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Forerunner 945: any issues with the altimeter (pressure sensor)?

Former Member over 6 years ago

I currently own a Forerunner 935, and it's been the most frustrating watch I've owned from Garmin (4th model).To the point that I was ready to give up the whole ecosystem, and move to another brand. I did my research, but there are not that many options, in particular when it comes to sync over Wi-Fi, barometric altimeter, and battery life.

Right after warranty expired (1 year, don't ask), the altimeter broke, and I noticed cracks on the HR sensor. Both are problems quite common with that model.Then the 945 came out, and I looked at it as an option.

The HR sensor is completely different on the 945, so I would hope screen cracks are not a problem anymore. But imagine my surprise when I noticed that the 945 has the pressure sensor in the same place as the 935.

The watch has been available for very little time now, but has anyone noticed issues similar to the 935 with the altimeter? For reference, it completely stops working, giving random readings on a flat route, etc.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago

I have also had four 935 replaced under warranty due an issue with the barometer. Garmin has upgraded me to the 945 just about two months ago. They’ve indicated that the components in the 945 are totally different and this should not happen again. Well two months in and same issue. I’m so frustrated as I don’t know what, if anything, I’m doing wrong to cause this. I run, bike and swim and the 935 lasted me anywhere from 4-10 months

0 Dimjar over 5 years ago

yes i do, i just bought 945 around 3 months ago and the altimeter stops working which leads me to this thread

0 tess over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

I have also had four 935 replaced

two months in and same issue. I’m so frustrated as I don’t know what, if anything, I’m doing wrong to cause this.

Do you shower with your watch on? I ask because you'll have different levels of elements in the water depending on your water municipality. I have high levels of calcium and lime in my water. It doesn't affect health or taste, but I have build ups of these minerals you can see on my shower heads, and on the side of my house if the water drips from the water faucets. These minerals can and will build up in the sensor ports rendering the sensor useless. This may be what's affecting you too. I make it a point to soak my watch in a bowl of warm water with Dawn dish soap to break this build up down (it also helps with any salts, oils or any other debris) on a weekly basis. Anyway, it may be something to consider.

0 CaptainGilligan747 over 4 years ago

omg thats only a fraction of the issue I had with the altimeter. When I was walking on a level beach at SL, the graph showed a cns climb, or when Im walking downhill the altitude increases A LOT, vice versa walking uphill, walking on level ground at known alt, watch told me both climbing and descending on many occasions resulting in a saw tooth graph several times

0 Bitti over 4 years ago in reply to CaptainGilligan747

That saw tooth graph sounds like automatic calibration. If it's turned on, the watch occasionally calibrates the barometric sensor based on GPS and the DEM map (to compensate for changes in air pressure). The effects of such calibration happens gradually (because that's better than abrupt changes). Of course another reason for such saw tooth might be that air pressure is changing rapidly, confusing the barometric sensor.

(I personally like the way automatic calibration works, since I use altimeter only for taking into account up/downhills while running, i.e. small quick changes in altitude.)

0 CaptainGilligan747 over 4 years ago in reply to Bitti

I understand about the calibration as I set it up to calibrate constantly but this was just a gradual transition from graphs which were literally perfect for my walks and runs to graphs which looked like they came off an ecg reading very irregular heart.

I brought it back to the shop and they gave me the 945 in its place. The 945 was absolutely perfect until 11:30 on Sunday (not exaggerating). I went into a coffee shop and sat in for a while. The altimeter read perfectly when I paused the activity going in, it was 63m, when I came out and restarted the activity, it showed 100m and in the 1km walk home I had to calibrate 4 times. Since then the altitude of all my activities are waaaay off