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Noob in every respect - GPS & running question

Moogarm
over 8 years ago
Hello everyone. I've had a poke around in the forums and attempted to use the search function to locate the answers to the query I'm about to make but had no luck in finding this info.

I'm a brand new Garmin 235 owner and a brand new runner as well as a brand new poster to these forums, so please feel free to relocate this post if it belongs elsewhere.

I've set things up as I like them in 'Activity Settings' of the 'Run' activity - data fields, laps, number of screens etc. When I begin my run activity everything works as I'd like it to (screens and data etc).

Before each run I've been opening the Activity Settings and selecting 'GPS', 'Normal (GPS Only)', waiting for confirmation of signal and then setting off. At the end of each run reversing the procedure to set GPS to 'Off'.

Now for the question:

In the run activity I've set Laps, Data Fields etc - these don't need to be set before I run each time - I just hit the run button a couple of times and the green arrow appears for the run to commence.

If I set GPS to 'Normal' within the run activity settings - when I'm setting the other details (laps data fields etc) - does the GPS then start and stop with the activity?

Or do I need to manually start the GPS at the beginning of each run and then stop the gps at the end of each run (to preserve battery)?

I hope my question isn't too garbled.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    You don't need to turn anything off after running just leave the GPS on and you're good to go. Select the run activity, wait until your GPS signal goes green then hit start.

    CW
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    For something like the "run" profile, the GPS switch is really about what is used during the activity. It doesn't mean GPS is on 24/7 for example. When you start a "run" it will fire up GPS, and will turn it off the GPS radio when the run is saved/discarded. without any changes to the profile. The basic difference between "run" and "run indoor" with GPS for example, is that "Run" will by default use GPS, while "Run Indoor" wont.

    You may not have used any Connect IQ apps yet, but things can be a bit different. Some allow you to decide if you want GPS or not, but in the case of mine for Outdoor Walking and Hiking, using GPS is a given. It's always used. When the app starts, they turn on GPS, and don't even allow you to start recording until there's a usable GPS signal (the native apps like "run" allow you to start before you have a GPS lock, and can lead to strangeness at the beginning of the recording when you look at the map on Garmin Connect). Like the native apps, in my apps, GPS is turned off when the activity is saved or discarded.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Cheers!

    For something like the "run" profile, the GPS switch is really about what is used during the activity. It doesn't mean GPS is on 24/7 for example. When you start a "run" it will fire up GPS, and will turn it off the GPS radio when the run is saved/discarded. without any changes to the profile. The basic difference between "run" and "run indoor" with GPS for example, is that "Run" will by default use GPS, while "Run Indoor" wont.

    You may not have used any Connect IQ apps yet, but things can be a bit different. Some allow you to decide if you want GPS or not, but in the case of mine for Outdoor Walking and Hiking, using GPS is a given. It's always used. When the app starts, they turn on GPS, and don't even allow you to start recording until there's a usable GPS signal (the native apps like "run" allow you to start before you have a GPS lock, and can lead to strangeness at the beginning of the recording when you look at the map on Garmin Connect). Like the native apps, in my apps, GPS is turned off when the activity is saved or discarded.


    I think you guys have answered my question perfectly.

    Just to clarify - if I set up to use GPS in the activity settings by selecting 'normal', then starting the Garmin 'Run' app will enable GPS, stopping the 'Run' app will disable the GPS. The GPS will only function while the 'Run' app is in use.

    Sorry to sound simple - I think I'd convinced myself that the battery was running down more quickly if I'd enabled GPS in the above scenario even when I asn't using 'Run'.

    Thank you very much for your prompt and detailed answers.
  • 0 over 8 years ago
    Correct. GPS is only turned on when you do an activity that wants to use GPS, and turns off when that activity is complete.

    But I will muddy the waters a bit :) CIQ widgets can also use GPS, but again, it's controlled by the widget, and typically done as a "one shot", where GPS is turned on until there's a valid location, and then turns itself off. For example, I have a weather widget that does that if you're location isn't known (or you're in a different location and want the weather for that), so the data can be requested for you actual location. (we're talking a few seconds of the GPS being on in this case), and something that would only be done in a widget that needs the GPS info.