Maximum activity duration (storage space)
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Hi.
I currently have a S9B and a S9P, which I’m very happy with for most of the running I do. However, 2-3 times a year, I take part in ultramarathons lasting up to 110-120hrs. Using either watch in performance mode (because I’m also using it for navigation) and recharging during the race, I reach the activity storage limit in the watch (from what I can tell, 40-50hrs with HR data, 50-60hrs without).
I’m considering upgrading my S9P for a S9PP because I understand it has more memory than the S9B/S9P, but I can’t find any information about how this relates to activity storage.
Does anyone know the approximate activity storage limits for the S9PP in performance mode (and endurance mode too if that is different)? I assume the S9PP can still be charged during an activity, like the S9B/S9P. -
It’s a very good question, I didn’t recall any discussion on this one.
I know the memory in s9ppp is upgraded to handle the software updates, but I don’t have more details.
I’d suggest to contact Suunto directly to get more information.
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@MKPotts very good question. I will ask people at Suunto if they can comment on that. Maybe @Brad_Olwin knows something already having done more than one ultra with the S9PP.
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Thank you both for your replies.
I’ll contact support to ask but if @isazi you get any information, that would be very helpful. -
@MKPotts said in Maximum activity duration (storage space):
I assume the S9PP can still be charged during an activity, like the S9B/S9P.
S9PP is charging during activity, but its new charger magnet is very weak and it is just not easy to ensure it will stay in the proper position during an activity.
Even on a desk, charging is interrupted while moving a little the charging cable (magnet doesn’t “stick” enough on the watch). -
the perfect recipe, is a charging cable with a hint of electric tape
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@Mff73
Thanks for confirming the S9PP can be charged without stopping the activity. I’m not surprised that the cable magnet is easily dislodged because I find the same on my S9P. But the battery charges so quickly, I can easily top it up at race aid stations.
The cable for my S9B is great for charging on my wrist. But that is how I found out about the memory limit the hard way (when trying to save and sync a 103hr race……).
I received a reply from support about S9PP activity memory but they just referred me to the article about S9PP battery modes. So I’ve asked for clarification again. It would be very helpful to have a table like the one I found for my Ambit3 Peak - which I think I found via the forum - that clearly showed maximum activity duration for the different combinations of data acquisition and recording. -
@MKPotts
if there’s no official answer, I would say: let’s try
…with a dummy activity of course! I can’t imagine doing anything for 110-120h’s… not even sleeping
let’s meet here end of the week again
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@MKPotts just FYI s9pp’s cable attaches weaker than s9p’s one.
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@MKPotts Since the 9PP can record for 70h with 1s GPS fix in Endurance mode with OHR fully functional you should get at least 70h of recording. Assuming there is some buffer 80h to 90h might be ok. I typically do not go over 48h for a single activity.
Unless you hear from Suunto I would break up a 120h into two 60h sessions.
You can charge during the run but it is very easy to move the charger to stop charging.With an event that long, I assume there are sleep sessions. That would be an optimal time for charging (the watch charges very fast) and if necessary to sync 1/2 of the activity. I will ask Suunto about this as well, I am curious.
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Thanks all for the responses.
Support replied again to say that the S9PP can store an activity up to 140hrs long when in endurance mode. I’m not sure if that is with or without OHR data but I would turn OHR off anyway for races this long. And I understand that unlike the S9B/S9P, route navigation can be used in endurance mode with the S9PP.
@Brad_Olwin you’re absolutely right, I do have to sleep on races that go through more than two nights and have previously split the activity as you suggested. But as sleep deprivation becomes a struggle in the later stages, it’s helpful to have the time and distance data “live” in the watch if I can keep it running.
I’ll order a S9PP and, assuming it arrives in time (my race starts on 15th Jan), let you know how I get on with it. -
@MKPotts very interesting, thanks for reporting the answer from support in the forum!
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@MKPotts Please give us a report! And I would love to know which race, I have never done one that long. AFAIK in Endurance mode HR is on so the watch is capable of 140h with HR. Up to you whether or not you use it. The 9PP charges extremely fast so you should be able to charge when sleeping or at a longer aid stop. You should only need one full charge in Endurance mode.
The Endurance mode for the 9PP does not used FusedTrack and instead only uses GPS/QZSS with no other satellite systems engaged at 1s fix. Thus, there are no issues using Navigation. Hurray! As an aside I would not use autolap as the constant vibration/tone every mi/km does reduce battery life. I doubt you use it on long races anyway.
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@Brad_Olwin
The race is the (Montane) Spine Race - a UK race that takes a roughly 435km route across the hills of Northern England. I’ve done it it winter and summer - but darkness (15-16hrs each day), ground conditions and weather make it a lot slower in winter.
For the S9PP storage space, Suunto came back to me again to say that the 140hr figure they gave is wrong. Figures they’ve given me now are:
Performance - 65hrs with OHR
Endurance - at least 70hrs (i.e. battery duration) with OHR
More without OHR data but they don’t know how much more. I’d guess 20-25% more based on what I’ve seen with my S9B/P, so maybe 85hrs.
The S9PP I ordered has already shipped, so I’ll need to decide if I keep it or send it back. The better battery will still be an advantage for the 30-60hr races I do. -
@MKPotts
out of curiosity: do you have an alternative on your radar?
I mean it is a crazy long race. are competitors able to record and store this amount of data?living sideways
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@freeheeler I suppose garmins that can store 16GB of music certainly can store 200h race.
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@DMytro
well, maybe, if storage space is shared -
@sartoric true, I thought the same. So maybe it can’t, but it seems to be a shameful handicap.
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@DMytro pretty sure you can store very large activities on modern Garmin watches, they have lots of storage, even more than 32G for devices with maps. What I don’t know is if there is a limit on single file size, if they can otherwise split an activity into multiple ones, etc. But I bet you can record a 120h activity with a recent and high performance Garmin watch. Hopefully this will be possible with future Suunto watches, equipped with more storage.
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@freeheeler
When I did the same race in the summer I used a Garmin Enduro and it stored and synced the 84hr activity.
But other than that it was terrible. It couldn’t accurately display a route track, so was of little use for detailed night navigation (often at least 30-40m off the actual route). Luckily I had my S9P as backup on my other wrist. The Enduro also froze twice in the race - something that has never happened with any of my Suuntos.
Spent months going back and forward with Garmin support about route navigation problems but got nowhere. I think it’s some legacy limitation with the number of route points the watch can handle.
Most other competitors use either Garmin Fenix 6/6X (now 7/7X) or Coros Vertix. But after my experience with the Enduro I’m not going to try another Garmin watch.
I haven’t sold the Enduro yet so if I don’t keep the the S9PP I’ll probably use the Enduro to record and my S9P for navigation.
