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Vivoactive 3 Broadcast HRM not working

Hi there - I have a slate VA3 which I purchased around 10 days ago and it is up to date with the latest firmware (2.60).

I have noticed an interesting bug whilst attempting to use the HRM broadcast feature on the VA3. If you select the 'Broadcast' option from the Heart Rate Settings screen this isn't working properly as none of my other ANT+ devices (Edge 520, Zwift setup using an ANT+ USB stick) can find the heart rate when trying to add a sensor.

The workaround is to ensure 'Broadcast in Activity' is selected and then start an activity- and hey presto, the heart rate is now visible to other devices!

I have logged this with Garmin UK today but they have said as yet they have not received any other reports of this. I would appreciate anyone trying it to see of theirs works and letting Garmin know if not! If yours works, and also be interested. Many thanks, Larry

0 ChrisF7 over 7 years ago

Add me to the list. VA3 picked up a couple of weeks ago. Just tried broadcasting HR to my Edge 820 and to my computer with Ant+ USB adapter for Zwift. Nothing.

Also tried adding my Pioneer and Stages power meters via sensor menu. Nothing. All worked flawlessly with my VAHR.

Pretty crappy to allow this product to market with this significant a bug.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Not here. If I broadcast HR from my va3, HR immediately starts displaying on my 510. No need to start the 510's timer.

Weird to hear the complaints. Mine works perfectly.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

I just got this back from a Garmin rep, it might be about how we're accessing the broadcast feature and from which screens. Here is a temp solution that ended up working for me in case it's helpful to anyone while we wait for the software update.

Touch and hold the screen to access the Menu
Scroll to and touch Settings
Scroll down and touch Sensors and Accessories
Touch Heart Rate Wrist HR
Touch Broadcast then the Check to enable the broadcast

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

I just got this back from a Garmin rep, it might be about how we're accessing the broadcast feature and from which screens. Here is a temp solution that ended up working for me in case it's helpful to anyone while we wait for the software update.
Touch and hold the screen to access the Menu
Scroll to and touch Settings
Scroll down and touch Sensors and Accessories
Touch Heart Rate Wrist HR
Touch Broadcast then the Check to enable the broadcast

That's how mine has worked from the beginning. How's it supposed to work?

0 RowLarry over 7 years ago

Agree with gonzlobo, this is what I have been doing to enable the Broadcast. I believe it is how it is supposed to work- except for me it doesn't!

I am also having issues pairing my Garmin Wireless Spd/Cad sensors to the watch also- I can't get them to. Not good!

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

That's how mine has worked from the beginning. How's it supposed to work?

One way of doing it, which doesn't work, is scrolling through the customized widgets to the HR screen (I have mine ordered Clock > Steps > Floors > HR etc.). Long press on the HR screen, select Heart Rate Settings, and then enabling Broadcast In Activity and Broadcast.

The point is that it should work no matter what path you take to get there. Still hoping for a software update soon.

0 kstate1980 over 7 years ago

Agree with gonzlobo, this is what I have been doing to enable the Broadcast. I believe it is how it is supposed to work- except for me it doesn't!

I am also having issues pairing my Garmin Wireless Spd/Cad sensors to the watch also- I can't get them to. Not good!

I actually returned my VA3 and bought a Forerunner 935 bur, i was having this issue as well. The only way I could get the sensors to pair was to start the activity and then go to settings, sensors and search for the sensors.

Gramin is aware and are working on it.

0 carabam over 7 years ago

Hi all,

I also have a VA3 HR broadcast issue, a bit different to the above : tested the VA3's HR broadcast to my Edge 820 and everything
was OK signal received -pulse reading normally.
Note that on HR broadcast mode the VA3 is "locked" on HR display constantly.
Second attempt was to broadcast during activity, I had both the VA3 and Edge 820 recording wearing also a heart rate strap.
Starting the ride I enabled "Broadcast HR during activity" and attempted mid ride to switch HR sensor.VA3 HR signal appeared on
the sensors list and Edge 820 connected straightforward, no pulse reading though.
Tried a few more times with exactly the same result.
I guess / hope the next firmware will sort this out.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Trying to get HR broadcast to work, I'm also experiencing things a little differently than others. On firmware 2.7 on watch, 12.4 on my Edge 520.

The broadcast starts up - either globally or in activity just fine - but after a few minutes, the Edge no longer has the heartrate rating. From the screen on the watch, it looks like it is still broadcasting but who knows whether it is still sending ANT+ signal or not. FWIW, restarting an activity on the watch will instantly cause the HR to start updating properly again on the Edge 520. This makes me think that it is a problem on the watch, not on the Edge.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Well, here is another bit of information as I was experimenting further. This doesn't explain why it isn't working for me, rather might be information that Garmin can use to debug the failure.

The Edge held onto the HR information for about 25 minutes, but then stopped working. It stopped right when it also dropped the connection to the phone. But then it reconnected to the phone but didn't reconnect to the watch. FWIW, when riding outside earlier, it dropped connection to phone as well, but reconnected to all the other sensors - power meter, edge remote, D-Fly (DI2 broadcast "fob"). It also will reconnect to my HR strap when I wear it. Any ideas?