Multiple Problems

Cool

I cleaned out the fit files and still there were some walks left in last sport, so I deleted them too. Today, wearing the watch a half inch higher on my wrist everything worked the way it's supposed to. There are lot of calculations, some of which I don't trust. There does seem to be a correlation between the sleep score and how I feel in the morning.

I'm continuing to have problems with the pulse sensor alternately working and cutting out. At this point I believe even when it seems to be working it is undercounting. I ran into someone tonight who wore an instinct on one wrist and some other fitness tracker on the other and he reported the instinct pulse sensor was way off too. That's why he had the other fitness tracker.

Ok, so why don't ypu exchange or return the watch or try another and see what's up?  Now you're talking about talking to someone else, but why aren't you just returning or exchanging your unit?

Because I am traveling, and the box is at home.

By the way, you are not being helpful. I've experienced this pulse issue multiple times and now suspect even when it looks like it is working, it is low. Garmin's support page has been checked and it was no help. By the way my Galaxy watch 4 pulse measurement always works.

Then wait until you get home, set up a reclamation, and when you're home, send it back.  Depending on how you set up the return, you won't even need a box. That's kind of ridiculous as a blanket.  There are plenty of returns without a box.  This is a consumer item and not a Rolex.  Even a Rolex can be sold and returned without the box.

The saving problem appears solved. On the pulse front it seems likely the problem is not enough sweat. It's mild and dry where I am staying. My activities are not high intensity, mainly hiking and walking. Sweat does not accumulate. Sometimes a little saliva under the watch helps. Otherwise, I have to take it off and wipe both the watch and my wrist. Next week I will be someplace which is 10F warmer. Everything else about the Instinct 2 I like.

On the pulse front it seems likely the problem is not enough sweat

Nothing to do with it. Optical heart rate detection, photoplethysmography, relies on detecting colour changes not electrical signals. 
www.garmin.com/.../

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=xQwjQjzUew4BF1GYcusE59

Check the fit of your watch. Your watch might be showing a low heart rate because you have a low heart rate. Have you taken a manual measurement to check? 

www.wikihow.com/Check-Your-Pulse

Phil, thanks for the info on sweat. I know what my resting heart rate is, but I am getting that walking up a steep hill, huffing and puffing. I just tried a factory reset. So far it is working, but I will have to see. Getting the watch paired again was difficult and eventually I had to pair it in the phone's bluetooth settings page and go back to Connect.