Suunto heart rate belt with Race - major issues at the start of each exercise

sir_max

Hi all,

I have a Suunto Race and got the Suunto HR belt but I’m having some weird issues at the start of each run.

I make sure I pair properly first and the heart rate is with the “wings”. HR looks steady/normal.
Once I start running, the HR spikes to 180 for a few mins and on some days, I’m trying to maintain a certain zone so this really throws me off. After a while, it goes back to the normal/expected zone.

I’ve tried replacing the HRB battery, resetting pairing etc… still get this issue - any ideas?

Brad_Olwin

@sir_max I thoroughly wet the strap area with the sensor under running water prior to using the belt. Try this and if you still have issues contact support. I do not see spikes at the beginning of my exercises.

@sir_max said in Suunto heart rate belt with Race - major issues at the start of each exercise:

I’ve tried replacing the HRB battery, resetting pairing etc… still get this issue - any ideas?

I’m subject to this because my skin is very dry, I use conductor gel to solve the issue (unless there’s some prolblem…)

landlord4714

@sir_max I’ve used saliva when no liquids have been available, but I don’t have this spike at the start either.

I would assume your sweat is moistening it after a while and letting it read correctly.

sir_max

Thanks all - I’ve tried wetting it first and warming up without starting the watch and the heart rate displayed seems normal (<100bpm). I turn off wrist on and off, pair on and off to no avail and it happened again today with a slow recovery jog.

I’ll try the gel and if it still has issues, I’ll contact support about it - thanks.

landlord4714

@sir_max

Just for reference this is what my suunto HR monitor looks like.

sir_max

@landlord4714 thanks, I have an old belt with my ambit 2 and this was the chart I was expecting. I’ll try again one more time and will message support. Thanks for the comparison

Brad_Olwin

@sir_max There may be issues with some belts. I don’t use gel and if you have made the belt wet and still see this contact support. I think you should be sent a new belt. Sensor is likely fine

sir_max

@Brad_Olwin Thanks for the advice!

Mattg576

@sir_max I noticed exactly the same issue using a Suunto belt with my Race, I never had this previously with my Ambit 3peak.

I now enter the sport mode I want to use whilst on my way to my run (I usually drive out of town) so it’s had some time to settle down & it then works fine when I start the activity.

Not ideal but seems to be a workaround that I’m happy with.

sir_max

@Mattg576 Thanks for sharing - how long do you need it to settle? Maybe i’ll even start a fake run to 100% get it going.

Mff73

just for the sake of testings : do anyone with this HR starting issues have other watches than SuuntoRace and could try with it and the same HRbelt ? Just to know if it is the Race itself or the belt/sensor/body combination ?

Mattg576

@sir_max only a few minutes seems to do the trick.

Last night I had to dash straight out for a run as the light was fading & I didn’t have a head torch so couldn’t wait the few minutes I normally would & the HR was all over the place again for the first 5 minutes.

(It turned into a bit of a threshold session as it was getting darker by the minute & I was in the middle of nowhere).

Mattg576

@Mff73 I used a 9peak for a few months before getting the Race & don’t recall seeing the issue with that.

I’ve given it to a mate so will borrow it back & have a play

Mff73

@Mattg576
i read this post again, and it seems that no one mentionned that, either the sensor battery could be weak (so it could be worth trying to change to a new one) or the belt itself could become to be out of usage or dirty …
It may not be the Race watch itself.

sir_max

@Mff73 I’ve replaced the battery, washed the belt - at this point, I’m going to report the issue to Suunto, could be the belt is failing though it’s weird only the start. I bought the belt shortly after the race came out

Brad_Olwin

@sir_max The belt should last longer than this.

Mattg576

@sir_max I got my Suunto HR belt with an Ambit 3 peak (HR) as a set in 2017 & it was secondhand then.

It gets the occasional wash & regular battery changes but other than the issue we’ve discussed works perfectly.

I’m sure a previous Suunto would alert me when the battery was running low (Ambit 3 peak, ambit 2R or a T3) I’d be interested to know if the Race does a similar thing ?

@Mff73 said in Suunto heart rate belt with Race - major issues at the start of each exercise:

@Mattg576
i read this post again, and it seems that no one mentionned that, either the sensor battery could be weak (so it could be worth trying to change to a new one) or the belt itself could become to be out of usage or dirty …
It may not be the Race watch itself.

You can “measure” if the belt is damaged or not, check this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXJ0spt9A1E&t=325s

Brad_Olwin

@André-Faria

I’ve tried replacing the HRB battery, resetting pairing etc… still get this issue - any ideas?