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5x Plus Dropping Ant+ HR

I have been comparing GPS tracks of my 5x plus to a old Forerunner 305 (tracks actually very similar). While testing, I was noticing the Fenix was losing HR on the screen (Garmin Ant+ chest strap). The 305 showed no such issue w/ same strap synced. Looking into it further, on Garmin Connect, you can clearly see that the HR drops out very regularly. Gaps all over the place. The FR305 shows zero drops on the same ride, viewed on GC. Both units mounted on MTB handlebars.

I thought this was a fixed issue.

0 nmyeti over 7 years ago

It would be new issue as the 5x didn't drop at all. It was rock solid unless I put my body between the strap and the watch but digging into the back pocket of my flipbelt while running. Then it would occasionally drop for a second, but the connection was restored really quickly once I was done messing with that back pocket

Will be keeping an eye on this

0 joshtee over 7 years ago

Here's a example of it on GC. I was doing short segments comparing GPS tracks of the 2 devices. A little less then 15 minutes on this one.

Fenix 5x plus: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2872653653

Forerunner 305: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2872904649

0 joshtee over 7 years ago

Wow, just looked at this most recent ride and didn't want to post until I viewed the FR305 data to compare (305 only syncs after reinstall in Express, it's a long process). I actually had the 305 in my pocket, because I didn't have a mount for it on this bike. Fenix 5x plus mounted on handlebar. I did notice, during this ride, the HR was blank on the Fenix from time to time, but wasn't paying too much attention to it. Not sure what the problem was or is.

If I am missing something, please let me know.

Fenix 5x plus: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2875305338

FR305: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2875431083

0 nmyeti over 7 years ago

All of those look pretty bad. I did a run with the 5x and the 5x plus connected to my HRM-RUN and they were identical for heart rate. I'll need to mount the watch on the bars of my mountain bike to see how the 5x plus does. The 5x was rock solid in that situation. Please email the beta email address. They can learn a lot from those .fit files.

0 nmyeti over 7 years ago

My last run with the 5x and 5x plus both connected to the HRM-Run. They are identical. ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1379249.jpg

0 joshtee over 7 years ago

Yours looks good. Is that a Ant+, too?

0 nmyeti over 7 years ago

joshtee yes, it is a current generation Garmin HRM-Run that only transmits ANT+. I've only ever seen it drop on the 5x when I needed to replace the battery or I put my body between the sensor and the watch as I described above.

With all that said, your issue looks like the watch is simply not receiving the signal (not a complete reset of the whole connectivity stack). With that in mind the .fit files will give the beta team more info. Also, because it is the obvious question to ask, when did you last change the battery in this HRM? The older 305 probably has a lot more tolerance for weak signal. If the battery is getting weak in the HRM, it wouldn't shock me if it showed up on the Fenix first.

0 joshtee over 7 years ago

Yes, I can see that the battery could be suspect, but it is a fairly new battery (about 3 months old?). For good measure I just replaced with a fresh one and will test that. One thing I notice, for the first few minutes, after a ride is started, the watch will sometimes beep again and the "External HR connected" (or something like that) will pop up on screen. This happens a couple times after the Fenix is obviously already reading the HR from the strap for some time. Seems like it loses connection then reconnects. Unfortunately, I do not have another chest strap to test (recently lost). This is my backup, but it is newer and better condition then my normal one. I wonder if the newer style straps have better signal (mine are the older version).

0 joshtee over 7 years ago

This was testing while sitting here on computer and walking around house (taking watch with me) w/ fresh battery in chest strap.