eTrex Solar speed display lagging up to 7s
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2025 4:24 am
Has anyone noticed that the eTrex Solar's speed display lags behind actual speed, and other GPS such as 60csx or car GPS, or even the eTrex SE, by quite a bit?
For reference, I have Speed/Elevation data field shown in the GPS map view (with North-Up view).
This is noticeable if one holds the 60csx right next to the Solar while sitting in the car. The 60csx shows more sensitivity toward the car's speed, shows slight increase/decrease much faster (reflect in like 1s, an feels correct with respect to what the car is doing), where as the Solar lags behind by quite a few seconds, at times confusing and just feels wrong. For example, you can feel the car's speed drops slightly, but the Solar's speed is still climbing (because there was an increase just before).
When the car comes to a full stop, the 60csx would drop to 0 relatively fast, where as the Solar would take quite a few seconds before it reaches 0. The GPS direction in the map would also starts to jump around (instead of staying consistent with the car's direction), before it finally stops.
I also tried this on the eTrex SE, and much to my surprise, the SE is a lot closer to the 60csx than the Solar!
On a full stop from various speeds in the car, after the SE drops speed to 0 (say within 1-2 seconds), the Solar would consistently take up to 7 seconds before it settles down to 0 speed, and within that 7 seconds, the heading would jump around, and it always stops not pointing to the travel direction.
Now one might say using the Solar/SE in the car is not the typical use case. So I tried some walking. I held both device in my hand together, and walked around a neighborhood with relatively clear view of the sky (no tall buildings). Again the SE showed more sensitivity toward walking speed. If I pick up my pace, the SE speed would increase, and Solar speed clearly lags behind.
Coming to a stop, again similar issue. SE stops quickly to 0, direction pointing toward travel direction, but the Solar would wonder around for like 5 seconds, and eventually shows 0 speed, but direction is always wrong.
Same result whether the Solar is in GPS only, or Multi-GNSS, or MultiBand. The Solar just seem to lag behind what the user is doing and has more wondering when stopped.
For reference, I have Speed/Elevation data field shown in the GPS map view (with North-Up view).
This is noticeable if one holds the 60csx right next to the Solar while sitting in the car. The 60csx shows more sensitivity toward the car's speed, shows slight increase/decrease much faster (reflect in like 1s, an feels correct with respect to what the car is doing), where as the Solar lags behind by quite a few seconds, at times confusing and just feels wrong. For example, you can feel the car's speed drops slightly, but the Solar's speed is still climbing (because there was an increase just before).
When the car comes to a full stop, the 60csx would drop to 0 relatively fast, where as the Solar would take quite a few seconds before it reaches 0. The GPS direction in the map would also starts to jump around (instead of staying consistent with the car's direction), before it finally stops.
I also tried this on the eTrex SE, and much to my surprise, the SE is a lot closer to the 60csx than the Solar!
On a full stop from various speeds in the car, after the SE drops speed to 0 (say within 1-2 seconds), the Solar would consistently take up to 7 seconds before it settles down to 0 speed, and within that 7 seconds, the heading would jump around, and it always stops not pointing to the travel direction.
Now one might say using the Solar/SE in the car is not the typical use case. So I tried some walking. I held both device in my hand together, and walked around a neighborhood with relatively clear view of the sky (no tall buildings). Again the SE showed more sensitivity toward walking speed. If I pick up my pace, the SE speed would increase, and Solar speed clearly lags behind.
Coming to a stop, again similar issue. SE stops quickly to 0, direction pointing toward travel direction, but the Solar would wonder around for like 5 seconds, and eventually shows 0 speed, but direction is always wrong.
Same result whether the Solar is in GPS only, or Multi-GNSS, or MultiBand. The Solar just seem to lag behind what the user is doing and has more wondering when stopped.