Related
Options

Total ascent incorrect; choppy elevation graph

mishanery
over 1 year ago

I’ve had the Fenix 7s sapphire solar for about a month and the total ascent calculation for my activities is almost always wrong compared to Strava’s calculation and my old vivoactive 4s altimeter readings for known routes. I finally noticed that although the fenix 7 graphs follow the same basic pattern, it has very small “choppiness” which is causing it to calculate more ascent than is accurate. The attached screenshots are of of a known route that has about 600 ft of climbing. Top is the vivoactive 4s and bottom is fenix 7s. The vivoactive 4s is accurate at about 600 ft. The fenix 7 consistently records about 800 ft of climbing. This has affected all my rides by about the same percentage. Has anyone else experienced this or know how to fix it? I have tried restarting the watch and multiple calibrations of the altimeter. Any help is appreciated.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Edit: The top screenshot if from the Fenix 7s. The bottom is the vivoactive 4. You can see fenix 7 is noticeably choppy.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to mishanery

    Hello, I have same issue. My Fenix 7x, bought 1 year ago (August 2022), till May 2023 was working very well, no problem at all. Then from unknown reason (no new sw version) was total ascent out of reality - more then should be. And my elevation graph looks exactly as yours, before issue it is smooth, from May it is rough. On same watch and I compare same trip - 20km from Home to work and vice versa. I tried to change configuration, calibrate it, no impact - still problem with total ascent. 

    I claimed the watch and got a new one. I have made new setup and tested it. Let guess, absolutely same problem. I will do claim again. 

    After 6 years with Fenix 3 and 10 month with Fenix 7x of almost trouble-free use (start with F3 was terrible because new product) i am totally disappointed and upset.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to MilaCerv

    Where you had your watch replaced and it is the same problem, I wonder if this would suggest that it is software related rather than hardware? Would you mind posting a side by side screenshot of pre and post problem graphs? 

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Apparently this is linked with the hardware watch design and pressure ports on the right side. Wear the watch on the right wrist, mount it on the handlebar, hide it under a sleeve (very useful position, I know) and things should improve. I have the same problem, it is particularly visible when riding fast.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to mishanery

    Sorry for late answer.  Second warranty claim have happened, they (Garmin Czech Republic) considered the issue as unfixable and seller gave me money back. So I am without watch, and have no idea which take buy now, Not Fenix 7x. Definitely It is not SW problem, I am sure, probably they have problem with quality of barometer sensor, same have mates with different devices (Fenix 5 or 6, FR935 and 945) and some years ago.

    These are two graphs, same route (home to work) most by the river. 

    Wrong total ascent

    Correct total ascent

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Mateusz

    Sorry, absolutely can't agree. For 6 years with F3 amd 9 month I haven't had any problem, than every activity (two F7X) with wrong total ascent. Difference depending on how fast and which elevation profile was just if I have 1/3 ar almost double more meters uphill, always more than reality.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I have the same issue with my Fenix 7 sapphire solar since May. Emailed to garmin and sent the fit file but nothing help on that. 

    I went to the CS center and they said it is the barometer issue. However, the elevation graph in the app is somehow correct but the Math of the total elevation gain. 

    I have tried ‘hard’ reset and ‘soft’ reset but nothing happen.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Howard5

    Reset to factory, calibration, change of setting (use only altimeter, only barometer, or automatic), nothing solve this issue. 

    If I understand well, and by the description from Garmin, it takes elevation from altimeter (use GPS and maps data), but there are lot of faults, because of GPS inaccuracy, so it continuously check barometer and elevation entry (with different value than previous) is used only if change on barometer happend simultaneously, if not elevation change from altimeter is ignored.

    And if this process doesn't work well you have wrong total ascent (larger) and graph with lot of small waves (choppy line). 

    Let complain your devices.