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Watch records the wrong GPS track and Distance, but elapsed time is right. [Details and Screenshot Included]

7393093
over 5 years ago

Hi, I went for a run this morning and when I was done, I noticed the Garmin Connect app on my phone showed the correct elapsed time, but the wrong GPS track and wrong distance.

A screenshot from Garmin Connect: https://imgur.com/a/OBTABjB

  • GPS track is VERY wrong

  • Distance is wrong

  • Pace is wrong

  • Elevation Gain is wrong

  • Elapsed time is correct

  • HR is correct (And there is HR data for the entire run ~33 minutes)

I've successfully used this new watch for runs and rides so I know it can be accurate. And yes, before I started the run, I waited for a good GPS signal. When I was done, I pressed the stop button, then saved the activity. A few moments later, when I was near my phone again, I got the notification that the activity summary was ready to be viewed, just like always.

I already edited the activity in the Garmin Connect web version, to show the correct Distance and Elevation Gain. Updating the distance in Connect also fixed the Pace. But, I don't think you can edit the GPS track? In any case, I'm not going to manually edit every activity on the web; I obviously need the watch to record my GPS track properly!

Could this be a corrupted file? Is there a way to fix it (recover it)? [Update, this has happened at least 3 times in a row now, so it's not just one "corrupted" file; it's something that started recently and is still happening.

I have run these same roads with this watch before, and the GPS map turns out fine. The roads are mostly clear overhead; probably 90%+ clear and NO tall buildings at all.

Thank you!

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago

    Garmin Forums I am having the same problem. I have a garmin 235 which is great but today I decided to use my vivoactive 4s to run and the pace, distance and elevation is completely out. 

    Can you help please? 

    Diana Dolce

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago

    Same issue. It's been happening for about a year now and it happened around 20 times in total. GPS (or GPS+Glonass or +Galileo) locked. after few miles it stops recording on a map and pace and other data seem to be based on algorithm (as if GPS wasn't locked). Open spaces, city, trails, parks, fields - any scenery. It is usually very accurate, but it happens (randomly, every now and then) that it just switches from GPS tracking to estimated time/pace and no maps. I think I tried everything. I did resets, they usually help for a while. I do use headphones and Spotify - perhaps a glitch? I bought a Music version, so I do want Spotify and headphones. I will not be running with a phone on me - that's not a solution.

    I am running GPS based NYC marathon in 2 months to "qualify" for entry in a future run. If it's massively off or stops recording midrun, I'll need to do it again to get a guaranteed entry. I could use an old watch or a phone as a backup, but hey - I want my Garmin to be reliable, right?

    Anyone? @garmin?

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I am cross referencing my post where I also observed this (https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/healthandwellness/f/vivoactive-3-3-music/234288/gps-not-getting-a-lock-i-suspect-the-problem-is-sw-5-80) but it is basically GPS not working.

    A word of warning - maybe I am stupid, blindly following watch, but I was doing a 10k training plan with Garmin Coach and because the pace was telling me I was running 5:30/km (my actual pace was a minute faster, so then it made me run farther) with a target of 4:30 I ended up overtraining (running both too fast and too far) and for a couple weeks have been sitting out with stress reaction (hopefully not fracture) in shins. Smarter people will just know the right pace, but there is a risk that GPS crappiness can lead towards injury.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Since i moved my button to the other side, gps is a bit better... (left arm, button ponting to left)

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to MB201

    Same problem with inaccurate distance.  I have GPS+GLONASS on.  It looks like the problem started after the problem in July when Garmin was down several days.

    @Garmin, any comments/fixes?  It looks like we can't rely on Garmin for our training plan any more.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago

    Today had the same problem. I was running for 8km and lost my gps, didn't notice it because my fenix 5 didn't make any sound, and km's and hr kept counting..  

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I've had the same problem for a couple of weeks (that I've noticed) now. My 935 is about 20% out.

    I seem to have sorted it: By deleting all the history, and the User Data.

    Fingers crossed.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago

    This is also happening to me on the Vivoactive 3 Music model.  So annoying when you lose your pace from loss of gps.  This bug makes the watch frustrating to run with and I run to reduce frustration!  Is this just the Vivoactive series or are all Garmin watches affected?

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago

    I have a Forerunner and am having the same issues. Admittedly, i've been off the running for a month with a calf injury so would expect to have lost some speed but my watch is telling I am running between 1 to 2 minutes per mile slower than usual.  Which is just wrong.  By the time I get to mile three, the watch is giving me lap times that are slighlty more realistic but the first mile especially is always WAY off (usually 2 mins slower). 

    Did anybody find a solution?  It's incredibly annoying and really does dent your willpower to keep training when your supposedly trustworthy device is telling you you're much slower than you are.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

    I got my problem resolved by Garmin! Essentially, there may be some files uploaded on watches that may have some impact on performance. After months of struggle and trying "everything" I got in touch with Garmin via CHAT (available from Connect app).

    I was helped step by step by a person from Garmin.

    (It is even easier on Windows computer, but I used MAC to remove certain files/folders from the watch)

    This is what I did:

    - I connected vivoactive3 to my laptop via USB cable. 

    - I downloaded app called "Android File Transfer" app from the Appstore beforehand

    - I saw my watch as an external drive on the app (just like a "File" folder on the Mac)

    - I was asked to remove some sub-Folders from the watch folder - hope that makes sense.

    I can't remember the exact folders they asked me to remove, but there were like 4-5 of them and if you contact Garmin, they will give you step-by-step instructions.

    - once I removed those folders (with all files inside them) from my watch using this app, I deleted them from the Bin on the laptop before disconnecting the watch

    -I disconnected the watch

    done.

    Since then I had no problem with the watch (knocking the wood).

    Amazing support from Garmin and quick/easy solution.

    Just get in touch with them.

    Hope that helps