accuracy of sprts tracker vs step counter vs stand alone gps?nokia n95

Discussion for Sports Tracker

20-04-2009 03:01

Ok i am having issues sort of

how accurate are these programs? If i use sports tracker or the just the gps in my nokia n95 while driving the KM seems very accurate when compared to my car odometer.

I am in a hiking group. and when hiking i get very different results from the stepcounter vs the sprts tracker.

the sports tracker gave me on one hike reading of 22 km vs only 18km on the step counter?

also our maps(bruce trail in ontario, canada) for the route we took today indicated the total hike was about 22km yet sports tracker gave reading of about 30km?seems a pretty big difference?

My friend in the group had a stand alone gps which gave a reading closer of 24 km.(not sure the make or model)

Just wondering if every one thinks the sports tracker is accurate or not? if not how much should i expect it to be out? i have been assuming the sports tracker using the internal gps was more accurate than than the step counter for KM's. but i am not so sure now after seeing the Km's on the map.

I also been readin that the external gps LD-4W for nokia phones is more accurate that the internal one. Can i use the LD-4W on my nokia n95 even though it has a built in gps?

Any thoughts??

thanks
Thecozz

Comments

Submitted by mbrett on 20-04-2009 08:07.

Sports Tracker uses GPS positioning to track your location in order to log the route you have taken and calculate the distance travelled. One thing that could effect the accuracy of sports tracker is the changes in altitude that you make during your workout as the vertical accuracy is a great deal worse than the horizontal accuracy in GPS.

Step Counter (assumed to be the stand alone app. (A Step counter is now emodied within Sports Tracker 2.06, but you need teh install file with "STEP" within the filename).

Step Counter bases the distance travelled based on the inputted length of your "step". This I find to be very inacurate when compared with GPS as your "step" length can change greatly depending on the type of walking that you are doing and you also need to spend time measuring your "step" length before using it if you have the slightest belief that your "step" length does not change.

You can use the LD-4W with you N95 8Gb. I do. The way the Positioning system seems to work is that it works it's way down the list of options (see below) until it finds one that provides a GPS lock.

Tools / Connectivity / GPS Data / Positioning Settings

The list is as follows:
Bluetooth GPS
Assisted GPS
Integrated GPS
Network Based

Further information on the different methods listed above and the advantages of Bluetooth GPS over Integrated GPS are documented in:
http://betalabs.nokia.com/forum/topic/1386

mbrett
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.018

Submitted by thecozz on 21-04-2009 01:51.

ok thanks that is good information, I am in Canada thought and it seems i would have to order the LD-4W from over seas somewhere which is fine, but will it work with my phone in Canada?I have the N95-3 not the 8gb model.

Also i am not quite sure how it works? I am assuming it send the gps signals to your cell via bluetooth? And then you use your cell phone maps and gps features as per normal?

Thanks
thecozz

Submitted by djh.sthlm on 21-04-2009 02:07.

You have the right idea on how a GPS module works.

There are hundreds of external Bluetooth GPS modules you could use. The system of satellites that all of them use is the same. North America has the best coverage, so you're fine.

Nokia's LD-4W is good, pretty and Nokia, but you can purchase better units for less money if you shop around. buygpsnow.com is a good resource.

-David

Current setup: e61 unbranded product code 0529654 Euro-B1 Silver. Firmware: 3.0633.09.04. Theme: Ovi blue. Service provider: 3 Sweden. Peripherals: Bluemax ext BT GPS module

Submitted by thecozz on 22-04-2009 19:43.

Ok but now i am realizing that the nokia step counter uses the accelerometer, while sports tracker uses the gps? so which is more accurate? what sort of tolerances could i expect from either? In wooded area with different elevations?

Also will nokia sports tracker work with the external gps? I mean If i have an external gps activated to my n95 will all programs on my cell that use gps automatically use the data from the external device?

thanks
thecozz

Submitted by thecozz on 22-04-2009 19:45.

and yes i am talking about the nokia step counter is apparently makes use of the internal accelerometer and also gives a distance measurement in km

Submitted by djh.sthlm on 23-04-2009 02:13.

Briefly, the Step Counter is essentially a pedometer. Distance accuracy depends on precise measurement and consistency of stride length. Not ideal for uneven and meandering trails.

Pedometer use in running is useful when using different stride lengths. How to use different stride lengths in a training regimen is another subject.

I only use NST with an external GPS module. Any application needing GPS data can use the same ext BT GPS device. Your device's system memory will limit how many apps you may simultaneously run.

-David

Current setup: e61 unbranded product code 0529654 Euro-B1 Silver. Firmware: 3.0633.09.04. Theme: Ovi blue. Service provider: 3 Sweden. Peripherals: Bluemax ext BT GPS module

Submitted by mikenathan on 20-08-2009 12:05.

Some sports GPS trackers are very inaccurate when it comes to calculating vertical values. So these devices are probably not the best for hiking in the mountains. Another option can be that the device didn't receive sufficient data high up in the mountains. I want to get a new sports GPS and so I am looking through some navi reviews to see if there's a accurate high quality device on the market.