Some, maybe naive, questions

[KenB]

Hi,

I got a Forerunner 201 about three weeks ago and started using Topofusion shortly after.  I'm very happy with both.  I have questions about how Topofusion reports elevation and why Topofusion reports distances that vary from those reported by the FR and FR log for the same run.

1. It appears that Topofusion uses elevation information from the gps device.  Since these are often (usually) not very accurate, why isn't there an option to use the known elevations along the route?

2. Last Sunday I used the FR on a long run.  I downloaded the run to both the FR log and Topofusion.  The former reported the run as 15.8 miles.  Topofusion reported the run as 16.2 miles.  Why the variation?

Thanks,

Ken

[Krein]

Hi,

1. Yes, TF uses the elevations provided by the GPS itself.  It can also use elevations along the route, as you say, if you have DEM data for the given area.  You have to use the 'climbing analysis' box to add DEM elevation to the file.  DEM elevation also has its problems, btw.

2. It is likely that you lost signal at some point during the run.  The GPS didn't pick up this distance since it had no signal, but then you used TF to merge the segments together resulting in a longer distance.  The TF is probably closer to the actual distance you ran.