Suunto ocean gps underwater.

robinv

Can anyone explain to me. I am really not a tec guy. But just bought my first dive watch. My main goal is for freediving,but ones in a while I enjoy scuba diving to. I used it no w times for freediving, but I noticed the moment I go in the water the gos stops tracking me… I’ve tried to look up information but as I said I am not really good with this modern technology…

And my 2th issue is why can’t I control my music with my watch? I have the app I am concerned. It shows witch song is playing. But I can’t use any of the function…

Please if anyone can explain to me in a easy way.

Thanks a million times.
Greetings Robin

flobby

@robinv
I can only answer you regarding GPS: the signal does not penetrate water, so no GPS device will work underwater.

Todd Danielczyk

@flobby @robinv An interesting article about how to get around mapping underwater:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/gps-and-water-dont-mix-so-scientists-have-found-a-new-way-to-navigate-under-the-sea/

But yes, GPS signal will be obstructed in water, same with caves, dense tree coverage, etc. The newer watches tend to track much better in tree coverage and I got to test that out this summer, hiking a trail that I used my Baro 9 on previously. Much tighter tracking on the current Vertical.

As for the music control, by chance are you using it with an Android device? For me (Android and Vertical) I cannot control the volume, track, pause, play and it just remains greyed out. I am currently not using the native music player so I just assumed it was due to that.

robinv

@flobby but the Suunto ocean advertise you can track your dive’s route through GPS…

Ze Stuart

@robinv no, it can track a route underwater, using inertial navigation, but not using GPS. I believe it needs a position from a satellite constellation at the start and end of the dive, but there’s no way for the Ocean to receive radio waves under water.

Short form, water is a lot more dense than air, and the surface is effectively reflective to radio waves.

Audaxjoe

I think a few Suunto watches have the music player issues. I have a Vertical. Sometimes the music control works perfectly.
At others the controls are greyed out.

It is annoying but Suunto are aware of the issue so hopefully it will be sorted soon.

I’m on an Android phone and use Spotify for music.

Mff73

@Audaxjoe
Is it linked to GPS under water?

BrunoH

@Mff73 If I was a designer I would turn GPS off when the pressure sensor says you’re descending, say 2 meters deep or more. It would save battery since GPS wouldn’t work anyway. But on the other hand the watch might get a GPS fix quicker when re-surfacing if it is always on… Someone might know for sure but I don’t know if they can tell.

EDIT: I think I misunderstood your question… You were talking about the media controls linked to underwater GPS… I can’t delete my post, which is weird.

Danny poleg

Media control on the watch - remove the app, reinstall and link the watch again
Regarding underwater location - the watch uses a gyroscope to determine the diving route in addition to the depth data

Audaxjoe

@Mff73 haha not for me. The nearest my watch gets to going under water is in the rain.

I have tried the reinstall/soft reset etc. It works for a while. Then greys out again a few days later.

No real big deal for me, changing tracks on the headphones or phone is easier anyway ‍️

Ze Stuart

@Audaxjoe I think music player issues are a problem at the Bluetooth service layer, between the watch and the phone’s OS, and I’ve seen this issue with headphones losing the ability to play/pause music on Android, which is the same service. I’d go so far as to say I don’t believe this is necessarily a Suunto problem, given that I have experienced it with non-Suunto headphones.

Mff73

@Audaxjoe said in Suunto ocean gps underwater.:

@Mff73 haha not for me. The nearest my watch gets to going under water is in the rain.

So why speaking about this, here, in this post?

Audaxjoe

@Mff73 As the music player is a much wider issue. It isn’t limited to being underwater or a specific watch.