Garmin 235 swim HRM

The HRM-Swim and Tri are compatible with the Forerunner 235, but this device does not support swimming with a native activity profile. If you are using a Connect IQ app for swimming this is likely why the heart rate data is not being downloaded by the watch. We would recommend that you try starting the activity using one of the native activity profiles.

These straps were added so that users with the Forerunner 230/235/630 could track heart rate for activities, such as basketball, where the user may want to track heart rate data without wearing the watch. Use this FAQ for more information on getting heart rate data from a strap to the Forerunner 235.

Reply to this thread if you are still having trouble, or reach out directly to our Product Support team.

Thanks for the reply Joseph!

I tried the first few times using the Garmin "Other" profile (with the GPS off, simply so that I could see the HRM data after I was done), and after several attempts, where it would fail in the upload, I'd notice it would eventually succeed...and the data would be about 8 seconds long, or in cases where I briefly stood up, the HRM would put that data in for the brief moments where I stood up and then the time I was out of the pool after swimming. I tried an app to swim with today, and I forgot to turn off my wrist-based HRM, so I think it intermittently picked that up instead of using the chest strap as it never even said "downloading external HR data" today. It also said I burned 46 calories for a 1500 yard swim...and while I think pretty highly of myself, I know I'm not in that good of shape.

Should I try the "run" setting and just let the GPS roam while I swim next time? I know the distance will be grossly innacurate, but at least I'll be able to see the HR data for the activity maybe?

Try the Indoor Run application, that may provide a better solution because it's not GPS reliant and won't trigger the GPS. I will also note that Garmin recommends using a "gel" for the contacts with the Swim Monitor. However Garmin apparently hasn't actually hasn't tried to find any of this "gel" at a real local pharmacy because when I checked with my local pharmacist about this "gel" he had never heard of what I was asking for. GARMIN, this is a hint, when you are referring to a specific product like this "gel" a BRAND NAME and MAKER would be really really helpful.

All you need do is to make sure the strap is thoroughly saturated before you put it on. I simply soak mine in (warm) water. If you feel you need a gel, then any electrode gel will do. The stuff they use for ultrasound or ECG for instance.

We would recommend that you ensure that the watch and the strap are fully connected before you get in the water. You should be able to use the Indoor Run profile (or any native activity profile on the watch). This is another helpful FAQ (meant to post it originally, sorry) that references the HRM-Tri, but the information can be applied to using the HRM-Swim.

Thanks again Joseph!

The very first time I tried to use the Swim HRM I used the native activity "Other" with the GPS turned off. Would "Indoor Run" work better?

The strap was fully connected the first time I used it, and it simply failed in downloading the HR data from the strap to the watch (I believe I have the correct pathway there). It asked me if I'd like to retry, and I said yes. On the second attempt, it "worked" and paired HR data with my exercise...~8 seconds of it. The next time I used it, the download from strap to watch failed several times before working and correctly downloading ~30 seconds of data...I believe the data it downloaded corresponds to the time between the activity ending and the watch successfully downloading data from the strap...

Thoughts? I'm going to swim again tonight and I'll try "Run Indoors" to see if that helps any. Thanks again for the help!

We would recommend that you ensure that the watch and the strap are fully connected before you get in the water. You should be able to use the Indoor Run profile (or any native activity profile on the watch). This is another helpful FAQ (meant to post it originally, sorry) that references the HRM-Tri, but the information can be applied to using the HRM-Swim.

Joesph,

I tried to use the HRM twice for swim, yesterday evening and this morning. Neither time would the watch successfully download any data from the HRM. It works before I get in the water, and it works after (broadcasting the HRM from strap to watch), but it will not download data from the strap to the watch. Yesterday I tried the activity "other" and today I did "indoor running." The HRM connected to the watch just fine, and showed a HR before I took the watch off to leave in the locker while I swam...that was a recommendation from the FAQ.

I'm beginning to think that the times I got it to successfully download from strap to watch in the first place were actually times where I accidentally hit "no" instead of retry.

Below are the links showing what happens when the watch tries to download data from HRM.

http://i.imgur.com/TA3RP69.jpg - Searching for stored HR data

http://i.imgur.com/4cL431c.jpg - Downloading stored HR data

http://i.imgur.com/Hp0WCDb.jpg - Download failed. Retry? (Yes/No)

I tried a hard reset of the watch last night after it again failed.

Edit - You'll also notice that I have the watch literally sitting on top of the HRM strap in the pictures, so it's not a proximity thing as far as I can tell.

From what you described it sounds like you are doing everything right to get the Forerunner 235 to download the heart rate data. We would recommend that you reach out to our Product Support team so that we can work with you directly to see what is causing the heart rate data to not download as expected. The teams will be able to get more specific information from you and from your device. There is contact information for Chat, Phone, and Email at this link.

You haven't detailed this element of the requirements; You MUST start the activity whilst the watch and HRM are in proximity and are able to talk. Are you doing that?

You haven't detailed this element of the requirements; You MUST start the activity whilst the watch and HRM are in proximity and are able to talk. Are you doing that?

Yes I am. When I start the activity I'm still wearing the watch, I turn off the wrist-based HRM (or it tries to read that instead of the external one, but heck, when I swim tomorrow I'll try leaving it on as I don't wear the watch in the pool anymore), make sure the two devices are talking to each other (watch says HRM *random numbers* is connected), and I start the activity. Put watch in locker, hop in pool, swim, get out, get watch out of locker, place watch next to HRM, and try to save activity. Hasn't worked since like the first time I did it...and I'm not even sure it did then; I might've accidentally hit "no" on retry to sync after the first time.