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    Race 2 accuracy

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Suunto Race 2
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    • jjpazJ Offline
      jjpaz Bronze Member @Brad_Olwin
      last edited by jjpaz

      @Brad_Olwin said in Race 2 accuracy:

      @jjpaz what I posted are raw data from JSON files in quantified self. One of the watch recordings is no longer in the Sunnto database. I believe 3% is the acceptable GPS error for handheld devices.

      When I upload Suunto JSON files in QuantifiedSelf the distance showed is the same as summary distance saved the FIT file, not corresponding to the gps raw data distance.
      If you want (and have time) you can compare a short activity wearing Race 2 and another watch and repeat the test.

      Maybe our expectations regarding accuracy in Race 2 where higher, moreover comparing with other watches. In my case I combine Vertical and Race 2 in my trainings and I know that I have to apply a “mental calibration” when I compare data with both watches, and that’s all. In general I’m happy with Race 2, despite its behavior is very reliable when I repeat circuits.

      Thanks for your contribution.

      Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar, Suunto Race 2 Ti & Suunto Wing.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S Offline
        shamilt1
        last edited by

        I’ve got about 1 week left of my return window…I’ve already sent one back as I wondered whether it only affected certain units and hoped I might be lucky second time round. I was also banking on it being addressed in the update…to me the accuracy fix would’ve been better than all the new features that came along. Might be time to try a Vertical 2…

        Race 2, Forerunner 265, Huawei GT6 Pro.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
        • I Offline
          isaac.net
          last edited by

          Hello,
          On the 24th, I conducted some tests, first on a practically straight route, and then on a route in the same area with hills and curves. My hypothesis that the Race 2 is incorrectly processing the recorded points was confirmed. The straight route is marked every 500 meters; it was 4.04 km according to the Race 2 and 4.05 km according to the track, measuring almost exactly during the activity. During the activity with curves, the problem returned, subtracting 80 meters from the total: 4.00 km according to the Race 2 and 4.08 km according to the track.

          I’ve attached some screenshots that I will send to Suunto support:
          Captura de pantalla 2026-04-27 085958.jpg
          Captura de pantalla 2026-04-27 090132.jpg

          I encourage you to conduct these tests and also send them to Suunto (support@suunto.com). It’s the only way they’ll take the issue seriously. If this problem is widely known, I doubt Suunto will sell another Race 2 at its current price.

          Regards.

          I 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • I Offline
            isaac.net
            last edited by isaac.net

            More confirmation of the problem

            dreamer_D 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • dreamer_D Offline
              dreamer_ @isaac.net
              last edited by

              There’s an user in reddit u/slimak131 that wrote a program to evaluate the quality of a looped track. It seems pretty intesting for testings. I’m posting here the info

              Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/amazfit/comments/1thef8o/amazfit_cheetah_2_pro_vs_garmin_forerunner_970/

              b704884a-00a4-4df3-b057-6255e340336f-image.png

              Links:

              https://youtube.com/shorts/HJmkXrzkp64?is=QvnreiPOtKAQan2l

              https://slimak-altervista-org.translate.goog/gemini-track-drift-program-do-oceny-jakosci-sladu-gps/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=pl&_x_tr_pto=wapp

              Suunto Vertical 2 Titanium Sage, Suunto Spark, Suunto Run

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • A Offline
                aiv4r Silver Members
                last edited by

                Super interesting thread!
                I guess that is the curse of a consumer device. On one side we have a lot people shouting loudly that they ran marathon and their watch counted 42,66 kms and on the other side we have geeks and purists like us trying to get as raw number as we can get. And Suunto have to find a balance between all. Haven’t used my Race 2 for marathon or HM so cannot tell, but I assume it shows closer number to actual distance. I wonder if that is the reason for this behavior.

                Suunto Race 2 (Titanium Trail)
                Suunto Vertical (Titanium Solar Forest)

                I 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • I Offline
                  isaac.net @aiv4r
                  last edited by

                  @aiv4r in my opinion, It doesn’t seem to be the problem with Race 2; point capture is very good. You only need to look at the track generated by the captured points. In terms of repeatability, I think Race 2 does very well. The problem arises later, during post-processing of the collected points. That’s when Race 2 shortens the distance, and by shortening the distance, I mean that on a course with turns of a known distance, Race 2 makes some kind of cut, showing a distance shorter than the real distance and also shorter than the track saved by the device itself.

