Did a first run with my new F5 today. Wore it as described, tight enough to stay snug but not too tight.
Was disappointed with the results, look at how it's way off at the beginning an end:
Finally got it to work at an acceptable level (at least for runs below LT), by strapping it on so tight I can afterwards see the marks on my skin of the individual rectangular holes of the strap and red marks where the buckle and loops were. I loosen it again when the workout is over.
There are still some spikes but on average it functions well this way (see pic).
I still hope for a firmware update that filters out bad readings better, so I can wear the F5 more comfortably.
Hello,
I have the same kind of issue where the OHR just "unlock" and show completely a steady inadequate value (too high around 160bpm and very still completely not related to the effort). Even if I remove the watch it still shows such a value...
I wrote to Garmin support without an answer yet...
Do you think my OHR is defective ?
Hello, I have the same kind of issue where the OHR just "unlock" and show completely a steady inadequate value (too high around 160bpm and very still completely not related to the effort). Even if I remove the watch it still shows such a value... I wrote to Garmin support without an answer yet... Do you think my OHR is defective ?
Could be defective, but try this first: Really prevent any outside light from getting in between your wrist and the watch. It takes a while for the watch to recover from wrong oHR readings because oHR is based on some sort of rolling average. Try strapping it on unnaturally tight, almost but not quite painful. I find it also helps to let the watch "settle" into your skin by wearing it for hours before your run. If you waited for the solid heart symbol before starting your workout and it still shows erratic readings, I would return it.
PS You can compare oHR to your chest strap data by adding this little Data Field in an additional screen: https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/88ce4547-7d84-4289-b2c7-3e15ca00185f Turn the chest strap off on your watch, the Data Field will then pair to it automatically. The data field does not need to be actively on screen to do its thing, works nicely in the background :)
Yesterday I made another running test yesterday wearing my watch really really tight and making sure my sleeves wouldn't bring any moist on my wrist. I struggled to have a proper OHR "lock", the heart icon stopped blinking but restarted 3 or 4 times. Finally it was still for enough time allowing me to start my activity but it failed again...
I made a return request to Wriggle and wait for an answer... I quite pissed having spent 550€ for a high end defective device...
Could be defective, but try this first: Really prevent any outside light from getting in between your wrist and the watch. It takes a while for the watch to recover from wrong oHR readings because oHR is based on some sort of rolling average.
Try strapping it on unnaturally tight, almost but not quite painful.
I find it also helps to let the watch "settle" into your skin by wearing it for hours before your run.
If you waited for the solid heart symbol before starting your workout and it still shows erratic readings, I would return it.
PS You can compare oHR to your chest strap data by adding this little Data Field in an additional screen:
https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/88ce4547-7d84-4289-b2c7-3e15ca00185f Turn the chest strap off on your watch, the Data Field will then pair to it automatically. The data field does not need to be actively on screen to do its thing, works nicely in the background :)
After contacting Garmin Support for France, it's been determined that my oHR should be defective. You can see below the same run one day with HRM and one other day with oHR...
Now they have launched a return/exchange procedure but I'm a bit pissed as I was said it could take 10 to 15 days. I hope Garmin could be a bit more proactive for selling me a faulty device...
Yesterday I made another running test yesterday wearing my watch really really tight and making sure my sleeves wouldn't bring any moist on my wrist. I struggled to have a proper OHR "lock", the heart icon stopped blinking but restarted 3 or 4 times. Finally it was still for enough time allowing me to start my activity but it failed again...
I made a return request to Wriggle and wait for an answer... I quite pissed having spent 550€ for a high end defective device...
Had similar problems with my F5... tried to loosen or tighten the watch on my wrist - nothing seems to help. A friend of mine had no problems with his F5x - we determine he has less and blond hairs on is arm/wrist (mine are likly brown/black) - after that i shaved a little round spot on my wrist where i wanted to wear my watch -> bingo! OHR works much better - still not usable for fast HR-changes like at Hiit (seems to be a problem with the technic itself), but defenitly good enough for normal runs...
@rdomenec I hope the new watch solves your problems, not fun to be without your main training tool for a few weeks :(
My problems with high readings are gone now I wear it very tight, but it's been unseasonably cold here and I'm suspicious of the low readings I'm getting:
Same issues here. Worked find initially and now it locks into a high rate after about 2 miles of running and doesn't drop unless I turn the optical hrm off and back on. I don't know that I could get it any tighter without cutting off circulation. Maybe I shouldn't have replaced my Suunto Ambit 3 Peak. Seems like all the extra features just lead to more issues.
