Troubleshooting a Polar watch with built-in GPS (GNSS)
Applies to: Grit X Grit X Pro Grit X2 Pro Ignite Ignite 2 Ignite 3 M430 Pacer Pacer Pro Vantage M Vantage M2 Vantage V2 Vantage V3 Vantage M3 Grit X2 Street X
Make sure GPS recording is set on:
Set GPS recording on in the sport profile settings in the Flow app or web service. Remember to sync the settings to your watch.
Check the expiry date of the current A-GPS data file on your watch. The path depends on your device:
- Go to Settings > About your watch, then check “Assisted GPS updated with each sync. Valid until:”
- Go to Settings > General settings > About your watch, then check A-GPS expiration date
If the data file has expired, sync your watch with the Flow web service using either the Flow app or FlowSync software to update the A-GPS data.
For more information on A-GPS (Assisted GPS), see What is Assisted GPS (A-GPS)? How does it work?
When starting a training session: After choosing a sport profile, stay in the pre-training mode until the watch has found the GPS satellite signals to make sure your training data is accurate.
To receive GPS satellite signals
- Go outdoors, preferably away from tall buildings and trees.
- Hold the watch horizontally in front of you with the display facing upwards, and keep it still.
- Keep your arm stationary and raised above chest level.
- Avoid touching the device while the watch searches for satellite signals.
Grit X Pro, Grit X2 Pro, Grit X, Grit X2, Ignite 2, Ignite 3, Pacer, Pacer Pro, Street X, Vantage M2, Vantage M3, Vantage V2, Vantage V3: The circle around the GPS icon will turn orange when the minimum amount of satellites (4) needed for the GPS fix are found. You can start your session but for better accuracy wait until the circle turns green.
Ignite, Vantage M: The circle around the GPS icon will turn green when the GPS is ready.
M430: The percentage value shown next to the GPS icon indicates when the GPS is ready. When it reaches 100 %, OK is displayed.
Note that as GPS was the first Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and is the most widely used system, the term GPS is still commonly used when referring to all types of GNSS. However, the correct term is GNSS, which is an umbrella term that covers all global satellite positioning systems, including GPS.
Tips
For best GNSS performance, wear the Polar watch on your wrist with the display facing outwards. Due to the location of the GNSS antenna on the watch, it is not recommended to wear it with the display on the underside of your wrist. When wearing it on the handlebars of a bike, make sure the display is facing up.
The best GNSS signal reception can be reached when training in an open area where there are no obstructions for the satellite signals. Due to the nature of the GNSS signal, for example hills, tall buildings, and trees may block the satellite signal. Rain, fog, and snow may also affect the signal quality. These conditions may result in uneven speed reading during the exercise and cause an uneven speed curve in Polar software even when you have exercised going at a steady pace.
If you notice that the GNSS is routinely off on one leg of a back-and-forth route, try switching wrists for the leg that appears to be off. It is likely that on that leg, the watch is pointing to a direction with fewer satellites available and switching wrists will help solve this problem.
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