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Garmin Support Acknowledges HR 71/72 Bug

Former Member over 9 years ago

After several inquiries about the less frequent HR sampling and the HR widget pausing at 71/72 before going to your actually HR following the WHR 2.30 update, Garmin Support finally confirmed there is an issue they are working on. Unfortunately, there was no mention about the less frequent HR sampling. This is the email I received today (I guess Support doesn't have spell check ;)):

Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I would be happy to assist further.

I do apologize there is a known issue where the device is going to 72 beats per minute and then recovering to the actual heart rate. This is not something that was built into the watch software to fix the battery life problem, but an actual issue we are trying to resolve. We try to get device ready for market being stable as possible. As you may well know once the device is released into the field issues can arise. Our engineers are doing are best to resole the issue and hope to come up with a resolution as soon as possible.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

With Best Regards,

Paul

Customer Care - Fitness Team

Garmin International

913-397-8200

800-800-1020

913-440-8280 (fax) Att: Paul 8996398

www.garmin.com

Additional solutions may be found at http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/us/support/searchsupport

0 timgrose over 9 years ago

Have your tried some of the suggestions in https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?341774-Where-are-you-wearing-your-235/page2

Seems to have helped some...

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Have your tried some of the suggestions in https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?341774-Where-are-you-wearing-your-235/page2

Seems to have helped some...

Thanks for your reply. I wear mine relatively tight (perhaps not as tight as I need to) and this may fix some of the inaccuracies but I don't think this will help with the "stuck on 71-72" issue.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

Thanks for your reply. I wear mine relatively tight (perhaps not as tight as I need to) and this may fix some of the inaccuracies but I don't think this will help with the "stuck on 71-72" issue.

You're correct that it won't fix the 71-72 bug. My wife has the VSHR and the recent update was designed to fix this and add a few features. She hasn't had a problem with the 71-72 readings since and she's quite pleased. Just reading the recent VSHR forums, it appears the 71-72 is now gone. Hopefully the FR235 will get an update to fix this soon. Anyway, it sounds as if you're having other issues in addition to the 71-72 bug and Tim was suggesting how those might be resolved. I have found I actually have bad readings the tighter I wear my watch. I'm sure you're aware that an OHRM isn't going to work the same for everyone. In addition to the thread Tim posted you may want to try a few of these to see if your readings improve.
1. Try wearing the watch tighter, or even looser on your wrist.
2. Try different locations on your wrist/forearm.
3. Try wearing the watch on the underside of your wrist.
4. Do a good 10 minute warm-up before starting an activity. (This works for me.)
5. Try and keep perspiration to a minimum under the sensor when working out.
I hope you find the "sweet spot" and everything works out for you. As far as the dreaded 71-72 bug goes, based on the VSHR, I'm sure that will be corrected soon.

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

You're correct that it won't fix the 71-72 bug. My wife has the VSHR and the recent update was designed to fix this and add a few features. She hasn't had a problem with the 71-72 readings since and she's quite pleased. Just reading the recent VSHR forums, it appears the 71-72 is now gone. Hopefully the FR235 will get an update to fix this soon. Anyway, it sounds as if you're having other issues in addition to the 71-72 bug and Tim was suggesting how those might be resolved. I have found I actually have bad readings the tighter I wear my watch. I'm sure you're aware that an OHRM isn't going to work the same for everyone. In addition to the thread Tim posted you may want to try a few of these to see if your readings improve.
1. Try wearing the watch tighter, or even looser on your wrist.
2. Try different locations on your wrist/forearm.
3. Try wearing the watch on the underside of your wrist.
4. Do a good 10 minute warm-up before starting an activity. (This works for me.)
5. Try and keep perspiration to a minimum under the sensor when working out.
I hope you find the "sweet spot" and everything works out for you. As far as the dreaded 71-72 bug goes, based on the VSHR, I'm sure that will be corrected soon.

I did 60 mins on the indoor bike today just going easy at constant power and cadence and for the first 28 mins or so, the HR would drop from 115 (approx.) down to 91-92, get stuck there for 20 secs or so and then return to normal. after 28 mins it was stable. I had the strap quite tight and being on the bike there was no movement of the watch on my wrist. Will call Garmin on Monday and send it back!

0 Former Member over 9 years ago

I did 60 mins on the indoor bike today just going easy at constant power and cadence and for the first 28 mins or so, the HR would drop from 115 (approx.) down to 91-92, get stuck there for 20 secs or so and then return to normal. after 28 mins it was stable. I had the strap quite tight and being on the bike there was no movement of the watch on my wrist. Will call Garmin on Monday and send it back!

Hello Chookman,

Exactly the same is happening to me!!! It is frustrating, did you manage to solve the issue somehow?.