[Leeroy_Silk]

Can someone help please?

I have a Garmin HRM connected to a Garmin 800. A while back I noticed my heart rate would sporadically stop recording, when it did record I noticed my heart rate was much, much lower than one would expect. Since I first saw the issue, I’ve cleaned the strap and contacts, replaced the battery, I’ve tried pretty much everything I can think of to try and it still doesn’t seem to record properly.

Currently, it’s doing this: turn on Garmin 800 whilst wearing strap and it finds strap immediately but doesn’t record a beat, go for a hard ride where I’d expect my rate to be 160 BPM + and it records a max of 85, as I cool down it stops recording again, despite still being connected.

Any advice, even if to tell me it’s kaput!

 

Topic

[Leeroy_Silk]

I’m surprised to see this pop

I’m surprised to see this pop up again seeing as I initially asked the question in Feb 16. 

Anyhoo since binning the Garmin strap and replacing with a Polar well over a year ago it’s not missed a single beat!

[HurdyGurdy]

There is a whole thread on

There is a whole thread on this topic on DC RainMaker. Someone came up with the fix which  was to cut the strap between the two connection points. For some reason, obviously no proof as of yet but about to do the same,  that seems to have fixed issues for lots of posters. Something to do with crossover signal between the two measuring areas when the band itself gets soaked from sweat. Given I have the exact same problem and a spare strap, going to give it a try … or off to Decathlon for that geonaute.

Note – anyone trying this, don’t blame me if it doesn’t fix it! 

[madcarew]

I’m the same as Barry Bianchi

I’m the same as Barry Bianchi. I’ve got 3 garmin straps from 7 years to 2 years old. Never had a single problem with them. I do know that when it’s only showing half the normal rate it means only one side of the sensor strap is working. I have had a couple friends have that. It’s a replace job. Garmin both times was good at sorting it, giving one a replacement under warranty though it was just out of warranty, and the other one got a new strap for a very modest cost.

[BarryBianchi]

I don’t get this.  I’ve had 3

I don’t get this.  I’ve had 3 garmins with chest straps, and they have all worked fine, with no need for gel and phaffing, and have always given sport-on readings.  The only very occasional niggle is putting on the strap if it’s really cold and my skin is completely dry, when licking a finger and wiping the back of the sender unit sorts it everytime.  So I’d say if it’s giving this much hassle, there is something wrong with the hard/software/both, or as I’ve seen quite a few people doing, you’re wearing it over your guts, not chest?

Unlike the HRM readings from my FR235 watch to the 800, though, which are total bobbins. Fine on its own with the occasional glitch, but poor when paired.

[theironduck]

+1 for ultrasound gel (about

+1 for ultrasound gel (about a pea’s worth spread over the contact patches)

Also, are you sure you are wearing it in the right place?  I used to have problems with mine if I wore it too low down – it seemed to pick up running cadence rather than heart rate.

[Stirlandd]

Used cat eye, polar, and

Used cat eye, polar, and varios others. Now on Wahoo. & Elemnt bolt. I’m Well impressed  with the package..automatically set max HR by age.  But like most of the others,  when I hit the “Redline” the heart rate goes ballistic. Instantly hits insane figures. It  looks like, recovering  back down  to 90% ish. or there about it comes back in line ??? 

 

[daveg00]

sergius wrote:

Retfordwilier wrote:

Easy fix for this, you need to ‘short out’ the system to reset it.

Put the battery in upside down for about a minute, then install the correct way as usual

 

I tried that 3 times after internet searches suggested the same, it didn’t work for my one.

ditto for me, no dice

[sergius]

Retfordwilier wrote:

Easy fix for this, you need to ‘short out’ the system to reset it.

Put the battery in upside down for about a minute, then install the correct way as usual

 

I tried that 3 times after internet searches suggested the same, it didn’t work for my one.

[Lamb Henry]

I use a Mio heart rate

I use a Mio heart rate minitor (chest strap version) without problems,. I used it over the last few years probbabbly about 300 times.

[Retfordwilier]

Easy fix for this, you need

Easy fix for this, you need to ‘short out’ the system to reset it.

Put the battery in upside down for about a minute, then install the correct way as usual

[sergius]

I did use a Garmin HRM strap

I did use a Garmin HRM strap which came with my Edge 1000.  It stopped working when I changed the battery after a couple of years…

 

I ended up going for a Scosche RHYTHM+ (https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/05/scosche-antbluetooth-optical.html) after reading the DCRainmaker review.  Worn on the upper arm underneath my jersey – have been very happy with it.

 

Kinda awkward to get hold of in the UK mind, ended up costing me about £75 from Amazon so a fair bit more pricey than the Garmin/Polar versions.

[davel]

I’m onto Wahoo tickr now:
I’m onto Wahoo tickr now: still doing the washing thing, but no problems, and at least you can buy the strap separately (as opposed to having to get the strap plus transponder thing as a package, like you do with Garmin). The screws on the old Garmin transponder were ridiculous too – tiny things whose heads would round if you looked at them the wrong way.

I’ve had a couple of other Garmin sensors (cadence and speed) seemingly just need a new battery and then not come back to life after that’s replaced, so I’m done with them when you can get cheaper, more reliable sensors from other companies.

[daveg00]

My 2-bobs worth:  i have had

My 2-bobs worth:  i have had my garmin hrm for about 2 years.  Last couple months it started to not detect heart rate (or it detected say 80 bpm when it was in reality almost double that) then recently it wouldnt pair with the Garmin 510 head unit at all, replaced battery, washed the strap (again) to no avail.  Bought a $8 polar strap,  attached the sensor module and it paired/worked straight away .

[FMOAB]

An alternative setup is the

An alternative setup is the Geonaute hrm from Decathlon.  More comfortable and easier to replace the battery when required.

[Leeroy_Silk]

Thanks everyone for all the

Thanks everyone for all the advice, at least it seems it’s the strap that’s the issue and not the transponder. 

I’ll give the strap one final wash and if it still plays it’ll be in the bin and replaced with a Polar.

[Author]

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