Garmin edge 1000 altitude problem
Discussion
For the 2nd time now my garmin edge 1000 has played up during a ride and completely messes up the gradient and ascent/descent. Both times it's happened it's been in the rain (whether that's a coincidence or not I'm not sure) but today I was on a hilly route in North Wales and the online website I use had it at a little over 6000ft of climb in 63 miles (usually a very accurate website) and after 25 miles the garmin was correct and said we'd done 3k ft of climb (I knew the 1st 25 miles were the hardest by looking at the profile) but after a while it started thinking a small uphill was a 7% downhill and steep downhills were, apparently, not downhill at all. One point on an uphill approx 5% gradient it had me at a 29% gradient!
My start altitude was 530ft above sea level and, finishing in the same place, it had me at over 1k ft above sea level. Overall it had it at around 4500ft climb which is well out.
Any known issues with them doing this? I may contact garmin but I use the unit 5-6x per week so if it's changed it'll be annoying to be without it.
Many thanks in advance
My start altitude was 530ft above sea level and, finishing in the same place, it had me at over 1k ft above sea level. Overall it had it at around 4500ft climb which is well out.
Any known issues with them doing this? I may contact garmin but I use the unit 5-6x per week so if it's changed it'll be annoying to be without it.
Many thanks in advance
There's a poster from last year on the DC Rainmaker site who had pretty much the same issues as you; ending up with getting the unit replaced from wherever he bought it.
There was a firmware update last week (up to version 5) that you may want to put on too. Might not make any difference but software, bug fixes, blah blah http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.js...
There was a firmware update last week (up to version 5) that you may want to put on too. Might not make any difference but software, bug fixes, blah blah http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.js...
Most of the Edge units take their altitude from an internal barometer, rather than from map or GPS data.
The advantage to this is that it is more accurate for short term elevation changes (up and down the types of short hills we get in this country) and areas that have not been mapped accurately (i.e. small roads or off road). The disadvantage is that it will tend to "drift" as the air pressure changes. It is quite normal to see a small elevation difference at the end of the ride compared to the start.
Where this becomes a bigger problem is if there is a more drastic change in air pressure - for example if a storm rolls in. This will cause a massive drop in air pressure and cause the Garmin to show a much higher altitude than it should. It sounds like this might be what happened in your case.
It's worth noting that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with this technology. Aircraft use barometric altimeters that work in exactly the same fashion (and for similar reasons!). It's just a case of knowing the limitations and when to click the "correct elevation" button after you've uploaded your ride.
The advantage to this is that it is more accurate for short term elevation changes (up and down the types of short hills we get in this country) and areas that have not been mapped accurately (i.e. small roads or off road). The disadvantage is that it will tend to "drift" as the air pressure changes. It is quite normal to see a small elevation difference at the end of the ride compared to the start.
Where this becomes a bigger problem is if there is a more drastic change in air pressure - for example if a storm rolls in. This will cause a massive drop in air pressure and cause the Garmin to show a much higher altitude than it should. It sounds like this might be what happened in your case.
It's worth noting that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with this technology. Aircraft use barometric altimeters that work in exactly the same fashion (and for similar reasons!). It's just a case of knowing the limitations and when to click the "correct elevation" button after you've uploaded your ride.
I've had the same problem with my 1000 for the last 4-6 weeks, just put it down to one of their dodgy firmware updates. Ideally you should be able to force elevation correction in garmin connect but you only seem to be able to do it on an activity by activity basis. Convinced that Garmin don't have a software QC department, the level of issues you get with their software is hard to believe especially as it's a closed shop as they are writing software for their own hardware.
murray said:
I've had the same problem with my 1000 for the last 4-6 weeks, just put it down to one of their dodgy firmware updates. Ideally you should be able to force elevation correction in garmin connect but you only seem to be able to do it on an activity by activity basis. Convinced that Garmin don't have a software QC department, the level of issues you get with their software is hard to believe especially as it's a closed shop as they are writing software for their own hardware.
