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Altitude meters during activities

6211912
over 2 years ago

Hey there, I love my garmin fenix 7 watch. Now i have a problem when i go cycling or running. The altitude meters just aren't accurate at all. As well on strava as in the garmin connect app my altitude meters ar 2 to 3 times as high as they should be. On previous watches (like the forerunner 245) the watch just used GPS date and i never had any issue. I think the issue is due to de altimeter function on the watch, so when i go cycling or running the watch uses the function instead of the gps. I know i can calibrate the altitude on the watch, but i was wondering if i could disable the altitude function whilest running anc cycling and just use the gps function of the watch tot determine my altitude meters. Thank you very much!

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    If you are referring to the Total Ascent number being too high calibrating the starting altitude isn't going to make that number lower. The ability to record cumulative elevation gain (total ascent) is the reason many opt for models with a Barometric Altimeter. Unfortuantely, you cannot turn off the barometer but you can however set Watch Mode to either Altimeter or Barometer mode.  

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to jan.shim

    Thanks for the reply, yeah its not only the cumulative altitude that is lacking. Sometimes i departe and arrive home and there's a difference of 12 meters in altitude between the two points. But if i understand you correctly, the reason why many people opt for a barometer is because it's more accurate? So this means that the overestimate of the barometer altitude meters is actually correct and the gps shows to little elevation?

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to 6211912


    Barometers, without the calibration, are precise but not accurate. GPS altitude is accurate but not precise. If you care about tracking your absolute altitude without the risk of being affected by weather, perhaps the GPS altitude is the better option.

    But most athletes care more about the elevation gain (total ascent / descent), and for that barometer based altimeter is a much better option because of its precision. GPS altitude can instantly jump 10 or more meters from one reading to another, and that would cause a sawtooth pattern in the measured altitude and result in calculating excessive total ascent or descent.