General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off Rss Feed  
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2011-08-19 1:45 PM

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Subject: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off
I am using a Garmin 310XT with a foot pod. However I have my distance set to be measured by GPS. My run distances are frequently off on the 310XT. When I run the EXACT same route sometimes a mile will be 100 yards up to sometimes 300 yards off of what it was the day before. Sometimes the distance is shorter sometimes its longer. Many days its right on the money. This week I ran the exact same run twice. My driveway out, around a pond twice and back to my driveway.  Tuesday the distance was 4.98 miles. Last night the distance was 4.77 miles. Tuesday it was sunny and last night it was sunny with some clouds. What is going on? Do you need to calibrate the GPS? I think there are steps to calibrate the foot pod but what about the GPS? Any thoughts here?


2011-08-19 3:00 PM
in reply to: #3651055

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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off

Try with no foot pod. Mine is within 10m assuming I take the same route and don't cut corners etc.

 

2011-08-19 4:06 PM
in reply to: #3651055

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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off

Upload to garmin connect and look at the map.  Are you running across fences, over the tops of houses etc... if so then you lost connection for part of the run.

 

2011-08-19 4:12 PM
in reply to: #3651055

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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off
I think part of this is just inherent to GPS devices... the signal you get won't always be exactly the same. That discrepancy seems a little high over that distance run, though... I have seen suggestions that a "soft reset" of the 310XT might help the unit lock on different satellites and give more consistent readings. Might be worth a shot....


2011-08-19 4:23 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off
If you have any overpasses, shades from trees, etc., i.e. anywhere you have a gap in the GPS connectivity, the GPS will calculate the distance from last known position, to reconnect position, based upon the time and the last known speed. This may result in a small error, but of course, if you have multiple small errors, over the entire run you will have mismatch.

Also, how you cut a corner will effect the distance... a yard here and a foot there might not look like much, but it all adds up.
2011-08-19 4:34 PM
in reply to: #3651055

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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off

Oh almost forgot - if you really want accurate can try and turn off Smart Recording - that's for saving battery life.

 



2011-08-19 6:02 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off
I'm guessing your route is around lots of trees and/or buildings?  When I run from my house, things are wide open, no tall trees or buildings and I can predict within about 5 seconds when my Garmin will beep for the 1km auto lap.  When I run in town, there is a lot of fluctuation in the distances on the same route.  I run with someone and one day, his will be .1 to .2 km ahead of me and another day it will be the reverse.  Anytime things are wide open though, it's pretty consistent (although still minor fluctuations).
2011-08-19 9:52 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off
Khyron - 2011-08-19 3:34 PM

Oh almost forgot - if you really want accurate can try and turn off Smart Recording - that's for saving battery life.

 



No option to turn off smart recording on the 310 AFAIK.
2011-08-19 10:43 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off
Khyron - 2011-08-19 4:34 PM

Oh almost forgot - if you really want accurate can try and turn off Smart Recording - that's for saving battery life.

 

x2  I have problems with the smart recording and I do use the 310.  It's in the system settings I believe.  Every run was cutting corners.  Your files WILL be bigger and upload slower, but they will still be manageable. 



Edited by firegirlred 2011-08-19 10:44 PM
2011-08-19 10:43 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off
kmanus - 2011-08-19 9:52 PM
Khyron - 2011-08-19 3:34 PM

Oh almost forgot - if you really want accurate can try and turn off Smart Recording - that's for saving battery life.

 



No option to turn off smart recording on the 310 AFAIK.

Update to the latest firmware.  You can set it to 1 second recording for everything now.

2011-08-20 2:52 PM
in reply to: #3651637

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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off
sand101 - 2011-08-19 9:43 PM
kmanus - 2011-08-19 9:52 PM
Khyron - 2011-08-19 3:34 PM

Oh almost forgot - if you really want accurate can try and turn off Smart Recording - that's for saving battery life.

 



No option to turn off smart recording on the 310 AFAIK.

Update to the latest firmware.  You can set it to 1 second recording for everything now.



That'd be awesome if mine wasn't stuck in some, let's Krista off mode Cry.  It keeps trying to send "fitness data" that doesn't exist and then says it failed yesterday at 5:28pm....even today at 11:30am.  Just constantly, over and over.  First it was couldn't send courses so I deleted everything and now its fitness data.  Stupid watch can't even alert me when I'm off pace - and I set the pace range!
/rant 


2011-08-20 2:52 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off
sand101 - 2011-08-19 9:43 PM
kmanus - 2011-08-19 9:52 PM
Khyron - 2011-08-19 3:34 PM

Oh almost forgot - if you really want accurate can try and turn off Smart Recording - that's for saving battery life.

 



No option to turn off smart recording on the 310 AFAIK.

Update to the latest firmware.  You can set it to 1 second recording for everything now.



That'd be awesome if mine wasn't stuck in some, let's Krista off mode Cry.  It keeps trying to send "fitness data" that doesn't exist and then says it failed yesterday at 5:28pm....even today at 11:30am.  Just constantly, over and over.  First it was couldn't send courses so I deleted everything and now its fitness data.  Stupid watch can't even alert me when I'm off pace - and I set the pace range!
/rant 
2011-08-20 3:10 PM
in reply to: #3651055

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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off

You will notice a distance calibration on the 310 varies even if you run the same route repeatedly. Usually, the discrepancy occurs within the first mile or two when the unit has enough satellites to allow it to give you a pace, but not enough to be extremely accurate.  You are able to go into the GPS menu and check on the accuracy before you begin.  Usually I wait until it's +14 feet.

As another poster mentioned, the SmartRecording feature of the 310XT is a nuisance for folks that care about being as precise as possible.  This is one of the reasons that Garmin dropped this feature on the new 610, and will likely do so on the [evidently] soon-to-be released multisport watch - the 910.

We shall see!

2011-08-20 3:41 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off
kmanus - 2011-08-20 3:52 PM
That'd be awesome if mine wasn't stuck in some, let's Krista off mode Cry.  It keeps trying to send "fitness data" that doesn't exist and then says it failed yesterday at 5:28pm....even today at 11:30am.  Just constantly, over and over.  First it was couldn't send courses so I deleted everything and now its fitness data.  Stupid watch can't even alert me when I'm off pace - and I set the pace range!
/rant 


FWIW, I did the latest firmware upgrade the day it came out and had similar problems repeatedly. After spending about 30 - 45 mins on the phone with Garmin doing several soft and hard resets it stopped failing. I haven't had any issues since, but I don't think we ever nailed down what the problem really was.
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Garmin 310XT Run Distance Off Rss Feed