Bluetooth Smart/LE chest straps. vs Garmin ANT+ chest straps

Former Member over 8 years ago

Will all heart rate analytics be calculated with a Bluetooth Smart Chest Strap vs. the Garmin ANT+ chest strap? I have a Polar H7 chest strap already and one of the main selling points of the 5x for me is I figure I won't need to spend extra for an ANT+ chest strap.

But will I get all of the same heart rate calculations as I would with Garmin's ANT+ chest strap heart rate sensor?

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

It would depend on whether the BLE strap transmits HRV data since most of those advanced metrics are based around that. I imagine it probably would work, though until it's released it is hard to know for sure. Maybe if you ask on DCRainmaker's first look he can answer since he has gotten time with the hardware.

Run Dynamics on the other hand will not work since that relies on additional sensors in the HRM-Run or HRM-Tri.

0 gaijin over 8 years ago

Maybe I'm behind the curve on this one, but how do we know that the 5x will communicate via BT with anything but your phone? Will the 5x really support BT HRM? If so, how do we know this?

TIA

Never mind, found it: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/01/hands-on-garmins-new-fenix-5-multisport-gps-serieswith-mapping.html#bluetooth-smart-sensor-support

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

It would depend on whether the BLE strap transmits HRV data since most of those advanced metrics are based around that. I imagine it probably would work, though until it's released it is hard to know for sure. Maybe if you ask on DCRainmaker's first look he can answer since he has gotten time with the hardware.

Run Dynamics on the other hand will not work since that relies on additional sensors in the HRM-Run or HRM-Tri.

The Polar H7 does in fact transmit HRV data. It's the HRM of choice for IOS and Android HRV applications, considered to be the best there is. That doesn't mean Garmin will choose to take advantage of that and pull HRV data from it.

0 R_Tellis over 8 years ago

I sometimes use a Wahoo TickrX with my F3 and FR235 and still get performance condition, recovery time, and VO2Max estimations so I think any non-Garmin strap the provides R-R data will still be used for those things.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

The Tickr is transmitting over ANT+ when it is used with Garmin devices and the ANT+ spec requires HRV data to be included. The BLE protocol supports HRV and I bet Garmin will use the data but until someone can actually try it we don't know for sure.

0 valentin.d over 8 years ago

What about running dynamics advanced features (stride length, vertical oscilation) ?
I think that without latest Garmin straps, these datas won't be available.

0 2goBeyond over 8 years ago

What about running dynamics advanced features (stride length, vertical oscilation) ?
I think that without latest Garmin straps, these datas won't be available.

I have both a tickr x and a HRM tri, and haven't seen run dynamics pop up when doing a run with the tickr x on my F3HR. Admittedly, I haven't used the tickr x for a run in some time with a run, so I don't know if the feature wasn't supported on the tickr x and the F3HR at the time and perhaps does now, nor do I know if it will work with the f5 (any model). Kind of sad though, they are going the path to allow BTE sensors with the new watch, what's the point if nearly half the abilities of them aren't supported. I find the HRM-Tri to be comfortable to wear (the tickr x, not so much), but I want the new Polar strap, but not if the garmin watch supports run dynamics.

0 Bit over 8 years ago

I don't think any HR straps other than Garmin's HRM-Run and Tri (HRM-Swim maybe too) support running dynamics. In activity FIT files the HRM-Tri shows up as 2 separate ANT+ devices (with the same device number), one is the regular "classic" HR ANT+ device that works with all ANT+ capable watches, and the other I assume to be the "running dynamics-device" which sends the RD data via another ANT+ channel. It is similar to how the PowerTap PowerCal HR-based powermeter works; it is an ANT+ HR device, and a device that behaves as an ANT+ powermeter, both housed in the same pod. With the HRM-Run/Tri you just don't see the second device in the list of sensors. The Tickr X has "running smoothness" metrics that are only supported by the Wahoo app (as far as I know).

ANT+ broadcasts data, and any device that has the sensor ID in their list, can listen to it. So if you record data with more than one device ANT+ is real convenient. With BLE sensors that doesn't work that way. Combined ANT+/BLE sensors like the Wahoo Tickr X are the most flexible of course.