Compare the right things
The main instrument reads live speed from the location service rather than waiting for a trip to start. That makes it possible to inspect a current reading without recording a session. Waymark also shows the state of the location fix, and it distinguishes a missing or stale reading from a live one. The displayed speed and the saved trip maximum answer different questions.
Compare readings only when they refer to the same unit and time period. A current display is not the same as an average over a whole journey, and a filtered number need not change exactly like a separate device. When investigating a surprising value, record whether a trip was running and whether the location state changed at the same time.
A like-for-like workflow
The display is not an unfiltered stream of every raw sample.
- Observe the current state
- Use the intended activity profile
- Compare over a short interval rather than one frame
Interpret the difference
A user compares the phone display with another instrument. This is an illustrative scenario, not measured field-test evidence.
Check the GPS label before interpreting the number. Good, poor, acquiring, lost and denied states describe different conditions. A large numeral is still an approximate phone reading, not a calibration certificate. Configure units and alerts while stationary. Sound or vibration requires the relevant setting and supported device behaviour; neither should become the only cue you depend on.
Quick reference
| Item | Meaning | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Acquiring | Waiting for usable location | Do not read an unavailable placeholder as zero |
| Poor | Limited location quality | Read the caution alongside the number |
| Lost | The fix is no longer current | A last-known value is not a prediction |
| Denied or off | Permission or location-service issue | Use the recovery action for the stated condition |
At a glance
- 01 →Observe the current state
- 02 →Use the intended activity profile
- 03 ✓Compare over a short interval rather than one frame
Sources & further reading
Product instructions describe the current Waymark implementation. Operating-system labels can vary by version and device.