Suunto 9 Baro Problems

TyreseJ4

Hello all! Just wanted to share my thoughts on my Suunto 9 Baro that I purchased about a month ago. Before sharing my thoughts on the 9, I first want to mention that I also purchased a Suunto 5 back in January and I think the 5 is better. I’m a bit confused by that though because I paid like 300 more for the 9. There’s no question the 9 is a better watch (appearance, features, etc.), but the Suunto 5 has out performed the 9 when it comes to why I actually purchased the watch…which is running.

When it comes to GPS tracking, the Suunto 5 is way better. For example, when I run on the track, the GPS tracking is a near perfect circle. However the Suunto 9 is all over the place on the track. By all means it’s not the worst, but it should be better considering it’s supposed to be the better watch. Another problem with the Suunto 5 is pacing and distance. Now to be fair I use a STRYD foot pod with my Suunto 5. However, my Suunto 5 (without STRYD) is very close to capturing pace and distance. Some of the numbers from the 9 are just laughable. One mile it can over report and the next mile under report, even though I’m running at the same tempo. It should also be noted that both watches are set to GPS+QZSS. I may play around with the settings on the 9 to see if that makes a difference.

Now this is not as important, but the step counting on the Suunto 9 is outrageous. Most days my Suunto 9 has over 3000+ more steps than my Suunto 5. One time I watched the 9 count over 40 steps while sitting in a chair. The Suunto 9 is a great watch, but I hate that a watch that I paid less for is more precise with data from my runs. I’ve attached two photos of a track work out. Based on what I’ve shared it’s not hard to figure out which watch produced the image.

Maybe I’m doing something wrong. Any thoughts?

Mff73

@tyresej4
Bump antenna and weight difference, I think.
S5 has GPS bump antenna, like Ambits, and makes GPS reception better.
And S9 is heavier and inertia may introduce more steps in the count.
Just my thoughts.

Brad_Olwin

@tyresej4 I do not find much of a difference between the 9 and the 5 for pacing, they are similar. The elevation information is much worse on the 5 as it does not have a barometer. The antenna on the 5 may give you better GPS tracks, where I live the differences are not large. The two watches count steps differently.

TyreseJ4

@brad_olwin Do you know the difference with how they count steps?

Cookiemonster

@tyresej4 I had bad problems with the Baro 9 GPS when I first got my watch and fount that it’s measuring of altitude was ridiculous. I did a 25km ride along a coast path where I was never more than a few m above sea level but it recorded 2.5km of climbing! I changed to GNSS and that solved the problem and when I I upload to Strava the plots for my dragon boating Strava easily links the activity to others in the boat where the route is obviously the same. Since the.man I have found the B9 to be an excellent activity recorder and my only regret is not buying it earlier.

TyreseJ4

@cookiemonster By GNSS do you mean GLONASS?

surfboomerang

@cookiemonster GNSS includes GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO and BeiDou. I think you mean GLONASS.

If you have the S9 Baro verion, it shouldn’t rely too much on satellite data for altitude. My guess is a clogged baro sensor or wind during the ride.

TyreseJ4

@surfboomerang

Brad_Olwin

@tyresej4 No, but the S3 and S5 count steps differently than the S9. The S9 is focused on battery life and endurance sports, I don’t know if that affects the step counting capabilities.

ChrisA

@tyresej4 Hi, I remember that one of the moderators here once mentioned, that the S3/S5s step counter / algorithm is the better one. I also have used a 9 and a 5 and I like the 5 more, since it I don’t really need a Barometer for what I do in the area I live. Never had any issues either the GPS though, but had a chance to compare it against a Fenix 6, a Coros Apex Pro and a Polar Grit and Never had any issues real with the S9 or the S5…

TyreseJ4

@chrisa What are your thoughts on the Fenix 6 vs the Suunto 9?

A Former User

@tyresej4 a friend of me have a fenix 6 and I’ve the S9baro. The fenix looks more customisable in all point after the S9 baro is easy to use and offer many sport mode + custom one.
if you want something matching all your need maybe the fenix is better.

isazi

@g287-sf it will always depends on your needs. I had all Garmin Fenix watches from 2 to 6, and I sold all of them. Also had the 6 together with the S9, and decided that for my needs the S9 was actually much better. Someone else may have preferred the Fenix. It is very user dependent, to the point that answering such a question in general terms is not meaningful.

Brad_Olwin

@tyresej4 For running, my pace requirements are not very stringent so I do not notice the differences between the S5 and S9, I do have them both as well. If you are on the latest firmware, the improvement for GPS tracking on the S9 I think bring it close to the S5. If pacing is critical for you no GPS watch is going to work well, I think on fenix forums the comments I see on pacing is it is not very good. The Forerunners are much better in that regard I believe. If pacing is absolutely critical, get a foot pod, the Stryd would be the best one but it is fairly expensive as its main purpose is as a power pod.

freeheeler

@g287-sf
the fenix does have a lock button, while with S9B we’re living on the edge

TyreseJ4

@brad_olwin I use my STRYD with my Suunto watches everyday. Love it!

ChrisA

@tyresej4 sorry for the late answer (lots of work at the moment):

The Fenix 6 featurewise is a great Watch, because it virtually has everything you could ask for and if not, you usually find it in the connect IQ shop and just install it… but I found that it just has too many features and you easily get completely lost in it. There are menues in menues in menues … and it doesn’t give you a lot of help in how to use all that data you get from it. It really needs a lot of effort to use it to its purpose and I found it too much for my needs. I still have it since I got it quite cheap and sometimes I use it along my Suunto 5