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Suggestion: Possibility to customise GPS accuracy, map usage for different activities

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Suunto Race S
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  • A Offline
    Alonzo
    last edited by 7 days ago

    Hi everyone,

    a new (and generally happy) Race S user here.
    I switched from Garmin recently and found out that GPS mode on Race S cannot be customised and saved for a articular activity independent from other settings in ‘Battery mode’, like for instance a use of maps.

    Here is my use case: when I go for a hike (5…8 hours), I would like to use maps, but have a low GPS accuracy. And it would be great to be able to save the settings for a particular activity, because when on other day I commute with E-bike, I would chose different settings again.

    ‘Battery mode’ is a good option which gives a ‘bundle’ control, but a bit more granular customization with independent choice of GPS accuracy, map usage, gestures, etc. would be just great!

    S C M E 4 Replies Last reply 7 days ago Reply Quote 0
    • S Offline
      Stefano M64 Silver Members @Alonzo
      last edited by Stefano M64 5 Aug 2025, 09:19 7 days ago

      @Alonzo said in Suggestion: Possibility to customise GPS accuracy, map usage for different activities:

      when I go for a hike (5…8 hours), I would like to use maps, but have a low GPS accuracy.

      Why low GPS accuracy?

      I’ve a Race, used primary for hiking with maps, turn-by-turn route guidance and all the other related features. Unless you have some specific need (i.e. multi-days trekking), just keep the Performance battery mode, you’ll have tens of hours of autonomy. At the end of the activity, fully charge your Race S for the next day adventure.

      Suunto Vector . Vector HR . Core . Race & Race S

      A 1 Reply Last reply 6 days ago Reply Quote 2
      • C Offline
        cosme.costa @Alonzo
        last edited by 7 days ago

        @Alonzo I always use performance mode, I have a SVTiSolar, so no much problem here, but I like how is made now, easy, simple and that works.

        I do not know if you have tried but you can create a custom sport mode were you can define the battery mode and other options that will be remembered, not exactly what you ask for but something.

        A 1 Reply Last reply 6 days ago Reply Quote 0
        • M Offline
          maszop Bronze Member @Alonzo
          last edited by 7 days ago

          @Alonzo There is no such thing as using maps and lower GPS accuracy. When using maps, you automatically have the highest GPS accuracy.

          That’s why there are no such power options in watches with an AMOLED screen because then they would not show the actual battery life.

          A 1 Reply Last reply 6 days ago Reply Quote 0
          • A Offline
            Alonzo @Stefano M64
            last edited by Alonzo 5 Aug 2025, 13:28 6 days ago

            @Stefano-M64 exactly: I have a trip ahead, when not even every second night there will be a possibility to charge the watches.

            S 1 Reply Last reply 6 days ago Reply Quote 0
            • A Offline
              Alonzo @cosme.costa
              last edited by 6 days ago

              @cosme.costa thanks! I will try a custom sport option.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • A Offline
                Alonzo @maszop
                last edited by 6 days ago

                @maszop but what about an option of switching between multi and single band GPS?

                M 1 Reply Last reply 6 days ago Reply Quote 0
                • S Offline
                  Stefano M64 Silver Members @Alonzo
                  last edited by 6 days ago

                  @Alonzo said in Suggestion: Possibility to customise GPS accuracy, map usage for different activities:

                  @Stefano-M64 exactly: I have a trip ahead, when not even every second night there will be a possibility to charge the watches.

                  in this case, you could also consider to bring with you a small power bank

                  Suunto Vector . Vector HR . Core . Race & Race S

                  A 1 Reply Last reply 6 days ago Reply Quote -1
                  • M Offline
                    maszop Bronze Member @Alonzo
                    last edited by 6 days ago

                    @Alonzo When using maps, everything is turned on with the utmost accuracy.

                    A 1 Reply Last reply 6 days ago Reply Quote 1
                    • A Offline
                      Alonzo @Stefano M64
                      last edited by 6 days ago

                      @Stefano-M64 yep, I guess there is no way out.

                      S 1 Reply Last reply 6 days ago Reply Quote 0
                      • A Offline
                        Alonzo @maszop
                        last edited by 6 days ago

                        @maszop this is exactly the point corresponding to a use case of being on a long hike, having single band GPS in a lower update frequency AND being able to check a map when needed, usually in nice n 30-60 minutes. I won’t even mind to wait few seconds for maps to load in this case, just to save some juice.

