Recharge bracelet for Suunto 7
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@tim-van-laere the culprit here is streaming music from the watch. It works really well, but it forces the watch to stay in high power mode, thus rendering it no different from any other WearOS watch on the market.
If you run without music streaming (and use the Suunto App on the watch) then it will switch to low power mode while tracking activity. This GREATLY extends the battery life and you should see 10-12 hours comfortably (depending on a few other factors).
I used to stream music from my S7 (we miss you Google Play Music
) but I am much happier with battery life since I stopped.
If I want music these days I slip my phone into my running belt and use that. If I am doing longer runs (especially cross country) then I like to have my phone with me in case I hurt myself and need help, so I’d have it with me anyway (although in the countryside I turn the music off and listen to natures playlist
)Also, if you use something to charge the S7 whilst running, I can’t see how this would be comfortable, or wouldn’t get in the way of the optical HR sensor.
If you really do want music, maybe try your phone, a really small mp3 player (modern ones can be crazy small), or even try some headphones with mp3 players built in?
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@olymay said in Recharge bracelet for Suunto 7:
we miss you Google Play Music
We do miss Google Play Music… :(((
I really liked the idea of loading a new path, putting on my shoes and go. Leaving a bulky phone home.
I’m running with Trekz and they brought out a new model with a built-in MP3 player. But i’m not due to an upgrade yet. So I think the easiest solution will be to go back to a simple MP3 player, like it’s 2006. As it would ultimately be about the same experience as carrying an additional battery and fumbling during a run.
Thanks for the insight!
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@tim-van-laere said in Recharge bracelet for Suunto 7:
@olymay said in Recharge bracelet for Suunto 7:
we miss you Google Play Music
We do miss Google Play Music… :(((
Hopefully it won’t be long until the WearOS YouTube Music app is available (however it will still kill the battery)
I really liked the idea of loading a new path, putting on my shoes and go. Leaving a bulky phone home.
I know that feeling. It’s one of the reasons I prefer trail running to road running, the escapism.
On longer runs I take water and/or gels with me, so carrying a slim phone as well isn’t much extra. I use a flipbelt and I don’t even notice I’m wearing it or carrying my phone.
For even longer runs I’ve started taking a pack to get used to carrying it when I get fit enough to do properly long runs.I’m running with Trekz and they brought out a new model with a built-in MP3 player. But i’m not due to an upgrade yet. So I think the easiest solution will be to go back to a simple MP3 player, like it’s 2006. As it would ultimately be about the same experience as carrying an additional battery and fumbling during a run.
Do we need an excuse to upgrade our running kit? I thought the fact it was a new week was usually enough for most of us
Thanks for the insight!
No worries, happy to help.
Also, something to bear in mind that if you are using the S7 to navigate lots (i.e. using the map screen to show the route) then this also puts the watch into high power mode, therefore impacting battery. It will switch back to low power when you lower your wrist though (unless you set the map to always on) so it shouldn’t be too bad.
Have a tinker with various settings (GPS good vs best etc) and see what works for you
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@tim-van-laere
Came across the same issue as you. Love my S7 but battery life just isn’t there.
Solution: Garmin Fenix 6x Pro Solar --> 66hrs of GPS tracking / 16 hrs of tracking with music. Normal battery life up to 21 days - I usually charge every monday morning and still have between 40-50% - that includes between 1-2hrs tracking each day and about half of that usign music.
Built in maps, with loads more navigation features than the S7 (plus full maps so no need to make sure you downloaded your area prior to using navigation). Only bummer is scrolling around maps with buttons, no touch screen. But you sort of get used to it. -
I don’t really seem to have any problems with battery…did an 8hr+ activity at the weekend using roughly 50%.
My caveat is that I don’t listen to music from watch, and in this particular occasion I had no need to refer to a map.
Having said that, I’d like some kind of portable charging capability. When I’ve been away camping I’ve simply taken the regular charger and a small battery pack, but would love a shorter cable, or even something that could be wearable similar to >>
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2021/05/coros-keychain-charger.htmlWould be handy to have something like this that can be worn as a wrist band maybe?
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So, I did another 25km run and tried the suggestions.
Left wrist the Suunto 7. Right wrist the Mobvoi GPS Pro 3 playing music.This time the Suunto with Location accuracy “Good - 10 sec + FusedTrack” and without music. And a GPX without “turn by turn” navigation.
It drained the watch between 40-50% over 2:26’45 for 25.03km and 2046 calories burned. The GPS track was accurate enough (I only encountered an issue with an intersection where the navigation didn’t account for a bridge and I had to go around).
Heart tracking was also quite on point: my usual average of 144bpm instead of a 160bpm misreading.
The Mobvoi TicExercise “detected a run” and started recording a 2:26’23 run over 13.5 miles (21.6km) and 1007 calories burned. With an average heartbeat of 144bpm as well but a spike at 170bpm. Without any GPS data, it drained about 50% as well for constant music playing.
So for now, this is “workable”, but I migh report back if I start tinkering with this extra battery port. As the pinout of the Suunto matches USB I think it’s possible to come up with something not too complicated.
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@tim-van-laere said
This time the Suunto with Location accuracy “Good - 10 sec + FusedTrack” and without music. And a GPX without “turn by turn” navigation.
It drained the watch between 40-50% over 2:26’45 for 25.03km and 2046 calories burned.
That seems quite heavy drain still. On BEST even I still get 10% or less battery drain per hour…I’d expect 5% or better per hour on GOOD.
What are your other settings?
I have display on the lowest level of Auto Brightness (would prefer to go one click lower), Sunlight Boost OFF, Always-On Screen OFF, Screen Timeout 5secs. Tilt to Wake OFF. Power Save Tilt ON. Touch to Wake OFF. For Navigation gestures OFF.
Also WiFi I tend to leave off and just rely on Bluetooth, and toggle to FlightMode if running without taking phone along. -
@tim-van-laere
If you use a navigation track, the watch set the gps to best.You can also look to disable the Always On Display.
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@mi_chael said in Recharge bracelet for Suunto 7:
@tim-van-laere
If you use a navigation track, the watch set the gps to best.You can also look to disable the Always On Display.
This is not correct, on the S7 even a route is loaded the watch will work on FusedTrack 10s fix. This was the information provided by Suunto and is correct AFAIK.
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From what I understand, the best solution for turn-by-turn navigation with Sunnto7 while running still is to use the GhostRacer app with your watch’s Option “Power saver tilt” on.
Thus the watch can stay in power saver mode most of the time.
(Whereas the Suunto App loves to activate the full display very often fpr navigation, just to turn the display black again before you can read the information.)(And don’t carry your phone with you, as the connection from your watch to your phone drains extra power.)
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Good to know.
Thanks!
