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Heart rate is completely inaccurate only with specific profiles

disgruntleddave
over 6 years ago
The HRM readings on my va3 seem accurate while not in an activity profile, while running, doing weights, etc.

However, when I'm in cardio mode the HRM is completely off. It often reads around half of my actual heart rate. When I change profiles while doing the same exact thing (eg: change from cardio to run profilex or even no exercise profile) suddenly my readings jumps to reasonable values.

It seems like a bug to me. I've tried positioning it differently, tighter, looser, other wrist, on the inside of my wrist, and occasionally I can get it working but it cuts out again with any movement. Whereas I never have this issue in other profiles.

Had anyone experienced similar situations?
  • 0 over 4 years ago

    When I have my setting set to cardio and I walk around the block, my heart rate shows 160-170.  When I continue around the block and change the activity to running, my heart rate drops down to 140's.  I don't understand this differentiation.  Can Garmin comment on this please?  I loved my fitbit, but I love my fenix6 too I just wish it would work better. 

  • +1 over 4 years ago

    This bugged me so much! Using cardio profile, wrist based heart rate is about +30 bpm more than it should be. Seeing as my run and cycle isn't too inaccurate compared to my HRM strap, it must be the profile. So this eve I created a new profile, called HIIT, added the same data screens as cardio, except I put heart rate guage instead of just heart rate. Bingo, works much better! 

    So solution is to create your own profile for any in built profiles that aren't accurate. 

    I'm using fr945 btw

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Superfli69

    So you copied the activity and changed the HR or created a new activity using other?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Superfli69

    "created a new profile"

    Can this be done with a Vivosport?

  • +1 over 4 years ago in reply to JayMack

    I actually found this new profile just as bad as original, but under reading my hr! I've since been advised to wear my watch further up my arm, a lot further up than the wrist. I also wear it on my right arm as apparently its better on your thicker arm. Basically keeping it away from the bone. This method has been working brilliantly for the last 5 weeks now. So no need to create new profile or change any settings on watch.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Another thing to try out for anyone having these problems when walking is bend your arm at 90 degrees and hold it like that for a minute or two and see if the HR catches up. Sometimes when i put my arms down my veins popup and I feel them being filled with more blood, I assume that could make it harder for the sensor to determine the HR.

    This method has worked for me for the couple times i've tried it so far.

    Regarding strength or other activities, where you heavily use hands - of course it will not be accurate as you're flexing arm muscles, so no fix there.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Superfli69

    That actually works for me so far.. thanks a lot for sharing with us

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    All facets of this watch give inaccurate results. I feel like it is very dangerous to rely on the garment watch series

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to 7281018

    Depends on what you are relying on it for. To be honest I have had several different heart rate bands over the years and I would never rely on one for accurate heart rate readings.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to rspierenburg

    I bought a Magene strap and on the cross trainer it works consistently. The watch gave me just good results one out of 5, so I go for consistency. Using a wrist sensor probably works for outdoor running, but indoor activities with hand action require a strap.