Altimeter

[crashmbro]

Has anyone had a favourable experience with altimeter apps for an iPhone? I need to measure height above sea level accurately.


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[John Nelson]

Depends on which version of the iPhone you have and how accurate you need the reading. In newer iPhones, the Compass app gives elevation.

[DaveT]

Unless your phone has an barometric pressure sensor it is using GPS for altitude. iPhone's older than 6/6+ do not have a pressure sensor and can only show GPS altitude. Per Garmin (https://support.garmin.com/faqSearch/en-GB/faq/content/QPc5x3ZFUv1QyoxITW2vZ6) it is not uncommon for GPS elevations to be off +/-400'.

If you do have a newer iPhone be sure and use an app that is displaying the barometric altitude  and not just the GPS altitude. You must calibrate the barometric altimeter frequently using a known altitude or atmospheric pressure. Here is an app that claims to do this (I just found it with Google, have not tried it)

Depending on your needs you could also record the GPS coordinates and look up the elevations later on a web site like https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm

[crashmbro]

Thank you. Much appreciated.


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[dancingcyclist]

When "Ride with GPS" records me doing50+mph down hill where it is physically impossible I will never fully rely on GPS. I wear my watch which has an altimeter/barometer when riding and want info about my altitude when climbing hills.