945 HR inaccurate during workout - any ideas?

Hello,

Version 2.70 works almost perfect.

Greetings.

That is the GPS software version (2.70) that I already have as part of Software version 4.00. That won't affect the OHR. 

But if you are saying that your 945 works correctly, that is good to know. Some people have fully functional units, and some don't? If this is true, Garmin should repair/replace/refund to solve the issue.

I mean SW 2.70 and Sensor Hub 2.30.

Greeting.

scarfecycles said:

But if you are saying that your 945 works correctly, that is good to know. Some people have fully functional units, and some don't? If this is true, Garmin should repair/replace/refund to solve the issue.

Different activities can have different results.  Do you have the same problem when doing something outside of rowing?

• Certain Types of Activities Can Affect Heart Rate Performance

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  Activities that cause flexing of the wrist (ex. rowing, weight lifting, or gripping a tennis racket) may create an effect similar to wearing the watch too tightly and restrict blood flow.  When this occurs the watch may have a difficult time detecting an accurate heart rate. 

• Additionally, HR is calculated differently for each activity.  Use the activity app that matches the activity being done.  For example, using the Elliptical app while running outdoors could result in incorrect HR being recorded.

To be clear, this is NOT due to how I am wearing the watch. As others have documented, when I record an activity on the 945 itself, it shows an accurate HR. But if I broadcast the HR (instead of record the activity), or if I simply watch my HR on the HR widget, it does NOT show an accurate HR. It never goes above 110. 

The above link isn't about how you're wearing the watch, but how flexing the wrist in certain activities can cause problems.  Anyway, it sounds as if it's a glitch in broadcasting if it works OK when you're not broadcasting.  I would contact support and let them know what you're experiencing.  Get a case number and post it in this forum.  That way others who are experiencing the same issue can reference your case number and attach themselves to it to help escalate a solution.

I could see the issue of the wrist flex impacting the blood flow in some extreme cases, but I was doing rowing intervals, and this issue was occuring during the rest intervals as well, when my wrists were hanging at my side (not holding anything). 

I am on the chat with customer support right now. 

UPDATE:

Talked to Customer Service via chat and he indicated:

There is a case open right now for that. We are working on correcting the issue. I would be happy to add you to the case so that when it is corrected you will get an email letting you know it is fixed

He also offered to send me a chest strap while I am waiting for Garmin to come up with a solution. He said that firmware 4.06 does not appear to address this issue.

He indicated the case number: PSC-83623

I received an email for the chest strap.

As noted in this thread, wrist-flexing activities such as rowing can cause issues.The OHR LED's pulse more frequently in activity mode, which gives better accuracy. You can broadcast in activity mode, so my suggestion would be to use an activity (you don't actually have to press the Start button for the LED sampling rate to increase).

Interesting - I can try that approach at my next workout, and see if that helps get more accurate HR data being transmitted and recorded. I will post an update afterwards. Thanks.