xiaodongStar

Q: Accuracy of distance calibration during outdoor running

0.84km off during 13.7 running distance, so what you think? Nike running app is much accurate for distance calculation. Oh, I use 42mm sport watch with a iPhone 5s.

iPhone, iPad

Posted on Jun 13, 2015 3:50 AM

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Q: Accuracy of distance calibration during outdoor running

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  • by pidgeon92,

    pidgeon92 pidgeon92 Jun 13, 2015 7:46 AM in response to xiaodongStar
    Level 1 (98 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 13, 2015 7:46 AM in response to xiaodongStar

    Have you calibrated the watch? I did mine last week, and now the distances are correct.

     

    Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jun 13, 2015 9:26 AM in response to xiaodongStar
    Level 9 (59,201 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 13, 2015 9:26 AM in response to xiaodongStar

    xiaodongStar wrote:

     

    0.84km off during 13.7 running distance, so what you think? Nike running app is much accurate for distance calculation. Oh, I use 42mm sport watch with a iPhone 5s.

    On what do you base your assertion that the Nike app is more accurate? My experience with the Nike app as compared to a couple of different Garmin apps is that it's not very accurate.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Jun 13, 2015 9:46 AM in response to xiaodongStar
    Level 8 (38,076 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 13, 2015 9:46 AM in response to xiaodongStar

    That's a 6% discrepancy, but it does not mean the phone is less accurate than the Nike app. It could also mean that the Nike app is less accurate, or that both are inaccurate. You need to use a real GPS to measure the distance. One way to do that is with an independent source, such as a dedicated GPS, or using Google Maps on your computer to measure your route. Or, you could just say "6% is close enough".

  • by xiaodongStar,

    xiaodongStar xiaodongStar Jun 13, 2015 4:41 PM in response to pidgeon92
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2015 4:41 PM in response to pidgeon92

    II've been running with iPhone for 6 times, each 1 hour. I think this is enough for the calibration

  • by xiaodongStar,

    xiaodongStar xiaodongStar Jun 13, 2015 4:42 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2015 4:42 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    I use google map to measure the distance, this is should be accurate.

  • by xiaodongStar,

    xiaodongStar xiaodongStar Jun 13, 2015 4:44 PM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2015 4:44 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

    I did use Google map to measure the distance, that's why I say Apple watch is off too much and the Nike Running is accurate.

  • by xiaodongStar,

    xiaodongStar xiaodongStar Jun 13, 2015 4:51 PM in response to pidgeon92
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2015 4:51 PM in response to pidgeon92

    How do you compare that AW is correct now? With another GPS device?

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jun 13, 2015 4:53 PM in response to xiaodongStar
    Level 9 (59,201 points)
    iPhone
    Jun 13, 2015 4:53 PM in response to xiaodongStar

    xiaodongStar wrote:

     

    I use google map to measure the distance, this is should be accurate.

    Unless you ran an absolutely straight course, it would be quite possible vary by as much as 6% from Google maps and still be accurate.

     

    I haven't done the experiment of running with both my Apple Watch and my Garmin Watch yet. However, my experience with the Nike running app is that it's simply not that accurate. It gives a consistently different result than any other running app I've used at the same time. I don't have a good explanation for this as all the apps should be using the same GPS information but that has been my experience over about 6 years and five different iPhones. I've had, if I recall, three different Garmin watches in the same period and they are consistent with one another.

  • by dacheng81,

    dacheng81 dacheng81 Jul 26, 2015 11:26 PM in response to xiaodongStar
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 26, 2015 11:26 PM in response to xiaodongStar

    Hi,

     

    For those who are unsure about how accurate the apps are... probably have never measured it against GPS watches.

     

    It's true the distance measurements can vary from app to app.  I've run with Runkeeper, MapMyFitness, Argus...  Runkeeper is nearly the same as Argus.  MapMyFitness is always a couple of percentage points higher.  I've run with a Garmin and other GPS watches, and Runkeeper seems to be very consistent in being about 1% over estimating, comparing it to the GPS watches.

