Changes

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Suunto Ambit2 R Review}}[[File:ambit2r.jpg|noneright|thumb|200px|The Ambit2 R, available in black or white.]]The {{Suunto Ambit2 R}} is one of my highly recommended running watches. The "R" in the name is for "Runner" offers good functionality, and is the moniker for the cheapest of the Ambit2 range. It lacks some of the features of with the more expensive Ambit2 watcheslatest firmware, but the price is far more attractive. The Ambit2 R offers great functionality and reasonable GPS accuracy, and it. It's only significant flaw is been superseded by the inability to display pace from a [[FootpodSuunto Ambit3]]. ===Ambit2 R Pros===* The watch is highly configurable, and configuration is via a web site rather than fiddling with which has better GPS accuracy, but the watcholder Ambit has dropped in price. The Ambit2 can display up to 8 different pages For a [[Best Running Watch| simple evaluation of dataa GPS watch]], including various graphs. I look at how well it can answer some basic questions:* You can download or create 'Apps' for 'How far did I run?''' This is the most basic question, and the Ambit2has good GPS accuracy, which allow for some degree of extensibility. These are not really applications, but small scripts so the functionality this is rather limitedone thing it does well. * Data has to '''How fast am I running?''' Knowing how fast you're running can be uploaded a nice to the Suunto website movescount.com but know, or it can then be exported in many different formats including TCX and FITvital for your training or race performance. * While Because of the standard battery life is not great at 8 hoursnature of GPS, you can configure watches that rely on GPS signal alone tend to have serious problems with current pace. Without the Ambit2 so it only checks GPS data periodically, which compromises ability to display current [[GPS AccuracyPace From A Footpod]] but improves battery lifewhile getting all other data from GPS, the Ambit2 can't answer this question very well. I found It does better than most watches that after 20 hours of use with 1 minute rely purely on GPS checks I had as it has good accuracy and the Suunto FuseSpeed may help a claimed 61% of battery life lefttiny bit. (That said, giving I frequently see the Ambit2 out by more than a projected life of about 50 hoursminute/mile). * '''Where am I? '''The Ambit2 will download has some basic navigation functions. ** '''Course Outline'''. This is an outline of a list of GPS satellites for quicker GPS acquisitionroute that can be downloaded. I've found this useful during ultras or in unfamiliar cities where I've needed to know where to go. Note that there's no "Track Outline" which displays where you've been.** '''Back To Start'''. This seems is a simple arrow point to work wellyour starting point, so it won't help you backtrack. ** '''Back To Waypoint'''. You can mark a location and when use the cache arrow to point to it later. Again, this is stale because a simple "as the crow flies" pointer. ** '''Compass'''. A magnetic compass can help you orient yourself or the watch has not been connected map. Without a magnetic compass you have to be moving for the internet for GPS to give you a while, GPS acquisition is still reasonablesense of direction. * The Abmit2 displays '''What's my cadence? '''[[Firstbeat| Training EffectCadence]], but unlike the Garmin units you have to explicitly set your 'activity class' rather than have ' '''is one of the watch work it out automaticallymost critical and often overlooked aspects of running. In If you get your Cadence right, many ways I prefer having the activity class set explicitlyother things naturally fall into place.* There is also support for "The Ambit3 supports [[Cadence]] via a [[Firstbeat| Recovery TimeFootpod]]"or it can estimate Cadence from its internal accelerometer, though I've found the internal accelerometer can be out quite a bit. Sadly it's less obvious than has no alerts for when your Cadence is too low. For ultramarathon running the Garmin implementations which display high end Ambit2 has the value at battery life for shorter ultras, but for runners that expect to be moving during the end of each workout. The [[Firstbeat| Recovery TimeSecond Dawn]] displayed at the end of each workout is , you'll have to compromise GPS accuracy for that workout alone, which is rather useless. You can go into the log book Ambit2 to find go the cumulative distance. See [[FirstbeatBest Running Watch#Watches for Ultrarunning| Recovery TimeWatches for Ultrarunning]] but that's a painfor more details. * The {{BuyAmazon|AZID=B00IW0O5WO|AZN=Suunto web site (movescount.com) has remarkably good analysis and data from the Ambit2. R}}=Which Version?=* The Ambit2 comes in four versions with different functionality. I think the "R" version of has the Ambit2 is available in black or whitebest value for money, with the white but depending on your usage you may want to pay for a more expensive version intended for women. If you're a cyclist, the "S" might be worthwhile, though I tried the white version won't comment further as I have smaller wrists and I found the materials used for the strap are remarkably soft and comfortablefocus purely on running usage. * If you're prepared to pay morean ultrarunner, you can get other versions of then I think the "Ambit2 that provide extra functions" version could be well worth it. ** There's also a (The Sapphire version that uses "sapphire glass" which is far tougher, but given the extra cost it's only worth considering worthwhile if you're really tough hard on your watches.** Suunto has announced the Ambit3, but that's only worth considering if you are intending to buy gear and want the more expensive Ambit2 or Ambit2 S. The Ambit2 still offers far better value for money. The main changes for the Ambit3 are some activity monitoring functionality, smartphone uploads,, and a swap from Ant+ to Bluetooth sensorsdamage resistance.) {| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"

