OHR Useless With Dark Skin

Disappointing but not unexpected. What is unexpected is the absolute lack of ANY data. I've tried numerous OHR sensors and other then the Apple watch all of them were poor. The F5 is by far the worst. I thought I might have a faulty unit, but I put it on my son (who's bi-racial) and it picked up his HR within a couple of seconds. :rolleyes:

I'll give it another day or two, but will be shutting this off soon. Garmin please offer a thinner and lighter F5 without OHR.

Trying to post pictures but keep getting denied

Link: http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t435/ofayemi/Forums/Screen%20Shot%202017-03-23%20at%208.03.59%20PM_zpsugzklaco.jpg

0 Olu.F. over 8 years ago

Olu.F have you tried a Valencell OHR sensor with the yellow LED? The different color supposedly helps with darker skin.

For everyone else, I'm assuming Valencell has some sort of patent on this which is why everyone else uses green LEDs only vs 2 green 1 yellow?

Sorry missed this. Who uses Valencell? The two products that have worked have been the Apple Watch and Whoop. Fitbit HR was okay, Mio was accurate when it picked up my HR. Scosche generally doubled my HR at rest, but better with higher HRs.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I believe Valencell was used in the FR235, is in the Rhythm+ and now Suunto OHR watches.

0 Crispin_Ellisdon over 8 years ago

It seems even Valencell admit that OHR simply doesn't work for everyone http://valencell.com/blog/2016/12/heart-rate-monitor-reviews-cant-test-just-one/ (fwiw I don't think Valencell sensors have been used in any Garmin watches: 225 had a Mio derived sensor, but 235 had the early Garmin Elevate one).

0 Olu.F. over 8 years ago

Thanks for the link. Interesting to see 25% with significant discrepancy (I thought it would be lower).

I'd love to see Garmin's test results. If they were anywhere near this bad they should have offered an option without OHR. I know of at least 2 people who would've gotten it.

0 Crispin_Ellisdon over 8 years ago

I know of at least 2 people who would've gotten it.

I've said it before, you just turn the WHR off in the settings and stick some black masking tape over the sensor; voila! A non HR F5 is born ;)

I work for an organisation that, back in the late 1980s, actually paid more to have the cassette/radio removed from the company fleet cars because the purchasers assumed not having the radio would be cheaper. Turns out it cost the manufacturer (Ford I believe) more to comply with the order, adjust the production line, and take them out.

0 Olu.F. over 8 years ago

I turned off the OHR after 3 days of getting no data. However turning it off doesn't reduce the extra bulk added to the watch or decrease the price which the OHR probably added to the watch.

0 Crispin_Ellisdon over 8 years ago

I absolutely understand your point , if for no other reason than to lose 1mm off the thickness if you don't need it; but for a device range starting at £500/$599, the lucky 80-90% for whom OHR works, pretty much expect OHR to be included. Setting up a whole separate product line for the 10-20% is likely simply not worth it for the premium priced ranges in this day and age (probably would make a difference on the sub £200 market).

0 tommays56 over 8 years ago

I am pretty white and even shaved my wrist and the Vivoactive HR with elevate sensor is like a broken clock that's right two times a day only a bit worse ;)

But it's good as and everyday tracker that I do not worry about beating up

0 Olu.F. over 8 years ago

I absolutely understand your point , if for no other reason than to lose 1mm off the thickness if you don't need it; but for a device range starting at £500/$599, the lucky 80-90% for whom OHR works, pretty much expect OHR to be included. Setting up a whole separate product line for the 10-20% is likely simply not worth it for the premium priced ranges in this day and age (probably would make a difference on the sub £200 market).

I bet more then 20% would get a Fenix5 without OHR if it was thinner and a little cheaper.

I am pretty white and even shaved my wrist and the Vivoactive HR with elevate sensor is like a broken clock that's right two times a day only a bit worse ;)

But it's good as and everyday tracker that I do not worry about beating up

How does the F5 fair?

0 tommays56 over 8 years ago

I am waiting for things to settle down and then will buy a 5X as maps are a high value item to me and there are still to many basic issues like Strava live crashing watches

I would really prefer to NOT have OHR but seem to have no choice