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"No DEM elevation available" still not fixed

multiades

My F6X Pro and now my F7 Pro both have this bug, which I confirmed again this weekend while in a remote area. If the phone is not within cell service range, but is connected to the watch via bluetooth, the watch REFUSES to calibrate the altimeter from the DEM on the watch. It will say "No DEM elevation available" even when it has the data internally. It ALWAYS tries to check via a data connection through the phone. You have to disconnect the phone/watch connection for it to use its internal DEM data.

Does Garmin only test in places with cellular service? How would they not know about/fix this bug after several years and multiple models?

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  • 0

    It is something with your maps I suppose.
    I'm doing altitude calibration before my every run not having my mobile with me and DEM calibration works just fine.

    Check which map you have enabled and does it DEM data build in?

    To be clear.
    I did it in the past on Fenix 6 and 7, now I'm doing it on Descent MK3i.

  • 0

    Just tested on my tactix 7 pro. Works without any problems. Are your DEM maps installed?

  • 0

    I can reproduce that on a Fenix 7X SS. 

    There is no issue with retrieving the DEM elevation when the phone is not connected, but it fails when the phone is connected but does not have access to the internet. This can be easily reproduced by disabling WiFi and cellular data but leaving Bluetooth on (for watch-phone connection).

    I can remember that bug from the Fenix 6, but i thought it was fixed there. , is this issue known to engineering?

  • +1 in reply to #Matthias#
    #Matthias# said:
    is this issue known to engineering?

    I am not seeing any other reports of this concern, no. And when I tested this with my own device I was not able to reproduce this. So I would like to reach out to you via Private Message to collect some details out this, so can get this concern reported. 

  • +1 in reply to #Matthias#

    Update: It appears this concern may be by design. This is our support articles for the DEM calibration: "No DEM Elevation Available" Error When Calibrating the Altimeter by Use DEM

    Some Garmin watches have the ability to calibrate the altimeter using Digital Elevation Models (DEM). DEM is a map with elevation data built into it. If DEM information is not stored on the watch or is not available for the region you are in, calibration using DEM will fail with the error message No DEM elevation available.

    The watch can still calibrate using DEM if it is paired to the Garmin ConnectTm app through your mobile device, and your mobile device has an internet connection. If you are receiving this error, ensure that your watch is paired with the Garmin Connect app, your mobile device is connected to the internet, and you are outdoors with a clear view of the sky.

  • 0 in reply to Garmin-Laurie

    Hi Laurie.

    It might be by design for watches that rely on online DEM, but the fenix has offline DEM maps and should not fail calibration when it cannot find online DEM data. 

    My watch can DEM calibrate just fine when no phone is connected or when the phone is connected to the watch and has internet access. This tells me that the DEM data on the watch is fine.

    The fundamental design flaw is that it takes DEM data from the internet when it has it locally available on the watch, and not even falls back to the local DEM data on the watch when it cannot get it from the internet. 

    When hiking in the mountains or other remote areas, there will not be cell service most of the time, so DEM Calibration will fail most of the time, although the watch has local DEM maps. No way this can be by design. 

  • 0

    Could you tell us which firmware you are on and which phone and phone operating system you are using. 

    I was in contact with Laurie and it looks like Garmin cannot reproduce our issue on their side. 

  • 0 in reply to #Matthias#

    Hi,

    I can reproduce the behaviour described, each time.

     following your explanations here there is something strange in the second test below !

    ---

    Fenix 7Xss - Beta 17.15

    iPhone 13 mini - iOS 17.4.1

    Garmin Connect - 5.0.0.21

    ---

    using Glances ABC

    Calibrate

    use DEM

    ---

    First test - Watch and smartphone connected // smartphone connected to data networks (Cellular or WiFi)

    use DEM

    ---> WORKS

    ===

    Second test - Watch and smartphone connected // smartphone disconnected from data networks (Cellular or WiFi)

    use DEM

    ---> Retreiving DEM

    ---------> No DEM Elevation available.

    here "The watch can still calibrate using DEM if it is paired to the Garmin Connect app through your mobile device, and your mobile device has an internet connection."

    My personal comment - The Calibrate function then should fallback to local DEM because smartphone doesn't have Internet connection.

    ===

    Third test - Watch only

    use DEM

    ---> WORKS

  • 0 in reply to socorsu

    So the simple inference is that if the watch is connected to a phone with or without internet connection, it will not use the onboard DEM map to calibrate.