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Running activity was missing first 600 meters (both time and distance) before GPS satellite was found

Today I had my first activity with my new Garmin Forerunner 945 - a 6.1 km run. But the watch only recorded the last 5.5 km. I pressed "start activity" button right from the beginning and the time was running. So I thought everything was fine. But now looking at the recorded track, I see that the track only starts 600 m later. The first 600 m (3-4 minutes) is missing! Why's that? After those 600 meters I remember that the watch showed a green screen saying something about GPS - probably the GPS fix was found only then. But why is even the time TIME lost from my training? I mean, why was the complete first 600 m cleared from history, not only the distance but also the time?

Is this normal or a bug?

How can I avoid this for the future?

Is it normal that the watch takes so long (several minutes) until it gets a GPS fix?

0 jmto over 3 years ago

NormalGarminUser said:
How can I avoid this for the future?

Wait for the GPS lock before starting running and then a little bit (10-30s after the GPS is found) more to get the accuracy somewhat better to avoid big jumps in the start.

0 mcalista over 3 years ago

The watch has an almanac of satellite orbits, which helps speed up the time to acquire a GPS fix.

As this was your first GPS activity, it wouldn't (yet) have had an almanac (which downloads over the GPS signal itself - takes about 13 minutes of GPS up time). Subsequent GPS fixes should be a lot faster. Although you should wait for the GPS icon to go green before starting the activity.

Note this also applies after firmware updates, if you haven't used the GPS for a couple of weeks, or you have moved a considerable distance since your last fix.

As for the missing time, I suspect that with auto pause and no GPS, the watch didn't know you were moving, so it assumed you were paused.

0 e7andy over 3 years ago

945 can track the distance even without GPS, but since it is a new watch it might need to learn your step length and movement before that works good. Turn off auto paus if you got that enabled.

I usually have a data screen with the map so I can check that I got the exact right position before I start my activity.

If you are moving it will take longer time to get the GPS position. Stand still with as much open sky as possible. I live in a city so I usually stand in a street crossing so I got clear sky in at least 4 directions.

Make sure you connect the watch to Garmin Express and update it. If it is new is very likely using old software and maps.

0 NormalGarminUser over 3 years ago

Thanks everyone. I had already updated to version 7.80 before that first activity. And auto pause was already off.

Now the watch updated once again to version 8.20. I will check if it works with your hints.

Perhaps I was "spoiled" by the sensitive and quick GPS receivers of today's smartphones. The Garmin watch is not that fast as it seems - obviously - it has much less CPU power.

0 NormalGarminUser over 3 years ago in reply to NormalGarminUser

Today's Activity was recorded perfectly well. GPS fix was achieved within less than 30 sec I would say, only after that I started the activity which was then correctly and completely recorded.

0 mcalista over 3 years ago in reply to NormalGarminUser

Sounds like your watch was just shy and nervous for its 1st time.