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Altimeter performance test

Data
4 months ago

Update: Another day, another test, and completely differemt results. All three watches showing the same erratic drift. I should not have posted about results of only one test. The original text of my post is below here. 

I set the Sensor Mode to Barometer Only now and ignore the altimeter. The Auto setting just doesn't work very well while the weather is so variable. 

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I was running with three devices today (testing a repaired Fenix). The run is visible as the dip in the graph on the two Fenix-es. But what's up with the Forerunner? It seems random.

The FR955's altimeter was always climbing or descending steadily during sleep, but now it has lots of variation all during the day and night. As a result, the barometer graph is just a blocky thing that isn't easy to interpret.

I think this might be a bug.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to hpaixao

    You can also generate graphs of the signals with the tool using the chart button, so you can get a better impression where it deviates.

    I'm lucky to own one.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to Stefan

    probably... I must say that I have had different Forerunners (620, 630, 935, 945 and probably others) before my current 955 Solar and never saw really reliable re altitude/barometer. Every new one I hope it improves... 

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to sdantasbvi

    In this case, we like to suffer, still buying a Garmin watch for a big price without realistic data.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to hpaixao

    I think you can expect realistic data otherwise you should make a complaint about the quality.

    Nevertheless you can not expect perfect data, some tolerances and uncertainties will always have to be applied.

    Just think about that one professional calibration of a barometer for laboratories costs ~ $ 200

    By the way - there is a possibility to do a rough check on your gathered data. When you export the fit file, you can plot "enhanced altitude" and "GPS altitued" for example with fitfileviewer.com and you should get a graph like this:

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to Stefan

    At the end of the day, I was just getting annoyed that my stair goal was being met like 3-6 times a day depending on my activities. I just updated my stair goal to 100 flights and it doesn't impact me now. I still think that the temperature changes are really hindering my barometer readings, but I guess if I really wanted to see if there was something wrong I would just send it into Garmin and have them check it for me. I did train for a few triathlons in the local pool, so it is very likely that the pool water broke my altimeter in some way as some have suggested the pool will do.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to hpaixao

    Seems like some kind of oscillation is superimposed to your reading. In any case you get as already announced clearly faulty readings. Pretty sad that those came out of a replacement watch.

    I would open a complaint on this matter because either they have a qualitiy problem with there sensors or the have a quality problem with their refurbishing departement or subcontractor not beeing able to do proper testing of the devices.