Increasing GPS accuracy?

[usmaak]

I have three GARMIN devices - a Venu, a Fenix, and a handheld that is a few years old. I walk 6.25 miles per day and have walked the same path for a number of years. On this, the three GARMIN devices generally agree. They are always within .01 or .02 miles of each other.

Today I put on the Apple Watch, expecting great things, and set out. I noticed that as time went by, the watch seemed more and more off from where I knew it should be. When I finished the walk, it said that I had walked 6.11 miles. That is a significant difference and it has me wondering if it is defective. Is there any way to increase the accuracy of the Watch? I love it other than this one issue and want to make it work.

 

[jav6454]

Did you take just your watch or did you use an accompanying iPhone? Does your Garmin device start stop on the exact location (coordinates) as the Apple Watch?

 

[usmaak]

Did you take just your watch or did you use an accompanying iPhone? Does your Garmin device start stop on the exact location (coordinates) as the Apple Watch?

I just took the watch. Unfortunately the Apple Watch seems to really smooth the path on the map so there is no way to really tell how exact it is. It did have me walking in the street a couple of times when I didn’t. It also had me walking in some neighbor’s yards when I didn’t.

 

[jav6454]

Apple watches are accurate enough when still. However, all GPS devices in motion will have slight deviations. Usually companies use some math wizarding to ensure a "smooth" flow of the GPS dot.

 

[Howard2k]

Which watch? The Ultra has dual band GPS and should be the most accurate.

If it’s the S8 it’s going to be affected by a magnetic band.

If it’s the S7 and before it’s still using the phone I think? So if that’s in a pocket…. Although perhaps with OS9 it’s now using the watch GPS? I’m not 100% clear on that.


I recently tested my S8 (non Ultra so single band GPS) and I was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy. Even hiking with tree cover (though admittedly no cloud cover).

 

[usmaak]

Which watch? The Ultra has dual band GPS and should be the most accurate.

If it’s the S8 it’s going to be affected by a magnetic band.

If it’s the S7 and before it’s still using the phone I think? So I’d that’s in a pocket…. Although perhaps with OS9 it’s now using the watch GPS? I’m not 100% clear on that.

Just an aluminum s8 with the stock band that came with it. I though about the ultra but I couldn’t justify the size. I have small wrists and even the 45mm 8 is a bit too big. But I tried the 41mm first and that was too small.

 

[dj1891]

Try using a different app to track, say Workoutdoors. The native app seems to do alot of rounding of corners

 

[usmaak]

Try using a different app to track, say Workoutdoors. The native app seems to do alot of rounding of corners

I bought Workoutdoors last night and I am looking forward to walking with it this afternoon. Stay tuned!

 

[Howard2k]

Just an aluminum s8 with the stock band that came with it. I though about the ultra but I couldn’t justify the size. I have small wrists and even the 45mm 8 is a bit too big. But I tried the 41mm first and that was too small.

Might be that it's defective. I have the same watch and I've been impressed with the accuracy.
It might also be that it's more accurate than the older devices that you have.

 

[usmaak]

Might be that it's defective. I have the same watch and I've been impressed with the accuracy.
It might also be that it's more accurate than the older devices that you have.

I did two .5 mile walks this morning. On the first one, the Apple Watch and Garmin were .01 apart. On the second walk, they were .03 apart. The thing is, both walks came in at the exact same mileage. The Garmin watch was the one that was different.