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

Firstbeat sleep algorithm: plans for 245, possibility of opting in?

Hi Garmin team!

I just picked up a Forerunner 245, and I love it... other than the sleep tracking. I've seen many similar threads (https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-245-series/214776/sleep-tracking-issues , https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-245-series/211844/sleep-tracking-not-accurate , https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-245-series/243842/sleep-track-very-inaccurate , etc), and my experience has been pretty in line with them: the device recorded literally NO deep sleep last night (!), while missing many wakeful periods and reporting total sleep volume nearly two hours higher than an Oura ring (that I would very much like to return if the 245's sleep detection were reasonable).

I've seen a lot of discussion of the possibility of the Firstbeat sleep detection algorithm (now used in the 745 and 945) coming to the 245, but I'm having a hard time finding a definitive statement of the latest plans. This post from over a year ago ( https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-245-series/243376/forerunner-245-music-sw-5-20---live-to-100/1153764#1153764 ) mentions ongoing work building toward a public beta, but on a DC Rainmaker discussion thread, this post from just a few months ago ( www.dcrainmaker.com/.../coros-adds-gopro-control-komoot-route-sync-and-more.html ) says: "I asked why [the 245] didn’t get [the Firstbeat algorithm], and they noted that while they had planned to, they were concerned that with the FR245 tending to be a more broad market base, having a wearable change sleep-algorithms (likely shifting results) mid-cycle was going to cause confusion."

So I'm wondering:

Are there any plans to bring the Firstbeat sleep algorithm to the 245 in the long run? If not, it would be valuable to get a clear statement to that effect: since I'm interested in sleep, now that I've seen what sort of data the 245 currently produces, I would consider returning it for a different model.
Is there any possibility of opting in (on an individual basis) to a Firstbeat beta? I understand wanting to avoid mid-cycle confusion across the whole customer base, but given the problems with sleep tracking for me and others, an opt-in option could represent a big *reduction* in confusion for folks who aren't currently getting good sleep data—and, of course, a chance to further improve the product with more beta users.

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it!

Top Replies

All Replies

0 5697485 over 2 years ago

I'd support this. My Deep Sleep is almost undetected by the 245. It was about a TOTAL of 6 minutes in a week.

0 meyocr over 2 years ago

Another one that would pretty much appreciate if they switch to the newer algorithm.

0 floppyrom over 2 years ago

The chances of this happening are almost zero.

Garmin doesn't want to do it. Crazy, right? When all these other watches are coming out left and right with extra features, they chose to handicap their products only because of greed, as if people that own the 245 will sell and buy the next model.

You can't build loyalty with broken promises Garmin!

0 7283005 over 2 years ago in reply to floppyrom

I also recommend looking at another brand. I swapped garmin for polar.

Take a look at this:

forums.garmin.com/.../garmin-deleted-whole-thread---topic-lost-trust-in-garmin

Garmin is a no-go.

0 David_Davidson over 2 years ago

Thanks all. Before looking outside the Garmin line, it'd be great to get some first-hand update (whether "yes," "no," or even "not sure yet") directly from Garmin — Garmin-Brooks, I see your name in a lot of discussion threads! Do you know what Garmin's plans are around the Firstbeat sleep algorithm and the FR245?

Thanks!

0 5697485 over 2 years ago in reply to 7283005

I'm not in the category of changing my watch with "spare" money. The watch is pretty good... Just that a better sleep algorithm would be useful (occasionally for me)..

0 7283005 over 2 years ago in reply to David_Davidson

No surprise, no reply from Garmin at all.

That´s one of the reasons, why i recommend avoiding Garmin.

0 1056754 over 2 years ago

Just to keep this thread relevant - 245/745/945 seem to share a software base (given they always get updated on the same dates and have the same/similar version numbers), and given that I at least sometimes get notifications of my recovery being delayed due to bad sleep, some version of the Firstbeat Sleep Algorithm is apparently already running on the 245.

If this is a business decision to keep some form of software differentiation between the 245 and the 745/945, it would be completely understandable. But just to silence all of the different speculations, some form of feedback from Garmin would be great.