fenix 7X Sapphire Solar - firmware 20.22 - Activity distance wrong

I received 20.22 update on tuesday, but in reported distance of walking activities no change...  yesterday I turned back on reported activity distance 2.70 km, same way back, but total activity length is 5.05km .... maybe next firmware version. But fix in walking activities distance calculation was not in changelog. 

I created screen with strength of postional services, during whole activity full signal.  

An during activity, I can observe speed between 3.5 to 7.1 km/h during constant walk speed. But was not monitoring walking speed before this issue started. 

Hello again, community. Today I retested version 20.22, with quite favorable results. I've changed a few settings to start ruling out any issues.

Firmware Version: 20.22
Distance: 5.1 km
Difference: 210 m
Steps: 5892
connect.garmin.com/.../18526481440
Additional: None
Satellite setting: Select automatically (Dynamically selects the best mode)
Hand position: Right

There are some radical changes to this walk.

• I changed the satellite settings.
• I did the activity at night (I don't know if that's related).
• I didn't use the Running Dynamics Pod (I've read that the new version is causing a lot of problems with ANT accessories).
• I changed my hand position from left to right.
• I activated Recording mode as Garmin-Laurie requested.

However, you might say, "Hey Mark, why does your activity make a difference if you haven't compared it to anything?" And I'll tell you, "Excellent question, my old friend. This is because I have compared it to something, and I'm ruling out that I'm the one going crazy."

As I mentioned in another post, none of the three firmware versions are showing the correct distance, at least compared to Google Maps. There's a loss of 100 to 200 meters. So, since radical problems require radical solutions, I've put my Fenix ​​7x Sapphire Solar VS Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar up for a competition (Duel of the Titans).

Firmware version: NA
Distance: 5.31 km
Difference: 0
Steps: 4868
maps.suunto.com/.../67d38d1ed218094572f83cf5
Additional: None
Satellite configuration is: Default
Hand position: Left

As soon as I passed the first kilometer, I saw a 40-meter difference in favor of the Vertical. I'm not going to lie, the Fenix ​​has many more options than the Vertical, even the Vertical loses steps. (1024) in the activity (it's impossible for him to take strides of 1.09m), but he measured the distance correctly, and that made me happy again.

Garmin-Laurie, I've sent you the activity log. I'll do the activity tomorrow morning to determine if this has anything to do with it.

This must be a joke. I did an activity this morning and it failed miserably again. It seems the watch is experiencing anxiety:

Fenix ​​7X Sapphire Solar
Firmware Version: 20.22
Distance: 4.92 km
Difference: 920 m
Steps: 6326
connect.garmin.com/.../18530145734
Additionals: None
Satellite Configuration: Select automatically (Dynamically selects the best mode)
Watch Hand: Left

Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar:
Firmware Version: NA
Distance: 5.84 km
Difference: 0
Steps: 6867
maps.suunto.com/.../67d4352019420c2d23d15409
Additional: None
Satellite Configuration: Default
Watch Hand: Right

Observations:
• I extended the activity as much as possible and didn't reach 5 km
• The only difference is the execution time between yesterday's and today's recording, so I suspect the watch struggles to connect to the GPS in the morning
• I swapped watch hands
• The Vertical shows a much better step count.
• The distance loss was noticeable from the first kilometer
• Before starting the activity, I wait for the GPS icon to turn green and wait 1 to 2 minutes afterward before starting

Garmin-Laurie

My observation is same, you can what you want, but watches will decide on behalf.

I do repeated trips and my observation is same, when I climb up, measurement is ok, walk down, regular 1km is based on Garmin measurement 1.1km.  Error in distance measurement is reproducible and still same. 

I have feeling, that some "genius" implemented some relationship between applied power and distance and implemented something like "virtual distance"

My today regular 6km trip measured 5.8km ( and I turned back when activity distance was 3km, which was about 60-70 longer than previously, so expected length is about 6.1). Today I changed positional services from All satelites to Default (all satelites), just for curiosity.

Update March 14, 2025: 

Our engineers aware of a concern that may cause walking distance to be incorrect. This is a software related concern. So if you are experiencing this, your device will not need to be replaced. This will be corrected with a future software update. I will post hear once there are further updates. 

Oh this is horrible !!! 
I have a route in 19.41 and previous ALWAYS 2.10-2.12 miles 

20.16 and 20.22 WAYYYY off

today I did run mode and got 1.86 

same route today walk mode 1.64 

GIVE US BACK 19.41 !!!!!!!

Well, after spending days where the watch was showing me the wrong mileage during my workouts and my pace was a disaster, since installing 20.22.

The only solution I found, after downgrading to 17.28 and seeing that the GPS was still faulty... was to do a hard reset, and today I went out to train and it FINALLY nailed the mileage and pace.

There's something the 20.22 firmware does that's messing up the GPS and not displaying the data correctly.

I hope this helps, best regards!

Back again for another 2 mile walk that was recorded at 1.64 . This must be fixed !!!!!!! @garmin 

I agree !!!!! Almost a half mile off on my morning walk !!!!