Wacky HR monitor readings - help!
Hi all. I know this is a fairly common problem: My Garmin HR monitor was reliable for about 1.5 years, but recently started giving highly erratic readings. Always about 7-12 minutes into the ride, always astronomically high readings (250+, which is a little above my max HR), and then it goes gradually down to normal. This is slightly annoying, as I like to track my max HR on each ride.
My question: should I guy a new HR monitor, or will that just be a waste of money? Interested to learn of other people's experiences in this regard. Thanks! |
I can not speak for you specific needs on the bike but when I my current chest strap setup does fail I will not be replacing. I am on my second garmin unit in about 6 years. I find the info helpful but not really necessary. I found it more necessary before I got a power meter but now I use that data for training and such so I will probably ditch the HR.
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Three guesses:
1. You need to replace the HR battery. If it's a Garmin strap, good luck! 2. The strap isn't getting a clear signal. Wash the strap, and try a HRM gel (or spit) under the pads if washing doesn't work. 3. The readings are right, and you may have atrial fibrillation. Go see a cardiologist. Or maybe 4, the strap needs to be replaced. (Try a Wahoo for easier battery changes!) |
When my battery is low, I get low readings, not high. But that is a cheap thing to change so I would try that first even though I think that unlikely.
As Pdlamb suggested, clean it, perhaps there are salts that are conductive that are allowing some form of short circuit. If it is a ANT+ type of strap, you might be able to buy a non-Garmin strap if you see something else you like. I bought a Addidas ANT+ strap that works with my Garmin 62S. |
Thanks for the advice, so far. Happy to get more advice, if it's forthcoming.
I'll try a new battery first. If that doesn't work, I'll get a new HR monitor. It's a Garmin, but the battery is very easy to replace - I have done it once before when it quit working. I think it's not atrial fibrillation -- if my HR actually did hit 250+, I think I'd know it! |
Really sounds like the battery to me, washing wouldn't hurt either.
Which strap do you have? Garmin has made so many. I probably got 5 years out of the old plastic uncomfortable one, I've never got more than a year out of their running one. |
Originally Posted by sdmc530
(Post 20932580)
I can not speak for you specific needs on the bike but when I my current chest strap setup does fail I will not be replacing. I am on my second garmin unit in about 6 years. I find the info helpful but not really necessary. I found it more necessary before I got a power meter but now I use that data for training and such so I will probably ditch the HR.
|
Here's the old uncomfortable one for $21 new.
Garmin Heart Rate Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UOD5QM..._sRz3CbHMK136P Soft strap for $49. Garmin Premium Heart Rate Monitor (Soft Strap) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BI9X1QM..._8Rz3Cb4QNP2SC And a no name ANT+ one for $30. CooSpo Fitness Tracker Ant+ Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap IP67 Waterproof with Bluetooth for Wahoo Strava Zwift … https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BS6B4PD..._uTz3Cb9VHPA76 |
I will say that of the straps I have used in the past I think the soft strap by Garmin is really comfy....
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I've had two of the Garmin Premium Soft Straps in the last nine years. They've worked great for me. I just rinse it off under running water immediately after a ride. Just got my second strap maybe two years or less ago. I seem to remember my first was starting to act like you described and even with battery change it didn't help.
You can find the Garmin Premium Soft Straps online for less than fifty bucks. Though some people have issues with them, I think mine have been solid. I wonder if it's those that sweat so much salt that they crust up their clothes, strap and anything else that have the real crazy issues and low success with the Garmin strap. I'm fairly low salt on my diet compared to others. |
After a battery change you might have to re-pair the strap with the Garmin so they can communicate.
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Originally Posted by pdlamb
(Post 20932737)
Three guesses:
1. You need to replace the HR battery. If it's a Garmin strap, good luck! 2. The strap isn't getting a clear signal. Wash the strap, and try a HRM gel (or spit) under the pads if washing doesn't work. 3. The readings are right, and you may have atrial fibrillation. Go see a cardiologist. Or maybe 4, the strap needs to be replaced. (Try a Wahoo for easier battery changes!) Reverse steps 3 and 4. Replace the strap before seeing a specialist. But yes, always do the easy and cheap thing first. -Tim- |
Originally Posted by Iride01
(Post 20933155)
I've had two of the Garmin Premium Soft Straps in the last nine years. They've worked great for me. I just rinse it off under running water immediately after a ride. Just got my second strap maybe two years or less ago. I seem to remember my first was starting to act like you described and even with battery change it didn't help.
