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Fenix 7s Sapphire Solar distance too short

Havok
over 1 year ago

I've been using the Fenix 7s Sapphire Solar for a few days now, upgrading from an Instinct 2s Solar. I've recorded 8 walks so far and all are 5-10% shorter than they should be (longest walk was 30.2km, resulting in a 27.67km activity). This I checked with another Garmin (FR 255), the planned courses, tracing the route with several mapping tools and by investigating the GPX as exported from Garmin Connect. If one of the activities is exported to GPX and imported again, the distance is correct. The watch seems to be recording data fine, but is not using the actual GPS-data for reporting the distance (and therefore speed). I found some references that it might be that step length is used in the algorithm to calculate distance when GPS data is unreliable, but with this watch I would not expect it to do so.

To be complete, I'm using Auto Select for position, 3D distance and speed, data recording every second, but have experimented with those settings in every setting. I am unable to get the same odd results with the FR 255 or Instinct 2s.

Is there any setting I'm missing here?

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Try switching from Auto Select to All Systems or Multi-band to see if that makes the difference. In my experience Auto Select has been glitchy and I avoid using it 

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Switch of 3D speed/distance, is known to screw things up and does not add anything. (You’re not rock climbing of sky diving are you?). 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to silentvoyager

    Thanks for your reply. I have indeed been trying out multi-band as well, with no real difference. I have been having great results with Auto Select on a FR 255, by the way, so unless the implementation with the Fenix 7 is very different, I would expect similar results there.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Bernie

    Since I live in the Netherlands and not rock climbing, sky diving or walking up and down bridges all the time, you're probably right in it being of less use:). Switching it off however, is not helping the distance. The FR255 and Instinct 2s have never shown issues with 3D Speed/Distance.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Havok

    3D is unlikely to make distance shorter. I can imagine it making distance longer.

    One other idea is that perhaps you have auto-pause turned on. 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to silentvoyager

    I had the same idea, but toggling this does not help. The main problem I have is that the exported GPX does indeed show the correct distance. So the Fenix is logging the correct data from the GPS, but oddly decides to use unknown other sources for distance, even though GPS reception is near perfect (no buildings, trees or any other objects that can obstruct view of the sky).

  • 0 over 1 year ago
    Havok said:
    The watch seems to be recording data fine, but is not using the actual GPS-data for reporting the distance
    Havok said:
    So the Fenix is logging the correct data from the GPS, but oddly decides to use unknown other sources for distance


    Additional data of the acceleration sensor are included in the fit file. 

    https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/fenix-6-series/274118/running-distance-usually-short?pifragment-1292=30#pifragment-1292=1 

  • +1 over 1 year ago

    So far I've tried setting a custom stride length, resetting activity settings and switching units of measurement back and forth (since the difference in length was almost exactly a yards/meters switch), but without decent results. What did seem to make a difference was a hard reset of the watch. After this, a 26.16km walk resulted in distance of 25.52km. The FR255 that accompanied me measured 25.95. It looks like something improved, but not enough to match the FR255, which is using the same settings (Auto Select, 3D distance, Smart recording).

    It looks like everyone agrees that Garmin is using stride length and steps to 'correct' distance traveled, even when GPS accuracy is near perfect. It seems that this 'correction' is more extreme with fenix watches. I do hope Garmin will be able to tweak this algorithm a bit to match actual distance traveled. It might be that the distance measured improves as the watch 'learns' my stride length and its variations a bit more, but I can't find any details on how that's done.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Same here but for cycling - I tend to have almost 20% difference in distance between my fenix 7s and my husband's  edge 1040 or fenix 6pro. This is really annoying. Fenix S always shows shorter distance.

    I compared the tracks recorded (between 7s and edge 1040) and it is identic (on the map) l but the error in distance recorded (when you compare between points of track) gradually increases. 

    Any ideas? Shall I return it?

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Same, but for running. It's always 5-10% shorter. With one exception: if I'm in an area without any buildings and trees it's perfect. So I guess some family homes in a not too narrow street or a few trees even in winter without leaves are sufficient for this to happen. I now use a footpod, with calibration factor set to 100% (no calibration) and 'always adjust distance' and 'never adjust pace' and get the right distance when running in town. Don't ask. I have no idea. On that note, the Fenix 6s was A LOT worse than this.