8,153
edits
Changes
From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
no edit summary
|}
=Configuration=
Most of the configuration of the Fenix 5X is done directly in the watch, but there are aspects that have to be done via either the website, the smart phone app, or the PC (Garmin Express.) The main thing that you can't do on the watch itself is configure Connect IQ apps, watch faces, and data fields. The configuration on the watch is fairly intuitive, but the sheer number of configuration options can be a little bewildering, and if you have to do a factory reset, you have to apply all configuration changes again from scratch. While that's a bit of a pain, it's rarely a problem in practice, and more than made up for bite the ability to configure the data shown during a workout without needing an Internet connection. Even better, you can configure the data shown during the workout actually during the workout itself. I find that surprisingly useful; just today it turned a little warm, and I was able to reconfigure my display to show the current temperature. One minor annoyance is that It's not obvious (or it wasn't obvious to me) but you can't add the Run app twice copy a sports mode so that you can have multiple configurations for different types of work out. That way you can have a run based work out for easy runs, long runs, into full training, etc. this is rather nice, especially with the [[Stryd]] Footpod providing accurate pace information, which makes the pace alerts especially valuable. There is a limit that only allows two Connect IQ data fields, so having multiple workout types are allows you to have different combinations for different types of training.=Sensor Support=The supports a vast array of different configurationssensors and accessories. It's the first Garmin watch to support Bluetooth sensors in addition to Ant+ sensors, which opens up some new devices. For instanceThe [[Connect IQ]] also makes the Fenix 5X extensible, I might want allowing companies to add support for their devices themselves, rather than having to have negotiate with the Garmin. We've seen this with both [[Moxy]] and [[Stryd]], proving the real-world value of this approach. Below are the various supported sensors and accessories, along with the results of my watch configured testing.* '''Bluetooth Heart Rate Monitor'''. The Bluetooth heart rate monitor support seems to work perfectly. I tested it with the Suunto and the Polar H7 without any issues. (See below for notes on the [[Wahoo TICKR Run]].)* '''Bluetooth Footpod. '''Bluetooth Footpod's are not quite as standardized as one would like, so there are more issues here. I tested with pace alerts the Polar Stride Sensor, Adidas Speed Cell, and [[MilestonePod]] and specific they all worked fine except for one common problem. If you set the distance to "always" the calibration factor is ignored when you're running outdoors. The calibration factor is used when GPS is off in treadmill mode. This is not a problem with Ant+ Footpod's. (See below for [[Stryd]] Footpod.)* '''Bluetooth Biking devices (Speed, Power)'''. I've not tested any of data screens these devices as I'm a runner, not a cyclist.* '''Ant+ Heart Rate Monitor'''. Both the old style of Garmin heart rate monitor and the newer [[Garmin Running Dynamics]] heart rate monitor both worked perfectly. (See below for notes on the [[Wahoo TICKR Run]].)* '''Ant+ Footpod'''. Unlike the Bluetooth equivalent, the Ant+ Footpod worked fine. (See below for [[Stryd]] Footpod.)* '''Ant+ Tempe'''. Even though the Fenix 5X has an internal thermometer, it also supports their external temperature sensor that's the same form factor as their Footpod. Being an external pod, it's a lot more accurate than the internal temperature sensor that's heavily influenced by your body heat.* '''Ant+ Camera (VIRB)'''. I have a GoPro rather than a VIRB, and running isn't generally an exciting enough sport for me to want to video my long runsexploits.* '''Ant+ Biking devices (speed, power, gear shift, lighting, radar, remote display)'''. While there is some cool stuff here, I'm not a cyclist so I've not tested any of this out.* '''Ant+ Muscle Oxygen'''. There is now built in support for muscle oxygen sensors such as [[Moxy]] or [[BSX]], but no alerts without the need for a [[Connect IQ]] data field.* '''Wahoo'''. The [[Wahoo TICKR Run]] is a little unusual in that it also supports both Bluetooth and different Ant+. Rather like [[Garmin Running Dynamics]] heart rate monitor, it's also capable of gathering rather more data for than a typical heart rate monitor though you really need the smart phone app to make use of it. I found that the Fenix 5X would find the one who twice, once as a short second run Bluetooth device and once as an Ant+ device. Pairing both ways seemed to cause some issues with the Fenix 5X connecting to the Wahoo at the start of the dayrun, though it's possible this was either a user error on my part or just an oddity. My Even stranger, the Fenix 5X would try to pair up with the one who is a Bluetooth Footpod, but I could never get anything to work around in this mode.* '''Stryd'''. Like the Wahoo, the [[Stryd]] Footpod is both Bluetooth and Ant+, but it's also both a Footpod and a power meter. I found it best to use another app like pair as just an Ant+ Footpod. {| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"|- valign="trail runtop" |[[File:Garmin Tempe (1).jpg|none|thumb|300px|The Garmin Tempe temperature sensor, attached to my [[Running Hat]] for the different configurationbest reading.]]|[[File:Garmin Tempe (2).jpg|none|thumb|300px|Her's another view.]]|}
=GPS Accuracy=
I've tested the [[GPS Accuracy]] of the Fenix 5X with its initial release firmware, and it's possible that its accuracy will improve as the firmware matures. Based on my testing, the Fenix 5X certainly has plenty of room for improvement. At best, the GPS accuracy could be described as mediocre, and I think it's bad enough that it could significantly mess up your training. If you look at the middle, curved section, you can see that the Fenix 5X is doing particularly badly here. This is a challenging section, and reveals any weakness in a GPS watch. The right most segment with the right-angle turn is a section of the most watches do reasonably well on, but the Fenix 5X is struggling here as well. The tracks don't look too bad, you can see that the Fenix 5X is not able to calculate the distance correctly. The Fenix 5X doesn't get too badly confused going under the bridge, actually looks a little better in that area than the two Suunto watches shown for comparison. The blue lap markers are rather widely spread, again giving more evidence of poor GPS accuracy. It's possible that other versions of the Fenix 5 might have different GPS accuracy. It's possible that the plastic 935 might do a little better, but without testing it's impossible to know. (I buy all my test gear through retail channels. This allows me to be brutally honest in my reviews, as I don't need to keep the manufacturer happy in order to continue getting free samples or early access. The downside is that I'm more limited in the array of watches I can test. Therefore, it's unlikely that I will test other versions of the Fenix 5 at this point.) I've tested both the 4.20 and the 4.30 version of the GPS firmware (see below for details.)
