can HRM-TRI be used away from the watch?

Theoretically, yes. I used it with Yoga classes many times but after an upgrade last winter it broke. As you said, you can download the HR data, you can see the graph but nothing else is re-calculated. I had more than an hour, sweaty classes with elevated HR many times and at the end I downloaded the data and got 10 calories... pff. Not even a bmr.

I reported it 6 months ago and sent plenty of details, got a response that they managed to reproduce it but it was never addressed.

ugh that is dissatisfactory. Now after having a long debugging session the small national Garmin support same as you, now they're telling me it can't be done which

a) doesn't sem to be the case when  checking the manual and

b) mostly seems to be code for "we will not prioritize this bug just leave us alone". 

to you have an garmin issue number I can refer them to? it's in the subject line mine looks like this <Q#:12345678> << Reference ID: 12345678K1 >

6453228 said:

national Garmin support same as you, now they're telling me it can't be done which

What can't be done? 

6453228 said:

b) mostly seems to be code for "we will not prioritize this bug just leave us alone". 

I seriously doubt this is the case.  Everything worked fine with my Tri this morning doing a 40 min kickboxing session burning 324 calories. It's strange how people are using their Tri for swimming, kickboxing, etc. without issues, but Garmin told you it can't be done and they're not working on it. 

I was told that I can't use the HRM-TRI solo without the watch. I am having all these problems because I am trying to use the products outside of intended use- The same problems as you are experiencing while trying to do the same thing.

This came after pretty excessive troubleshooting where I just told them "ok so this session [date] I wore the HRM-TRI without the watch and HR curve looks reasonable but mean and max and all the stats are messed up (same as your problem) but during these [dates] I did something very similar (really far from the watch too) and it worked (same as you are experiencing sometimes).

They saw the data was all messed up but I think they just gave up on the troubleshooting because they didn't know how to or expected to fix the problem (same as you).

At this point they claimed it just didn't work to use the HRM-TRI alone. It doesn't seem to be a prioritized issue.

I'm not sure what you're referring too. You've said the same as me, but I don't have any problems using my Tri without my watch.  I've been using my Tri to record my metrics without wearing my watch for years. I leave it in my locker for kickboxing and in a duffle bag during field hockey. 

Oh OK my bad I didn't realize I wasn't responding to crt_hun. 

did you ever have issues then tess and what settings do you use like what type of activity? doing some troubleshooting

I am told by garmin support I canät use the HRM-TRI alone without the watch. just like you have been doing successfully for years, and I think that can't be right. 

I've used it for swimming, kickboxing, and field hockey. I either use the open water, pool swim, or other activity app.  I know others use it for martial arts and soccer too.  I start the activity, take the watch off and download the data when finished. 

6453228 said:

I am told by garmin support I canät use the HRM-TRI alone without the watch. just like you have been doing successfully for years, and I think that can't be right. 

I suspect that what Garmin mean is that you need to have a watch paired to the HRM-Tri. You can then start an activity with the watch, do an activity such as football, hockey, whatever with the watch on the sideline or in a locker, then download the data to the watch when you save the activity.

What you cannot do is use the HRM-Tri without it being paired to a watch and used in conjunction with an activity running on that watch. You cannot connect the strap to a phone and record the data, or download the data.

thank you, that is very helpful. I mostly specifically watch to make sure the watch pairs up with the HR strap when I put it on to check that it's wet enough and all that. It does it automatically. Sometimes but not always I then take the watch off to see if it can still register a HR, indicating the watch works "offline" and get the HR data from the strap. Chronology of it:

1. put the strap on

2. start the excercise timer on the watch

3. leave the watch in the locker

I couldn't say for sure at what point I've taken the watch off my wrist, but the strap and the watch has been within range 3 meters during all this. After the activity I upload the HR data associated with the activity to the watch using the watch, in the menu with activity data like training effects  laps and so on. 

the thing is that the upload is fine, the HR curve associated with the activity looks just about right. But the HR mean and max don't match the curve at all, and the other data are way too low, garmin support could see that too but not explain it. 

I will be very observant that the pairing is indeed running and good prior to starting an activity, see if I'm still having problems.