Galaxy watch altimeter is not accurate and i think it doesn't have any hardware to detect it

[Android Central Question]

If the Galaxy watch has Altimeter then it you show the result instantly if i set it in manual mode but it won't show the accurate result and more over it will take time to reflect the number by this we can understand that there is no specific hardware embedded with in it.

 

[arunma]

As far as I know, the watch does have a built in barometer. However, pressure changes principally with altitude, so the watch needs to compare your pressure to the sea-level pressure nearby in order to get your altitude. That's why it takes some time to get your altitude.

 

[jgreg02]

You need to set it to update pressure with local weather service. When the weather is changing fast, it can't keep up.

 

[B. Diddy]

Remember also that if it's determining altitude by air pressure and you're checking it while flying in a plane, then it will always tell you that you're about 6000-8000 feet above sea level, since that's the air pressure at which the typical commercial airliner's cabin is pressurized at.

 

[racklefratz]

As far as I know, the watch does have a built in barometer. However, pressure changes principally with altitude, so the watch needs to compare your pressure to the sea-level pressure nearby in order to get your altitude. That's why it takes some time to get your altitude.

Atmospheric pressure does decrease as altitude increases, but it is also changing constantly around us due to atmospheric, weather-related pressure changes.

The watch SHOULD be able to adjust local ambient pressure to sea level pressure, using the built-in location sensor (if it's turned on in "Connections"), but my experience with it so far is that using "Auto Update", it reads about 1" Hg low for my location, and if I try to use "Manual Calibration" to compensate for the error, the adjustment is not reflected on the main pressure display, making it a pointless exercise in frustration.

Very dissatisfied with this app up to this point - it's pretty useless. Hopefully, Samsung will rise to the occasion and fix it with firmware.

 

[Peter621022]

I just found out that the calibration frequency is related to the update frequency you set in the weather app on your Phone. So to improve the altitude calibration you may want to try to increase the frequency with which the weather app on your Phone updates. Below picture shows wat happens with the altidude values if you change the update frequency from 6 to 1 hrs.

Also, I found that cleaning the barometer sensor by wiping the back of your watch helps. I had problems with the floor counter (based on the altitude as well), that are now mostly solved.

The barometer sensor might be off a bit (as every sensor can be), but a change in the atmospheric pressure is well detected. So for exact altitude measurement I wouldn't trust it too much (1 hPa difference stands for roughly 10m height difference, and with changing see level pressure as a reference the inaccuracy only increases).

 

[sonnnet]

I just found out that the calibration frequency is related to the update frequency you set in the weather app on your Phone. So to improve the altitude calibration you may want to try to increase the frequency with which the weather app on your Phone updates. Below picture shows wat happens with the altidude values if you change the update frequency from 6 to 1 hrs.View attachment 299872

Also, I found that cleaning the barometer sensor by wiping the back of your watch helps. I had problems with the floor counter (based on the altitude as well), that are now mostly solved.

The barometer sensor might be off a bit (as every sensor can be), but a change in the atmospheric pressure is well detected. So for exact altitude measurement I wouldn't trust it too much (1 hPa difference stands for roughly 10m height difference, and with changing see level pressure as a reference the inaccuracy only increases).

Interesting stuff. Pleasantly surprised you have mostly solved the floor count problem as that was way off for you previously. So you fixed that just by cleaning the sensor?

 

[Peter621022]

Interesting stuff. Pleasantly surprised you have mostly solved the floor count problem as that was way off for you previously. So you fixed that just by cleaning the sensor?

Well, at least that's what I can do and it seems to help. I was in Spain for a few weeks with rock steady weather, for a flamenco festival. We arrived februari 21st and the remarkable thing is that on februari 26th the floor counter started behaving, without an app update as far as I know or changing any settings.
The only factor I can point at is cleaning the watch every evening after taking as shower. I didn't wear the watch while taking a shower, just cleaned it with a towel.
So there might be a hardware influence after all. It can also be that they improved the check on the atmospheric pressure at sea level to calculate the altitude.
Yesterday, back in windy and wet Frogland the counter did act up, showing 40 floors at the end of the day (should be 15 or so) in very unstable weather. Today is much better again.

 

[Peter621022]

Interesting stuff. Pleasantly surprised you have mostly solved the floor count problem as that was way off for you previously. So you fixed that just by cleaning the sensor?

Like I said, I think cleaning helps, but back at the office I have good days (fairly accurate floor count) and bad - overcounting - days, although not as extreme as before. So I think climate control still influences the floor counter. I also found that wearing the watch underneath weather tight clothing (rain suit, tight sleeves around the wrist) has a bad influence. I suspect this way, you lock the watch in an air tight compartment with higher (body) temperatures, which changes the pressure in the compartment, influencing the altimeter and therefore the floor counter.

 

[leongsem]

Hi Peter,
Could you show me how to change the frequency to 6 to 1?

and also which sensor should I clean after shower?

THank you very much.

I face a problem that the floor count is in accurate recently.

 

[Samer Abudraih]

Hi Peter

1+ for the above request

 

[leongsem]

Hi Sir, could you help us?

thank you.