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Erratic Wrist based Heart rate : BUG + Root cause

stevendessein
over 1 year ago

Hi,

already raised in other Posts (see list at the end)
and tried all of this:
The Heart Rate Sensor on My Garmin Watch Is Not Accurate

Problem is not accuracy, the heart rate is sometimes completely wrong.

I went back into all activities (Garmin connect shows the watch + firmware used in each activity) and came to this conclusion:

firmware 10.x   11.x     :      ok      (not as accurate as chest wrap but ok)

firmware 12.x + later   :      not ok   (unexplainable values going too low / too high)   

it's not the temperature (cold) ; it's not the cadence lock ; it's not the position/tightening  : ruled that out and did many tests.

If you can confirm your findings (look in history + which firmware) then we can raise this as a firmware bug to be solved

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-255-series/315431/low-hr-readings-during-running-activity/1568731#1568731

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-255-series/322884/can-i-trust-you-garmin-255/1569764#1569764

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-255-series/323535/heartbeat-abnormality/1569583#1569583

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-255-series/322025/heartrate-data-totally-wrong-when-walking

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-255-series/309071/heart-rate-about-20-bpm-higher-since-new-firmware

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Bruno056

    TODAY's interval training and erratic HR ...

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Recently, they deliver new version 14.17 and It break a new thing . It's Vietnamese translations. Ha ha. Unbeliveble.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I think there's a solution to the heart rate not locking while exercising, that's entering the workout prepare screen before you start exercising and raising hr, and only start after it has locked on, for me usually 100+ when locked on, 80 or lower without.

    As I start exercising, hr goes to like 160 to 190, and I think the watch has problems believing the heart rate is suddenly that high when it was like 80, and it will refuse to lock on for up to half an hour.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

     Encountered a similar issue 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to voyager

    I've had similar problems - specifically my watch suggests a low aerobic run keeping my HR at 124 which I can't maintain unless I'm practically walking.  I've been running for years, run 4 days a week and am pretty fit for my age (75).  My solution was to buy a Polar H10 and in about a half dozen runs with it, I've been able to stay within the suggested ranges very easily.  That was next to impossible with my FR255.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I have my Garmin FR255 since a week now and it seemed to be fine until this weekend. Last Monday it started with having a HR between 75-80 during my commuting workout, which usually is between 135-150 bpm. After 15 minutes or so, it suddenly jumped to 145 bpm and seemed accurate afterwards. Prior to my running workout last Tuesday I had a HR of 48! while I was squeezing myself in my running-outfit (normally 80bpm) and during my interval workout - I went fully to my max - but my Garmin’s HR stated it was just a normal easy run and didn’t reacted to my recoveries at all. Even when my run ended, say 5 minutes after my workout, my HR started to drop to a more normal HR. I tried to factory reset my FR255 and it seemed to do the trick… for a limited time. Today I was walking to my bicycle and my HR was 58, so I unstrappend my watch and waited till the HR lights switched off, put it on my arm again and it started with a correct reading. 

    I don’t mind a margin, but I do like a watch that can be trusted and reacts to the current activity. I had a €100 Fitbit for the last 3 years and that seemed to do the job more consistent.

    Is this a faulty watch and should I return it for a replacement or is this same software issue as stated in this tread?

  • +1 over 1 year ago in reply to MichaelB

    All, I would like to look into some of your activities to further investigate. Please respond to the following: 

    1. May I have permission to reach out to you via email?

    2. May I have permission to view your Connect account? 

    3. Have you reviewed and understood The Heart Rate Sensor on my Garmin Watch Is Not Accurate?

    4. In which country are you located?

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Garmin-Sierra

    - you can reach out to me: [email protected]

    - you can view my connect account

    - I have read and followed recommendations, but issue did not change (never occurred with my FR 45S)

    - located in France

    Thx - it would help a lot.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Garmin-Sierra

    I'm having issues as well and would love for this to be solved. 3 times now I've gone for a run and the heart rate has been WAY too low for the first 10-15 minutes. I have a chest strap which is accurate but don't want to use it every time. This has happened to me with both 14.x firmware and 15.x beta firmware.