Intensity minutes when passively worn

I have a fenix 6x Pro on Beta 14.72.

I had read that wearing the watch passively (not recording an activity) was enough to generate Intensity Minutes.

I just went for a ride and recorded it as usual on my Edge 530 with HR strap and also wore my fenix 6 just as a watch (not recording) however no IM’s were shown.

Can anyone confirm how this should actually work?

Top Replies

mcalista over 4 years ago +1

Intensity minutes from my ride today (recorded on 530 with HRM-TRI).
eezytiger over 3 years ago in reply to Scorp1981 +1

Scorp1981 said:
HR is always wrong when not in an activity mode...

This complaint has existed for as long as the 6 series, and maybe before that. Outside of recording an activity the wrist heart rate monitor…

All Replies

0 tmk2 over 4 years ago

It's described in the manual. Generally, whenever your heart rate exceeds a certain level for at least 10 minutes, intensity minutes should start accumulating.

0 Tim_B_ over 4 years ago in reply to tmk2

Well that’s what I thought, but it doesn’t seem to be working that way although that’s the first time I’ve tried, so I’ve never actually seen it working that way yet to confirm one way or the other.

Strangely, last week I also had a couple of activities recorded on the watch which didn’t show any IM’s, so not sure if it’s a similar “bug” to that or not.

0 Tim_B_ over 4 years ago in reply to tmk2

Yeah, there’s someone wrong with Intensity Minutes on my watch, they seem to randomly work and not - it might be the Beta.

Just did a 1.05 hour hilly recorded trail walk, 4.5km with average HR of 128 and max of 175 ish and zero minutes were recorded.

0 tmk2 over 4 years ago in reply to Tim_B_

Check your intensity minutes settings in garmin connect. Perhaps the threshold is set too high.

0 Tim_B_ over 4 years ago in reply to tmk2

It’s set as “Automatic”.

0 mcalista over 4 years ago

Intensity minutes from my ride today (recorded on 530 with HRM-TRI).

0 Tim_B_ over 4 years ago in reply to tmk2

Actually, I can’t even find where to set it automatic/HR zone now, I found it last week when I was having issues and it was set to auto, but been looking through all the settings and I’m lost. Where is it set again? I’m looking in Garmin Connect Mobile on an S9.

0 Tim_B_ over 4 years ago in reply to mcalista

Thanks- I think I have other issues with in not calculating in general sometimes.

0 tmk2 over 4 years ago in reply to Tim_B_

In the mobile app tap the device icon, then select "Activity Tracking", and the "Weekly Intensity Minutes".

0 mcalista over 4 years ago in reply to Tim_B_

I'd check 2 things.

1. Does the activity show up in the daily HR summary graph? Some people report that they can get weird wrist OHR results while cycling outside because of vibration from the handlebars. Tightening the band in this situation may help.

2. The Intensity Minutes setting. If the Automatic setting doesn't pick it up, you could try HR zones instead.