Suunto 7 Altitude Issues

pilleus

@eurohiker said in Suunto 7 Altitude Issues:

It’s most likely due to cheap GPS / Baro parts used in the Suunto 7 series or faulty algo software (pre and post April update)…

In this case every WearOS app must record the wrong ascent. You can test it with Ghostracer to check the accuracy of the S7. I never had any problems and very precise data on several S7 watches during the last year. And I did a lot of tests with the S7 and the Spartan Ultra to compare the recorded data.

Egika

@eurohiker
I usually import tracks from GPS websites and their altitude information vary…
But I ne er get double the ascent. As mentioned my gf did, which changed after two times cleaning the baro hole.
Here two examples where my S7 recorded actually less than the pre-loaded gpx file.

eurohiker

@egika @Brad_Olwin extremely jealous.

Dimitrios has done more than enough for me. I don’t want to bother him anymore.

It is quite funny that is have an easy hike of 1000m and it says I did 2000m
https://www.strava.com/activities/5349923765.
GPX retrieved from AllTrails
When I zoom in on the trail it looks like i barely touched the trail apparently.

I’ll do a few baby tbrush brushes before my next trip this weekend and i’ll report back but it will be mainly flat where i’m going so even if the GPS bounces around it will be on the same altitude.

Another question would be why would suunto be so quick to give me a new one when they could have tried to brush it (1 of them i didn’t brush myself) and sent it back? I wonder if they just look at the info i give then don’t bother to look at it which is good service but cuts into their margins.

aeroild

@eurohiker Here’s a comparison between the altitude recorded by my Suunto 7 on a 8km run and altitude from the same route made on www.plotaroute.com On the gpx from plotatroute altitude is always overestimated. I have also made a table where I have checked the altitude data at the start, at each kilometer and at the end. Here I have also included the official data from the public map service www.lantmateriet.se. The Suunto 7 is spot on the official data!

eurohiker

@aeroild lucky, but i think it’s more of an issue when mountain hiking (which is what I mostly track for altitude) because even 1 meter away laterally can make a bit difference in altitude.

For my runs and my bikes I don’t even look at the altitude because I typically only do those activities on flat land and everything around is roughly the same altitude so when it’s bouncing around it doesn’t miscalculate as much.

isazi

@eurohiker what does this mean? This is not how the barometer works

freeheeler

@isazi
sounds like a setting I once saw in a gps: altitude from map

pilleus

@eurohiker said in Suunto 7 Altitude Issues:

because even 1 meter away laterally can make a bit difference in altitude.

???

Barometric altitude is completely independent from GPS or being on a track or not. I often use barometer only (without GPS enabled) to record the ascent/altitude.

isazi

@freeheeler yes, Garmin watches with onboard map and digital elevation model can do that do. Not the S7 as far as I know.

eurohiker

@isazi yes, but they work in conjunction

@pilleus i don’t they they are independent when they are both on. There is definitely software connecting the 2 while using “good gps 10sec alti track”. It’s pretty consistent with my dips when it bounces off trail at a different altitude.
So you are telling me I have faulty baro AND gps in 4 watches if they are independent?

isazi

@eurohiker no they don’t. The only interaction they have is that the GPS can also be used to compute elevation. If the GPS elevation error is low and the value from the altimeter and the value from GPS have diverged, the GPS elevation is used to calibrate the barometric altimeter, in some way known to Suunto.

freeheeler

@eurohiker
I’m not so sure… why would a baro watch want to rely on a saved map? you stated it already, when you hike along a steep mountain, the worst thing you can have is altitude from map, based on your track… it could be hundreds of meters wrong

eurohiker

@isazi mhmm what are the odds that 4 watches have had faulty gps and baro units. I thought it was a combination thing.

eurohiker

@freeheeler instead i get 2x (good gps) -3x (best gps) the altitude difference on EVERY hike on 4 watches. I would rather the few 100m wrong tbh

freeheeler

@eurohiker
that’s very difficult for us to find out. but as many others said, they don’t have an issue with their watches and my wife’s S7 works pretty well, too… ok it has some hickups every now and then… but who doesn’t. even my watch once hung itself in the middle of a bike ride

freeheeler

@eurohiker
all these spikes look suspicious…

eurohiker

@freeheeler look at my profile…
It;s hard to say i’ve had 50+ suspicious activities in a few months when I really want the thing to work. I wear the thing religiously and now want it to help me track my training for my first tri. Not sure what is suspicious.
https://www.strava.com/athletes/41572177 <-- note weekends will be the hikes don’t bother to look at the bikes/runs. Klimat is also there for the weather (wind)
Don’t know if I can share my whole quantified-self.io profile.

freeheeler

@eurohiker
I picked the first example that jumped at me… June 2nd… those ups and downs are most likely due to a covered sensor hole. could be covered by anything, even a drop of sweat.
the track itself looks pretty good.
it would be even better to see your QS data. I was not able to view it

Brad_Olwin

@eurohiker The spikes are driving up your elevation profile! If you look at my or others Strava profiles you will not see this, I would have to tell you which are S7 though. For me, I get spikes when: (i) my watch is worn where the baro holes and my skin or clothing cover the hole typically pushing air into the sensor and causing a spike ( this is easy to cause when using poles); (ii) high wind directly hitting the baro sensor ( I did about 4000m in a 2h run one time because of this). I personally have not had a clogged sensor and have not cleaned a sensor in a single watch (I have quite a few).

eurohiker

@freeheeler definitely no sweat i was at a like 1 heart zone that whole hike enjoying the views tbh

https://quantified-self.io/user/BxG3lugNexVjw3pPXlLeyLy4WLv2/event/5b6d663772acd4fe78f1b307292059fd482568898d6592d2a7e7bb0d4c0317ba

Let me know if that’s public

@Brad_Olwin baroholes would be the last thing being covered due to my boney wrists holding the sensor at least 1cm away in every wrist position. The watch design is perfect for “my” wrist and baro hole placement.

Bad focus due to light here are the pics on a 3 hole tighter setting than usual cutting off my circulation basically. (trying to cover those baroholes) Pic 2 looks close but it’s still a minimum of 5mm away it’s just back focus/lighting.