The readings from the wrist HR is way off during high HR activities like biking. In normal non sporting activity te heartrate seems accurate, but under activitis it shows way to low HR compared the HR strap. Is this a known problem or a fault on my unit?
The most common cause of wrist HR problems is poor watch positioning and placement. To be effective, you have to prevent external light entering the sensor - this means the band has to be snug, and positioned well away from the wrist bone (which means wearing it higher on the wrist than most people are used to).
Personally, I find I have to have the band one notch tighter while running than I do for 24/7 monitoring. And I have the watch mounted on my handlebars and use a chest strap while cycling, because turning my wrist is really awkward while riding.
Vibration from the handlebars is a known problem with accurate wrist HR, as is interval training with rapid changes in HR.
But I'd look at band tightness and placement, and perhaps experiment with it on your other wrist, as the first places to look to in resolving wrist HR accuracy.
Thanks mcalista, I'll tighten the strap and make another go at it. I'm very happy with tha watch in every other aspect, so hope this is an user isssue (:
Thanks mcalista, I'll tighten the strap and make another go at it. I'm very happy with tha watch in every other aspect, so hope this is an user isssue (:
Coming from a 6 led OHR I can say that the Garmin implementation of OHR in the Fenix is poor, especially for high intensity activity. 24/7 OHR or running without HIIT seems more or less working, HIIT or playing tennis is a no go. Other brand technology seems to handle tennis and HIIT much better (I can assure that I do not change my wrist, my skin color or watch position ... )
Given the cost I was expecting something more from Garmin, support!?!? answers?!?!
The mantra here on the forum is the bad positioning or the skin color ... in my opinion at the best is a bad algorithm (the HR graph during high intensity training is really really strange) that cut peaks at around 135/140 bps. If not it means that the sensor itself is not able to record the fast HR changes ... (other optical sensor can do it)
The only way to solve for me, given the Garmin support, has been starting using again a Chest strap (not exactly what I like).
I have tested some more, I can't get good readings frm the Fenix, I even tested my wifes 5S with same result. Readings are significantly lower than the chest strap The starnge thing is that she get more accurate readings than I. Maybe my wrist is not Garmin compatible (:.
It is not so much for high-stress activities as such, but for cycling specific. DC Rainmaker review also states that. From memory it's got to do with the vibration of the watch on the arm...(?)
When running it is good enough for me. For for MTB or cycling I just put on a strap, since it is less invasive when riding. That has the added bonus of being able to mount the watch on the bar where you can glance at it without having to lift you hand. Which comes in rather handy, since I mostly MTB...
