Open water GPS drifting

[Artus Diver]

@Ars-Vitae said in Open water GPS drifting:

I agree, same for me, since December 2024 GPS goes crazy as hell. Previously, I had not noted any problem. Let’s hope Suunto is aware of this and is working on a fix. I have let go the accuracy of this watch in the pool, but if this negative trend continues for open water swimming it will mean that the brand is moving away from supporting disciplines such as triathlon and swimming marathons.

Can you share your pool swimming experience?
What do you think about the “new” algorithm?
What are your thoughts on swimming style recognition?

[gerasimos]

or if anyone try to use the support chat in the Suunto app to find a sotution for this issue.

[Ars Vitae]

@Artus-Diver said in Open water GPS drifting:

Can you share your pool swimming experience?
What do you think about the “new” algorithm?
What are your thoughts on swimming style recognition?

@Artus-Diver Swimming in the pool is the most poorly designed activity in SV in my opinion (I also do other sports, so I have some reference as to how SV performs in other fields), nothing here works well. I don’t know if there is a new algorithm, but style recognition is worse than it used to be (about a year ago). I’m not developing the thread here, because it would be off topic, but through my profile you’ll hit the posts where I write a bit more. Generally, they boil down to the fact that I don’t have a good opinion about the SV measurements quality in the pool, and I’ve stopped hoping that it will get better. Although swimming is one of my preferred activities. I feel even more disappointed when, in addition, recent updates have broken SV functionality in open water swimming. I also reported the similar issue with snorkeling in December, it’s all about the GPS signal, I guess. After all, it all worked well, certainly a year ago.

[gerasimos]

@Ars-Vitae check this reviews for openwater

before and after uptdate

1. https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2023/05/suunto-vertical-review.html

very good gnss
2)https://www.correrunamaraton.com/suunto-vertical-opinion-review/

now its like before 2023 and sometimes worst… lets hope for a fix

[Ze Stuart]

@gerasimos said in Open water GPS drifting:

before and after uptdate

1. https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2023/05/suunto-vertical-review.html

To save others a trip down memory lane:

Now, we move on to openwater swimming. I’ve done a lot of openwater swimming with the Suunto Vertical – and frankly, none of it is good. In fact, it’s all horrifically bad. On present firmware, the unit has yet to complete a single one of nearly half a dozen openwater swims without failing halfway through. Essentially, if I tread water for even a very short timeframe (such as waiting for my swim buddy), then it’ll lose GPS permanently for the rest of the swim.

Bold is my addition.

[Theo Lakerveld]

I’ve just downgraded to FW 2.40.44 as the GPS drifting during OW swimming is quite annoying in 2.43.12. The previous FW was better, according to my experience.

[Ars Vitae]

@gerasimos Look, I’ve been using this watch regularly since November 2023, so I can’t comment on those tests in this review (by the way , great thorough review):
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2023/05/suunto-vertical-review.html
There may indeed have been some improvement in measurement accuracy for open water swimming, as I was able to note a good gps signal especially in the summer of 2024 in particular (something in between updates 2.33.16 and 2.35.34) . But the reviewer’s tests summary is significant:

But it’s awesome to see Suunto matching Garmin on dry land. Hopefully they can do the same in the openwater swim realm.

So let’s hope Suunto is up to the task.

[gerasimos]

@Ars-Vitae yup! very good GPS results before surely one or two updates.
In the land i think there’s no opponent against SV (in my opinion) is the best and more precise adventure watch,out there.

[Artus Diver]

@Ars-Vitae
Thank you for your feedback.
I completely agree with you! I feel the same way.
I constantly try to report bugs, but this topic isn’t a priority for Suunto (…)
The algorithm is supposedly “new,” but only in name.
I think something has been broken, and not even that has been fixed, only partially adapted for “use.”
I’ll read your posts when I have a moment.

[gerasimos]

@Theo-Lakerveld did you tested ? or spotted any difference in OW?
me i made hard reset reinstall automatically last firmware and i will tested again in default openwater profile …lets see

[Theo Lakerveld]

@gerasimos, I did a few swims with 2.40.44. The track is bouncing sideways a few times which results in high speed and distance. I’ll be swimming in the weekend with the previous FW. I’ll let you know if the tracks are good again after downgrading.

[gerasimos]

@Theo-Lakerveld
After a Factory reset, I followed the entire protocol for optimal GPS signal acquisition, just like I always do.
There was absolutely no improvement — the same drift and many signal reflections over a distance that is exactly 500 meters in a straight line, marked with buoys.

I was pressing lap time as a reference to record the distance, and the discrepancies were 200 to 300 meters every time I completed this route.

Weather conditions were perfect — clear skies, and my hand stayed out of the water for 30 seconds of rest before starting the next set.

-Hard reset didn’t help-
I’m starting to believe this is a serious firmware issue and unfortunately can only be fixed with a new update.
Otherwise, the watch has a severe limitation in this specific function, which is unfortunately very important for my training.
Also I’ve achieved again 591km/h I think it’s a very solid performance for my swim freestyle technique

However, the watch continues to function perfectly in all other activities, with highly accurate GPS and absolutely no issues.

[Ze Stuart]

@gerasimos excellent work. @Dimitrios-Kanellopoulos @isazi would you mind highlighting this to the PMs, please? Summer is slipping through our fingers…

[Theo Lakerveld]

@gerasimos downgrading to 2.40.44 worked. Swimming is on track. Have a look at the activity below. The circular movement were actually circular movements exploring some underwater marine life. And the break was when I paused the watch to climb on a rock and jump in the water.

https://maps.suunto.com/move/lakerveldt/687cb19440105778ecad9791

[thanasis]

@Ze-Stuart said in Open water GPS drifting:

@gerasimos excellent work. @Dimitrios-Kanellopoulos @isazi would you mind highlighting this to the PMs, please? Summer is slipping through our fingers…

I am quite afraid there may be a bit longer to delivery such an update during to summer holiday period … (I hope i am wrong here) but quite many people in Northern Europe are starting their holidays next week

let’s see

[gerasimos]

I also did a test today with significantly better performance and minimal reflections using the open water mode.
I was swimming side by side with a SUP that recorded exactly 1.1 km using a Garmin Fenix 7 while I recorded exactly 1.2 km with open water swimming, which is a perfectly acceptable discrepancy.
At the same time, I did a hike to the top of the island and then returned to the shore with the SUP, completing the activities.
The GPS in all cases was excellent compared to yesterday.
However, I’m not sure if the GPS gets confused or causes reflections when there are many speedboats, boats,jetski etc., in the area here in Greece have a lot of—maybe that’s what throws off the watch.

1. https://maps.suunto.com/move/gerasimosmitropoulos/687d05325bb5463b5908f20c

https://maps.suunto.com/move/gerasimosmitropoulos/687d055e40105778ecb0b066
The part where the GPS looks tangled is because I was inside a cave.