Elevation issue - any updates??
I have one of these Karoos that cannot properly display and record elevation with a SIM card installed and sometimes even when the SIM card is not in.
This was what support said back in April:
"The software team is currently working on a fix to solve the issue with elevation recordings. As it requires extensive testing in different riding conditions, analyzing the test results, and making iterations to the existing fix based on the test results, at this point I do not have an exact timeline to share with you. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we work through this. Please be assured that fixing this issue is one of our top priorities, but it is unfortunate that it is taking more time than we anticipated."
I mean you must have some kind of an update, right?
Essentially, I have a bike computer that cannot properly display elevation data during a ride what is super annoying - in particular when you are in the mountains.
This is a basic functionality. At least, why not switch to GPS-elevation data for the time being?
Thanks, Felix
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Same here. I also noticed that the absolute elevation goes to zero quite often, which might be causing the massive ascent value. I've been using Karoo 2 for the last 3 years and always had slightly bigger ascent values compared to Strava / Garmin watch (by couple of percent). But this season it can get off by thousands of meters even on a shot flat ride. I've had a sim card in since I bought it, shall I try to remove it? Can it have an impact?
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Just received my Karoo 2 coming from an edge 500. I did notice that the elevation was 3x greater on the Karoo compared to garmin for the exact same ride. Had to use Strava elevation correction. Without it, estimated power and calories would have also been affected. I’m not using a SIM card. I will try manual elevation set and see how it works next time. Grade also seems very sensitive to a point it’s almost useless. Just hitting a pothole affects the grade.
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I have exactly the same problen on my karoo 2. I have to removed the SIM card if i want to have the correct elevation values on my routes... If I want to have the correct elevation data, I can't install the SIM card, which means that my family doesn't know where I am since I can't use the tracking option...
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Just received my Karoo 2 coming from an edge 500. I did notice that the elevation was 3x greater on the Karoo compared to garmin for the exact same ride.
I can't believe they are still selling new units with that problem. That is on the borderline of fraud, because this issue has been known for a long while what support has confirmed to me in writing. Despite that they continue selling faulty units. This is not some minor bug, but elevation is an important metric. If that was about a product like the iPhone, Hammerhead would find itself drowned in class action lawsuits.
If the barometric altimeter is hopelessly screwed, why don't they switch to GPS elevation data or add an app that utilizes the map elevation data so people have at least something?
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I've just recently purchased a Karoo2 and am also suffering the same issues with incorrect elevation data. Shame on me for not doing more due diligence before I purchased as I would have seen this pre-existing issue. It is amazing to me that these are still being sold with a known issue on such a basic function for a head unit two years after acknowledging the problem. I also agree with the other posts that it would be best, having already acknowledged the problem, to give those affected by it an option to get the elevation from GPS data rather than the barometer. Seems the least that could be done for us having knowingly sold faulty goods to us
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This is the reply I received from HH:
I can confirm that this is related to an issue that presents as spikes in the recorded elevation profile. Each spike is only a couple of meters, but they occur several time over the course of the ride that adds up to overall ascent on your ride.Our team is working to find the best resolution and we hope to have more news to share with the community very soon.
At this time, we recommend a workaround of utilizing the Elevation Correction tools on 3rd-party websites like Strava, so the correct data is displayed in your ride. You would be able to find the option to correct the elevation by clicking the three dots after posting your ride.Some kind of smoothing of the data needs to be implemented. The barometer is too sensitive. Looks like this has been going on for almost a year now, don’t see why there isn’t a resolution. I don’t want to give up on this unit, but like come on.
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I've had 4 Karoo 2's before, all had the same error. I don't want the device anymore. Much difficult for me to switch because of the ingenious navigation and usability. But I've now bought a Wahoo Element Roam V2. What can I say, navigation is similar, only not so nice maps, but works great. In the event of deviations from the planned route, quick logical rerouting to the route. Rerouting can be switched off. Altitude meter absolutely correct, even slightly less than Strava conversion. The same up to 30 m. Display much easier to read in the sun.
