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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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  • real, 200 BPM while running

  • HR jumps happen when you're doing intervals and such.

    c'mon, HR cannot change this abruptly, unless the commenter is an alien.

    and while that is true that the dev team could benefit from the FIT data, this kind of change in HR is so common in comments and presumably in reports so that the dev team could have thousands of erroneous FIT files at this point

    and yes, the HR software is clearly unacceptable in this form

  • Has anyone seen any improvements with latest software update? (20.29)
    The change log doesn't say anything regarding the heartrate monitor improvements but wanted to check. I haven't been able to go for a run since the update due to an injury.

  • I'm using the Forerunner 265 which I purchased 33 days ago and the HR monitor worked flawlessly until today. When Today, however, the watch recorded my HR bouncing from ~45 to ~85bpm over 30 minutes. Purchased the watch from Amazon and could have returned the watch for a new unit until Oct 3 - today is Oct 6th. Unbelievable. Now hoping Garmin's warranty will cover getting a new one.

    --> I updated the watch firmware to 20.31 and it had zero impact on the erroneous HR readings - maybe you'll have better luck. I just added the chest HR monitor to the watch's connected devices and am still getting bizarre readings (e.g., even though I'm furious as I'm typing this, my heart rate is reading 54 bpm and my RHR - when the watch was fully-functional - was 48 bpm).

    I need to make sure the watch is taking readings from the HR strap, which I haven't double-checked yet, so hopefully is user error.

    Been using Garmin watches for almost two decades and never had a problem like this before. Believe it's a manufacturing defect. The watch is completely worthless for runners without a functioning HR monitor. I'm going for a run with the RD pod, so hopefully this together with the HR strap my long Sunday run will be recorded accurately.

  • I have to think that it is a hardware problem and not a software problem. If it was software Garmin would have been able to fix it long ago as when I look at forums people have been complaining about their optical HR accuracy for a long time. If Garmin admits it is a hardware problem do you have any idea how many watches they will need to replace. So it is just easier to close their eyes and ears and pretend that there isn't a problem. This also has nothing to do with the limitations of optical HR sensing as my Apple watch has worked flawlessly for nearly the past decade over numerous watch versions. I too have had absolute confidence in Garmin watch and GPS accuracy for years when using the chest strap but their optical technology is just plain garbage and I will never buy a Garmin watch ever again after wasting so much money on my Forerunner 965.

  • I have to think that it is a hardware problem and not a software problem. If it was software Garmin would have been able to fix it long ago as when I look at forums people have been complaining about their optical HR accuracy for a long time. If Garmin admits it is a hardware problem do you have any idea how many watches they will need to replace. So it is just easier to close their eyes and ears and pretend that there isn't a problem.

    I share that opinion. I believe that the same issue is with some connectivity / bluetooth issues as well as buttons (on fenix 7 and epix watches). Garmin prefers to keep quiet and to replace the watch for those are persistent enough, but for majority of users who are affected but can live with those issues or are not persistent enough, nothing happens and they are left with not fully functional watch.

    For example, Garmin representative said once in one of many threads about Fenix 7 connectivity issues that user should return the watch because they suspect it was hardware issue based on their experience with the issue. However, that user reported completely the same issue and symptoms as other users before and after him, but Garmin representative never said same thing again. So, they like to keep those things to themselves. Same issue with bad buttons on fenix 7 and Epix which make watch fail after used for swimming. Garmin never admitted that there is a hardware issue with buttons, and dealt with some of disgruntled customers one by one. It is easier to do so than to recall the watches and make them of adequately quality. 

    I had persuaded quite a few people to buy Garmin watches before I got Fenix 7 in 2022. After that experience, I persuaded others to go for other brands. Garmin's quality and delivery is a lottery. 

  • 255 user here. I'm considering to move into Suunto

  • I agree. Although Garmin has been very reluctant in admitting that this might be a hardware problem. I think they've just offered everyone a free chest strap at this point to cover over this issue. It's been 7 months since this thread has been open and I believe 3 big software updates and none has addressed this issue. This is just disappointing and infuriating. You spend upwards of $400 on a wrist watch and it can't even give an accurate HR reading. 

    is there any plan on fixing this issue in the foreseeable future? You have said that this is a software issue but haven't fixed it in any of the last 3 software updates. How many more software updates until we see this issue fixed?  

  • You spend upwards of $400 on a wrist watch

    probably it won't help, but it is all the same on all thousandish euros higher end models as well

  • LIMITED TIME OPPORTUNITY? GARMIN ACCEPTED WATCH UNDER WARRANTY & SENDING NEW ONE!

    I just went to the Garmin Support portion of the website and requested they call me regarding the HR reader issue. Five minutes later received a call and (1) told the rep I purchased the FR265 on Sept 1, (2) I had no problems with HR measurements for roughly 30 days, until (3) yesterday until when the monitor showed my HR while watching TV less than my RHR, it jumped to 85bpm almost in split second, and went to 120bpm minutes later when researching problem (also provided 

    Since I only had watch for about a month, Garmin Rep told me he was replacing my watch with a new one (instead of refurb), but if I wanted black or dark gray one I'd have to wait until Oct 17th since they're out of stock (now understand why price for FR265 on Amazon/Walmart is $449 up from $349 price in Sept). In addition, he was shipping it expedited at no cost since waiting for FR265 restock.

    Don't know if I just lucked out or Garmin is taking a new and substantially improved approach to customer support when their products malfunction. Haven't received the watch and confirmed the new one doesn't have same problem, but at this point cautiously optimistic.

    Those who didn't have luck getting their under-warranty watch replaced may want to give it another shot!