Elduderino2412

I've had two Garmin HR monitors die on me. Each after about a year of use. I've changed battery and put battery in backwards to reset. They just crapped out on me. First was old style plastic monitor and second was new style all elastic monitor.
Anyone else have this problem? Any 3rd party HR monitors that work with Garmin's ANT+?

jgrosser

No such problems. Had mine for years without issues, and I use it a lot.

MrTuner1970

I've been using the same HR strap since January 2010. It's the cheaper one.

Elduderino2412

Maybe i just got two duds, or they got to hot in my truck. Who knows

BoSoxYacht

I've used one nearly everyday since 2007, without any issues.

RoadMike

did you try cleaning the terminals where the strap connects to the unit? sometimes they get corroded from all the sweat.

dbf73

Do you wait til the battery goes dead to change? If not, how often do you change?

TrojanHorse

wahoo makes ANT+ HR monitors... but they look identical to the garmin ones, so who knows if they're really different? I've heard the all elastic fancy models die but the old strappy ones seem to last longer. Mine's working still in year two (knock on wood)

dalava

In theory, any ANT+ compatible ones should work. I think Polar makes them too.

Carbonfiberboy 

You can snap the transmitter to a Polar belt, $17/ea. They crap out in about a year, so buy two. They're consumables, like bike tires. My plastic Garmin strap has been trouble-free, but discontinued.

Shimagnolo

You do know you need to make the Garmin rediscover the HR monitor after a battery change, right?

THSdrummer

I've had mine for a year and a half. I used it pretty off and on. I finally located it after having lost it for several months, and while I got my watch to recognize it, it constantly says my heart rate is north of 200 while I'm just sitting around. My heart rate is 60. I have noticed the terminals are corroded. Any advice for cleaning?

I don't want to spend an extra $50. I'm also interested in a possible 3rd party solution.

martialman.45

I went with polar straps. Mine lasted about a year also

Elduderino2412

yeah, it recognizes it for maybe one heartbeat after i slap the hell out of it, but then it doesn't recognize my actual heartbeat. Same tension and position as before, plus other positions and tensions. Still not working right.
Will try and mess with it a little more, and test new battery to make sure it has a good charge.

AMFJ

^in the colder months, mine doesn't work for the first 10 minutes of a ride. After that it works fine. In the summer it works fine from the start.

Put it on and go for a ride. See if it comes on at some point.

Carbonfiberboy 

That's the symptom of a dead strap. Buy a Polar strap, clean your terminals, snap into the Polar strap. And after this, wash and dry your strap and transmitter after every use. By hand, of course.

I also use a HRM gel if I'm going to be doing anything that's important to me.

bigfred 

Same here. Winter riding, even after spitting on the contacts, requires a few minutes before it becomes consistant. Got about 12 months out of the first Garmin comfort strap before it quit working properly and started delivering increasing spuradic readings. DCrainmaker suggests that it's the contacts that get corroded and that the Polar straps seem to be more durable in this area. I couldn't get a Polar strap for a reasonable price and ended up buying an entire Garmin monitor and strap on sale. If/when that one starts becoming inconsistant I'll look for a deal on the Polar straps again and purchase two.

It seems at though the straps themselves are a consumable, but, that the transmitters are fine.

StanSeven

^ It's due to the low humidity from cold air. Try moistening the strap connectors before putting it on. Between that and summer heat with jersey static, I get about 6 months a yaer of good readings

THSdrummer

Dang, that's rough. I can't save my Garmin strap?

I don't use it consistently enough to justify spending money on it. When I'm out of college and I'm self dependent for training I'll need one again.

Elduderino2412

I'm probably to lazy to do all that cleaning, but think i will buy a polar strap.

On a side note. My HR monitor started working for the first time in a month today. I didn't even do anything to it, just strapped it on. Must have heard me talking about it. BTW last few times i've tried it were indoors, so not really much temp change.

jrobe

I finally just gave up on the Garmin soft straps (worthless POS) and just use the older hard straps. They seem to last much longer for me.

oilman_15106

Nike, Timex and Polar brands all bit the dust for me so jumping ship may not be to much advantage.

chuck r

My wife and I have had ours for 3 years with no real issues. I did have a day when the monitor didnt talk to the head unit, so I dumped all the data in the garmin and re found the heart monitor again. Sort of like starting fresh with a new set up. It worked perfect again and has for the last year.

surgeonstone

It must be you, no problem here at all.

bobones

I've been using a Motorola HRM without issue since my premium Garmin one died after a few months. The sensor module fits the Garmin strap so I swap it between straps when one is in the wash. Never had any problems with it.