Garmin Chest Strap not working
#26
Senior Member
Have you tried wetting the pads OP?
I've never had to but I've heard of people who either wet, via saliva or gel, or it doesn't work.
Last edited by rifraf; 02-22-16 at 11:20 AM.
#27
Senior Member
Edit: I've changed my position and opinion on the above and renounced it in post #30
There is always a percentage of items in a manufacturing run that don't work as they should.
Sounds like you've been unlucky
Mine has worked from day one as I expected it to after paying my money.
Last edited by rifraf; 02-22-16 at 11:22 AM.
#28
Senior Member
Is yours like this one from ebay?
Amazon.com : Polar Soft Strap Set : Sports & Outdoors
#29
Señor Blues
I don't think so. Here is an Amazon link to mine:
Amazon.com : Polar Soft Strap Set : Sports & Outdoors
Amazon.com : Polar Soft Strap Set : Sports & Outdoors
Ok great. I've seen similar on Ebay, can be had for very cheap from China. I don't typically order from China so I may check out Amazon this time. Thanks!
#30
Senior Member
Just in case anyone hasn't seen these links I found on DC Rainmaker
Troubleshooting your heart rate monitor/strap HR spikes | DC Rainmaker
How to fix cold/dry weather erratic heart rate readings | DC Rainmaker
A solution to heart rate dropouts/spikes with Garmin HR Soft Straps | DC Rainmaker
Hope it helps someone find a solution that works for them
Plenty more in google like:
https://support.garmin.com/support/s...00000000000%7D
Wow, I now acknowledge there is a major issue with the straps as there is a huge amount of anecdotal evidence easily found with google.
I must simply be one of the lucky ones.
Whats funny is many suggest its a salt issue needing lots of cleaning to keep on top of it.
I'm not sure barring a wipe with a damp cloth occasionally mines ever had a more thorough clean, let alone a machine wash.
Troubleshooting your heart rate monitor/strap HR spikes | DC Rainmaker
How to fix cold/dry weather erratic heart rate readings | DC Rainmaker
A solution to heart rate dropouts/spikes with Garmin HR Soft Straps | DC Rainmaker
Hope it helps someone find a solution that works for them
Plenty more in google like:
https://support.garmin.com/support/s...00000000000%7D
Wow, I now acknowledge there is a major issue with the straps as there is a huge amount of anecdotal evidence easily found with google.
I must simply be one of the lucky ones.
Whats funny is many suggest its a salt issue needing lots of cleaning to keep on top of it.
I'm not sure barring a wipe with a damp cloth occasionally mines ever had a more thorough clean, let alone a machine wash.
Last edited by rifraf; 02-22-16 at 11:19 AM.
#32
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Whilst I'll accept that your one is junk, maybe, I have serious doubts Garmin have marketed a "junk" strap that they've continued to sell and not recalled.
Edit: I've changed my position and opinion on the above and renounced it in post #30
There is always a percentage of items in a manufacturing run that don't work as they should.
Sounds like you've been unlucky
Mine has worked from day one as I expected it to after paying my money.
Edit: I've changed my position and opinion on the above and renounced it in post #30
There is always a percentage of items in a manufacturing run that don't work as they should.
Sounds like you've been unlucky
Mine has worked from day one as I expected it to after paying my money.
Yes, I wet the electrodes with every type of water short of holy water as well as electrode cream. Nothing helped. There are numerous posts on this forum complaining about the strap and alternative ways to remedy the problem, from replacing the entire strap with another ANT+ strap, to using a Polar strap -- which I was never able to make work.
At any rate, I happy that you're satisfied with your Garmin strap, but I'm not the only person to have problems with them.
#33
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Have you called Garmin support? I had similar trouble and they were very helpful diagnosing and in my case sending me a replacement.
#34
Senior Member
You are indeed correct and the online evidence of dissatisfaction with the heart rate monitor belts appears common.
I must be one of the lucky ones that, touch wood, has not had any issues with the belt.
#35
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I switched over to a scosche rythm+ and won't be going back to chest straps
#36
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It may start working once sweat has built up, but to guarantee it to work from the moment you start wearing it, just run your finger under the tap and glide across the sensor area of the strap.
The OP's Garmin may be a faulty unit, but I always have to wet the sensors of my HR strap first before putting it on.
This is with my Garmin premium strap, with daily usage over the last 2 years. The old Garmin standard strap I used to wear was the same, I always had to apply liquid before it started to work.
I would also agree with the earlier post who suggested washing the strap after usage, even if just from a hygiene point of view.
#37
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#38
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#39
Senior Member
As I've mentioned before the Garmin chest strap never worked well for me, I bought the Polar strap last spring and all has been good. However recently the HRM has been dropping out or misreading, so I figured I would get a new Polar strap.
