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Garmin 220 heart rate monitor - it's not working right

Former Member over 11 years ago

It connects with the Garmin 220 just fine and when I first started to use the heart rate monitor it worked just worked fine. Then a few weeks back the readings just wasn't right anymore.

There are 2 problems The first: it's like it's not connecting to my body and it doesn't show any heart rate and 2) when it shows a heart rate - it's too low.

I've tried to search for resolutions and the most common suggestion was to 1) clean it 2) turn the watch on/off and 3) to add water to the 3 points. Neither worked.

When it works - the problem is that the readings are too low. For example, the last time it worked correctly, it noted my average heart rate was 166 max 177 for a 5km run. Today I ran 10km and it says my heart rate was 91 average and 118 as the highest.

Please help me.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

Suggest you give the battery change a try, no harm done doing this :)

I changed the battery to a brand new one and it made no difference.

0 Former Member over 10 years ago

I can't physically put it any higher as I'm a woman.

Did you try to shift the strap to the left so that the black/grey fabric junction is just in the middle of the body ?
I had also some problems and it worked for me :)

0 RasoolK over 10 years ago

I have had similar issue from time to time. It shows 80 - 82 when running, but then catches up. Strangest thing happened yesterday when it started showing 80 for some time and I decided to disconnect the strap and the device and to my surprise it continued to show a fluctuating 80 to 83 while I was running!! Should have shown - - - for not finding signal. What is going on?

0 hnijs001 over 10 years ago

I have the same problem: heart rate is way to low. (forerunner 220)
I once had this before with my forerunner 610. I contacted Garmin support, and my HRM was replaced within warranty. No questions / no problems.

This time I am facing the problem for the first time with my 220. Strangely the reported heart rate drops during my work out (to app. 90 bpm), but before the end picks up again to normal levels. Check the picture I included.

Bought it end July '14, so it is not even 6 months old. I am really looking after it, rinsing it after every use and washing it regularly. I can't believe battery is causing the problem already, but I will try and replace it.

0 MATINO84 over 10 years ago

Same problem here with FR220.

Sometimes it is showing unusual high HR, but last days it goes down to 80-90 during exercise.

I tried to replace battery, and that seems to help for a 1-2 runs, and again it starts to show strange values. Will try the position shift and let you know.

0 BlackSheepofChaplin over 10 years ago

Hi TRYOUT - My monitor wasn't working and I was searching through this thread after replacing my battery. Wearing the strap on my left side has made it work. Thanks for posting.