Android, GPS, Note 4, Runkeeper

[cbrunny]

Here's my situation:

- Canada
- Note 4 on contract with Bell until October 2016
- Note 4 has garbage GPS apparently
- Taking up running again, been focusing on fitness for a while. Subscribed to Runkeeper Pro on Cyber Monday deal
- Runkeeper can't track my run near accurately due to Note 4 garbage GPS.

Tips?

I'm thinking what makes the most sense is to find a used android device and us Runkeeper on that to track my runs but for nothing else. E.g. a wifi-only device. I am willing to spend a bit of money on this but haven't decided how much yet.

Thanks in advance.

 

[cbrunny]

I am considering the smartwatch route fwiw. Sony Smartwatch 3 has GPS built in and the Moto 360 Sport will next year as well. Unclear if the watch's GPS is a) good, and b) will "trump" the gps signal of the phone. Any experience here would also be helpful.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I use both Runkeeper and Strava, and I have found both to not be very accurate when using with a Nexus 4, 5 and 5x compared to while also using a Garmin Forerunner GPS watch.

I just ordered a Garmin Forerunner 235 which came out yesterday. GPS/GLONASS for tracking, wrist-based heart rate monitor, connects to Garmin Connect App and can stream messages from your smartphone for easy viewing without having to pull out your phone.

 

[cbrunny]

I have an old forerunner from my early triathlon days. That thing is awesome and the new ones look simply amazing. I have given serious consideration to this as well. For a variety of reasons I am opting not to go that route though. I won't bore you with why. Fitness levels, injuries, winter, among others in brief. But I have mad respect for Garmin and it's new line of devices.

 

[cbrunny]

My wife has a nexus 4 that she has had success with using runkeeper. Will try that for a bit. I don't need pinpoint accuracy the way a Garmin device can. I just want something that is pretty good, at worst.

 

[cbrunny]

On the off chance that someone might read this..

I walked my dogs yesterday with runkeeper active on my Note 4 and on my wife's Nexus 4. My note 4 counted almost a full km longer than the Nexus, and the map it drew of my positioning was all over the place. Very far from accurate. The Nexus map was very accurate - certainly accurate enough for my needs. But a full km off on a 3km walk is completely unacceptable. Samsung ought to be ashamed of their gps implementation in the Note 4. This seems like a pretty widespread issue on Note 4 devices.

So I'll use my wife's Nexus for the time being.

 

[evident]

Here's my situation:
- Note 4 has garbage GPS apparently
.

Good lord, which Samsung smart phone doesn't have terrible GPS?

my galaxy s4 is abysmal.

 

[Zink]

Can confirm, Note 4 is useless for run tracking with Strava. I thought it was good enough to keep track of the the time for runs at least but the GPS is so bad that sometime it stops updating for long enough that Strava thinks I've stopped running.

I'd pick up a used android phone like you said.

 

[nOOky]

I always revert back to wearing a GPS watch, I own 2 Garmins. I don't always carry my phone, especially for races. My phone is big, hard to carry when I'm dressed minimally in the summer because I hate arm straps.

I'd just spend the money for a basic GPS watch, phones generally suck for running unless you don't mind the apps and the weaker GPS as compared to a better GPS device. I also hate turning on the screen for pausing and starting etc. when I'm all sweaty, and I get the phone all sweaty.

I might have different needs, I run trail races up to 100 miles so I don't carry a phone and I need a watch that can be charged on the fly. If you're just a casual runner the phone should be good enough.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I always revert back to wearing a GPS watch, I own 2 Garmins. I don't always carry my phone, especially for races. My phone is big, hard to carry when I'm dressed minimally in the summer because I hate arm straps.

I'd just spend the money for a basic GPS watch, phones generally suck for running unless you don't mind the apps and the weaker GPS as compared to a better GPS device. I also hate turning on the screen for pausing and starting etc. when I'm all sweaty, and I get the phone all sweaty.

I might have different needs, I run trail races up to 100 miles so I don't carry a phone and I need a watch that can be charged on the fly. If you're just a casual runner the phone should be good enough.

Apps have autopause as a feature. I use a Flip Belt and can stick a phone and battery pack in it. For marathons and long runs, my Nexus 5 had horrible battery life and so I would run with it plugged into a battery pack in my flip belt, no issue pulling it out while running if I needed to.

But with the new Garmins, you'll be able to see notifications on it and even control music playing on your phone.

OP - recently got a Nexus 5X and I'm actually impressed with it's GPS, especially in picking up a GPS signal right away.

 

[nOOky]

I know apps have an autopause feature, I just hate carrying my phone. I have a Garmin Vivosmart and Fenix 3 that displays notifications and can control music etc., but I never use those features. I like to run with just shorts, shirt, and a watch though, no music, everyone is different. A watch is just a bit sleeker and more minimalist than carrying a phone.

Apps have autopause as a feature. I use a Flip Belt and can stick a phone and battery pack in it. For marathons and long runs, my Nexus 5 had horrible battery life and so I would run with it plugged into a battery pack in my flip belt, no issue pulling it out while running if I needed to.

But with the new Garmins, you'll be able to see notifications on it and even control music playing on your phone.

OP - recently got a Nexus 5X and I'm actually impressed with it's GPS, especially in picking up a GPS signal right away.

 

[tdawg]

Good lord, which Samsung smart phone doesn't have terrible GPS?

my galaxy s4 is abysmal.

My Note5 has been flawless. Maybe I'm just lucky? Runkeeper on runs, hikes, or bicycle rides have mapped my path correctly. My brother and sister-in-law also have zero GPS issues with their S6 Edge's.

I bought a Microsoft Band 2 so I now use that GPS and it seems just as accurate (just wish it would transfer GPS information to Runkeeper. I'm trying Strava and MapMyFitness to see if GPS info gets transmitted to either).

 

[Oyeve]

I havent had a gps issue with a samsung device since the Galaxy S1 and S2.

 

[pm]

It's not what the OP is asking, but for running, I bought a Garmin Forerunner 220 and just use that. It's small and light, shows my pace and total distance and time elapsed which are things that I generally like to look at while running - particularly pace. It supports heartrate monitors, and it seems really accurate. You can get a cheaper version than the 220 - like a Garmin Forerunner 10 - for under $100.

For a while Runkeeper integration stopped working with Garmin but they sent me a note and told me that they have it working again. But I haven't tried. I switched to Strava.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Good lord, which Samsung smart phone doesn't have terrible GPS?

my galaxy s4 is abysmal.

Far be it for me to defend Samsung but my GS4 had a strong GPS that often even functioned indoors. Were you on a custom ROM? I used stock-based ROMs which usually have fewer problems.


Before I got my Nexus 6P, the GS4 had the best phone GPS for me (Nexus One, HTC G2, Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, HTC One X, Galaxy Note, LG G2).

 

[GTRagnarok]

GPS experience always seem to vary for different people for some reason, and not just with Samsung. But it's always been good for me from the iPhone 4 to the Galaxy S4 and to my current Note 4. I use Runtastic which has no problem tracking me. I mostly use it for cycling. I'm on a Touchwiz rom.