years - these watches do not have an accurate means to maintain time without a regular sync source, thus the drift (that can be rapid). They are not chronometers nor does Garmin provide any spec on the precision/accuracy (as far as i know - could be wrong). Four years ago "I" had this discussion on the forum Fenix 5 timekeeping is not accurate - fēnix 5 series - Wearables - Garmin Forums and there are lots of others. The cheap Timex Quart watches are far better at minimizing drift as the quart provides an accurate reference while, without this, it is the hardware and software keeping time like a basic computer which is subject to power differences, processor load, temperature differences, etc. Even the syncing to the GPS chip has a delay (small granted). There is a misunderstanding for some people (not suggesting you) when they say something like "getting the time from the GPS sync is the most accurate time". The watch GPS chip has no time keeping magic and, in fact, the time it gets from the satellites is wrong (not by much) - that's how it works!

I will say that 10 seconds after an hour or so is higher than I would expect but then I have not actually tested my 7 lately. Are you running any specific widgets, apps or CIQ watchfaces? Overall however, if you need a chronometer level of accuracy then sadly this may not be the watch without a means to maintain a regular sync with an external source. Side Note, I am always surprised when I re-read that for a mechanical chronometer, 4-6 seconds/day is the standard - not as accurate as most people might expect.

0 Viorel over 2 years ago

My Fenix 7X was off by +4 seconds one week after GPS time sync (phone connection being disabled) compared to a radio controlled quartz watch synced nightly to atomic clocks. Syncing with the phone time might be off from the start anywhere from 0.5 to a few seconds -- NTP time is usually ~0.5s behind atomic clocks due to lag, and cellular network provider time might differ by some seconds. A mediocre quartz watch has a drift of +/- 15...20 seconds per month, and Garmin does not seem to be far out of this range. Your best solution would be to do regular (as in "at least daily") GPS time syncs as instructed in previous replies.