This year’s Summer Spine Race series, GPS accuracy, getting the best battery life on a GPS unit or watch whilst participating in an Ultramarathon and Andy’s Top Tips.

In this month’s GPS Training Podcast 

1. We look forward to this year’s Spine Race and how our race prep is doing – 1 min

2. GPS accuracy – What is good, settings and how have things changed over the years? – 26 min 35 seconds

3. Getting the best out of your battery – during an ultra event – both units and watches – 36 minutes 55 seconds

4. Andy’s top tips – 45 minutes 55 seconds

1. We look forward to this year’s Spine Event



x 4 distances

Sprint – Starts Saturday afternoon – 15^th June –

46 miles

18 hours to complete

Edale to Hebdon Bridge

Spine Challenger South – Starts Saturday morning – 15^th June –

108 miles

60 hours to complete

Edale to Hardraw

CP1 – Hebdon Hay, CP 1.5 – Malham Tarn

Spine Challenger North – Starts Monday morning – 17^th June –

160 miles

90 hours to complete

Hardraw to Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders

CP1 – Low Way Farm, Middleton on Teesdale

CP2 – Alston YH

CP3 – Bellingham

CP3.5 – Byrness

Full Spine Race – Starts Sunday morning – 16^th June –

268 miles

156 hours to complete

Edale to Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders

Paul Turner, Byrness Hill – Walking an epic 1000 mile. His walk will include both the Coast to Coast & the Pennine Way (walking each twice) & finishing with the Yorkshire Dales Centurion Walk.

Paul’s Just Giving page – https://www.justgiving.com/team/pauls1000miletrek

– Training

– Doing anything different this year

– Thoughts ahead of this year’s event?

Jon’s Just Giving – https://www.justgiving.com/team/spinenorthjon

Andy’s Just Giving – https://www.justgiving.com/team/andyayrespinechallenger

2.   GPS accuracy – What is good, settings and how have things changed over the years?

3 x Satellites show position 2d, 4 x Satellites 3d elevation

What is Multi GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite system)

Device picks up more than one set of Satellite Constellations

Main ones we use in devices such as Garmin, TwoNav, Coros

GPS – USA 1978 started Military – Global use 1994

31 Satellites

Glonass – Russian development 1976 – operational early 80’s

24 Satellites operational

Galileo – EU – 2016 started

26 Operational

Beidou – China – Started 2012

56 Operational

Twonav does not use duel frequency but multi-band uses 3 x satellite constellations at once, we have been using GPS, Galileo & Beidou and seeing under 10 feet and have seen down to 4 – 5 feet

GPSMap65,67 dual frequency have seen down to 6 feet

Generally we find other handhelds picking up either GPS & Glonass or GPS & Galileo around 10 – 12 feet

Garmin Watches do not show an accuracy screen

Coros has a Satellite screen where you can see how many are in view and how many are strongly locked on

What is Dual Frequency / Multi Band

Use Coros Article

GPS – 18 satellite transmit at L1 & L5

Glonass – older L1 & L2 no L5

Galileo – all E1 & E5

Beidou – all B1 & B2

Devices we sell with dual frequency Epix gen 2, Fenix 7 sapphire solar & pro models

GPSMap65,65s,66sr,67,67i 

How accurate is a GPS unit/ watch video – https://gpstraining.co.uk/blogs/reviews/how-accurate-is-a-gps-unit-and-which-is-the-most-accurate-gps-unit

3. Getting the best out of your battery – during an ultra event – both units and watches

We always talk about backlight if you have option to reduce, not leaving on map page, turning off HR on watches, coros turn off stress monitoring, nighttime coros use nightmode, gesture control vastly improved or just tap backlight button etc, map North up although we do prefer track up

Handhelds use battery save mode screen off

But carrying on from the discussion about satellites

My own Epix 2 Pro 51mm

GPS Only – 82 hrs

All Systems not dual ie Multiband – 61hrs

All systems + multi-band – 37 hrs

Auto select picks satellite so battery will go up and down – 58hrs approx.

Coros Apex 2 pro

GPS Only – 66hrs

All Systems – 41hrs

All System Dual – 24hrs

4. Top Tips

 View your 1:25k maps in BaseCamp – V3

Card reader on pc or adaptor like the one we stock makes maps so much quicker

Video – Taking you through the option – GPSTraining.co.uk > Product Reviews > View your Garmin 1:25k Ordnance Survey maps in Garmin BaseCamp