Related
Options

Instinct 2x gps accuracy

5707431
over 1 year ago

I’ve posted here before about an issue I’ve had and it’s whatever as garmin doesn’t think it’s an issues worth fixing I learned to deal with it sadly but what I can’t live with is the gps being inaccurate. You mean to tell me the thing this gps is supposed to be good at isn’t!? For reference I have a enduro 2 that I have to my wife since I had bought the i2x tactical, this morning we went on a short hike. We both started the watches at the exact same spot at the exact same spot, all gps settings are the same on both yet when we were finished, the enduro 2 having the exact same chip as the i2x was extremely accurate compared to my i2x. Am I doing something wrong? The path it says I followed has me going off trail when the enduro 2 is spot on! I’m thinking maybe the i2x is just pure garbage at this point. Anybody else encountered this problem and is there a fix? Otherwise I’ll return.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Do you have any type of magnetic interference? I know when I hunt and am holding a riffle, it totally tosses off the GPS, even my GPSMap 66.

    Generally, I've found that the Instinct 2 is pretty accurate but it comes down to interference and how much it writes when logging GPS points.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Hi, I compared i2x vs. 7pro on 40km and 3000 meters of altitude in the mountains and the values were passable.

  • 0 over 1 year ago
    5707431 said:
    Am I doing something wrong?

    One of the possible reasons could be that the ephemeris data file on your watch is expired or corrupted. Before your next hike, connect the watch with the USB cable to a computer, delete the file //GARMIN/RemoteSW/CPE.bin on the watch, and then check for updates with Garmin Express. It will download a fresh CPE file. When done, disconnect the cable, and soft-reset the watch (press the Light button for some 20s till it shuts down, and then restart).

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I've not had any significant differences between an Instinct XS(or ST) and any of my F7 series watches on any activity. Open water swimming is one of the more difficult things to get right. As can be seen from this morning's swim there was only just over 20m difference between an I2XS and an F7P over 3500m. Link to Strava record for the I2XS - https://www.strava.com/activities/10287378428

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I've always loved the look of the watch. I already have the Epix 2, so it's very different for me. I did find that the GPS (in multi-band mode) just isn't as 'crisp' as my Epix. (Maybe they had to modify the multi-band GPS hardware compared to what's in the Epix?)  I've done several activities with both watches at the same time and the epix is better Though the I2X is still a fantastic watch and other might not nit-pick as the accuracy of the GPS. The deviation was rather disappointing since they use the same multi-band chipset. The battery life is great, of course. But GPS accuracy is my #1 requirement.  I really don't need such long battery life with the activities I do. I'm on the fence about returning it. I called Garmin support and they suggested my best bet is to do a "gps soak."  Uhh....not a great answer.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to net1994
    net1994 said:
    The deviation was rather disappointing

    Could you post some screenshots demonstrating the deviations? Using the Compare function in Garmin Connect Web, while selecting the same activity with GI2X and with Epix 2, just like philipshambrook did, is a good way to see the differences. Perhaps it may offer some clues about the reason of those deviations. Sharing links to both activities would be also a good way, because it would allow us to dig into the data even deeper.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to trux

    Here you go.  If you look at the tracks for the same time, do you think I'm being too nit-picky?  If they both have the same chipset, the tracks should be the same.  Or am I being unrealistic given my Epix is about 3x the price of the Instinct 2X?

    I2X on 11/17/23

    connect.garmin.com/.../12765942204

    Epix 2 on 11/17/23

    https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/12768381841

    I2X on 11/23/23

    connect.garmin.com/.../12847592266

    Epix 2 on 11/23/23

    connect.garmin.com/.../12847642083

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to net1994

    For now, I checked just the first two activities. On the first look I see no big differences between the two tracks. Could you point me to the part, where you see the worst deviations?

    Edit: the other two tracks look pretty much identical to me too, even after zooming to the max. Did not check the entire track in the max resolution, though, so need to know where to look for the deviations.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to trux

    For the I2X, here it shows me running through buildings:

    For the same section chunk on my Epix 2:

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to net1994

    The accuracy of the technology is +/- 5m in good conditions, so that's perfectly OK. The deviation may come simply from the fact that you have worn each watch on a different side of the body, or that each of the watches locked on slightly different set of satellites. The fact that the deviations are apparently worse for the Epix, when running in the opposite direction near buildings, rather supports that suspicion. Have a look for example at the section a bit further, where the houses are also from the northern side, while running oppositely. Your Epix 2 shows that you have been running through the front yards, which I assume was not true. In contrary, Instinct 2, shows a more realistic path on the sidewalk:

    Epix

    Instinct