Related
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Vivoactive 4 - wrist heart rate measurement randomly stops

GodFatherGR
over 3 years ago

Hi all,

I own a vivoactive 4 since January with no problems at all so far. Although, during my vacation in mid August, when 6.30 update was released, my watch started to not measuring properly my heart rate. I wear it the entire day and randomly "decides" to stop the hr sensor from measuring my pulse (it displays 3 dashes at the hr widget). Also I observed the same behavior during exercising. When the 3 dashes appear I tried to manually measure pulseOx and it alerted to check watch fit. I am pretty sure that the watch is properly strapped on my arm, in the same spot that I wear it during the last six months and is not loose at all.

I tried to clean it up thoroughly with dish washing detergent, I did factory reset twice and I tried to turn the hr sensor off reboot the watch and turn on again the sensor, but the problem appears after a while.

Is my watch dying or this problem is software related. I thought that if it was hardware related issue maybe the sensor wouldn't work at all.

Thanks in advance, any help and opinion is appreciated.

Top Replies

All Replies

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    I don't track my pulse as closely but I wonder if you can see any missed measurements on HR graph for your day? As I just checked for mine and it's continuous.

    Also, next time it will happen I'd check if green light LED is working, or it's stopped.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to sensovision

    As you can see below, yes there are gaps... (I don't wear it during my sleep so it is intentionally blank during night). Now as I am writing this, the hr sensor has gone completely dead again.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to GodFatherGR

    yeah, that looks way off, I guess that something is wrong with your device, and it possibly just coincided with the release of the latest firmware, I'd either give a call or chat with Garmin support and see what do they think about that.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to sensovision

    I will do an extra experiment before contacting the Garmin's support. I will wear it to the right hand for some days. Another theory I have for the hr measurement interruption during running is the sweat (I was pretty sweat after 30 min of continuous running). Also I observed that my skin that contacts with the watch is dry (it seems like a rash is appearing) and this skin condition maybe interfere with the sensor (?). I don't really know tbh. If the sensor shut down again even on my right hand I will contact them asap. Thanks again

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to GodFatherGR

    no problem, myself I'm not sure if sweat can disrupt the work of the sensor in that way, because you've told that the LED light was off which means that sensor isn't detecting your hand or was paired with HR sensor(you may actually want to check your sensors to make sure if all of them are disabled).

    Also, I wouldn't trust to the pulse of optical sensor much during running, I tested it with HRM Dual by just walking and readings was out of range, you can read about that more in here: https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/healthandwellness/f/venu/271639/recovery-rate-wrong-since-v-6-20-resulting-in-lower-vo2-max

    So if you have a chest strap it would be ideal if you can measure HR with it during the run.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to sensovision

    So it happened again even on my right hand. I pulled it off wiped the sensor on my t-shirt and then wear it again. And guess what the sensor started again. Maybe my skin is a bit moisturous, but dude it's summer. I sent an email to my local garmin store in order to figure out what is wrong with it. 

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to GodFatherGR
    GodFatherGR said:
    So it happened again even on my right hand. I pulled it off wiped the sensor on my t-shirt and then wear it again. And guess what the sensor started again. Maybe my skin is a bit moisturous, but dude it's summer. I sent an email to my local garmin store in order to figure out what is wrong with it. 

    yeah, it's hot in here too and I have to wash my watch after any workout so no surprise that it's wet. Please let us know what Garmin would reply, I wonder if such behavior can really be caused by moisture or not.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to sensovision

    Guys. This watch can measure heart rate while swimming!

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to ovekvam
    ovekvam said:
    Guys. This watch can measure heart rate while swimming!

    I know, but that doesn't say it's become more reliable when there are a lot of moisture. At least most people report that readings become less accurate when they are sweating and that coincide with what I've seen on my watch too.

    But sure, I doubt that moisture is the reason for noncontinuous HR measurements. As you've said they can do it even under water.

  • 0 over 3 years ago in reply to sensovision

    I saw this thread and it describes exactly the same problem forums.garmin.com/.../heart-rate-sensor-stops-periodically

    Also I called Garmin Greece and they said that the shop I bought my watch is not an official store of Garmin and they will not provide me any support. So, at Monday I am planning to go to the shop I bought this watch and I will request to replace it as soon as possible.

    The most frustrating thing is that at November I will run at the Athens classic marathon event for 10km and maybe I will not have a training watch for a while.