| $500<jfs id="B00F2NFK6Y" noreferb="true"/>| $350<jfs id="B00C3REX7E" noreferb="true"/>| $250<jfs id="B00C3R9YY6" noreferb="true"/>| <jfs id="B00IWL9ZY6" noreferb="true"/>

| style="background-color: #D5E3BB;" |Up to 15 hours (50 in extended mode)| style="background-color: #D5E3BB;" |15 hours(50 in extended mode)| Up to 8 hours (25 hoursin extended mode)| Up to 8 hours (25 hoursin extended mode)

| Temperature sensor| style="background-color: #D5E3BB;" |Yes| style="background-color: #D5E3BB;" |Yes| No| No|-| Compass| style="background-color: #D5E3BB;" |Yes| style="background-color: #D5E3BB;" |Yes| Yes| No|-| Cycling support (speed/candencecadence/power)| style="background-color: #D5E3BB;" |Yes

=Ambit2 Pros=* The watch is highly configurable, and configuration is via a web site rather than fiddling with the watch. The Ambit2 can display up to 8 different pages of data, including various graphs. * You can download or create 'Apps' for the Ambit2, which allow for some degree of extensibility. These are not really applications, but small scripts so the functionality is rather limited. It's nothing like the functionality that Garmin has in their Connect IQ. I have developed two apps that calculate [[Relative Running Economy]] for the Suunto Ambit. One calculates a [http://www.movescount.com/apps/app10034021-Average_Relative_Running_Economy moving average] and the other a [http://www.movescount.com/apps/app10034023-Smoothed_Relative_Running_Economy smoothed current value]. * Data has to be uploaded to the Suunto website movescount.com but it can then be exported in many different formats including TCX and FIT. The Suunto website will also automatically export your workouts to other sites; currently Strava, Training Peaks, and Preva are supported. * While the standard battery life is not great at 8 hours, you can configure the Ambit2 so it only checks GPS data periodically, which compromises [[GPS Accuracy]] but improves battery life. With the "R" version I found that after 20 hours of use with 1 minute GPS checks I had a claimed 61% of battery life left, giving a projected life of about 50 hours, which is rather better than claimed. However, I was careful to avoid changing the display or recording laps in order to maximize battery life. For more details, see [[GPS_Accuracy#GPS_Accuracy_and_Sampling_Rate| GPS Accuracy and Sampling Rate]]. If you want more battery life, then it's worth upgrading to the Ambit2 which roughly doubles the battery life to 15/50 hours. * The Ambit2 will download a list of GPS satellites for quicker GPS acquisition. This seems to work well, and when the cache is stale because the watch has not been connected to the internet for a while, GPS acquisition is still reasonable. * The Ambit2 displays [[Firstbeat| Training Effect]], but unlike the Garmin units you have to explicitly set your 'activity class' rather than have the watch work it out automatically. In many ways I prefer having the activity class set explicitly.* There is also support for "[[Firstbeat| Recovery Time]]", though it's less obvious than the Garmin implementations which display the value at the end of each workout. The [[Firstbeat| Recovery Time]] displayed at the end of each workout is for that workout alone, which is rather useless. You can go into the log book to find the cumulative [[Firstbeat| Recovery Time]] but that's a pain. * The Suunto web site (movescount.com) has remarkably good analysis and data from the Ambit2. * I found the materials used for the strap are remarkably soft and comfortable. I'm perhaps a little fussy about my watch straps, and I sometimes wonder if some companies go out of their way to create crappy straps. The Ambit range is the best of any I've tried. * The Ambit2 can display a map of a pre-loaded course, which can be useful for navigating an unfamiliar route, but it requires forethought and effort. * You can use the Ambit2 to navigate back to the start of your run, but it only provides an arrow and compass, not a map. (There's no map of your current route in the way that Garmin watches often provide.)=Ambit2 R Cons===

