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External HR strap problems - anyone?

b1azk0
over 2 years ago

Hi there,

this problem started after one update that was rolled to Fenix 6X Pro that I previously owned and continues with F7X and Enduro2.

I have three external HR straps - one polar H10 and two Chinese Magene HRM. All three work perfectly fine with either the Polar Mobile App (for H10) or my bike home trainer and zwift (the two magane).

Once I connect either of those to Fenix 7X or Enduro 2 I get erratic readings - might be that HR reading is flat and fixed on a single value (like 55 while running, which is unlikely). Might be that it shows plausible values before the run, but once I start moving HR spikes to values highly unlikely for my pace.

I've been reading about electrical interference that some shirts may cause. But still - no matter the configuration (wet strap, very wet strap, dry strap, gelled strap, different sorts of t-shirts from cotton to sport t-shirts) HR readings displayed on the watch make no sense.

I also tried running with the H10 polar strap, and mid-run switched the connection from watch to polar app. Polar app reads it correctly. Garmin won't.

I don't have any garmin branded HRM to test, but my understanding was that as long as I use ANT for transmission the manufacture of the strap should not make a difference. And still, something is broken for me, and apparently, it was as broken on F7X/Enduro2 as it started on F6X.

Can anyone share any experience with external HRM (preferably non-garmin)? Do you get any issues?

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Not at all. Using a wahoo, a h9, a H10, a Garmin and polar Sense. Everytime simply what is nearest my current Position i Just choose and use for my workout. No dropouts, No false values. Always good readings

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Not at all. I have an H10 and H9 pod and a rotation of straps. I have no issues. Early fenix 7 firmware was crash prone with the HRM on a BTLE protocol rather than ANT+ but that is no longer the case. 

    I have experienced erratic readings from a Polar H10 and from Garmin HRM-Run and HRM-Tri. But in every case the issue is with the strap not the watch. The straps can wear out or have shorts in the electrodes and wires. At that point there is nothing to do but replace them. (That’s one reason I prefer the modular design that Polar uses.)

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Interesting.

    I don't know what to do about it.

    Same straps and hr bricks attached to them work as they should with other equipment but fail with my watch.

    Fwiw I tried to download the 3rd party data screen that allows to add a secondary source for hr (along the optical being primary) but for other reasons I dont get it fails to get installed on my watch.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    I'm having issues with both a Wahoo Tickr and with a Garmin HRM Pro Plus; for me the issue exhibits as a flat(ish) inaccurate reading for the first 5 minutes or so of a run.

    I'm a returning user to the Fenix 7x having sold my first one about 8months ago and moving to Apple Watch.  Having looked back at some historic runs my first 7x seemed fine on firmware 7.35 & 8.18 but the issue looks to be present on a run with firmware 9.33.

    24th Sept 2022 run with my first 7x on 9.33 connected to a HRM-RUN (now retired) -

    HR spikes from 137 to 153 @ 4:10 where it should have been higher sooner.

    Next is my new 7x on 11.28 connected to a Wahoo Tickr -

    And -

    Finally here is todays run, new 7x on 11.28 connected to new Garmin HRM Pro Plus -

    About the 9minute mark it finally recognises that I'm putting some effort in.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to TheIncredibleFlash

    This is what I think the HR graph just above should look like for the first 10mins (taken from old 7x on 7.35)

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to TheIncredibleFlash

    For me the facts are -

    • Different watch and firmware
    • I've tried an existing HR monitor and a new one
    • I'm wearing the same clothing as usual (having read Garmin's advice I may try removing the nylon Skins base layer to rule out static)
    • Different phone (previous will have been an iPhone 13 mini and new is iPhone 14 Pro) - I may try a run without the phone connect to rule out interference
    • I'm bigger and slower
    • I've tried BLE and ANT connections
  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to TheIncredibleFlash

    Just noticed that for today's run the respiration rate data is missing and seems to start at the same time the HR readings become sensible -

  • 0 3 months ago

    I have them same issues on my Fenix 6 Pro solar (ASIA) and new 7 Pro Solar but not on my Edge 840 with H10. No issue with phone app or Elite HRV...