Reviews and videos

[mikekoski490]

@mountainChris FYI Im not having any issues. My first run was right on track. I actually did a quick route on my phone minutes before to try it out, and checked turn by turn directions, and all good. GPS track was very good - way better than my COROS.

[altcmd]

@mikekoski490 How are the turn-by-turn notifications on the S9PP? I found it hard to understand on the S9B so stopped using it. The notification would be turn coming up in X meters but not at the point.

[freeheeler]

@altcmd
it’s been like that (in x meters) in S9B already…
afair 99m ahead

[TrailEyes]

In his review of the Coros Apex 2, DesFit includes the S9PP in his testing batch. I’m colorblind, so I have a tough time seeing where the 9PP line is compared with the others, but at least you can get an idea of how it stacks up against the Apex 2, Apex 2 Pro, and the Enduro 2.

https://youtu.be/A8xmu2ptsCI

[mikekoski490]

@freeheeler Yes. Still does that I guess - I didn’t use the S9B or the navigation on the S9P for the few weeks I had, so can’t compare, but it only took me a few ‘turns’ to figure out on the Pro that yes, it was saying the next turn/direction is coming up in ‘X’ meters. I found turn by turn good and referring to the actual track/breadcrumb to get the bigger picture all I needed. Compared to the Vertix 2 map, I found the Pro easier to read with simple black against white, as opposed to a dull map with roads and trails all over the place, and a barely readable route.

[freeheeler]

@mikekoski490
for what I know so far, it was improved, compared to S9B with indication arrows rather then text?
if this is so, input from surveys is considered indeed

[mikekoski490]

@freeheeler Its a directional arrow. Seemed pretty straightforward.

[freeheeler]

@mikekoski490
… exactly what some of us have requested in surveys! excellent

[DMytro]

@freeheeler still junctions are problematic I suppose. I need either maps or some precise junction turn notification.

[mikekoski490]

@DMytro Thats when you cross reference and follow your uploaded route. If you start heading down the wrong junction, your breadcrumb route will start to show you off course.

[freeheeler]

@mikekoski490
we would like to avoid that potential mini detour and I’ve suggested in a recent survey to show the crossing as a scheme but only highlight the correct path, similar like car navis do when you approach a crossing

[altcmd]

@mikekoski490 ok! So just as before, it tells what’s next in X meters but not when you are at the turning point, as a typical satnav or even garmin would do.

[DMytro]

@mikekoski490 I know that, I’ve done 50+ mountain hikes with S9. But the thing is, something gyro isn’t very accurate and the map on the screen is turned slightly different + there are multiple ways to choose from. It may be me, but my friends joke about this already ‘i always try to look at the watch only to take out my phone and make sure about the junction after I took 1-2 wrong turns already’. This is highly annoying especially in the mountains, since the GPS signal isn’t strong there to begin with - you are constantly drifting away from your planned route even though you should’ve remained on it.
And it gets frustrating when you have to climb extra 50 meters of elevation only to realise you have to turn back after you already did 1200 meters of elevation during some 20km hike.

Bottom line: for me navigation screen on S9 is only to determine if I’m in general still going in the same direction or restospectively if I indeed was on the route. I hope this would change someday because I would like my watch to become primary navigation tool and my phone to remain as a backup.

[DMytro]

@freeheeler I suppose one could implement this manually by drawing the junctions during the creation of gpx. But this would screw TbT and route length/elevation profile.

[TonyG]

Another Blog Montre cardio GPS usage video (French - but can do auto subtitles)

https://youtu.be/up2wkminOio

[Bj Fi]

Here’s a vid from today in German by DNA - DailyNerdAlert, which supports multiple languages for subtitles: https://youtu.be/EtB6pvUQOk4

[Bj Fi]

@TrailEyes said in Reviews and videos:

In his review of the Coros Apex 2, DesFit includes the S9PP in his testing batch. I’m colorblind, so I have a tough time seeing where the 9PP line is compared with the others, but at least you can get an idea of how it stacks up against the Apex 2, Apex 2 Pro, and the Enduro 2.

https://youtu.be/A8xmu2ptsCI

9PP seemed to outperform the Coros watches at least.

[mikekoski490]

@Bj-Fi Agree. Suunto did OK on most of DesFit GPS tests both for distance and tracking, but wrist based OHR while running looks like it could be improved.

[Bj Fi]

@mikekoski490 yup, though I still maintain that for extremely accurate HR one should use a chest strap…

Also surprised you hadn’t linked the 5krunner review here considering it looked like you had commented it. As in this one

[altcmd]

I am rather surprised how DCR, DesFit or ChaseTheSummit have no video out yet. There is a review from RunTesters but they too seem to be Garmin fanboys and are not too positive on their experience with the S9PP. So odd that they have a review out but none of the more visible channels. Probably a hold from Suunto?!?