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

Erratic Wrist based Heart rate : BUG + Root cause

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

  • Hi, is this issue reproduced/fixed on Fenix 7 ?

    I saw that on my F7Xss since 15.xx version, thanks in advance

  • Reach out to me as well, I’ve given up on any accurate HR functions on my Fenix 7X Saphire Solar and now use a Wahoo strap to connect to my Concept2 machines. 

  • I've had this issue, noticed it yesterday when I was running steady for 15 mins and my heart rate increased by 20bpm and stayed there until I started my cool down. 

    I am using a FR965 on the latest beta 18.15B

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/1aeyjmy/comment/kobt652/?context=3

  • I'm kind of glad to see I'm not the only one with this issue! Even if it's been going on for a year... I switched from my old Vivoactive 3 in October last year, and looking through my activities the transition from "reasonably reliable HR" to "mostly bonkers HR" happens exactly then, I just didn't notice at first. Same experiences as others, random jumps while running, completely useless (out by >60bpm) while cycling on the majority of rides. Tried all the tips I could find on adjusting the watch etc, but no joy. Hoping the fix comes soon (TM) Slight smile

  • I have the same issue on my FR955 and my F7XPro, which has the newer sensor. My friend also has the same problems on his FR955 and F7X which both use the same sensors.

  • Apparently this bug is so powerful that it happens with a wristband also (in this case Garmin Dual). I post the picture here because I am not sure Garmin is aware of this, we are beyond the unthinkable in my opinion.

  • Hi Team - what's the latest please?

  • Any news on this? Having the same problem here.

    My hr status on the 255 is all over the place. I consider myself fit, a very slow jog (8min/km), goes up to 160's and its very difficult to bring it down. Start walking, goes to 120, start jogging, back to 160's sometimes 170s.

    Then started counting it manually, it was around 125-130 bpm..

    Put my previous fitbit in the other wrist and had almost 30 beats different between them. 

    Unusable for HR training now..

  • Have you compared with the cadence log? 120 and 160 are quite typical cadence values for walking and jogging, and the wrist sensors can easily pick up this freaquency when your watch moves on your arm. 

  • Hi Overkvam, thanks for the reply.

    Yes, that could indeed be lock to cadence. My average cadence for this run was 170 spm.

    So what is the solution..? Chucking another 50-100 on a chest strap? :(