More impressions of the H1

[JungleJim]

v3.04

I finally got the time to do a first walk with the H1. So time for some more impressions. Didn't do any detailed testing so be careful with jumping to conclusions.

Operating the device works more intuitively than the GPSMAP 67 (imo). The touch screen works well, the UI makes more sense. Switching to an app from a glance on one of the home screens is pretty intuitive.

Navigation (routing with courses) works better for me. Using Courses with Roads&Trails navigation on the GPSMAP 67 never worked very well, but now it is similar to how course navigation works on the Edge cycling computers (of which I have used quite a few). Navigation instructions are only shown on the Map app, so there could be room for Garmin to show the instructions when you are on other apps as well. The course is displayed with chevrons indicating direction, which is a very welcome addition for me.

The total ascent / descent is still way off. I live in a flat area at sea level, and the walk I did contains no significant elevation changes. But the H1 thinks I did 65m of ascent and descent. Disappointing, I had hoped that this would be improved over the GPSMAP 67.

The satellite app showed some interesting things. I tried Auto Select and Multi GNSS+Multi band modes. In the latter I got less satellites on GPS, Galileo and BeiDou than I expected, mostly around 6 or 7, with 2 or so blinking. With Auto Select the device often switched to single band GPS, which showed more satellites with signal reception.

Accuracy varied between 2.1m and 2.6m when moving. Interestingly, when standing still the accuracy almost instantly moved to 3.0m and varying up to 3.4m. So it may be that the accelerometer also plays a role in accuracy. Note that this was in heavy cloud conditions, and some rain. So it would definitely need testing in better conditions to see how the accuracy behaves.

Accuracy of the recorded track seems fine at first sight, but this needs more testing. I recorded at the default setting of Smart, so I didn't test Every Second option yet.

When you configure the device to save a GPX file of a recorded activity (in addition to the FIT file), this GPX file is saved in the GARMIN\GPXActivities folder (instead of GARMIN\GPX).

In the coming days I'll try to do some more testing and share the experiences.

Data in the FIT file has been extended compared to the GPSMAP 67. It contains data about switching Satellite modes, the Events registered also includes data about course points reached or when you have gone off course, it contains info on the user, and the record messages (the track points) contain info on speed and altitude

[JungleJim]

With regard to the displayed accuracy: Garmin has stated on the official GPSMAP H1i Plus forum that there is an issue with the displayed accuracy that will be fixed in an upcoming update.

[ConiKost]

Does H1/H1i Plus offer the caching of calculated routes like Edge series does?

[Przekątny]

.......... and the record messages (the track points) contain info on speed and altitude

Programs for reading data in the "fit" file can display various parameters, even those not directly stored in the file.

When saving an "Activity," the device records the coordinates of the point, recording time, altitude, and sensor data.

I loaded an "Activity" from several years ago into two programs. One displayed the coordinates, time, altitude, temperature, and speed, while the other also displayed the distance between sections.

The speed and distance between points were not recorded before and likely still are not saved in the "Activity" file.

The distance between points and speed are calculated by the program.

Based on the point coordinates, the program calculated the distance.
The recorded time difference between points and distance provide the basis for determining the speed on individual sections.

Some parameters are saved in a file in TrackStatsExtension.

From a file that does not contain statistical data, the program can calculate various parameters, including speed and distance between points, maximum lift, minimum lift, travel time, and dwell time, which are not saved in the file.

[LaVitaeBella]

I can't find support for custom maps in online manual? kmz? Am I missing something? If U have time to try to add some kmz maps it will be great...

[GPSrChive]

The H1 supports KMZ maps, just like its predecessors.

[LaVitaeBella]

That's some great news, thx a lot

[GPSrChive]

See GPSrChive > GPSMAP H1 for more information about the H1 series!

[JungleJim]

Does H1/H1i Plus offer the caching of calculated routes like Edge series does?

Doesn't seem so. When I select a course for navigation, and enable Routing, the unit will calculate the route (still not very fast). When I stop navigation and load the same course again, the route calculation will also happen again.

The course points do seem to get cached though, there's a folder called GARMIN\PointCache that contains gpc files for courses that have course points in them.