8,153
edits
Changes
no edit summary
* Under normal conditions the GPS accuracy is quite good for most devices.
* The accuracy of a calibrated [[Footpod]] is far better than any GPS device. Without calibration the Footpod is more accurate than any watch currently on the market with the exception of the 310XT/910XT with a Footpod backing up the GPS.
* The Fenix 2, Garmin 620 and Garmin 10 are noticeably poorer than the other devices. I found the accuracy of the Fenix2/10/620 in general usage to be rather grim, and I did some testing pairing them up with the 610 or the 310XT. In all cases the Fenix2/10/620 would have poor accuracy compared with the 610 or 310XT on the same run. On one run, the 620 lost over a mile over a 28 mile distance. When Garmin replaced my 620, the new watch would lose over a mile 1.5 miles on a 16 20 mile run! * The Fenix2 would repeated loose satellite reception, something I've not seen with any other watch. The statistics do not reflect just how bad the Fenix2 is, as some of the data is too bad to analyze.
* The results of the Garmin 610 indicate the problems with the 620 & 10 are not inherent in a smaller device.
* The accuracy of all devices is better in a straight line than on curves or bendy routes. My course is a tough test for GPS devices with many curves and only a few relatively straight sections.
=Recommendations=
Here are some recommendations for GPS watches.
* Most GPS watches are accurate enough for casual running(but not the Fenix2/610/10).
* The better devices are accurate enough for most runners if their limitations are understood.
* None of the devices were accurate enough for a runner to trust the display of current pace for training or race pacing.