You can find the Garmin Premium Soft Straps online for less than fifty bucks. Though some people have issues with them, I think mine have been solid. I wonder if it's those that sweat so much salt that they crust up their clothes, strap and anything else that have the real crazy issues and low success with the Garmin strap. I'm fairly low salt on my diet compared to others. |
Originally Posted by Koyote
(Post 20932854)
Thanks for the advice, so far. Happy to get more advice, if it's forthcoming.
I'll try a new battery first. If that doesn't work, I'll get a new HR monitor. It's a Garmin, but the battery is very easy to replace - I have done it once before when it quit working. I think it's not atrial fibrillation -- if my HR actually did hit 250+, I think I'd know it! Odds are it is not afib but don’t discount it just because you can’t feel it. I would give the strap a good soaking |
Originally Posted by TimothyH
(Post 20933329)
Originally Posted by pdlamb
(Post 20932737)
Three guesses:
1. You need to replace the HR battery. If it's a Garmin strap, good luck! 2. The strap isn't getting a clear signal. Wash the strap, and try a HRM gel (or spit) under the pads if washing doesn't work. 3. The readings are right, and you may have atrial fibrillation. Go see a cardiologist. Or maybe 4, the strap needs to be replaced. (Try a Wahoo for easier battery changes!) Reverse steps 3 and 4. Replace the strap before seeing a specialist. But yes, always do the easy and cheap thing first. |
Originally Posted by Koyote
(Post 20932437)
Hi all. I know this is a fairly common problem: My Garmin HR monitor was reliable for about 1.5 years, but recently started giving highly erratic readings. Always about 7-12 minutes into the ride, always astronomically high readings (250+, which is a little above my max HR), and then it goes gradually down to normal. This is slightly annoying, as I like to track my max HR on each ride.
My question: should I guy a new HR monitor, or will that just be a waste of money? Interested to learn of other people's experiences in this regard. Thanks! |
Another thing to try is to tighten up the strap a bit. The elastic in mine started to go this helped.
|
I have been getting erratic readings from my Garmin HRM, too.
I've tried everything, replacing the battery, being super conscientious with washing after each ride and even scrubbing the metal contacts with toothpaste (to make sure no corrosion or salt buildup interfered with the signals). Tonight, I discovered that there was a slash in one of the plastic contact patches. It was very hard to see. I'm pretty sure that sweat was getting into the center of the strap and interfering. New strap is now on order. I'll let you all know if it cures the problem. |
The new strap arrived and I've used it for a couple of rides. It works great! No more erratic readings.
The slit in the electrode area of the old strap was causing the problem. |
Afib here!
Thought my Garmin HRM Dual was defective because of high readings, sometimes as high as 200 bpm. At age 64 this would not be possible. Then I noticed shortness of breath, dizziness and other symptoms. Went to the doctor and ekg showed atrial fibrillation. If you have other symptoms don’t rule this out.
|
I used to see very high heart rate from my GARMIN chest strap. Turned out it was caused by a jersey fluttering in the wind.
