Brethren.
As I promised, I have been trying out the routing elements of the current version of the Suunto app (beta version 1.6.0 (6801) and Spartan Ultra Firmware 2.5.18) and I am posting my latest findings and feelings.
Before I get into it I must highlight somethingā¦the āyou have arrived at your destinationā notification that was going off every couple of minutes and doing my head inā¦hallelujah! Bye, bye and good riddance. It was so annoying and appears to have been resolved so there is one definite plus. Unfortunately there seems to be the introduction of another couple of small glitches which I think I should post on the bugs topic.
Anyway; routes! I said I was going to test them both in the planning and use, and to assess the accuracy of the altitude/ascent data. I planned 3 different routes and the numbers and conclusions are as follows:
Route 1; Planning on Suunto App = 6.41 miles with 502 feet of ascent.
Riding the route - 6.37 miles and 468 feet of ascent.
So the difference between theory and real life is 0.04 miles and 34 feet of ascent. I would go so far as to say that is pretty much spot on really; well done Suunto.
Route 2; Planning on Suunto App = 10.5 miles with 927 feet of ascent.
Riding the route - 10.5 miles and 954 feet of ascent.
So the difference between theory and real life is 0.00 miles and 27 feet of ascent. I would go so far as to say that is pretty much spot on as well!
Route 3; Planning on Suunto App = 28.5 miles with 2035 feet of ascent.
Riding the route - 28.6 miles and 887 feet of ascent.
So the difference between theory and real life is 0.1 miles but 1148 feet of ascent incorrect. This is clearly not very good but letās keep this real. the route was along an old disused railway line which meanders its way through rolling hills and valleys and parts of the route would have been artificially raised or lowered to create a fairly level and even route. If you look at all of the contour lines etc. then I reckon that it is probably pretty close and so I think I will have to accept that this is not the best route to use for this test (or am I getting soft lol). So, despite my criticisms of this app, there are definite improvements so far and I am prepared to say that the ascent data for the route planning is, on the whole, pretty spot on.
I will continue to keep an eye on all of these points but for now things are definitely on the way up.
Keep up the improvements please Suunto
Word! š