Questions & Answers - GPS

How accurate are the positions given by the GPS?

The GPS accuracy is dependent upon the fix to the satellites. 95% of the time, the GPS provides the position with an accuracy of at least 7-8 meters, though usually the position is much more accurate and within 1-2 meters. It all depends on how many satellites are visible for your fix. The wristop computer displays current information on the satellite signal strength, as well as an estimate of the position error, which should help you to determine the accuracy of the positions for the fix.

I can't get a GPS fix, what should I do?

Normally, the first fix can take almost 7 minutes although subsequent fixes will be much faster.
When acquiring a fix:

• Make sure you have clear visibility to the sky.
• Keep your position; don't move the instrument until you get the fix.
• Place the instrument on a level surface.
• You can monitor the progress by changing the display to position mode after starting GPS. You'll be able to see how many satellites are visible (0/8) and how many have fixed (2/8). You can also view how many seconds have elapsed by pushing the Start button.
• Make sure that the battery is fully charged before starting; the GPS is the first component shut down when the battery is low.

How can I make sure the GPS has the best possible fix before I start my activity?

After starting a logbook in the Activity mode but before actually starting your outdoor activity, wait until your Suunto X9i has acquired a good GPS fix (at least two dots). To improve the situation even further, wait a couple of minutes more to allow the device to receive all the necessary information.

Alternatively you can also start the GPS manually in the Function menu and after it has fixed, start a logbook in the Activity mode.