Altimeter recordings while running

[Tadas Linge]

@Iceman1 yes really interesting. Yesterday i went for a run, altimeter was calibrated manually before run to 41m and after 3 hours of GPS activity in the same spot i already had 68meters. So i do not see, how calibration helps here. Yes it shows the right altitude at the beginning of the activity, but then deviates. Maybe anyone knows some contact person in Suunto, who could explain in more details such measurements? Thank you.

[Brad_Olwin]

@Tadas-Linge You can certainly contact support but there are Suunto folks here on the forum. First, how about a few more details. The placement of the baro sensor holes on the Vertical have virtually eliminated issues with the sensor holes coming into contact with skin and changing pressure, which happened on the Suunto 9 baro.

1. Are you wearing the watch under clothing or over clothing?
2. Is it windy where you are running? Very strong winds can affect the sensor as well but they have to be strong.

[Tadas Linge]

@Brad_Olwin hello and thank you for your answer.

1. when i am running i always wear watch in such way that it would be exposed at all times, because i am checking it constantly.
2. i cannot say it is windy. app shows that last time when i ran and got +25m altitude deviation at the end of run wind was 6m/s, but i could not say that there was any wind at all.

i have also a question is there any way to check if during activity watch is measuring altitude by baro sensor or by gps?

Thank you

[Tieutieu]

@Tadas-Linge it’s all the time mixing gps and baro. That’s fusedalti. Baro only if you use a sport mode where gps is not activated.

[Tadas Linge]

@Tieutieu thank you for your reply.
yes, this is clear, but the question is how watch is determining that now i will use GPS and now Baro. and because i am seeing these deviations, i am assuming that at that time Baro was used instead of GPS. if yes, then why?

[Łukasz Szmigiel]

@Tadas-Linge barometer is used by default for altitude with the exception of few sports where the wind is extreme.

FusedAlti is using gps for barometer calibration but in general, barometer is being used for altitude as gps is too unreliable for constant elevation measurement.

That’s why initial calibration happens in the first 15 minutes of workout as there’s quality threshold (the calibration won’t happen if the GPS error is too large).

GPS is fine to calibrate the barometer but it’s unreliable for constant altitude measurement.

[Tadas Linge]

@Łukasz-Szmigiel thank you. So it means if you have weather change after first 15 minutes, your altirude will be off for the rect of activity…

[Tadas Linge]

@Łukasz-Szmigiel also is the same logic used in all suunto watches? Do you know?

[A Former User]

@Tadas-Linge Try doing an activity with the GPS off so you can get a sense of how things are going with just the barometer, and I suggest you do this when the weather is changing…Then think that there is an algorithm that avoids excessive drifts using GPS data

[di gregorio roberto]

Buongiorno, mi servirebbe sapere come eliminare da un sunto vertical un itinerario salvato .erroneamente ho cancellato l itinerario dall app del telefono senza accoppiarlo prima all orologio.in tal modo si è cancellato solo da telefono e non da orologio.fatemi sapere come poter fare . Grazie intanto saluti

[Łukasz Szmigiel]

@Tadas-Linge it may drift but FusedAlti works constantly. However - how it corrects altitude is unknown in details to the public.

Generally - when you’re using GPS with highest quality available for your watch, you don’t need to do any manual calibrations as FusedAlti will take care of it.

Also, keep in mind that this isn’t perfect and there are plenty of variables for each activity. Simply don’t expect you’ll have 1m accuracy each workout.

I usually run on flat ground and have anything between 0 and 6m of elevation gain each workout.

I have the best results when I’m cycling and have my watch mounted on the handle. I usually have under 10m error for 30 - 50 km ride with elevations averaging 250 - 350 m.

But errors when running are more significant - it may be because of wind, hand movement, clothes or temperature.

All Suunto watches from S-series that have barometer have FusedAlti (S9B onwards).

[Tadas Linge]

@Łukasz-Szmigiel thank you very much!

[Tadas Linge]

@Łukasz-Szmigiel Suunto Vertical.pdf
i have made some comparison. I took different points from my yesterday run with measured altitude on the left side and on the right side what Suunto app says as altitude in the same point. as you can see run starts with no deviation and then steadily deviation increases. I have finished run with -40m measured by watch compared to Suunto app. i have synced watch before run with app and manually added altitude of start point, also was using dual GPS.
my only one concern now if it is acceptable by Suunto tolerances or this watch should be checked by warranty…

[Łukasz Szmigiel]

@Tadas-Linge while OSM may not be perfect in terms of accuracy, 40 m seems like much. Especially in places when the watch reports -9 meters.

How do you wear your watch while running? Was it windy or raining during the run? Can you test it on a different run while wearing the watch on top of your clothes or on a second wrist?

Edit: if you’ve finished with a large, negative number, it seems as if something pushed on the baro sensor. Maybe some dirt (maybe there’s soap in baro holes?) or snow / water?

[sartoric]

or jacket sleeves

[Brad_Olwin]

@Tadas-Linge I think the deviations you are seeing are not acceptable. I would contact support. Prior to that, have you attempted a hard reset on the watch?

[Tadas Linge]

@Łukasz-Szmigiel hello, in the first half of run there was light rain, but then sunny till the end. I doubt that something could go in those small holes…but you nevet know

[Tadas Linge]

@sartoric hello, no jacket sleeve is locked with velcro lock above watch

[Tadas Linge]

@Brad_Olwin hello, no, i have not done any kind of reset. I will try to do it now. Thanks

[Brad_Olwin]

@Tadas-Linge It will remove all custom sport modes and data, you will be starting fresh so if you have custom sport modes take screenshots so you can easily restore them.