Zu viele Wolken

As promised: I did some testing today. @ralhil: cool , spoiler: we have a result.

Given: Two devices worn simultaneously, one 15.77, one 21.19. The one now with 21.19 tested for hardware differences on 15.77 by wearing it simultaneously with the other and found to show surprisingly similar results as hardware differences where to be expected but turned out to be almost non existent. After update of  test unit to 21.19, master factory reset (3 button), setup exactly the same, except setting for wearing left/right. Sorry for stating that again and again but many people don’t read other threads and just to make sure the framework is clear.

2x the same course, bidirectional, distance calculated from Internet: 6,2km, calculation in advance (no navigation used during the walk to avoid additional influence though)on both devices was 6,12km, optimal overhead conditions, no shield whatsoever. For my own safety I choose hiking b/ I wanted to have a safe look at the units regulary, therefore cycle-racing didn’t seem like a good idea.

First course, both systems on SatIQ, meaning automatic:

It is perfectly normal that the actual distance is longer than the calculated b/o nobody walks exactly straight forward. Also there is also a drift effective during movement. Ofc I can’t say how much it is exactly, however the system with 21.19 has 60m more than the one on 15.77. It is obvious the drift is affecting the system 21.19 much more. Again this happened with optimal conditions as for GNSS contact.

Second run: both on full power, all SAT & multiband, that almost cut in half estimated battery life time:

The second time I walked more straightforward obviously, drift while standing still is still better with 15.77 but remarkably improved with 21.19.during movement 21.19 still meandered around at approximately the same scale.

So to all of you who complained about wrongfully longer distances shown with 21.19: RIGHT YOU ARE! Good observation capabilities. Again: this where optimal conditions as for sat cover. Easy could be worse with normal conditions where trees around you make your training more pleasant. What you might try to get better results until (if ever?) Garmin fixes this: sacrifice a lot battery life for better resultsand use “All Sats & Multiband”  – or – uhm - downgrade (sorry, I know, just saying). For those who do some serious training it will hamper with the pace of course. Runners don’t tend to like that as I know.

@Garmin: why do you keep breaking things which worked already quite good? Will you do better? When?

 Btw: another issue I observed which is part of a different cross examination though(the one with OHR actually): the unit on 21.19 logged 114 minutes intensity for this – uhm…no, really not (4 on 15.77, same settings). 

Naw that I would not do. Your F7 is still the best system in the market - with the right software that is. And the CIQ addons which we are missing with downlevel firmware are not available to this extend with others either. And hasn't been there to this extend when you started with Garmin.

Just setup your F7 to a working level and never buy a new model which you can't backdate as long as there is no change for the better. I have a look to the F8 forum every now and then - no difference. If your F7 would break you could buy a used one easily. I didn't buy the second unit just for testing. I plan to prolong my time with the T7 generation. When the tests are done I put it in power safe or even switch it off until the next release and save battery life time. I don't see any decline in battery with my live system though, meaning there are some years left with the both of them. 

Erik T7 ,

Hi! Will there be a comparison of altimeters?

Yes this was a frequent complaint too. But the comparison in this case is not ideal since the course was really flat as a pancake as you can tell by the numbers and normal Aberration will influence results more when the measured variable has a small amplitude itself. 

However, maybe there is a hint:

1. Course:

2. Course:

Also on the way back 21.19 climbed 3 stairs up, 15.77 didn't such a thing neither forth nor back.

You know 15.77 was the one with the units bug, feet are show no matter what. And this one has been fixed. Ok the numbers are more like feet with 21.19 too, but the unit changed. ;-)

Not sure if I can get me to do a special test scenario for this. As for the major point I learned what I wanted to already and it's a lot of work.