Suunto 7 - problem with (fused) altitude

[pilleus]

Today my S7 went crazy during a cycling (basic) activity. Everything worked fine until the first stop, where I pressed the pause button.

From this moment on the altitude was shown completely wrong, 200 meters above the correct altitude and the counting of climbed meters was twice or more faster than real.

I attach a screenshot of the watch, the measured data out of Suunto app on the phone and the graph of the altitude.

The minimal and maximal height is correct, but in the graph with the altitude you can see the problem. It seems that the height is toggling at several points, where there were clean uphills or downhills.

Thanks for any explanation of this issue.

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

@pilleus hand (left / right)?

[pilleus]

@Dimitrios-Kanellopoulos left hand. OHR was very good and no buttons pressed accidentally.

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

is this like first time that it happens?

[pilleus]

@Dimitrios-Kanellopoulos said in Suunto 7 - problem with (fused) altitude:

is this like first time that it happens?

Yes, all other activities are okay

[freeheeler]

@pilleus
was the sensor always uncovered?

[pilleus]

@TELE-HO yes

The absolute altitude (min/max) is correct. Just the summary is about twice the climbed altitude.

[freeheeler]

@pilleus
and the spikes in the graph are realistic?

[pilleus]

@TELE-HO said in Suunto 7 - problem with (fused) altitude:

@pilleus
and the spikes in the graph are realistic?

No. There were straight uphills and downhills, the fat black looking areas are the problem. There the altitude toggled up and down. Never had before.

[freeheeler]

@pilleus
I’ve had this before

[ratisboner]

is there already any solution or explanation for this Problem?

Because I’ve the same problem with my new Suunto 7.
The altitude data are 20 to 80 % too much on my last two tours.

On my last tour, I was wearing a Jacket over the Suunto 7. Could this be a Problem?
I used a Suunto Observer for many years, never realised a problem by wearing the watch under a Jacket?

I dont’t think, it’s the fused altitude, because the gps data are pretty good along the ways, no “dropouts” or “balls”

[Brad_Olwin]

@ratisboner The jacket could be the issue, I have had bad altitude readings if the barometer sensor hole is directly covered by fabric or by skin (this happens if I wear a watch on the left). I have worn my S7 a lot underneath jackets for SkiMo and had no issues. Just make sure that the sensor hole is not obstructed. My S7 has been as good as the S9 and compares well with my A3P for altitude.

[ratisboner]

that’s quite interesting. I’ve worn my old Suunto Observer on both sides left and right. But the reason therefore was not to stop the altitude recording in a heavy mountain bike downhill with accidentally pressing the stop button by the shaking watch itself against the wrist bones. But the barometer sensor hole was better protectet thant that of the suunto 7.

Im goint to check the hint about the jacket. Thanks!

[Brad_Olwin]

@ratisboner My traces for altitude appear jagged as yours does when the sensor hole is covered.

[ratisboner]

…no success, two more activities, both measurements are round 25 % too much, but altitude min/max was ok. I was wearing the S7 on the right side, no covered sensor hole, no jacket. The gps only data of a separate smartphone were more precise than that of the Suunto 7. I think, it’s a hardware problem of the altitude sensor, it doesn’t work correctly.

Im going to return the Smartwatch, however thanks for the hint.

[Saketo Nemo]

Very strange. I often wear both S7 and S9, the data is always comparable, with a very minimal gap between the two.

Have you not evaluated the possibility of sending it to assistance?

[ratisboner]

that’s exactly the reason to return it. I see, there are S7 witch do their work, but there is also another one who has the same issue. I want to be on track, not spending my time looking for solutions, maybe with the help of assistance, maybe by resetting the watch, maybe by analysing and testing, maybe then the problem is fixed, maybe it comes again…

I’ve the possibility to return it within 30 days. Im goint to return it, and give another one a try - I hope ist only a problem of this watch and I’m sure, this is faster than the assistance.

[Saketo Nemo]

@ratisboner
Good luck guy

[Brad_Olwin]

@ratisboner said in Suunto 7 - problem with (fused) altitude:

that’s exactly the reason to return it. I see, there are S7 witch do their work, but there is also another one who has the same issue. I want to be on track, not spending my time looking for solutions, maybe with the help of assistance, maybe by resetting the watch, maybe by analysing and testing, maybe then the problem is fixed, maybe it comes again…

I’ve the possibility to return it within 30 days. Im goint to return it, and give another one a try - I hope ist only a problem of this watch and I’m sure, this is faster than the assistance.

You are doing the right thing, I do believe your watch has a hardware issue now. My altitude has been identical to my S9 for 104 exercises since I had the watch in the early fall of 2019.