AW Ultra watchOS 9.1 GPS less precise

[kecinzer]

Few weeks ago I mentioned, that AW Ultra measures my daily running route differently. My route was 10,53 km and now it's 10,49 km. My last 3 runs on this route is 10,49 km and many more before was 10,53 km.
I thought this start with watchOS 9.1, but I just checked that my runs after this update was measured correctly.
Anyone else mentioned different measurement?

I really don't understand what changed 😞.

 

[NickYanakiev]

That's a very small difference. Results depend on a lot of things, including on the area where you run. Get a footpod if you want consistent results.

 

[kecinzer]

Yes, I understand, but I running 5 times a week the same route. 30 times it was same length of 10,53 km and now 3 times 10,49 km. I'm used to every km markers on right places and now it's elsewhere. I try restart.

 

[Howard2k]

How do you know it's not MORE precise?

 

[AsherN]

Given the inaccuracy of GPS location, a difference of .0.4 km over 10 km is negligible. It could also just be the watch smoothing out your route as opposed to reading every location as perfect and adding distance due to drift.

 

[BenGoren]

How do you know it's not MORE precise?

Indeed.

To the original poster: you’ve described a difference of 0.4%. That’s certainly not acceptable for, for example, a guided missile, where you’d be 4 km off after 1000 km. But, though it wouldn’t pass standards validation for aviation, no pilot would do any more than grumble at such an error, and most wouldn’t even notice it. For example, fly from London to Berlin, and at least some part of the airport property (though maybe not the runway) is still in your margin of error — far more than “good enough” for an ILS approach.

Apple has been actively working on improving GPS accuracy across all devices, and the Ultra is getting special attention for its precision GPS. So I’d bet you a cup of coffee that your old measurements are the inaccurate ones, and the new ones are closer to the mark.

b&