Inaccurate GPS

[Hurldogg]

Over the last few weeks I have run the same exact 3.25 mile route several times. My GPS has tracked distances ranging from 3.08 miles to 3.37 miles. How can there be such fluctuation in the distance tracked?

[Forget_me_knot]

Mine does the same. It cuts out at a certain point when I go for a walk, even though I’ve been walking the same distance each time 

[SunsetRunner]

Use your phone GPS.  Because of where the GPS sensor is on the watch it is well known it's not accurate.  You either have your band loose for GPS which means your heart rate doesn't track properly or you tighten the band further up your wrist to get an accureate HR but inaccurate GPS.

[JimVA]

I have given up on the Charge 5 internal GPS.  I even tried the "Dynamic" mode too, same inaccurate results. I now only use the "Phone" option since 99% of the time, I have my iPhone with me.  So disappointed with the Charge 5 

[Hurldogg]

Thanks for the suggestion, but that defeats the purpose. I got the Charge 5 specifically so I wouldn't have to carry my iPhone with me. I don't listen to music while I run so I have no other reason to bring my phone with me. What would be somewhat helpful would be to allow me to edit an exercise to put in the right distance, which it doesn't.

[SunsetRunner]

I don't listen to music but I use a safety app so when I'm out on long runs my wife can see where I am and it notifies her if I've stopped moving.  Unfortunately, the only way to get accurate GPS and HR (and I used my HR for Maffetone training so my HR is priorty), is to use your phones GPS.  To be honest, anyone out running alone should have their phone with them with some sort of tracker on it for emergencies.  Especially for trails/cross country runs.

[Hurldogg]

Thanks for the feedback, but I created this thread for support on the GPS issue. I don't take a phone with me because I run through a neighborhood with plenty of people around, not on trails. Plus, according to this great GPS tracking, it seems my run takes me through quite a few backyards and living rooms, so I'm sure if something happens, someone will be well aware of it. 🙂 I paid extra to get a fitness tracker with a GPS, so it's extremely frustrating to have one that's inaccurate to the extent mine is. I've been able to edit my exercise distance with other trackers that didn't have GPS. I think adding that feature is the least they could do.

[Hiddenhaven]

Definitely agree. We walk our dogs the same path every day and it shows between 2.85 and 3.25 miles. When I look at the map it shows me sometimes walking on the road, other times cutting through the cow pasture next door. I manually start my Fitbit each walk and would rather not have to deal with my IPhone since we are just walking the neighborhood and I can check my progress easier since we have the dogs on a leash