What are the default GPS settings in 9?
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Hello. Can anyone help me what are the default GPS settings in these Sunnto models? :
- 9
- 9 Baro,
- Spartan Sport
- Spartan Ultra
When I read the specs I can see that they can receive signals from various GNSSs. But what are factory (default) settings for each of these units ?
E.g. in Garmins receiving GPS/Glonass/Galileo one can choose only GPS or GPS+Glonass or GPS+Galileo. Not all of them. And the default is GPS (depending on the version).
thanks
Tom -
@tj_3m same in suunto.
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@tj_3m The default in the 9 Peak is GPS+Glonass, for the 9 baro and 9 it is likely GPS (that may have changed) and for the Spartans I believe it was GPS.
It doesn’t matter that much, although, Galileo and Beidou will use more battery as will Glonass but not as much. -
@brad_olwin oh, I didn’t know about s9p. Funny, I thought it would be consistent among all devices.
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@dmytro said in What are the default GPS settings in 9?:
@brad_olwin oh, I didn’t know about s9p. Funny, I thought it would be consistent among all devices.
It may have changed for the older devices but I typically use GPS only as I get great tracks. Not a lot of trees here and I am other above treeline. GPS only does fairly well even with a poor view of the sky.
GPS track for the slot canyon. S9P
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Just curious…
Why is GPS always mandatory? Why can’t we use Galileo alone for example?
Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar
OnePlus Nord 4 -
@surfboomerang
I was wondering about that several times, too.
But over time, as my combo of GPS+Galileo works pretty good, I stopped thinking about it…
https://forum.suunto.com/topic/3201/october-firmware-update-wishlist/129?_=1652763761169 -
Thank you guys (especially @Brad_Olwin ) for valuable responses. The reason I asked is because I have some tracks recorded by devices mentioned above and the owners told me they were recorded using “default settings”. I was just curious what are they and how much they differ from potential possibilities one can read in specs. Other question is why do people use modern/relatively new stuff, able to receive 2/3/4 global navigation satellite systems and stick to “default setting” which is quite basic (lack of knowledge?, good quality of track when using “default”?, longer battery life?). Weird.
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@surfboomerang said in What are the default GPS settings in 9?:
Why is GPS always mandatory? Why can’t we use Galileo alone for example?
Good question. As we have four global systems one should have a possibility to choose “main” one. I’ve seen many sports/recreational devices and none allow that option.
I think the main reason is GPS Navstar was the first one to have the Full Operational Capability (27 years now, not several years as BDS or Galileo), it’s reliable/stable/well tested/owned by strong country. BTW - for many (most?) people GPS is a synonyme for (any) GNSS.
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@tj_3m on my Fenix 6X I use “GPS only”. I’ve tested “GPS+Galileo” and “GPS+GLONASS “ and I found out that I get better results with “GPS only”. On my Fenix 7X SS I use the most battery draining option “All + Multi-band” and I have yet to test the other less precise options “All systems” and “GPS only”.
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@tj_3m
yes GPS is understood as the feature, not as the system. even in the watch menu it says: GPS system.
Default for S9B was GPS only afair and now it is always GPS+QZSS but that doesn’t effect Europe or US afaik.The reason why people use default only might be that they are either happy enough with the precision, they don’t know there are more systems, or they want to optimize battery life.
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It may be for marketing (as GPS is typically a synonymous to satellite navigation) and chips may be optimized for GPS primarily. That’s also the oldest and most reliable system.
Also, having more sats in perfect conditions shouldn’t dramatically improve accuracy. More than one GNSS is used mostly in demanding terrain where dead zones can easily occur.
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@łukasz-szmigiel
like ordering a coke while you actually don’t care if it’s coke, pepsi or afri
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The US GPS system is being updated so it was not put in place and simply left. New and better satellites are used, it may be the most complete and that may be the reason for GPS as the default.
In my testing I see no difference with any added satellite systems on Suunto or Garmin with multi band during normal use. The only time multi band mattered on the Garmin was the example I gave below. Garmin was able to get better tracks in the slot canyon but that comes at a steep cost in battery life.