Unfortunately the snaps in the new strap I received will not grasp the Garmin HR sensor. It is as if it needs longer pins, it partially clicks in and then as soon as I let go the pins pop out. No amount of pressing will get it to lock into the new strap. Comparing the snaps between the old and new Polar straps, they appear identical, but apparently they are not.
I guess Polar straps are no longer compatible with the Garmin sensor.
Unfortunately the snaps in the new strap I received will not grasp the Garmin HR sensor. It is as if it needs longer pins, it partially clicks in and then as soon as I let go the pins pop out. No amount of pressing will get it to lock into the new strap. Comparing the snaps between the old and new Polar straps, they appear identical, but apparently they are not.
I guess Polar straps are no longer compatible with the Garmin sensor.
#40
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I got the Polar H7 and use BT on it with my phone.
Yesterday I bought the Garmin Premium Cloth HRM for $19.99 at Kohl with a $10 coupon. Since I am going to be using a Edge 520, it need to have ANT+.
Lets see how well it goes later.
Yesterday I bought the Garmin Premium Cloth HRM for $19.99 at Kohl with a $10 coupon. Since I am going to be using a Edge 520, it need to have ANT+.
Lets see how well it goes later.
#41
Senior Member
Unfortunately the snaps in the new strap I received will not grasp the Garmin HR sensor. It is as if it needs longer pins, it partially clicks in and then as soon as I let go the pins pop out. No amount of pressing will get it to lock into the new strap. Comparing the snaps between the old and new Polar straps, they appear identical, but apparently they are not.
I guess Polar straps are no longer compatible with the Garmin sensor.
I guess Polar straps are no longer compatible with the Garmin sensor.
#42
Senior Member
#43
Chases Dogs for Sport
I've used a Garmin soft strap since they first came out. It solved the cold weather wild readings problem I had with the old strap. And I've never had any kind of functional problem with the Garmin strap. Perfection. BUT . . . after close to 20,000 miles, the strap is beginning to show its age. Not quite falling apart, but getting there.
$45 is a ridiculous price to pay for a new strap -- even if it is perfect. How are the Polar and other straps for durability?
$45 is a ridiculous price to pay for a new strap -- even if it is perfect. How are the Polar and other straps for durability?
#44
Senior Member
I have the Garmin soft strap, it's the one that doesn't work for me. I got my first Polar strap in May of last year. Done about 9,000 miles with it so far. It looks fine, I clean it from time-to-time but it is now starting to behave as the Garmin soft strap did, with lots of dropping out and inaccurate readings at times. My next ride will be my first with the new Polar strap so we'll see how it goes.
#45
Chases Dogs for Sport
I have the Garmin soft strap, it's the one that doesn't work for me. I got my first Polar strap in May of last year. Done about 9,000 miles with it so far. It looks fine, I clean it from time-to-time but it is now starting to behave as the Garmin soft strap did, with lots of dropping out and inaccurate readings at times. My next ride will be my first with the new Polar strap so we'll see how it goes.
#46
Senior Member
It seems to me that these things work differently with different people. Lots of people have no problems with the Garmin strap where it never worked well for me. Polar has longer contact patches and worked great for me up until now. So it could just be my body and the way these things pick up the signal just doesn't work as well for me.
If the Garmin works for you I can't imagine the Polar wouldn't work as well, and at $17 instead of $45 you could go thru a couple of them and still be ahead of the curve a few bucks. You just may have to shave down the plastic around the snaps to get the Garmin sensor to snap in.
If the Garmin works for you I can't imagine the Polar wouldn't work as well, and at $17 instead of $45 you could go thru a couple of them and still be ahead of the curve a few bucks. You just may have to shave down the plastic around the snaps to get the Garmin sensor to snap in.
#47
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I bought the Garmin Premium HRM for $20 last week. It was on sale at Kohl. Check your store. It works just fine on my Garmin Edge 520.
I also have the Polar H7 HRM and its BT and it works fine on my android phone.
I also have the Polar H7 HRM and its BT and it works fine on my android phone.
#48
Senior Member
Update with my new Polar strap - 3 rides, 104 miles and it works perfectly. So my first Polar strap lasted about 15 month/8,700 miles before it got dodgy to the point where it was as bad as the Garmin strap.
#49
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Some of the strap lost its elasticity as it age right? Its to be expected.
I wash and hang it to dry after my exercise.
Garmin HRM is still $29.99 at Kohl: Garmin Heart Rate Monitor with Adjustable Strap
I use $10 off from Discover. They always sent you 20% or 30% off coupon.
I never seen HRM this cheap. So get a few. LOL
I wash and hang it to dry after my exercise.
Garmin HRM is still $29.99 at Kohl: Garmin Heart Rate Monitor with Adjustable Strap
I use $10 off from Discover. They always sent you 20% or 30% off coupon.
I never seen HRM this cheap. So get a few. LOL
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