I now use a GARMIN wrist strap. It rarely reports crazy high numbers. |
Originally Posted by pdlamb
(Post 20932737)
Three guesses:
1. You need to replace the HR battery. If it's a Garmin strap, good luck! 2. The strap isn't getting a clear signal. Wash the strap, and try a HRM gel (or spit) under the pads if washing doesn't work. 3. The readings are right, and you may have atrial fibrillation. Go see a cardiologist. Or maybe 4, the strap needs to be replaced. (Try a Wahoo for easier battery changes!) Cost of a false positive: Day off from work ($?), Cardiologist appointment ($350), electrocardiogram ($50), echocardiogram ($350) , holter monitor ($450), lab tests ($50-350), follow-up visit ($75) All of this for a device that is cheaply made, with the uncertain quality control used for amusement. Seeing this all of the time. Monitoring is being aggressively promoted by the companies who sell extremely expensive medications for the treatment of atrial fibrillation and trying to extend its screening and treatment into areas where there is uncertain benefit. A true understanding of cost has to take into account the damage that is done chasing false positives in people who were not at substantial risk for the condition being pursued. It's not like it's only mechanics who break things they are attempting to repair. People are frightened into inappropriate workups on a regular basis because of these devices. It is however amusing to watch people struggle trying to explain their concepts of risk. |
Originally Posted by bikebikebike
(Post 21122069)
False positives on this kind of cheap unregulated monitoring devices are a horrendous problem
Cost of a false positive: Day off from work ($?), Cardiologist appointment ($350), electrocardiogram ($50), echocardiogram ($350) , holter monitor ($450), lab tests ($50-350), follow-up visit ($75) All of this for a device that is cheaply made, with the uncertain quality control used for amusement. Seeing this all of the time. Monitoring is being aggressively promoted by the companies who sell extremely expensive medications for the treatment of atrial fibrillation and trying to extend its screening and treatment into areas where there is uncertain benefit. A true understanding of cost has to take into account the damage that is done chasing false positives in people who were not at substantial risk for the condition being pursued. It's not like it's only mechanics who break things they are attempting to repair. People are frightened into inappropriate workups on a regular basis because of these devices. It is however amusing to watch people struggle trying to explain their concepts of risk. |
I don't mean to trash HRM's but they are problematic and a proxy useful in training, but overlapping with medical risk assessment and diagnostics in a way that can create big problems.
Tell your doc about your readings and you can end up in a real Donnybrook. We have made strides in catching congenital heart disease and reducing stroke risk, but screening and responding to odd symptoms has a certain risk that has to be factored in when assessing the good they can do. We are going to see a lot of problems from the HRM's as they become more prevalent. There are what I call techno-eutopians ( eg. Eric Topol) who overlook the unintended consequences of unrestrained monitoring. There is low accuracy and lots of inborn errors in the inexpensive HRM's we use to identify target training zones. There is a rule in medicine, that , in an emergency, the first pulse you should take is your own. That goes up there with first make sure it's plugged in and the battery is good. Salt solution in a dropper bottle or even ECG paste for non photic ones, may improve their performance. After that list of the stuff that can throw these things off gets encyclopedic, but they are either trustworthy or they are not. Kinda binary , if you are lucky. As my mechanic used to tell me, "They all do that." As an example , my Wahoo TICKR reads an alarming 150 at times when I am sitting on the couch , with regular apical and radial pulses of 60. Not worthy of a $1500 + work up |
Originally Posted by bikebikebike
(Post 21127024)
I don't mean to trash HRM's but they are problematic and a proxy useful in training, but overlapping with medical risk assessment and diagnostics in a way that can create big problems.
Tell your doc about your readings and you can end up in a real Donnybrook. We have made strides in catching congenital heart disease and reducing stroke risk, but screening and responding to odd symptoms has a certain risk that has to be factored in when assessing the good they can do. We are going to see a lot of problems from the HRM's as they become more prevalent. There are what I call techno-eutopians ( eg. Eric Topol) who overlook the unintended consequences of unrestrained monitoring. There is low accuracy and lots of inborn errors in the inexpensive HRM's we use to identify target training zones. There is a rule in medicine, that , in an emergency, the first pulse you should take is your own. That goes up there with first make sure it's plugged in and the battery is good. Salt solution in a dropper bottle or even ECG paste for non photic ones, may improve their performance. After that list of the stuff that can throw these things off gets encyclopedic, but they are either trustworthy or they are not. Kinda binary , if you are lucky. As my mechanic used to tell me, "They all do that." As an example , my Wahoo TICKR reads an alarming 150 at times when I am sitting on the couch , with regular apical and radial pulses of 60. Not worthy of a $1500 + work up |
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