                  A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • I Offline
                    isaac.net @isaac.net
                    last edited by isaac.net

                    said in Race 2 accuracy:

                    Hello,
                    On the 24th, I conducted some tests, first on a practically straight route, and then on a route in the same area with hills and curves. My hypothesis that the Race 2 is incorrectly processing the recorded points was confirmed. The straight route is marked every 500 meters; it was 4.04 km according to the Race 2 and 4.05 km according to the track, measuring almost exactly during the activity. During the activity with curves, the problem returned, subtracting 80 meters from the total: 4.00 km according to the Race 2 and 4.08 km according to the track.

                    I’ve attached some screenshots that I will send to Suunto support:
                    Captura de pantalla 2026-04-27 085958.jpg
                    Captura de pantalla 2026-04-27 090132.jpg

                    I encourage you to conduct these tests and also send them to Suunto (support@suunto.com). It’s the only way they’ll take the issue seriously. If this problem is widely known, I doubt Suunto will sell another Race 2 at its current price.

                    Regards.

                    I used the program with the track with curves that I uploaded in a previous post (removing the final section that was off the track). It confirms my suspicion that Race 2 doesn’t have accuracy problems in data capture; it’s an error in processing (software).

                    Only 1.51m of drift on the 2-lap circuit with curves, asphalt, and clear skies:

                    Gemini Smart Track Drift v23 ---------> START
                    Autonomous Mode (Method 1). Treatment: 2026-04-24_curvo.gpx…

                    **REPORT FOR: 2026-04-24_curvo.gpx (METHOD 1)
                    Parameters: 3 min / 40 m
                    Total distance: 3698.0 m
                    Comparison distance: 3698.0 m
                    Number of samples: 1067

                    AVERAGE DRIFT: 1.51 m**

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • CHRGBRC Offline
                      CHRGBR
                      last edited by

                      Hello,
                      I can confirm my R2 shows always a litte shorter distance than my Ambit 3 (about 1%). This is not a tragedy but a software fix would be appreciated

                      Race 2
                      Previously : 9 baro, Spartan sport, Ambit 3

                      sky-runnerS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • A Offline
                        aiv4r Silver Members @isaac.net
                        last edited by aiv4r

                        @isaac.net I get that 🙂 was just wondering if Suunto added artificial cut of distance for masses, that usually run more than actual race distance. (mostly road, since trail folks usually do not care that much about ±400meters).

                        Suunto Race 2 (Titanium Trail)
                        Suunto Vertical (Titanium Solar Forest)

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • EgikaE Offline
                          Egika Platinum Member @Egika
                          last edited by

                          said in Race 2 accuracy:

                          @isaac.net sorry, you are on the wrong track.
                          While probably everything might theoretically be solvable by software, I doubt that Suunto is going to invest a lot into this one. But who knows…

                          I have to stand corrected. Seems Suunto is indeed investing into this one 🙂

                          t6, S6, Elementum Terra, Ambit 3 Sapphire, Spartan Ultra Copper, Traverse Alpha, S7 Graphite LE, S9B Ambassador, S9P Titanium, S9PP Titanium, Vertical All Black, Race Titanium Charcoal, Race S Titanium Courtney, Run Lime, Race 2, Vertical 2 Titanium

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                          • sky-runnerS Offline
                            sky-runner Platinum Member @CHRGBR
                            last edited by sky-runner

                            @CHRGBR said in Race 2 accuracy:

                            Hello,
                            I can confirm my R2 shows always a litte shorter distance than my Ambit 3 (about 1%). This is not a tragedy but a software fix would be appreciated

                            Comparing against Ambit 3 isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. For example, when running on deeply forested trails in my area Ambit 3 was always 3-5% shorter (less accurate) than modern Suunto watches.

                            Suunto: Ambit, Ambit 3 Peak, 9 Baro, Race S, Race Ti, Vertical 2 Ti
                            Garmin: Forerunner 210, Forerunner 610, Fenix 6X, Fenix 7X Ti

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