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HR reading incorrect Fenix3

My Fenix 3 at times reports a heart rate 40 beats higher than actual and this can continue throughout an 80 min workout. The data looks perfect other than being way higher than actual. Elevated readings of 10-40 beats can be really MIS-leading and worse than no reading at all.
My Fenix 3 worked well for several years but now is completely unreliable. Is this common over time that watch stop’s functioning correctly?
Can Garmin to anything?

0 trux over 1 year ago

3390782 said:
Can Garmin to anything?

Fenix 3? Forget about it. You did not write which type of workout you were referring to, but typically the sensor can catch a wrong HR when the optical signal is noisy. For example running cadence, or arm workouts can induce some noise, and the sensor may catch on them. Often, some additional factor may play a role - dirty sensor window, peripheral vasoconstriction (i.e. due to the cold or hypoxia), high tan, tattoos, bad fit of the wristband (too tight or too loose), etc.

Apart from cleaning the glass covering the sensor, and trying to adjust the wristband (2-3 cm above the wrist-bone, and tight enough to prevent the bouncing of the watch, though not too tight to restrict the blood circulation), there is not much you can do about it. It is a limitation of the optical HRM technology. The only way to get a reliable HR, is buying a HRM chest strap. Not necessarily from Garmin - you can find also inexpensive straps from other manufacturers.