OHR Vs. Strap difference

Former Member over 4 years ago

I got curious after seeing some people complaining about differences between OHR and strap HR readings so I did a wee experiment.

From another thread in the F6 forums and using a data field I found on the ConnectIQ store I put on my strap, configured the data field and got these results (see photo). My results where also very similar while in activity (+/- 4 bpm )but as I don't carry my phone with me no photo so you'll have to take my word for it.

Try this yourself and post a photo of the results. Please show how you wear the watch as well.

Download and install the datafield from here (F6 only!): https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/a9734c04-fb8a-49b9-89e1-9ac16a9a6f5e

Instructions to use:

Download and install the datafield.
Turn off the HR strap within your F6
Configure the datafield (1 field only) for your chosen sport.
Go into an activity (you do not need to start the activity) and the datafield will automagically connect to your HR strap.
Scroll to the datafield, take a photo and post it here.

Top Replies

who knows over 4 years ago in reply to Dr Phil +6

Dr Phil said:
You confuse ‘Precision’ with ‘Accuracy’.

We'll disagree here.

pre·ci·sion

(prĭ-sĭzh′ən)

n.
1. The state or quality of being precise; exactness.

2.
a. The abil…
Bandit over 4 years ago +6 verified

funny... and outside of activities OHR is to low...
iLikePotatoes over 4 years ago in reply to SAHO +5 suggested

SAHO said:
Please point me to the part of the specification where it's stated that the watch should be able to capture this outside of an activity.

https://www.garmin.com.sg/garmin-technology/heart…

All Replies

0 TobiasLj over 4 years ago in reply to johanwiren

Agree, did a test once just to verify and most of the time it was within a few beats:

I've done a couple of interval runs (500m uphill, 500m downhill) with OHR and it seemed accurate (didn't wear the HRM Run). I know most are complaining about "outside activity HR" but outside activities my primary reason for tracking HR is to get a trend of my resting HR and works, not problems found.

0 Punch over 4 years ago in reply to TobiasLj

thanks for you post.

Your and johanwiren results are pretty good.

I think mine would be similar if i had a strap to test it.

0 5139556 over 4 years ago in reply to TobiasLj

For me the OHR is usually off by 20-40 bpm (and even up to 55 bpm in some cases). Unacceptable.

0 johanwiren over 4 years ago in reply to 5139556

What activity did you use? Run?

0 Dr Phil over 4 years ago

This is the output from 4 watches (I stole my wife's as well) during an indoor cycling session. Two on handlebars one connected to a strap, one receiving broadcast WHR from a watch on the wrist. The other on the wrist was also connected to the strap. Ignore the time offset that's something to do with the analysis program. It's easy to see that the differences are marginal. When WHR works it works well. And it does for me most of the time.

0 jim_m_58 over 4 years ago in reply to Bandit

OHR has two modes. 24/7 and activity. Activity mode uses more battery, but is more accurate.

HRM bands can also give odd data if they are dry. Make sure you wet it down.

0 5139556 over 4 years ago in reply to johanwiren

This example was from a hike activity. Seeing how bad the whr is I do not use it for any serious activities so as not to mess up all the training data.

0 Crizzu over 4 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

Acurate estimation sounds like military inteligence two words combined that can't make sense (Megadeth Hangar 18)

0 Former Member over 4 years ago

hi,

thank you for the Data Field!..

HRM = garmin trisport

Fenix 6X solar ... ver 8.10

looks good for rest and a light effort (around 100bpm).

what I spotted is HRM strap is more sensitive (react immediately ) to an increase/decrease, optical HRM has a delay a latency, but not much, and cope finally.

please keep in mind that we compare apples with orange - optical vs electrical measurements.

the last image is immediately after I stopped running (in da house)...#stayhome

the optical has a little latency, but in seconds went near to strap.

just me,

robert