ZoneSense + Garmin HRM Pro+
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Just wondering if anyone has been able to successfully use ZoneSense on their vertical when paired with a Garmin HRM Pro+ chest strap.
Since ZoneSense was launched, I’ve been using my Polar H10 and it’s worked both during the activity after the 10min baseline period, and been viewable in Suunto App post workout too.
Today I decided to try my Garmin HRM Pro+ chest strap - I do prefer it to the H10 in terms of comfort. Was running for ~45mins and ZoneSense never kicked it and, as I expected would be the case, nothing displaying in Suunto app either. The strap was connected before starting the activity and only had the single ZoneSense s+ app running (had an issue when I used it in conjunction with a 2nd s+ app).
Anyone else had issues with the Garmin HRM Pro+? Checked on my Garmin app and the firmware is up to date, it had good battery status and I know it records R-R…
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@Grundy82 Using Frontier X2 which has strain, HRV etc…no luck. I even deleted app and started all over; nothing in watch or app after numerous attempts. Sounds like trouble in River City. One thing to note HR on watch does jump due to high intensity wires or some car computers but X2 on the $$$.
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@Grundy82 Should work fine. I have one and will test today.
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@Brad_Olwin thanks - I thought so too with it being their flagship HRM - just been out for another run this afternoon - this time with my H10 again and ZoneSense worked fine and as expected. Odd.
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@Grundy82 You are right. Garmin HRM-Pro indeed doesn’t work for ZoneSense. Perhaps they aren’t sending RR intervals over BLE? ZoneSense is stuck in “waiting for data”. Polar straps work just fine.
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I too initially used the Garmin HRM Pro Plus and it was great. However I had a week where it would not work and as much as I love the new zone sense waiting for the “waiting for data” to stop was super annoying because it takes about 2 minutes for it to lock in with the Garmin strap and I did not want to stop and start runs trying to troubleshoot the lack of data for it to start. I had it daily not working and couldn’t figure out why it was not kicking in.
After a lot of testing on dog walks I think it is a Bluetooth issue. Here is what I tested:
- iPhone on, Suunto Race S on with workout and zone sense on, over multiple starts zone sense never moved out of waiting for data. It was a fail.
- iPhone on, Suunto Race S without workout on and zonesense on. Multiple starts and again waiting 3 plus minutes but never moved out of waiting for data.
- iPhone on airplane mode and Bluetooth off, Suunto Race S on without workout on and zonesense on. Zonesense moved out of waiting for data after 2 minutes. It worked!!!
- iPhone on airplane mode and Bluetooth off, Suunto race S on without workout daily workout from TrainingPeaks and zonesense on. Zonesense moved out of waiting for data after about 2 minutes. I replicated this 6 times.
I then did my workout for the day with the TrainingPeaks workout loaded and zonesense on and it worked again taking about 2 minutes to move out of waiting for data.
I have not however taken off and put back on my HRM between starts and that will be my next test, but my initial results are telling me it is the Garmin HRM connecting with my iPhone that was messing up the signal.
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@Sean-Sutton said in ZoneSense + Garmin HRM Pro+:
- iPhone on airplane mode and Bluetooth off, Suunto Race S on without workout on and zonesense on. Zonesense moved out of waiting for data after 2 minutes. It worked!!!
- iPhone on airplane mode and Bluetooth off, Suunto race S on without workout daily workout from TrainingPeaks and zonesense on. Zonesense moved out of waiting for data after about 2 minutes. I replicated this 6 times.
I then did my workout for the day with the TrainingPeaks workout loaded and zonesense on and it worked again taking about 2 minutes to move out of waiting for data.
I have not however taken off and put back on my HRM between starts and that will be my next test, but my initial results are telling me it is the Garmin HRM connecting with my iPhone that was messing up the signal.
Sounds like that although the HRM supports multiple concurrent Bluetooth connections (3?), both the Race and the iPhone are paired to the same virtual Bluetooth device, and that because your iPhone is already on, it’s already connected to the HRM.
You could have it connecting to both concurrently by allowing it to connect to your iPhone (pop open the Bluetooth settings and confirm it’s connected), and then telling your Race S to forget the strap, before pairing again.
This way, it’ll connect to an available BT channel on the HRM, and not the one your iPhone is using.
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@Sean-Sutton thanks for sharing this, and you’re testing protocol - nice work!
I removed the Garmin HRM Pro+ from my phones bluetooth list and reconnected it to my Vertical. Having done two runs since (one run without phone and one with phone) on both occasions ZS worked correctly after the initial 10min baseline assessment period and equally showed like for like results in the App post upload.
It would seem having the Garmin HRM Pro paired as what would likely be the 2nd connection to the watch is causing ZS to not receive R-R interval, but as soon as it’s the primary connection, it does.
Bizarre behaviour as you’d expect where it’s on either of the BLE frequencies the data recorded and transmitted would be like of like - perhaps Garmin only send the R-R data over the primary connection. Would seem the most likely explanation!
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@Grundy82
Agreed. Glad you had similar experiences