     

    I've also run officially measured races of 10K and 21.1K (half marathon) and Runkeeper has always been about 1-1.5% over.  The error may be less simply because I always had to zig zag a bit during the race to dodge people.

     

    Now that we've established that Runkeeper has always been consistent and fairly accurate on the phone, I've posted my Apple Watch's inaccuracy issue (mine was over 5%) and a potential workaround here:

     

    Re: my apple watch distance is way off

     

    Hope this helps.  I don't know how accurate Nike app is as I have never run with it, but I'm pretty sure your Watch issue is the same as mine.

  • by burning777,

    burning777 burning777 Nov 9, 2015 3:32 AM in response to dacheng81
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2015 3:32 AM in response to dacheng81

    I have also tried to calibrate several times. Then reset the calibration and start over. I tried several runs, fast runs, slow runs, short runs, long runs and different apps. I have tried to go without the iPhone after 2-3 runs or after 10-15 runs. But my Apple Watch just cannot measure correctly if I do not bring my iPhone with me.

     

    When I bring my iPhone with me on my run the distance is always good and different apps measure almost the same. Then the watch probably uses the GPS from the iPhone. So bringing my iPhone is ok. I have used Runkeeper, the native workout app and Trails. All of them is measuring perfect distances if I bring my phone with me.

     

    As soon as I do not bring my iPhone with me the distance is always circa +25%. So a 7 km run is 8,69 km. A 10 km run is measured as 12,5 km. My Apple Watch cannot learn to measure my distance no matter what I do or how many runs I bring my iPhone with me to "teach" the Apple watch to calculate my distance.

     

    I suspect that my steps pr. minute is much higher than an average runner and this bring me out of what the watch thinks is normal and therefore I cannot use the pedometer as a measurement tool for distance? I run barefoot / forefoot /poserunning. So I am always at 180-190 steps pr. minute where a "normal" runner is at circa 120 steps pr. minute. Of course my step length is shorter so my pace is measured as 4 minutes pr. kilometer when I run at around 5 minutes pr. kilometer.

     

    IS there anyway I can calibrate the Apple Watch to adapt to my style of running?

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Nov 10, 2015 3:09 AM in response to burning777
    Level 8 (36,007 points)
    Apple Watch
    Nov 10, 2015 3:09 AM in response to burning777

    burning777 wrote:

     

     

    I have also tried to calibrate several times. ..

    As soon as I do not bring my iPhone with me the distance is always circa +25% ..

    I suspect that my steps pr. minute is much higher than an average runner ..

    Of course my step length is shorter ..

    IS there anyway I can calibrate the Apple Watch to adapt to my style of running?

     

    Hi

     

    Try carrying your iPhone differently when recalibrating. Options include:

     

    - Hold your iPhone in your hand (same arm).

    - Wear your iPhone in an armband (same arm).

    - Wear it in a waistband.

     

    You may find that a different carrying method (eg holding it in your hand) subsequently enables your watch to more accurately interpret your arm movements.

     

    Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

  • by burning777,

    burning777 burning777 Nov 16, 2015 8:14 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 16, 2015 8:14 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Now I tried wearing the iPhone on my arm. The same arm as my watch. Before I used to carry the iPhone in a camelback backpack while running.

    The difference is exactly the same. The number of steps registered on the iPhone and my watch as seen in the health app is very close to each other and only differs by 20 steps in 10.000. So that does not make any difference. After doing the "calibration" with wearing the iPhone on my arm I tried running without the iPhone.... and.... the problem was exactly the same. Now my watch still measures about 25% too much. So to me it seems that there is no learning in the watch. From now on I will try to bring my iPhone with me the next 30 runs. Could it be that it adjusts only a little bit after each run? So that it will take longer time to learn my step length because my step length is so short?