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Heartrate so inaccurate that my watch is basically useless for training

I got my Forerunner 265 about a year ago and I have loved almost everything about it.  I love the touch interface, the AMOLED screen, sleep analysis, training readiness, etc.  But I have been trying to use it to track my training and the heartrate is so inaccurate that it is basically useless.  Today was a good example, I just wanted to go for a 40 minute run on my lunch break.  I took the watch off, cleaned the sensor, strapped it snuggly on my wrist in the suggested spot and headed out on a run.  My goal was to get some good Zone 2 progress.  Instead one minute into my run, I glance down and I'm in zone 5.  I check my heart rate manually and I'm actually in zone 1.  I let the watch calm down and try again.  Same thing.  I do this for two miles.  I eventually discard the run because it's so crazy.  But now I've run 2 miles that won't be recorded.  Not the end of the world.  But my lunch break is almost over so I try again.  Basically the same deal.  I keep stopping to let my watch try to get in sync with reality, but by the time I'm done my watch now thinks I was doing an interval workout.  Having gone through this frustrating process a few times, my mileage, my load focus, my max heart rate, my training load, basically everything are now all out of whack.  Can't get good heart rate data running, biking, rowing, or stair climbing Disappointed

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  • It would be nice if they just communicated and let customers know it's a priority. It seems to me that they are on a 2-3 month development cycle and have other priorities. But considering this and sleep are something so rudimentary to what makes a training device nowadays (unless you can train to power), it seems they've taken their eye off the ball here with these regressions people are seeing across all their higher tier watches.

  • Update: I picked up the 165 yesterday. Set the watch up, updated the software, then did a Reset with "Delete Data and Reset Settings", then set the watch up again. Also, of note, if you go into Garmin Connect on your phone, go to you Device(Watch)...System...About. See if you have the same Software Version, WHR Version, and Sensor Hub version. I have SW 19.18, WHR 16.01.02, and Sensor Hub 30.24. Also, of note, I opened up the Connect IQ app on the phone, and there was an update for the Connect IQ app on the watch, set apps to update automatically which they weren't. You never know, an deeply integrated watch app like this could cause issues with older version. Another thing I noticed, I went to go see what my Max HR was set to and how the Zones were calculated. Curiously, it had all 5 zones as 100%-100% and Max HR was set to auto detect but was also at 255, I used the reset at the bottom and it set them correctly and put my known Max HR in, but left auto detect so it could change it. Definitely found that a bit odd. I would think the 265 and 965 should have the same for all this.

    It seems accurate so far, no delay locking on for walking and PT (Pilates) activities...I'm used to taking HR at my neck as a swimmer back in the day and it seems spot on (count your pulse for 10 seconds on the watch then multiply by 6). I definitely need to try out higher intensity activities next (I'll be trying Weight Lifting and probably Indoor Cycling) and report back...I'll be swimming with the watch too, but you can't expect accurate WHR with that...hope this helps everyone?

  • I mean I think that helps no one? You’ve not gone for a run and experienced the optical sensor *******?

    Weightlifting is a terrible activity to judge a sensor by, and indoor cycling is fairly low intensity usually. 

    Go for a series of runs and see if it stuffs up. You’ll need to also know what your HR typically does for a given pace. 

  • Well check your software and firmware versions first off...second, I'm not a runner. Like I said, I'll come back with more info. I'm just saying, so far, for walking and Zone 1, it seems spot on with no lag with the versions of software and watch I have. Trying to be a detailed as possible here. Indoor cycling is fairly low intensity? Yeah if you're doing a zone 2 ride, but if you're doing intervals or zwift you're likely going to be spending much more time in Zone 4, maybe even 5, than running. I don't know my HR running, I know my HR at a wattage indoor cycling, or maxing it out mountain biking. Again, I'm not saying there aren't legit issues, I think there is...I'm trying to do help get to the bottom of why, without relying on Garmin.

  • Oh thanks for your advice. Like you think we haven’t? This problem is due to Garmin continually updating the firmware. 
    The majority of people have issues while running. 

    I’m glad you’re happy with it and think you’ve fixed it with the firmware update. For me, it’s still a pile of *** that Garmin is not fixing. 

  • Dude, look at my other posts, I was hesitant to get a new Garmin because of this very issue. I literally got the Watch yesterday man, it's there newest watch and the firmware update was just how I role with new devices! Honestly, the last thing I want is for my zone 3 and zone 4 efforts to get minimized OR maximized even. I'm not saying you haven't looked into it, I'm literally trying to take as analytical an approach as I can, knowing most people don't look at the things I mentioned. As maybe there is an issue with the WHR, or Sensor Firmware not updating, etc...it's a simple approach, but without look at the code, log files, and raw data, it's the best I can offer. I see posts where people are getting off data compared to a Chest Strap on a walk for the first ten minutes. I'll be pissed if my average HR isn't between 150-160 on a harder 2 hour MTB ride, or mostly zone 4 with a touch of 3 and 5 on an almost max effort ride. I'm also PT'ing right now, so I can't do that just yet. I want to get to the bottom of this, whether or not my device seems to work great or not. This ecosystem needs to survive.

  • Got this watch a month ago and I am consistently seeing my heart rate stay low for most of the run and the jump suddenly. Please fix this asap.

  • what's your sense and feedback so far w/ the Coospo?? Can you share the model? I've been eyeing an armband from them, as I noticed some HRM challenges w/ my 945 LTE.  Thx!