How does multiple HRM work?

Former Member over 5 years ago

I bought a new Fenix 6 Pro Sapphire, super happy already as I have been tolling about it for MONTHS!

I still have the HRM from my 920XT, which I am considering keeping for the running dynamics that it measures.

But how does it work when you have an external HRM and a wrist one. Does the watch measure with both at the same time, or does it always choose the chest band? Are there any choices in this?

Top Replies

seb2020 over 5 years ago +4 verified

The watch disable the wrist and use only the HRM if detected. When you start the activity you have a message like "Ext. HR detected"
mcalista over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member +2

Nearly always the chest strap will be more accurate.
eezytiger over 5 years ago +2 verified

This data field will allow you to display on the watch and record to your activity the HR values from both the wrist HR and an Ant+ strap at the same time.

https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/a9734c04…

All Replies

0 seb2020 over 5 years ago

The watch disable the wrist and use only the HRM if detected. When you start the activity you have a message like "Ext. HR detected"

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to seb2020

Ah, I see. I wonder which is really more accurate. Maybe I'll do a run with both watches on, strap on the old watch, and then compare.

0 mcalista over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

Nearly always the chest strap will be more accurate.

0 eezytiger over 5 years ago

This data field will allow you to display on the watch and record to your activity the HR values from both the wrist HR and an Ant+ strap at the same time.

https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/a9734c04-fb8a-49b9-89e1-9ac16a9a6f5e

Do not pair the strap if you want to see both sets of data, just wear it and the data field will find it. If it is already paired then just turn it off in the sensor menu in the watch while you test.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to eezytiger

Thanks, that's super useful. Is it only visible during running, or will it also have a summary afterwards?

0 eezytiger over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

In Garmin Connect on the web and mobile app you can view a graph of the WHR data, the strap HR data and the difference between the values. When using the data field your WHR will be logged as the actual HR for the activity. The strap HR will be recorded into the file for later analysis, but not used for calculating stress/load etc..

Be careful with the differences graph or any moment in time difference, because lag can create the impression of big differences when really it is time lag rather than completely different values causing the gap, so compare the graph profiles rather than the moment in time values.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to eezytiger

That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for. Is this if I use the data field you sent, or also without that data field?

0 eezytiger over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

You have to download the data field to the watch and add it to a screen in the run activity, or any other activity you want to monitor. Once you have recorded the activity with the data field active the values are saved into the fit file and available for ever more.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to eezytiger

Cool, thanks!

0 Former Member over 5 years ago