Sensors from other manufacturers

Former Member over 6 years ago

Hi all,

Just starting to do more with my Fenix 5 other than just activity and HR tracking. I'm not fond of the Garmin sensors since they require a screwdriver to get to the battery so tried to connect my old Polar Bluetooth sensors (HR and Footpod) and low and behold they connected and they seem to work and work more reliably than they did with my Polar V800. Are there any known issues with using sensors from other manufacturers?

Cheers

David

0 Dr Phil over 6 years ago

Not as long as they conform to standards. ANT+ does tend to be the preferred method of connection as it has multicast abilities that BLE does not have.

0 Dunners3 over 6 years ago

In my experience ANT+ sensors last a lot longer than Bluetooth ones. Finally had to change my Garmin HR battery after 4 years! My other HR monitor, a Wahoo TICKR, lasts about a year with a Bluetooth connection and about 2.5 years on ANT+

The Fenix5 family support both Bluetooth and ANT+ sensors so any manufacturer should work. If a sensor can do both protocols, recommend using ANT+

0 tmk2 over 6 years ago

Are there any known issues with using sensors from other manufacturers?

Some cheap third-party HR sensors do not do HRV properly, if this is something you care about.