In the use of smart sports watches, users often face some frustrating issues:
- GPS drift: running tracks appear inaccurate or offset;
- Unstable Bluetooth: frequent disconnections with phones or earbuds;
- High power consumption: battery drains too fast, limiting usage time.
These problems are not solely caused by software. A key factor lies in the crystal oscillator (XO) selection during hardware design.
The Role of Crystal Oscillators
Crystal oscillators serve as the precise clock source for the GPS module, Bluetooth chip, and MCU controller inside sports watches.
- For GPS: even a tiny clock error can lead to significant location drift.
- For Bluetooth: frequency deviation may cause connection loss or data errors.
- For power management: unstable clocks reduce efficiency in low-power modes, draining the battery faster.
Root Causes of Common Issues
- Low-accuracy oscillators → large temperature drift, poor stability in varying environments
- Insufficient power optimization → faster battery drain.
- Lack of differential/temperature-compensated solutions → poor performance in outdoor environments.
JGHC Crystal Oscillator Solutions
For sports watches and wearable devices, JGHC recommends:
- High-precision TCXO (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator) → minimizes GPS drift, ensuring accurate positioning.
- Low-power active oscillators (SPXO/OCXO customized) → extends battery life.
- Differential oscillator solutions → enhances wireless stability for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections.
Conclusion
When your sports watch suffers from inaccurate GPS, unstable Bluetooth, or short battery life, the true reason might be that the wrong crystal oscillator was chosen.
JGHC Crystals is committed to providing high-precision, low-power, and highly reliable oscillator solutions for wearable devices, helping brands deliver superior user experiences.
For more crystal oscillator application solutions, please contact JGHC.