I see it on shows like the Biggest Loser and with Gyms like Orange Theory. People are working out and seeing their live results and heart rate data up on the big screen. Does Garmin have a way for me to display this data from my 235 during an indoor workout to a phone display or a TV monitor? Sometimes it is difficult to look at the screen of my watch during an intense treadmill run and would be awesome to see the data on a larger screen.
Hi -
I have recently bought a Garmin xt920. I am used to using an iPhone app called Yahoo for most of my workouts. It is live, colorful and right in front of me. I am looking for something that connects my Garmin heart rate strap to an easy to view app on my phone while doing treadmill runs or indoor bike rides. Currently, I take my watch off to see it (when inside). There must be a better way but I am very new to the software and I can't seem to find anything in the app store or online.
To do what you want can't be done in software because the iPhone won't receive the ANT+ signal from the Garmin transmitter. You can buy an adapter for the iPhone, but it only suits the old 30 pin connector.
The easiest way to use both a phone app and your 920XT at the same time is to buy something such as a Wahoo Tickr or 4iiii Viiiiva heart rate transmitter. They transmit on both ANT+ (used by Garmin) and Bluetooth Smart (used by your phone). There are three different variants of Tickr and the Viiiiva also functions as an ANT+ to Bluetooth Smart bridge where it will rebroadcast an ANT+ signal on Bluetooth Smart.
On the Biggest Loser, they were using vivoactives, and their heart rates were either from a HRM band or the equipment itself (the va doesn't have WHR). If it was a band, they might have just had something outside the watch that was watching the ANT+ data.
I think you may need to look for an app for your phone that can also listen for ANT data, and with a 235, put it in a mode where it transmits the ANT+ data for the WHR while doing an activity.
I often bike indoors and would love a better way to see stats, since turning wrist is awkward when spinning hard. Also during a class, it's usually dark, so seeing watchface when its strapped to handle bars is tough also.
I have tried the 'live tracking' feature... essentially trying to watch my own activity...but it didn't help either (no HR displayed...and since its a Spin Bike...no speed)
Sure would be great if you could see live stats on your phone via the Garmin App....!
Most of the machines available in gyms are "Polar Capable", which means they can link with a Polar Heart Rate Monitor. These are only about 55 dollars so they aren't hugely expensive. Another plus is they can link with most smart phones if the proper app is installed and running. BTW, Garmin are you paying attention, building a Bluetooth heart rate monitor may not be such a dumb idea after all. Either that or talk to Apple about allowing the use of the Wahoo dongle with their newer smart phones would be a good thing. I actually find it rather surprising that two companies with a long history of innovation like Apple and Garmin aren't working together to grow a wider customer base.
Another options is to do what I now do. That is take a spare Forerunner to the gym and prop it up on the machine while you are working. In my case I use my older Forerunner 15 as a heart rate display by setting it to show the heart rate from my chest band while I'm working out on an Elliptical Trainer. I also prop my Apple SE with Gamin Connect Mobile running so I can watch the step counter. Sure wish that Connect Mobile would offer live display of the heart rate along with the Steps and Pace but apparently Garmin doesn't think their users would find that useful. Hey, Garmin, WAKE UP, it's 14 degrees outside and I am just too old and wise to go out for a run when it's this frigid when I have a nice heated gym to work out in.
Spin and Interval data on bike workouts should be visible on the Phone (Wahoo does this).
There is no “should”. You're welcome to use a Wahoo device for that, though, if it does what you would like.
If you pay $700 for a watch, you should expect this feature.
LOL, my Raymond Weil watch cost more than twice that amount, and it won't even tell me the seconds or the date!
As a consumer, you “should” not base your expectations on price (or, worst still, your own fancy and imagination). Reading the product's specifications and owner's manual would be a far more reasonable starting point.
It's a pity if you are running on a treadmill with a TV screen in front of you, but you still can't see your ruining data (heart rate, pace, cadence, ground contact, etc.) live on the TV screen, so you can adjust performance in real time! You instead have to keep glancing at your watch, which is very hard to do when you are running fast!
This should be a simple and basic feature of the Garmin Connect app. Fitbit has been doing it for many years!
The best solution I could come up with is to wear one of my watches (a Fenix 3 HR) so it counts my steps, and prop the other (a Fenix 5X, which is connected to my chest HRM and footpod) on the treadmill and shine a light on it so I can see my data live. Quite cumbersome!!
