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Altimeter?

Browner40

Is there a way to manually calibrate the altimeter or change the altimeter calibration settings on the 530? I did a short trail ride on Saturday up in the cascade mountains before my chain broke and the altimeter read completely wrong. It started at roughly the correct altitude, slowly climbed to about 2000ft above where I started and then leveled off for the remainder of the ride. In reality I only rode a few rollers and then up a ridge about 500ft before my chain broke and I had to coast back down to my campsite. The wierd thing is that the total elevation gain is accurate at about 500ft of gain, but the elevation graph is wildly inaccurate. If I select elevation corrections enabled on the activity, It shows the correct elevation profile.

Here's a link to the activity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3736041019 

  • 0

    If you are at a location with known elevation, while in your ongoing activity, press the "..." button (top right) and choose "Set Elevation" and enter the known elevation. That will calibrate altimeter for your Edge 530.

  • 0 in reply to changrenyong

    that's the only calibration option? So, on my 945 I can select to calibrate by entering my current elevation, by using DEM, or by using GPS outside of an activity, but the Edge 530 can only calibrate by you entering an elevation at the start of an activity? I tried searching through all of the options outside of an activity and could not find a way to view the altitude data or calibrate the altimeter without being in an activity.

    The more I think about it, the more I wonder if I blocked the altimeter port with the silicone cover... I'll check it when I get home tonight and see

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member in reply to Browner40

    Unlike on a watch, the altimeter on a cycling computer is running only during an activity, so that's when you gotta calibrate it Slight smile

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    yeah, but I don't want to calibrate it AFTER i start the activity.... shouldn't I be able to calibrate it before hand, and with the GPS or DEM data instead of manually?

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member in reply to Browner40

    The 530 uses both GPS and DEM data right at the start of the ride and AFAIK checks them even during the ride to account for large changes in pressure. In other words, unless you need to calibrate manually, you really don't have to do anything. 

  • 0 in reply to Browner40

    Unfortunately for the non-touchscreen bike computers like Edge 520 and 530, you have to start an activity before you can access the menu to calibrate the altimeter. For touchscreen devices like Edge 820 and 830, you can do so in the navigation menu even before starting any activity:

    support.garmin.com/.../

  • 0 in reply to Browner40

    As to why Garmin does not consistently put the calibration function under the same menu for all its bike computers, I think only Garmin can answer that Smiley

  • 0 in reply to Browner40

    I know this is kind of clunky but if you want to get the elevation calibrated BEFORE for example a bike race, do this:

    1. Start an activity
    2. Access the menu to set the elevation
    3. Stop and discard the activity
    4. Now your elevation is calibrated
    5. Start the real activity
  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    it's not correct.

    I'm calibrating it every ride , and each time I booting the device (starting my ride from my home which is 30m hight) the altitude I get is -25m every single time.

  • 0 in reply to IGALEP

    How long do you wait between turning your Garmin on, and starting your ride?  I find it takes a minute or two to get a really good lock on your location and altitude.  Once my Garmin reports that it has found satelites, I can see the altitude gradually changing till it reaches the correcto my actual altitude a

    You can also save the current location & altitude.  Go to the menu -> Navigation -> Saved Locations - Save My Location.  Once you have saved your location, you can edit it where you can give the location a name (such as "Home") and manually set the altitude.  Every time you start the ride from this location, your Garmin will automatically calibrate the altitude to the value you have set.