Fenix 5 v2.40 : No HR data from Polar H7 ?

So I decided to try to get HR data from my Polar H7 and sure enough it is recognized by the F5 (with a smart bluetooth background!) but then no HR data comes though. I checked that I could get HR data from the H7 on my smartphone so it appears to be working properly. Anyone else have that problem ?

UDPATED 25/03 :

Status of BT Heartrate Monitors :

1. BT Only devices :
- Polar H7 : connects but no HR data comes through
2. Dual ANT+/BT :
- Wahoo TICKR : connects over either ANT+ or BT (seen as Dual BT/ANT+ device by the F5), HR data comes through in both modes
- Cardiosport : connects over either ANT+ or BT (seen as Dual BT/ANT+ device by the F5), HR data comes through in both modes
- Viiiiva : connects only over ANT+ (not seen as as a Dual BT/ANT+ device by the F5), HR data comes through in ANT+

0 webvan over 8 years ago

Ok maybe the Wahoo TICKR works differently but with my two ANT+/DT pods the F5 only sees their ANT+ "channel". When you link them there's a very brief "Show Bluetooth..." message but then it goes back to the sensor page.

EDIT - ok I removed and added the Polar H7 again and I didn't get the "blue screen" again, must have confused it with the "green ok" screen we often get on the F5 but not when pairing an ANT+ device. Anyway no change, it still connects (get the "ext.HR connected" message) but no HR data comes through.

0 NeilJonesOnline over 8 years ago

Ok, done a bit of experimenting, though as you say my TICKR experiences may not be relevant to you at all.

Started wearing TICKR

Deleted the ANT+ connection with the TICKR from my f5

Added the BLE connection with the TICKR to my f5

Removed f5 from wrist (so it couldn't fall back to OHR without me realising)

Entered RUN activity on f5 - waited for TICKR BLE to connected itself

Went for a 30 sec "run" around the room (it's raining outside!)

Stopped activity on f5

Uploaded activity to GC

Checked GC and heart rate is there, increasing during the run (which the f5 recommends a 14hr recovery for!)

I've deleted the activity from GC, but if you want to look at the FIT file it's here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dye9zfon5l7l8y4/1633975090.zip?dl=0

Not sure if that helps you any though...

0 bellostom over 8 years ago

Ok, done a bit of experimenting, though as you say my TICKR experiences may not be relevant to you at all.

Started wearing TICKR

Deleted the ANT+ connection with the TICKR from my f5

Added the BLE connection with the TICKR to my f5

Removed f5 from wrist (so it couldn't fall back to OHR without me realising)

Entered RUN activity on f5 - waited for TICKR BLE to connected itself

Went for a 30 sec "run" around the room (it's raining outside!)

Stopped activity on f5

Uploaded activity to GC

Checked GC and heart rate is there, increasing during the run (which the f5 recommends a 14hr recovery for!)

I've deleted the activity from GC, but if you want to look at the FIT file it's here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dye9zfon5l7l8y4/1633975090.zip?dl=0

Not sure if that helps you any though...

During the run was the HR displayed on the watch?

0 webvan over 8 years ago

Ok, done a bit of experimenting, though as you say my TICKR experiences may not be relevant to you at all.

Started wearing TICKR

Deleted the ANT+ connection with the TICKR from my f5

Added the BLE connection with the TICKR to my f5

Removed f5 from wrist (so it couldn't fall back to OHR without me realising)

Entered RUN activity on f5 - waited for TICKR BLE to connected itself

To the bolded, how did you add the BLE connection specifically ? Like I wrote, with neither of dual ANT+/BT devices (Viiiiva and Cardiosport) do I see the option of choosing ANT+ or BT when pairing, it just selects ANT+ (different ID numbering scheme and as seen later in "About" once connected).

ANT+ Pairing :

BT Pairing of Polar H7 :

0 NeilJonesOnline over 8 years ago

To the bolded, how did you add the BLE connection specifically ? Like I wrote, with neither of dual ANT+/BT devices (Viiiiva and Cardiosport) do I see the option of choosing ANT+ or BT when pairing, it just selects ANT+ (different ID numbering scheme and as seen later in "About" once connected).

ANT+ Pairing :

BT Pairing of Polar H7 :

When I try to pair with the TICKR with neither ANT+ or BLE already paired, if I do a sensor search it will first show the option to connect to the ANT+ connection, which just says the name of the device. If I ignore OR accept that, it then offers me the BLE connection, which gives a different name of the device, but also says BLUETOOTH at the top of the screen, in other words the same as your two screenshots.

During the run was the HR displayed on the watch?

Yes. I watched it increase while trying to avoid walls, furniture and the cat.

0 webvan over 8 years ago

What does it say in "About" for the device in the sensors menu once connected under "Tech:" ANT+ or BLE ?

EDIT - Somehow I did manage to get a "Show Bluetooth Devices" when adding my Cardiosport but it still added the ANT+ connection. Removed it, tried again, no Show BT devices menu. Removed it again, got the Show BT menu this time but it still got added a ANT+, weird...

EDIT 2 - Ok, got out of the "Add" menu and found it in the paired devices where I can indeed connect to it and get BLE under "Tech:" and get an HR reading.

Tried the same with my Viiiiva but there's no way of getting a "Show BT devices" menu this time.

So to sum it up so far :

1. BT Only devices :
- Polar H7 : connects but no HR data comes through
2. Dual ANT+/BT :
- Wahoo TICKR : connects over either ANT+ or BT (seen as Dual BT/ANT+ device by the F5), HR data comes through in both modes
- Cardiosport : connects over either ANT+ or BT (seen as Dual BT/ANT+ device by the F5), HR data comes through in both modes
- Viiiiva : connects only over ANT+ (not seen as as a Dual BT/ANT+ device by the F5), HR data comes through in ANT+

0 NeilJonesOnline over 8 years ago

Yes, correct for Wahoo TICKR - I've also confirmed the "Tech" shown against each connection in Settings, one says ANT, the other says BLE.

EDIT: You've probably already got this covered, but as BLE is a "one device only" connection, are you sure the BLE HRMs aren't already connected to something else, like a phone app or another fitness tracker?

0 markgeg over 8 years ago

I've H7 too, and same problems with F5 v2.40

No HR data while workout, even while I am at settings>sensors and accessories I see that H7 jumps every few seconds from "connected" to "not connected".
Its really BUG in Fenix, my H7 works perfect with my other devices - Apple Watch, many iOS apps
And yes I removed any existing pairing from other devices and apps, even did reset to H7

0 webvan over 8 years ago

Thanks for confirming. What's strange is that the F5 works with other BT HR monitors, well at least dual ANT+/BT ones.

0 bellostom over 8 years ago

This is not looking good I must say
A second person reports the same behavior
The H7 is one of the most popular hr module out there.
I am expecting the F5 in the next 10 days and I have a H7 and another one
From runtastic. One of the reasons I decided to buy it was the Bluetooth support they finally decided to add.
Not willing to buy a 3rd one with ant+
I believe most people coming from an older garmin, would already own a ant+ hr so no problem there.
Garmin should look into it
@webvan: maybe you should open a ticket for this