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Instinct 2S Solar: GPS recording error. Insight requested.

MrKrabwell
4 months ago

Occasionally, when recording activities with my Garmin Instinct 2S Solar, the final GPS tracks seem to "skip" portions of the activity.  As a result, I end up with charts that look like the attached image, where there are sudden jumps in elevation gain.  When exporting the GPX and importing to another software to check the validity of the tracks, the result is the same.  There are sudden jumps in elevation or distance, as if the recording was paused.  The recording is never paused or stopped.  It's a real bummer when a significant portion of the elevation gain or distance is not tracked at the end of an activity.  Can someone give me insight into why this might happen?  I can't seem to find out a specific scenario that causes this to happen.  This can happen to any activity, but I notice it the most for backcountry ski and hiking.  

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  • 0 4 months ago

    If you mean the steep changes of elevation during the ascent, then it looks like the auto-pause kicked in, because you slowed down too much. Perhaps you did not even notice it. Disable the auto-pause, or set a custom threshold. Also consider enabling 3-D Speed, if you did not. If you are sure it was not a pause, then post a link to the activity - perhaps we can find another clue.

  • 0 4 months ago in reply to trux

    Thank you, those are good points.  That is most likely the case, as often when hiking or BC skiing, I would slow down significantly if I'm very tired or the terrain is extremely steep.  

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to MrKrabwell

    It seems like the issue is still present with auto pause set to off and 3D speed and 3D distance turned on.  Here is another example.

    Garmin Connect

    Do you have any other thoughts on why this could be happening?  The activity is about 7100 feet of gain according to my partner who recorded it on her phone, but Gamin Connect is only showing 5600 feet of gain, presumably due to the "missing sections".  I would expect Garmin Connect to triangulate the two points and count it towards the gain.  

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to MrKrabwell

    Does not seem to be the same issue here. What exactly is wrong (except of the ascent/descent detection)? The elevation profile seems to be credible, though your speed appears to be below the detection threshold, most of the time. As for the ascent/descent detection, I cannot really advise. I do not know much about how it works.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to trux

    The issue is that there is a steep rise in elevation with no change in distance, as seen below (you may have to change the x-axis to "over distance" to see this).  As a result, the elevation gain is not counted for this portion.  It's as if I had stopped the watch from about 8400 to 9400 but I double checked the settings on my phone as you suggested in your original response.  I believe am in a gully in this section, so I'm wondering if the watch cannot get a valid GPS signal, it basically ignores this portion of the track.  I will see if Garmin Support has any thoughts about this.  

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to MrKrabwell

    The gap comes exactly at the transition point (the gray round dot on the track), and there is no distance data for the next ~600m (the next recorded track point is the black dot). I suggest that you change the Mode Tracking in the settings of the Backcountry Skiing from "Auto" to "Manual" and tag the ascents, transitions, and descents yourself, since the watch has clearly problems to detects it properly. Possibly because of the low speed, not really because of low GPS signal - the track looks fine.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to trux

    That is a great observation.  The Mode Tracking is in fact set to "auto".  I will try "manual" mode next time.  I agree that this setting may be the culprit.  Thanks for all of your suggestions.  

    FWIW, Garmin Support suggested to update the firmware and calibrate the watch before starting the activity.