Firmware v5.20 user discussion / feedback

Very rapid lock on heart rate when prepping a Run

I've just installed the update, and wanted to go check whether it messed with my Sounds/Vibration settings under System. Having pressed from the watch face, before I even had the chance to go into the menu tree, I got a vibrating toast notification in a matter of seconds advising, “Wrist Heart Rate Ready”. Wow!

Obviously the update and sync did not mess with my Sounds/Vibration settings in the process either.

Yes that notification will be handy.

So will broadcasting HR in an activity although I think that will burn quite a lot of battery so you might want to consider leaving that on all the time or just when you need it.

I guess some users want it, and some mobile phone manufacturers will benefit from it

I can't think of a practical use case for that feature for myself either, but I recall seeing discussed here – more than once – some users' desire to see one's heart rate (as captured by the Elevate HR sensor) displayed in real-time on his/her mobile handset when rowing, running on a treadmill, etc.

Garmin has gone above and beyond to do its bit; now it's up to those users to find themselves mobile handsets that support ANT+ (which I guess means not iPhones, for starters?), and install a third-party app that will read and display the heart rate.

The ant+ broadcast feature makes sense to me to while broadcasting HR to the treadmill in my gym. That way the treadmill can adjust intensity automatically while I can still record the activity on my watch. Previously it was either recording on the watch or broadcasting ant+.

I've just installed the update, and wanted to go check whether it messed with my Sounds/Vibration settings under System. Having pressed from the watch face, before I even had the chance to go into the menu tree, I got a vibrating toast notification in a matter of seconds advising, “Wrist Heart Rate Ready”. Wow!

Obviously the update and sync did not mess with my Sounds/Vibration settings in the process either.

What's interesting is I've had watch faces, upon installation, go in and disable my vibration/beep. No clue why it did that (4.7). Hoping that this is now resolved!

At any rate, I just hope this is a solid update for everyone. The 235 has been a bit of a rocky experience for some, and while my issues with it were basically nonexistent, I can see how a v1.0 heart rate sensor needed a ton of tweaking. I just hope Garmin learns a lot of lessons with this generation of watches, so Elevate 2.0 is much more accurate. I find it "good enough" for my needs, but there are certainly times it's off (intervals, for starters).

Now, if they would just add a notification when you hit the day's goal, I would be 100% satisfied. Granted, it's minor (I'm maybe 95% satisfied with the watch as it stands, especially if 5.2 tweaks the OHM's accuracy), but a very weird oversight.

That way the treadmill can adjust intensity automatically while I can still record the activity on my watch. Previously…

…and even now, the desired functional outcome as described could be easily achieved, by using an external HRM such as a Wahoo TICKR chest strap, Scosche Rhythm+ armband or MIO Link wrist band – depending on your personal preferences in terms of user comfort – to supply real-time HR data to both the watch and the treadmill, if ensuring that both see/use identical HR data is a critical requirement. There are no showstoppers except for the user's reluctance to make further investment.

I never shy away from suggesting practical/valid solutions that are not reliant on users being able to unlock the maximum imaginable potential of equipment they already own (but have no capability to reprogram on their own) but require acquiring access to additional components at their expense. :p

All the same, it's a good thing that Garmin has now implemented the feature in the firmware. I hope that's all it does, and leave the ball in the users' court to now bridge the gap with their individual desired outcomes, e.g. by switching to handsets that support ANT+ and/or run an app that is not Garmin Connect Mobile.

It's triathlon people that I see mostly who want the broadcast while in activity feature. That way they can wear the watch for the whole race but still be able to see their HR on their cycling computer during that segment.

It's triathlon people that I see mostly who want the broadcast while in activity feature. That way they can wear the watch for the whole race but still be able to see their HR on their cycling computer during that segment.

Well based on this broadcasting and using more battery - can this be turned off? I don't need it and now don't want the watch burning thru more battery as it looks for something to broadcast towards.

My home treadmill does not have this feature and I'm not interested in it. BUT I will likely take the faster lock time and other goodies. Though my work around has been to turn on the run mode while I gear up/lace up so it locks onto my HR before I try and begin my run or cycling event/work out.

Hope this FW is good. I'm at 4.6 now and wife is 4.7 with few issues except maybe shorter battery life. I ride M/C so I turn off the watch so the inners don't see all the vibs from the ride to work and home and such. SO yeah guess I'm one who turns off the watch at times.

THANKS!

Broadcasting is off by default. Settings, Heart Rate Monitor, Broadcast Heart Rate is the setting location.

As for iPhone picking up heart rate then need the old style to lightning converter and the Wahoo ANT adapter.

So this is potentially useful if you like to use 2 or more devices (maybe Edge and Forerunner) for cycling and forgot your HR strap and/or don't care for one. How accurate OHR is for cycling is perhaps another factor.