                        M 1 Reply Last reply 6 days ago Reply Quote 0
                        • S Offline
                          Stefano M64 Silver Members @Alonzo
                          last edited by 6 days ago

                          @Alonzo said in Suggestion: Possibility to customise GPS accuracy, map usage for different activities:

                          @Stefano-M64 yep, I guess there is no way out.

                          I always bring one with me during my hikes, together with a Garmin InReach messenger (Iridium), you never know…

                          Suunto Vector . Vector HR . Core . Race & Race S

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • M Offline
                            maszop Bronze Member @Alonzo
                            last edited by 6 days ago

                            @Alonzo I understand it like this, selecting the appropriate power mode displays the battery life (which is quite reliable in the case of Suunto). When theoretically turning on the map, these values ​​will be completely unrealistic, especially with models with an AMOLED screen.
                            If you want to have a map, you have to turn on/change the appropriate power mode with all its consequences. In my opinion, this is a good solution.

                            A 1 Reply Last reply 6 days ago Reply Quote 0
                            • A Offline
                              Alonzo @maszop
                              last edited by 6 days ago

                              @maszop I think I got now what you mean! The option which I am trying to describe perhaps then habs to do more with a pure customisation of a sport mode than a “true battery mode”.

                              Example: hike, GPS - ok, logging every minute, maps on, touch screen on, Bluetooth off, HR on.

                              Do you mean, that such mode would consume the same energy as a “performance battery mode”, when every possible option is on and on “max performance”?

                              M 1 Reply Last reply 5 days ago Reply Quote 0
                              • M Offline
                                maszop Bronze Member @Alonzo
                                last edited by 5 days ago

                                @Alonzo Many things work automatically, and contrary to appearances, disabling some things will not increase battery life (e.g. one or a few GNSS systems). Some things can be turned off in the activity options.

                                I suspect that what you are writing about is a fairly large complication of software, which in the case of power supply should be relatively simple. There are already a lot of problems - drain battery in forum threads.

                                A 1 Reply Last reply 2 days ago Reply Quote 0
                                • E Offline
                                  elbee @Alonzo
                                  last edited by 3 days ago

                                  @Alonzo
                                  I recently ditched garmin and went back to suunto. In general very pleased with it. I don’t miss the many marketing bs of garmin, but some more fine grained settings would be nice.
                                  Suunto thinks a workweek is always 5 days. My workweek is 4 days. So I have to disable the alarm before friday and remember to switch it on again before monday.
                                  I want vibrate alerts in smartwatch mode, and beeps and vibrate in sportmode. Cannot be done.
                                  I like navigating with maps, but I don’t need most accurate gps and would rather save battery. But, sadly, not possible.

                                  A 1 Reply Last reply 3 days ago Reply Quote 2
                                  • A Offline
                                    Alonzo @elbee
                                    last edited by 3 days ago

                                    @elbee I’m in a similar situation - enjoying the ride so far, although it’s not a smooth one. Will stick with Suunto for a while and hope they will at least gradually give their customers more freedom to decide which options are useful for sport modes and navigation and how many working days a week has 🙂

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • A Offline
                                      Alonzo @maszop
                                      last edited by 2 days ago

                                      @maszop you didn’t reply directly to the question above and instead wrote that “Many things work automatically… … There are already a lot of problems - drain battery in forum threads”
                                      I guess it might be a bit stressful time now for product owners at Suunto, having those spoiled ex-Garmin users jumping to their products and asking for features they previously had in competitor’s products 😉

                                      Anyway, I hope our feedback and calla for new options eventually will be heard and implemented.

                                      M 1 Reply Last reply a day ago Reply Quote 0
                                      • M Offline
                                        maszop Bronze Member @Alonzo
                                        last edited by a day ago

                                        @Alonzo If someone is looking for a Garmin, they should buy a Garmin and not cry on the Suunto forum that Suunto is not a Garmin 🙂

                                        A 1 Reply Last reply a day ago Reply Quote 2
                                        • A Offline
                                          Alonzo @maszop
                                          last edited by a day ago

                                          @maszop That is so true! Stupid Garmin experience! 😉

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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