How do you enable elevation correction for an individual activity? Can I do it through the garmin connect app on my phone?? Cheers
Would strong winds cause a similar effect ?
I'm only on Edge 200 - but today Garmin shows climbs of 5300ft - the file imported into Strava shows 1000ft less. Its the first time I have ridden this route so have no comparison to look at - and it was a pretty large circuit (86 miles) so there are no user Strava users with the same route.
The winds - light in the morning - gave some cracking outward times - but homeward was a big battle as the winds grew. You know its windy when the sweatband inside your helmet is dry when you get home.
I'm only on Edge 200 - but today Garmin shows climbs of 5300ft - the file imported into Strava shows 1000ft less. Its the first time I have ridden this route so have no comparison to look at - and it was a pretty large circuit (86 miles) so there are no user Strava users with the same route.
The winds - light in the morning - gave some cracking outward times - but homeward was a big battle as the winds grew. You know its windy when the sweatband inside your helmet is dry when you get home.
This thread is jinxed, G1000 which has never played up today threw a slight wobbler.
Pre organised route showed it as 1200m, when I got home it was showing 700m.
Very wet, cold fingers and a weather system tracking over should explain it. The unit also tried to reconfigure the screen 5s after taking my finger off it.
Pre organised route showed it as 1200m, when I got home it was showing 700m.
Very wet, cold fingers and a weather system tracking over should explain it. The unit also tried to reconfigure the screen 5s after taking my finger off it.
Sorry for screwing everyones Garmin up!
I am tempted to ping them an email and see what they come up with. Not very good that every time I ride in the rain the altitude estimation throws a complete wobbly on a unit that retails at £500 with all the HRM, cadence and wheel speed sensors I got with mine.
Edge 510 here with the latest updates installed.
Went out Sunday and got caught in a very heavy storm.
Elevation gain was 170 odd meters over 40km. In reality I know its more like 700m.
All other data was correct.
Garmin connect and Strava showed the same data.
First time ridden since update, Edge 510 has been faultless until now.
Went out Sunday and got caught in a very heavy storm.
Elevation gain was 170 odd meters over 40km. In reality I know its more like 700m.
All other data was correct.
Garmin connect and Strava showed the same data.
First time ridden since update, Edge 510 has been faultless until now.
Spoke to Garmin this morning and they suggested trying to set the elevation manually before setting off in wet weather.
They said of it happens again then give them another call to investigate further. I'd rather not send the unit back as I use it so frequently but I'd rather it work properly when it rains.
Well, I'd rather it just not rain but that's not gonna happen!
They said of it happens again then give them another call to investigate further. I'd rather not send the unit back as I use it so frequently but I'd rather it work properly when it rains.
Well, I'd rather it just not rain but that's not gonna happen!
E65Ross said:
Spoke to Garmin this morning and they suggested trying to set the elevation manually before setting off in wet weather.
They said of it happens again then give them another call to investigate further. I'd rather not send the unit back as I use it so frequently but I'd rather it work properly when it rains.
Well, I'd rather it just not rain but that's not gonna happen!
It's not specifically the rain, it's the associated air pressure changes which are the problem.They said of it happens again then give them another call to investigate further. I'd rather not send the unit back as I use it so frequently but I'd rather it work properly when it rains.
Well, I'd rather it just not rain but that's not gonna happen!
As I said before though, it's not faulty. It's just a limitation that affects all altimeters (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altimeter ). There is no point sending it back, because the next one will do exactly the same and there is no point swapping it for another model or even brand because they will also do the same.
The only devices that don't have this problem are the ones that don't have any way of measuring elevation or gradient at all. These will look the figures up afterwards based on the map data - exactly the same as clicking "correct elevation" does with your current unit.
Sorry, but I'm afraid it's a case of "They all do that sir".
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