Have had nothing but stellar results with all my series watches barring the odd bug or very choppy conditions which gps receivers don’t like. I did have an Ultra for a week but only run tested, no swimming as I intended to send back and didn’t want to lose it in my local murky deep lake!
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Apple Watch Ultra Open Water Swim - Wrong Distance, Faulty GPS Track
- Thread starter Can Inelli
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Ultra GPS accuracy works great in everything except water, I have been using the Ultra daily since it came out, has been a year, so that means I had at least 365 open water swim sessions each of them at least 1-2 kilometres. Unfortunately, 3-4 swims out of every 10 are ruined by wrong GPS tracks, distance is exaggerated by almost twice what it should be. However, running, cycling, and hiking are all great! Haven't had any problems with those and I love the LTE functionality so I can leave my phone at home and go out just with my Ultra.
Interesting. I wonder in the case is the issue here. The curved screen of the series might allow enough of the gps signal in as the wrist is momentarily out of the water. The high edge of the ultra bezel could be the issue.
I also use the open water swim workout. The distance is always wrong and no track is shown. But if I go to the Strava App, the distance is correct. In contrast to the activity app by apple, Strava connects the waypoints where the watch did get a GPS fix. As I am a non competitive swimmer, I just raise my hand out of the water from time to time to get a fix.
Apple activity app shows 100 m distance:
Strava App shows approximated correct distance between GPS fixes:
Apple activity app shows 100 m distance:
Strava App shows approximated correct distance between GPS fixes:
@DRDR @mtakanen Do you guys use the "Precision Start" function of the Ultra? I use that and wait till I get perfect GPS lock, then I press the action button and start but seems like Precision Start has no positive effect either. Well both are unacceptable for an "Ultra" watch.. As if this wasn't enough, my Ultra's battery life has also been ruined after Watch OS10 update.
I used to have a Series 7 LTE which performed much better in terms of GPS accuracy during open water swim. I wonder if Apple messed up with algorithms/software for the dual band Ultra. I wrote numerous times to Apple, I had tens of Apple Support phone calls, escalated the situation and nothing has been done and no feedback has been given by Apple. All they say is it's functioning as expected. I would have expected better from Apple...
Anyways, I ordered a Garmin Epix Pro Sapphire 47mm yesterday. I'll be testing that out in pool this week and this weekend in Dover, UK during open-water swim training. I'll wear Ultra on one wrist and the Garmin on the other and will swim a total of 10 hours in 3 days, so should have plenty of data in a few days. I'll share the updates with you guys.
I used to have a Series 7 LTE which performed much better in terms of GPS accuracy during open water swim. I wonder if Apple messed up with algorithms/software for the dual band Ultra. I wrote numerous times to Apple, I had tens of Apple Support phone calls, escalated the situation and nothing has been done and no feedback has been given by Apple. All they say is it's functioning as expected. I would have expected better from Apple...
Anyways, I ordered a Garmin Epix Pro Sapphire 47mm yesterday. I'll be testing that out in pool this week and this weekend in Dover, UK during open-water swim training. I'll wear Ultra on one wrist and the Garmin on the other and will swim a total of 10 hours in 3 days, so should have plenty of data in a few days. I'll share the updates with you guys.
My watch has the same problem, we can do something about that?
I think it's problems with the antenna,
Sometimes when I push the watch outside from the water it back to work for a little time and starts over till I push it out from the water…
I have a guaranty……
I think it's problems with the antenna,
Sometimes when I push the watch outside from the water it back to work for a little time and starts over till I push it out from the water…
I have a guaranty……
I tried everything I can. I even bought a new AWU. Same problem. I sent the devices to Apple service. Nothing changed. Two weeks ago I bought myself a Garmin Epix Pro 47mm, and it’s been amazing. I haven’t worn Apple Watch since then and I’m selling my AWU. AWU is not an Ultra device. It feels like a toy next to Garmin Epix Pro. If you are serious into swimming, hiking, running etc I suggest you switch to Garmin Epix Pro.