Question: Race S Software for Race?

[Brad_Olwin]

@MRC01 All features of the Race S will be on the Race, Vertical and S9PP in an upcoming update. Should be soon.

[YoeChr]

@Brad_Olwin Nice, thanks for the info! Do you know whether the new firmware also improves openwater swim accuracy on the Race?

[isazi]

@YoeChr no changes for openwater swimming. Not even sure if there is any change in GPS firmware, I do not remember

[treizeXiii]

Hello,
While we are at it, is there anyway to enroll in the beta program for the firmware ?
If so, I’m a volunteer
Regards,
Y

[isazi]

@treizeXiii there is no beta program for the firmware. There are times, however, especially when a hotfix needs testing, that firmware is made available here on the forum.

[treizeXiii]

@isazi understood

[ilstrup]

@isazi if no changes in software for open water swimming… how is the Race S then nailing it? Given that it has the same chip and antenna design as the bigger Race

[isazi]

@ilstrup it cannot have the same antenna design because it’s a different watch of a different size. But I do not see any difference between Race and Race S in accuracy.

[MRC01]

@isazi DC Rainmaker tested the Race S and observed the GPS accuracy when swimming was improved over the Race.
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2024/06/suunto-race-s-in-depth-review-smaller-cheaper.html

[Antoine]

@Brad_Olwin soon ? Does it mean “this week” ?

[isazi]

@MRC01 well, honestly it was just luck, nothing major changed. Race works as good as Race S in the water, and also as bad.

[Egika]

@isazi said in Question: Race S Software for Race?:

@MRC01 well, honestly it was just luck, nothing major changed. Race works as good as Race S in the water, and also as bad.

This is also my conclusion after swimming with all Suunto watches.
Don’t take DCR’s individual tests as laboratory results

[Arnaud Lclr]

@Egika So important to remember that: " Don’t take DCR’s individual tests as laboratory results "

No statistics, no repetition, just a comparison on a given day with a standard also on a given day, under a sky with X satellite, with a swimmer and his own movements… etc. etc…
So much too much binary interpretation of divided opinions like DCR’s, even though he’s so popular for so good things.

[isazi]

@Arnaud-Lclr I mean, his work is useful, and I have been reading his reviews for over a decade now. The best would be if we could all try all new watches and decide which one we want to buy, but this is not possible for most of us, so having trusted reviewers is good.

That said, swimming is still an area in which Suunto watches are lagging behind Garmin, but this does not mean that they do not work at all.

[Arnaud Lclr]

@isazi I’m right in line with you. And I’ve been following this for almost 10 years too.
I was reacting because my mind and my scientific training are crying when I read a lot of tests/conclusions that claim to be robust when there isn’t the embryo of elements allowing a “fairplay or pro” analysis/comparison.

[MRC01]

FWIW, last week I swam in a friend’s outdoor pool. Turned on the Suunto Race and let it get a GPS lock before entering the water. And turned it off after I got out of the water. The track started and ended at the right spot. But during the swim it jumped across the street behind the neighbor’s house. Oops. At least the depth gauge worked perfectly.

[Frederick Rochette]

@isazi
But does that mean they’re working on it?

[Felix Felicis]

Tomorrow might be the Day of the Update. I am so excited!

[mikekoski490]

@Felix-0 Why tomorrow??

[Łukasz Szmigiel]

@mikekoski490 it’s written in the stars.