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Is the altimeter reliable on any of the forerunners - 935/945/Fenix?

KR17
over 5 years ago

Hi,

I'm on my 3rd 935 now. Previous ones all had altimeter failures eventually.

Have Garmin got this issue fixed on any of the watches? Did the same design carry over to the 945 or is that one reliable? What about the Fenix - is that reliable or does that also fail?

To clarify, by fail, it starts off OK. But after a few months I just get constantly varying readings that make no sense over very short periods. If I sit the watch in one place it is climbing or descending rapidly. The elevation on my activities show no relevence to reality (climbing hundreds of feet in the first 15 mins of an activity even though I'm going downhill), and also the random popping up of stairs climbed even though I'm on the flat.

I am aware of how barametric pressure etc works. I'm NOT complaining that its telling me I'm at different heights on different days. I'm referring to the short term change in altitude being a mess. The watch always works perfectly when I change it, so I know its not me or my expectations.

So, what are my options. The 935 altimeter is simply not fit for purpose. Is it any better on the 945? From a quick read it would appear its the same design and same problems. What about the latest Fenix? Is it fixed or changed on those?

Thanks in advance.

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    Mine is still relatively new (a few months old) but the altimeter works okay.  The reason I say "okay" as opposed to say "good" is that every single run I do is an out/back or a loop.  NONE of those runs ever registers the same ending point as starting point.  Ever.  And the out/back runs never ever register the same gain as loss.  I know there is some pressure change during runs but you'd think it would be close or identical at some point.

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    I've had mine since September. One route I run consistently, elevation looks very consistent across all of them - some variation I would expect, but overall, very good.

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    The fenix has the port/opening on the side which would seem preferable to avoid sweat. 

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    No problems whatsoever with my 3 year old 935 or 9 month old 945.  I calibrate both the altimeter and barometer prior to an activity.  I note the ambient pressure in a data field before, during and after the activity and everything falls in line and makes perfect sense. 

  • 0 over 5 years ago

    I had a 935 and now have the 945. With the 935 I found I had to do manual calibrations regularly. The 945 does calibrations automatically overnight and I have never had to manually perform one. 

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to badbri

    What difference are you seeing?

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

    Thanks all.

    On activities its just random. Between 500 and 1000ft, seems to be steady decline and/or steady incline over 20 mins. But it bears no resemblence to what is actually happening.

    The first 10 mins of my commute is always uphill, even though I know its a good downhill slope. Then the bit that is uphill is then reporting as downhill. Its just random.

    Which is what happened on the other two also. They seem to be good for a while then just go the same way.

    Edit:

    just playing with turning altitude correction on in GC.

    With corrections I start at 95ft, max 209ft, end 171ft. The last mile is 456ft to 363 ft (i.e. nearly 100ft loss) even though I know its uphill.

    With corrections disabled I start 115ft, top out at 556ft in middle, end 332ft. Last mile is 122ft to 159ft, uphill as expected.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

    I do a 10m out and back every week with moderate gain/loss.  Generally I see about 415 gain and about 450 loss for that run with the finish elevation being roughly 30-40' higher than the starting elevation.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to badbri

    I'd have no problems with that from a wrist worn device. You and some others might suggest I have low expectations but I'd be inclined to say my expectations are realistic given the technology.

  • 0 over 5 years ago in reply to KR17

    Doh. Just realised I got the last mile stuff the wrong way around. Last mile 122 to 159 was gps corrected.

    456 to 363 was on altimeter and is just garbage, as was the whole track and all others recently. 

    Will give Garmin a call tomorrow. 

    Thanks all.