Garmin Fenix 6 - hrm issues

[Austin_Metro]

I was going to post this in the running thread, but this may reach a few more.

I have a garmin fenix 6 with heart rate monitor - wrist based. When new, it didn’t work a few times. Then settled down and worked happily all the time for two years.

It’s now gone intermittent again. Doesn’t work most of the time during the day and does on most runs. But yesterday it didn’t work for the first 4k of my run and then did - misreading by 30 bpm for a while and then catching up to the 160bpm that I was doing.

Anyone get this, or better still have a solution?

Hrm switched on. Green lights on back not working. Anyone know how to get it working consistently?

Thanks. Austin

[Inspire]

I’ve got a Fenix 6 as well. I do find that you need to wear the watch quite tight on the rest to get an accurate reading. Have you tried resetting the watch back to factory settings/switching it on and off etc.? The other option would be to speak to Garmin to see what they say.

Alternatively, if you are training based on heart rate, another thought is to but a Garmin HRM. I’ve got one that cost about 40 quid and seems quite accurate. For longer runs, I use this rather than relying on the watch itself.

Thanks

Rob

[sausage76]

I have a fenix 5.

I always wear it really tight during any exercise and get consistent HRM readings. Day to day wear it loose and yep it erratic

[Austin_Metro]

Thanks Rob.

The resets don’t seem to make a difference, nor does switching it on and off. Frustrating to have electronics that has “character” when you just expect it to work.

A friend also recommended the chest strap. One of the reasons I liked the watch was the lack of faff … it would be just my luck if the strap didn’t pair!

[Austin_Metro]

Thanks sausage. Mine is more that the green measuring lights don’t even start. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

The other day, worked on run mode, not on cardio.

[James6112]

My 6x pro has never had this problem

Is it actually over 2 years old? As the seem to have a decent 2 year warranty..

[Austin_Metro]

James , thanks, yes it was a late 2020 purchase.

In someways it is good to hear they don’t all do it. I’d be dubious about buying another garmin.

[James6112]

Austin_Metro said:

James , thanks, yes it was a late 2020 purchase.

In someways it is good to hear they don’t all do it. I’d be dubious about buying another garmin.

I do have a different glitch on my 6x pro, this reminded me to look into it !(gps a few hundred M off sometimes..)
I reset it etc, still the same.
It’s 18 months old, about to send it to be repaired / replaced via Amazon , free cover for 2 years, was an easy process via chat..

[Slowboathome]

I have a garmin with a chest strap. If the reading goes wonky I fix it by licking the contact area - helps it conduct better.

No idea if this would work on a wrist version though.

[Austin_Metro]

I used to do that on my old garmin!

The wrist one flashes lights at you skin. I don’t think it’s conductive… and my issue is that these little lights don’t always start working when they should.

[oddman]

Have you put it into an energy saving mode by accident? My HRM seems to be always on.

I think the wrist based HRM is good for resting HR and HRV but chest strap is much more reliable for exercise

[Austin_Metro]

Battery saver is off. Had to find it to check, mind!

[Slowboathome]

Austin_Metro said:

I used to do that on my old garmin!

The wrist one flashes lights at you skin. I don’t think it’s conductive… and my issue is that these little lights don’t always start working when they should.

Licking used to turn my gf on. Might work with the lights.

[Austin_Metro]

Slowboathome said:

Licking used to turn my gf on. Might work with the lights.

!

[JonChalk]

Mine played up for the first time ever yesterday - working at what felt like 150 on the rowing machine & it was cycling between 120 and 180 for a few minutes at a time!!!

I'm hoping it's just a dodgy s/w update....

[James6112]

James6112 said:

Austin_Metro said:

James , thanks, yes it was a late 2020 purchase.

In someways it is good to hear they don’t all do it. I’d be dubious about buying another garmin.

I do have a different glitch on my 6x pro, this reminded me to look into it !(gps a few hundred M off sometimes..)
I reset it etc, still the same.
It’s 18 months old, about to send it to be repaired / replaced via Amazon , free cover for 2 years, was an easy process via chat..

After quite a delay, it couldn’t be fixed.
I was offered a refund, or a new one.
Great service really.

[Chicken Chaser]

I have concerns about mine too.

Generally have it on the tighter side but not tight, but think lately it's been more erratic than usual. I can't wear it tight at night as I find my wrists swell and then it's really tight and wakes me up.

I use it for multi activity and the other day I was on a dog walk on the beach and it was reading 160bpm. Now my resting is 50, and I usually get to 160 when on a run or using the turbo trainer. I'd estimate my dog walk is 110-115bpm yet I couldnt get it to go down, even taking it off and putting it back on.

I'm not impressed with it's accuracy if I'm honest, absolutely no point in using it if the numbers don't work properly. I usually wear a chest strap when Im running or cycling as I just don't trust the watch figures to be anywhere near.

[James6112]

I was sent a replacement, as it couldn’t be fixed. Great as the problem was resolved & the case/bezel in good nick!
Nearly 2 years old & under warranty still.
My old one was definitely faulty. Eg my weekly 5k parkrun. Last week, 4.99k.
The old watch showed 4.5k.
Good faces available for me:-

[Austin_Metro]

That’s good. I probably should have returned mine at the start … but it soon settled down and worked and it has only started being really erratic with hrm from 25 months old!

[JonChalk]

Mine was well over 2 years old, so I gave up on it (it's now in drawer somewhere) and have gone over to the dark side and replaced with an Apple Watch