Hello!

Apple says that Apple Watch Ultra 2 has the most accurate GPS in a sports watch. Is it true and how can we use this watch for GPS SpeedSurfing "green" icon sessions?

Hi all, I came here to post the exact same question.  The Ultra 2 uses multiple gps readings, like the other ratified devices.  
 

any reason it wouldn't or couldn't be formalised?

cheers, Steve 

With the great diversity of apple watches and phones its crucial to receive the device type information, untill now the current apps like Hoolan , Surfr. and Waterspeeds have not been providing this (despite our requests) so every session posted with these apps are regarded as a standard session not matching the requirements for the highest certification (green icon on our rankings). Both the Ultra and Ultra Watch 2 are technically ready to be approved for the green icon , the only thing needed is the device specific info provided by the app developers.

Hoolan and Surfr seems to be jumpers apps. I hope waterspeed will do it. Please :)

Waterspeed confirmed in a support email to me today that it's on their backlog and they are looking to progress it!! 

Such a great app, this would be fantastic. 

Waterspeed will have it enabled in the next software release due in a couple of days.  Support team confirmed today.  Fantastic turn around 

@all, we just received a new build from Waterspeed enabling devices specific information, we will integrate this asap.

Will Apple watch Ultra 2 then be green, when posting with this and waterspeed app in the future?

Will you annonce when it is official?

Brian

No hurry, but please let us know. Autumn storms are coming soon and winter is almost here. Premium membership depends on it :)

We expect both the Ultra and Ultra 2 to get approval as stated before, final tests are running

Finally some wind. Ultra 2 with waterspeed app and send to GPS speedsurfing works very well :) icon still yellow, what can I do? https://www.gps-kitesurfing.com/?mnu=user&val=457836&uid=25249

Based on the latest tests it's not there yet. Somehow the Apple IOS makes some choices , and is missing crucial datapoints, see -> https://logiqx.github.io/gps-details/devices/apple/ultra/ 

Based on the latest tests it's not there yet. Somehow the Apple IOS makes some choices , and is missing crucial datapoints, see -> https://logiqx.github.io/gps-details/devices/apple/ultra/ 

Thanks! Is it hardware(Apple) problem or Waterspeed can improve it in app?

Based on the info we have it seems to be caused by Watch OS, and not directly related to Waterspeed or other apps like Hoolan, or Surfr. Acceleration in particular is missed in some cases, which can cause runs and top speeds to be missed or reported faulty. 

Thank you for all the effort and testing, can I confirm you've test a Apple ultra and not an ultra 2?

im about to get my hands on an ultra 2 and have a motion gps so i can record and submit the two files for comparison? 
A quick high level review maybe to confirm the same issues exist or don't as ultra one?

thoughts? 
 

thank you, Steve 

We have tested both Ultra and Ultra 2, issues seems to be related to WatchOS and not specific to hardware. 

Ah ok, that's a shame the poor outcome is across both.  I'm going to raise a call with Apple Directly.

Thank you for confirming you've tested both. 

Thanks Steve! If you know and can connect to some tech person from Apple, please say that 1Hz is so old fashioned. Even my ESP GPS slow hardware can measure 20 Hz. For speedsurfing 1Hz is not enough. 5Hz minimim, better 10 if talking about 2 sec and 10 sec max events.

I'd also suggest there are some hardware constraints.

Based on the data that I have seen the ultra, it can't even be trusted to output speeds at a steady 1 Hz, which is evident by exactly the same speeds being output for 2 seconds or more. I've also seen this behaviour from a variety of phones and the Sony chipset that was popular in watches between 2019 and 2021 (e.g. COROS APEX Pro, COROS VERTIX, Garmin Fenix 6, etc).

Most sports / activities just need an approximate position to track a run / cycle (or navigation), so high frequency logging isn't a requirement in their eyes.

A number of modern GNSS chipsets appear to focus on low power consumption which is in conflict with the accuracy requirements of our sport. It is fortunate for us that the latest chipsets from Airoha are performing extremely well and being used by a number of popular watches from the likes of COROS and Garmin.