=Visual Comparison={| class="wikitable"|- valign="top"|[[File:Suunto Ambit2-top.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Suunto Ambit2 top]]|[[File:Suunto Ambit2-side.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Suunto Ambit2 side]]|[[File:Suunto Ambit3-top.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Suunto Ambit3 top]]|[[File:Suunto Ambit3-side.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Suunto Ambit3 side]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Polar V800-top.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Polar V800 top]]|[[File:Polar V800-side.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Polar V800 side]]|[[File:TomTom Cardio Runner-top.JPG|none|thumb|150px|TomTom Cardio Runner top]]|[[File:TomTom Cardio Runner-side.JPG|none|thumb|150px|TomTom Cardio Runner side]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Garmin Epix-top.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Garmin Epix top]]|[[File:Garmin Epix-side.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Garmin Epix side]]|[[File:Garmin 920XT-top.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Garmin 920XT top]]|[[File:Garmin 920XT-side.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Garmin 920XT side]]|- valign="top"|[[File:Garmin 620-top.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Garmin 620 top]]|[[File:Garmin 620-side.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Garmin 620 side]]|[[File:Leikr 1-top.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Leikr 1 top]]|[[File:Leikr 1-side.JPG|none|thumb|150px|Leikr 1 side]]|}=What's Missing=While I don't consider these missing features as 'cons', it's worth understanding the features that are missing compared with other watches. * While '''Altimeter. '''GPS is far less accurate vertically than horizontally, so a barometric altimeter can provide a much better idea of your ascent and descent. It can also be useful for navigation if you're ascending or descending a mountain. In some races I've been far more interested in how much ascent is left rather than the distance to the top. (The more expensive versions of the Ambit2 add in an Altimeter.) * '''Running Dynamics'''. Some of the newer Garmin watches can display show and record Vertical Oscillation (VO) and Ground Contact Time (GCT). * '''Alerts'''. Some watches will alert you when a map metric is out of range. The alert for [[Cadence]] is really useful and one of my favorite features. * '''WiFi/Bluetooth Uploads'''. While the automatic upload of workouts via WiFi or Bluetooth to a routeSmartphone is nice, the upload will typically only go to the manufacturer's web site. =GPS Accuracy=With the 2.0.11 or later firmware, the Ambit2 has significantly improved their GPS accuracy. It's not as good as the [[Suunto Ambit3]], but it's still better than most other watches except the [[Polar V800]]. The latest firmware does better in every situation except going under the bridge where it has an issue reacquiring the signal and jumps off course. I not had any issues with the Ambit2 acquiring or give maintaining the GPS signal, unlike some other devices. {| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:BridgeSuunto Ambit2 R 2.0.11.jpg | None | Thumb | x300px | the dark green lines show how remarkably accurate the latest firmware has become. However, if you look where the path crosses at the bridge you will see some minor issues with reacquisition. (This diagram has tracks color coded with green indicating good accuracy through to read indicating poor accuracy, and the lap markers as blue dots.)]]|[[File:BridgeSuunto Ambit2 R 2.0.7.jpg|none|thumb|x300px| By contrast, the older firmware has more widely spaced tracks, and as the color indicates, far more errors. (This diagram has tracks color coded with green indicating good accuracy through to read indicating poor accuracy, and the lap markers as blue dots.)]]|- valign="top"|[[File:AccuracySuunto Ambit2 R 2.0.11.jpg|none|thumb|x300px| This close-up of a map zigzag section shows how well the latest firmware is tracking. (This diagram has tracks color coded with green indicating good accuracy through to read indicating poor accuracy, and the lap markers as blue dots.)]]|[[File:AccuracySuunto Ambit2 R 2.0.7.jpg|none|thumb|x300px| here again you can see the older firmware has more widely spaced tracks, and you can see the lap markers are more distributed. (This diagram has tracks color coded with green indicating good accuracy through to read indicating poor accuracy, and the lap markers as blue dots.)]]|- valign="top"|[[File:ZigZagSuunto Ambit2 R 2.0.11.jpg|none|thumb|x300px| Here you can see the Ambit2 displaying the typical GPS behavior with the tracks that have the green lines shifted slightly down and to the left, blue up and to the right. You can see the lap markers similarly shifted. (This image has the tracks color-coded for going back direction, with green coming from the right, blue from the left.)]]|[[File:ZigZagSuunto Ambit2 R 2.0.7.jpg|none|thumb|x300px| the older firmware shows similar behavior, but to a greater extent. (This image has the tracks color-coded for direction, with green coming from the startright, there is not a simple display of your current routeblue from the left.)]]|}