Pulse OX not accurate

Hi,

When measuring my Ox at the doctor I am between 97% and 99%. With the Garmin Fenix, I am arroud 80% (between 78 and 81%). Values seem very low. I am at ground level so not climbing moutains or other thing.

Measurement seems not accurate. Is it the case for you too ? Does it need a calibration or something like this ?

Thanks
  • issues are mostly due to not reading the f.... manual. ;-)

    While there are indeed some genuine problems, there certainly are a good many that can be resolved by reading the manual or searching!
  • I read the manual and apply everything but I had only one time 98%, it was after a 3km run. Even if I put my hand near my heart, with the watch very tight, I have 91%. If I just move my arm, I drop to 81%.

    I will change the watch in some days so I will know if t is coming from the watch or from my body...
  • The device is extremely sensitive to vertical location. Below your heart and the readings are garbage. At or above your heart (as the manual says) it becomes quite accurate.

  • I've used this on Kilimanjaro (in fact didn't return it within 30 days), so that I could test it out at altitude.

    On day #1 Pulse Ox was 97% for me at 2000m.
    On Day #2 Pulse Ox was 92% for me at 3200m, and finger based oximeter - 94%
    on Day #3 at 3800m - it read 85% for me. Compared with the finger based Oximeter - 95%.
    On Day #4 at 4600m - it read 78% for me. Compared with the finger based - 91%. Upon taking multiple readings it went to 85%, and 90% respectively.
    On Day #5 am - it read 94% for me. Finger based - was 87%. On taking a second reading, F5X+ said 82%.

    On Day #7 back at 2000m - said 87%, finger based was the same.

    It seems that the higher in altitude you go, the more erratic and unreliable the Pulse Oximeter was. It was good at elevations below 3500m, but after that it went erratic.

    If I was someone who was deciding the F5x vs 5x+, and was wondering about the Pulse Oximeter - don't waste your money. Its not accurate to provide useful data and is only a gimmic to make you fork out the extra £150.