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Hello, in my case luckily I have not had these problems. As always, I chose to calibrate the Altitude at the Airport and it has information about the altitude you are at which helps a lot, I live on the 5th floor and in my Garmims I already had the problem of differences in the altimeter a and accumulated, the solution was extremely simple never turn on the GPS on the floor turn on only on the ground and wait for the GPS signal ok. I also use the GPS on the 0º level support so as not to change the reading instruments too much, for over 4 years I have not had large differences in altimetry or accumulated. But this is my reality luckily. Hugs and good rides.
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Do the developers know what is causing the inaccuracy and are they working on it? I have just gone back and looked at some of my rides on a 4 mile loop and the elevation is increasing by 7 feet per lap. I have other rides where I start and end at the same location and the elevation is as much as 50 feet different. Elevation is useless as it currently exists. I love the climber functionality, but not sure how useable it is at this time.
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does HH has partnership with Suunto? if Suunto can do it, why not HH? https://www.suunto.com/Support/Product-support/suunto_vertical/suunto_vertical/settings/fusedalti/
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Looks like it could really be a map issue. Isn’t there suppose to be some big map update soon? Still, it doesn’t explain why I would get so many tiny elevation spikes during the ride. A threshold needs to be applied. Meanwhile support says they don’t know if it’s software or hardware. Explains why no update to this. I could just exchange it but problem could still exist.
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"Meanwhile support says they don’t know if it’s software or hardware"
Does anyone else think this is the most troubling statement Hammerhead have made so far? I know that is a huge call given some of the things we have endured as Hammerhead users! Not much to inspire confidence in the customers when they admit not one of their employees has any idea what the problem is!!!
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As already mentioned above, exchange does not make sense. After already 4 devices with the same error, I gave it up. The older devices probably do not have this problem with the height. All the new ones are flawed. It is a gamble to catch a device without this problem. It's sad that such a device is still being sold at all. Maybe that's why the radical price reduction. Hopefully the Karoo 3 will be error-free, as all the other features on the Karoo 2 are great. The unique selling point is the navigation. I'm now on a Wahoo Element Roam V2. I didn't want to go back to Garmin. So far everything is great, very correct height and slope, navigation is also good.
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I feel as if we can deduce the issue ourselves. Everyone having issues write the following:
1. Country
2. Route loaded yes or no
3. SIM card in yes or no
4. Phone paired yes or no
5. Elevation correction manual or auto
6. What sensors connected ant and ble
7. Start unit indoors or outside
And any other comments relevant. -
So I did more testing.
1. Country - Canada
2. Route loaded yes or no - Happens with and without route
3. SIM card in yes or no - No
4. Phone paired yes or no - No
5. Elevation correction manual or auto - Happens with both auto and manual
6. What sensors connected ant and ble - Ant only HR/Speed?cadenceToday's ride measured 4x greater elevation than strava. It is obvious that the sensor is just too sensitive. I did a 6" bunny hop on purpose on a flat stretch of road and the elevation gained and the grade increased and decreased accordingly. Same happens with potholes and there are many. There needs to be some smoothing or threshold activation.
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I got my replacement unit yesterday. Went for a ride this morning. Exactly the same issue. I don’t get how HH says it affects only a small number of units. What are the chances that both units I received have the same elevation problems. Elevation showing 4x greater than normal. They should just give us the option to turn off the altimeter and use data from GPS/ basemap similar to how climber works. I’ll just continue to exchange for a new unit as the 1 year warranty will reset. Turnaround time is 2weeks. Maybe once HH gets tired of paying for shipping they will give me a K3.
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I purchased my Karoo 2 in November last year. It seemed to work OK initially. However,have noticed in past number of months quite a large discrepancy in elevation measurements versus what my cycling buddies are getting for same routes. So when I e- mailed support I got the exact same reply as Marco G did to his e- mail 3 months ago! I'm wondering should I get a replacement unit or is there any point as appears will still have the same issue? Bit pissed off as if I'd known about this at time of initial purchase I would have considered a Wahoo instead!
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the replacement unit will be exactly the same...try and do a ride with the Karoo in your back pocket where vibrations will not affect it and see what happens
I did a gravel ride with one unit on my bars and one in my back pocket and the difference was remarkable...no ragged spiky profile in the .fit file generated by the unit in my pocket and the ascent was correct.
This seems to be a hardware issue, perhaps it can be corrected by smoothing out the elevation values ....but the problem has been going on for so long that I doubt Hammerhead have a clue on what to do about it and simply replace units to keep customers happy for a while...
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