AW5 LTE GPS accuracy problem

[rbart]

After looking in details I have noticed some glitches
I have also compared with my wife (series 3 GPS) who ran with me
So I call them back tomorrow...

 

[mk313]

I read a little. No expert on this. But what I found out: VoLTE is the only way an AW can be used as a phone. No GSM or 3G. So switching this off is almost equal to switching off LTE as a whole. Of course streaming data would still be possible, but the idea of being reachable is gone.

If that’s the case, the. Switching it off on the phone definitely won’t turn it off on the watch. I had an iPhone 7 which wasn’t volte compatible on my carrier and I was still able to make calls in my watch.

 

[NME42]

Yes, quite sure VoLTE can not be switched off on the watch.

 

[rbart]

Another useless call to apple support this morning.
Another person who discover my issue, he has just booked an appointment in apple store to show my watch at the Genius Bar ...
They will probably do nothing except sending it for "repair"

 

[NME42]

So you are going for the repair? They will just exchange it then I guess.

 

[rbart]

They say « repair » but there are 2 possibilities :
- they exchange the watch
- they say that my watch is perfect and they send it back to me

 

[NME42]

Yes, could happen. More chance that they don’t invest much time and just exchange it.
What will you do?

 

[rbart]

If they want to exchange it I will do that.
You said that it has solved the issue for the German guy ...

 

[NME42]

Ok, worth a try.

To be semantically correct: I said that he said that the exchange solved the problem.
A little bit nitpicking but you understand. No reason to not believe him but from a technical perspective I am missing the explanation.

 

[rbart]

One possible explanation : Apple has changed something on latest models
Or a problem with some series ...

 

[NME42]

One possible explanation : Apple has changed something on latest models
Or a problem with some series ...

yes, maybe. But would not explain why the behavior looks similar on newer iPhones. But well, maybe they have also a chipset version with the problem. Not really probable but not impossible.

 

[rbart]

I agree.
It's very unlikely

 

[rbart]

I had an appointment in an Apple Store this afternoon.
They have just filled a form and sent my watch for analysis/repair (unlikely)/replacement(hopefully).
I am not very confident about a solution but that's my only hope ...

 

[NME42]

Any indication when you will get the/a new watch back?

 

[rbart]

10 days maximum

 

[NME42]

Really curious what will happen. Hope you noted the serial so you can see if it is a new watch.

 

[rbart]

Yes I have the serial number
Wait and see

 

[rbart]

I have received a message, they have decided to replace my watch.
Now I am waiting for it

 

[rbart]

I have the new watch.
Not tested yet, but it's a brand new model (not refurb) but produced last September (11 months ago)
So it will probably have the same issue as the previous one ...
I will do a test run tomorrow

 

[NME42]

My AW production date is August 2019.

 

[NME42]

I asked the guy from the German Facebook group who got his AW 5 LTE exchanged and has no problems since (still has no!) what his old and his new watch have as production dates. Interesting.

Old watch (faulty): ZR -> Nov 19
New watch (ok): CF -> Mar 20

Too bad we will not get too many production dates of watches that are ok to extract a pattern, only the faulty ones ;-).

 

[rbart]

First run this morning and I still have the issue...
I don’t know what to do ...

 

[NME42]

So the theory is that watches built before November 19 have the problem. Watches built after March 20 have it not. Maybe earlier models are also save.
Will be interesting to see if the problem persists with the AW 6.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

First run this morning and I still have the issue...
I don’t know what to do ...

Sell it quickly as a brand new replacement and get the 6 in a few weeks!

 

[NME42]

Sell it quickly as a brand new replacement and get the 6 in a few weeks!

Yes good idea. Did the same with my last Garmin watch and got a good price for it.