SSWHR + belt -> heart rate wrong

[Jani Kaikkonen]

First of all, I’m pretty sure here was already some discussion about this kind of problem, but I just couldn’t find it now. So, sorry for new topic.

I took a mtb ride today, and during the first ~6 minutes the heart rate was nowhere near correct (the first image below). I then stopped that training, and started a new one right away -> now the reading was what I expected (the second image). This was now the second time this has happened to me. Any ideas what could it be? Should I just contact directly Suunto support?

[SlaSh]

Ive had similar issues with connection dropouts, nothing helped, new battery and etc, seems like design flaw of the device, they have replaced it, but new one behaved the same and I broke it with gym equipment, so now I am happy user of the scosche

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

It’s a thing with the belts. They can get dirty or even material of clothing can affect them.

Lests start with this:

http://www.natharward.com/heart-rate-monitor-not-working/

And some more info from another forum I monitor

It could be, that this user has been washing the belt with warmer than 42°C water. as xxx explained some months ago, that warm water starts to layer keratin coming off the skin.

And some more

Xxx Now it´s for shure: It´s the syntetic material from the clothes which generate electrostatic power and influence the HF-belt.
I was skiing yesterday and no wrong value was recorded. I used natural cotton shirts and sweater.
So this phenomenon is originated from industrial cotton and electrostatic power!
I will send my ordered HF-belt back…”

However, if you still have problems I would go with support.

Please first read the article really well.

[SlaSh]

@dimitrios-kanellopoulos if synthetic clothes affect belt this is HW design flaw, I haven’t had any issues with hrm-run or wahoo belts.

[Ze Stuart]

Just for fun, I solved all of my chest strap issues by taking a Wahoo TICKR and attaching it to the old Garmin strap:

https://smile.amazon.com/Garmin-Replacement-Strap-Heart-Monitor/dp/B00BI9X1OO/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1521138971&sr=8-4&keywords=garmin+hrm+run+strap

That gives me:

• Bluetooth and ANT+ (ie record data to Spartan and bike computer, or to use with my Oakley RADAR PACE)
• a chest strap I really like (the strap has sensors not just on the chest, but two smaller ones on the side of the torso as well).
• HRV intervals (otherwise I’d just use the fancy Wahoo optical sensor)
• Also, also: putting two unrelated things together to make a better working thing made me feel good, not to mention the ‘go faster’ patterning on the strap.

Before Frankenmonitor, I had data similar to yours, @Jani-Kaikkonen, or just odd data. Now, comfortable, solid data, and no need to use electrode gel.

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

@slashas said in SSWHR + belt -> heart rate wrong:

@dimitrios-kanellopoulos if synthetic clothes affect belt this is HW design flaw, I haven’t had any issues with hrm-run or wahoo belts.

Sure no doubt about that. However it could have been specific combinations or so.

[SlaSh]

@dimitrios-kanellopoulos I am using synthetic clothes so seems electrostatic affected my belt.
Funny thing that same issue I have faced with Garmin F5 watch electrostatic was killing display

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

@slashas really now? wow.

[Jani Kaikkonen]

@dimitrios-kanellopoulos thanks. Actually I was familiar with those and I’ve personally had problems like described, with my earlier devices (battery low, loose synthetic shirts, dirty electrodes). But I’ve never had this kind of quite steady readings.
The things that still make me think, if this could be a hardware or software issue, are that:

• during the two months I’ve had this SSWHR, I have had more than four weeks break from training and anyway I don’t train daily -> belt should not be very dirty yet. Gonna try washing it, just to be sure.
• during the two months I’ve had this SSWHR, I’ve used same kind of training clothes, so I suppose I should have come across with this more frequently.
• this time I had worn the belt about 20 mins before starting the ride and hr looked fine before starting the training. I rode that 6 mins wondering if my hr was really so low (70-90 bpm), started the new training without even touching the belt and got right reading right away.
  Quite strange, I think.

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

@Jani-Kaikkonen let my say another example or at least how I understand if the belt is not ok:

• It starts but takes a few more to lock and shows a normal value. Then if I walk etc the value changes slowly. Then when I start the activty it does not work well. Then I pause do not stop change my HR and works again.

It is more of an issue belt + module in my opinion rather than SW.

You can, as other users have, change the belt to another and test against SW (eg a different brand). From what I can concentrate from the web is people that have done that have found piace of mind.

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

@jani-kaikkonen I can reply with confidence that it’s not a SW issue on the watch.

[SlaSh]

@dimitrios-kanellopoulos yes, electrostatic from the car once opening the door and boom this, photo is not mine but the same happened to mine, so if you know who is willing to buy F5 show this photo of the poor HW design and high price

[Dimitrios Kanellopoulos]

@slashas ok wow

[Jani Kaikkonen]

@dimitrios-kanellopoulos ok. I’ll try washing the belt first, but if it still happens, I need to try another sensor+belt. Thank you.

[Frédéric Fiandino]

Hi,
In my case, I had the same problem as you, an imprecise HR reading, so I had the idea, in addition to the recommended cleaning, to use a Compex gel for electrodes. Since then no more reading errors. I found mine in a Decathlon (I do not know if the sign exists in your country).
Have a good day
sportily

[aldnet]

This post is deleted!

[aldnet]

@frédéric-fiandino

I’m having the same problem, sometimes, data from belt is non-sense, I will try to use with Compex to see if this could resolve the problem, because following the instructions, I clean up the belt after 3-4 uses.

[SlaSh]

@aldnet omg, I never cleaned my hrm-tri and worked just fine

[aldnet]

@slashas

You have seen the strange behaviour of my belt, last chance, if not, I will speak with the support team.

You are using hrm-tri with your suunto?

[suzzlo]

@aldnet Sometimes I use Decathlon belt or H7 polar belt, and without problems…