Problem of cumulative elevation gain

[freeheeler]

@silentvoyager
I’m not a software developer either, pure mechanics… but would it be possible to count every meter, store it and smooth the graph later with doublecheck of the independently stored gps alti graph?

[Fiox89]

On a recent excursion I noticed that the watch (suunto spartan) correctly records the right total elevation, but when it goes to synchronize the track on the application this is different. Also, the track log on the watch shows a different measurement, once the activity is interrupted, the same as the app.

From what I understand, the problem occurs when the recording of the activity is interrupted, so it is in the post processing of the data. Can anyone confirm?

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

@Fiox89 no post processing of data is done at all

[freeheeler]

@Dimitrios-Kanellopoulos
then smoothing the graph isn’t possible either as I understand…
there will be different options.
Suunto teams will solve that, I’m sure

[FredMt]

@silentvoyager

Yes i think your right, i practise running stairs. I have stop using elevation by suunto 9 baro because it was permantly under the reality. I used to do it by myself on movescount web site…, but now with Suunto app, it s impossible, elevation fields are not accessible in modification…

[A Former User]

Also I suspect that on Suunto 9 FusedAlti makes the total ascent and descent less accurate. I think that when FusedAlti kicks in and adjusts the altitude, that isn’t properly reflected in ascent and descent calculations and may artificially increase or reduce ascent / descent numbers.

There is one run near my home that I tend to do a lot. That is a short 3.2 mile loop (just over 5 km). I ran it over 50 times - with Suunto 9 and earlier with A3P.

Looking at Suunto 9 Ascent / Descent numbers I see that the ranges or ascent and descent are greater and the difference between ascent and descent for any particular run is also greater.

More specifically ascent ranges from 188 to 246 ft, descent ranges from 184 to 259 ft, and the largest difference between ascent and descent in the same run is 50 ft (~ 17 meters).
The explanation that I’ve heard before is that due to the weather change.

However when I looked at earlier runs with A3P I’ve never seen a difference between ascent and descent for runs on this route greater than 10 ft (~ 3 meters).
The values in general seem to be distributed more tightly (with fewer outliers) and over slightly smaller ranges: ascent - 197 to 236 ft and descent - 197 to 246 ft.

[freeheeler]

@silentvoyager
and the question is: will Suunto be able to improve this?

[Nick Vlahandreas]

I’ve just posted about a similar issue. My issue kicked in around the same time as these posts and still we have had no response from Suunto on a fix.

[Bulkan]

@Nick-Vlahandreas said in Problem of cumulative elevation gain:

I’ve just posted about a similar issue. My issue kicked in around the same time as these posts and still we have had no response from Suunto on a fix.

Where did you post it? Did you get any response from Suunto?

If you posted here I see your are getting responses and help. And you had one watch replacement.

Please, let’s write about truth and don’t let the emotions write thing like: still we have had no response from Suunto on a fix.

[isazi]

Mind sharing an altitude graphs? Can you see lots of little spikes? Is the altitude right or wrong?

[freeheeler]

@isazi
mind merging this topic https://forum.suunto.com/topic/3388/problem-of-cumulative-elevation-gain?_=1610647206541

@Andrea-Lo-Manto
you’re not alone, but what you see seems to be a lot!
When the skilled guys here see your alti graph they can make a tendency diagnosis.
Common issues are blocked baro holes, e.g. by rainjacket, tight watch wearing style etc…

[isazi]

@freeheeler there is no merge button in the forum. If the OP wants we can lock this one and keep discussing in the other one.

[freeheeler]

@isazi
ah really? I thought few of us have a magic button to merge similar topics sorry, ignore my comment

[Daretodream]

@freeheeler I am experiencing some issues with elevation gain in general as well, especially since running with a Stryd footpod.
Issues I am experiencing:

• Watch showing way to much elevation gain while Stryd shows more realistic elevation gain (e.g. on really flat course watch says 230m up/down, stryd says 20m up/down and TP elevation correction shows 15m)
• Watch shows 0 elevation gain while Stryd shows more realistic elevation gain on 1min hill intervals (e.g. watch says 0m up/down, stryd says 363m up/down and TP elevation correction shows 262m up/down)

The values in TP before elevation correction are the values from my watch. I am not into a precision of like 1-2m elevation gain however a realistic elevation reading would be very helpful. Could you explain where the baro holes on the watch are, then I can check those. Any other ideas? Could coupling a footpod to the baro cause such a major difference?

[isazi]

@daretodream said in Problem of cumulative elevation gain:

Could coupling a footpod to the baro cause such a major difference?

No, the pod is not the cause of the issue (I run with it every time).

[Brad_Olwin]

@daretodream It is possible that the sensor hole is obstructed. Or, if there was high wind and the wind hits the sensor hole this can happen.

[Vrba007]

@Brad_Olwin
Hi Brad, I experience similar problems very often.
Elevation gain all of the sudden goes wild (tiny spikes)…but this is very random…some of my hiking activities don’t show this issue and some do.
Interesting, when I’m walking a flat surface with no or a little elevation gain I haw never had problems with “spikes”.
And the most interestig is that this “spikes” are visible only on a part of (hiking/walking) excersise…
I think that my watch isn’t to tight round the wristand the wind wasn’t blowing nore the jacket was obstructing sesnsor holes…
Based on my description, Do you think that this is due to dirty sensor?

[freeheeler]

@Vrba007
I guess the spikes are pointing downwards. if that is so, they most likely happen due to sealing effect of the baro holes on sweaty skin. a slightly higher pressure is recorded and when the pressure is relieved the alti goes up again, summing up in a higher total ascent value.
I’ve had this happening with my S9B x-alps, too, but rarely after I knew how to wear it to avoid it.

problem got solved with S9P’s new sensor position and I appreciate this design is carried onward to S9PP and Vertical

[Vrba007]

@freeheeler
Yes, I also think that sweat was this time the reason for these problems.
You said that knew how to wear it…what is your “secret”

Since, I am lefthanded I wear my S9B watch on my right hand, so the sensor openings are closer to my hand/palm), and the buttons away from it…
do you think that I should change the arm on which I wear my watch?

[Brad_Olwin]

@Vrba007 @freeheeler I wear the watch on my left wrist so this could be a potential issue. The other problem I have had is wind. If fairly heavy winds hit the sensor the elevation data will be way off and you will see the spikes.