Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Problem- Help STW!

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Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Problem- Help STW!

21 posts & 14 voices | Started 4 months ago by DanW | Latest reply from DanW

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DanW - Member

Hi all,

Recently the heart rate recording on my Edge 800 has become very unstable. The HR either drops out completely, records in the region of 118 bpm even when I'm not wearing the strap or records around 60 bpm when riding hard. Very odd!

I am using the premium (soft) strap and have had the 800 and strap for 4 months. I regularly hand wash the strap, tried replacing the battery (leaving time in between putting a new one in) and have tried resets/ reconnecting devices.

It seems to be a bit of an issue with the soft Garmin strap after a quick Google (eg reviews on Wiggle) but I was wondering if anyone has come across this before and has any other ideas of things to try? I am waiting for a reply from Garmin but thought the STW massif may be able to pint out some things to look out for.

Many thanks in advance, Dan

Posted 4 months ago #
wwaswas - Member

do you live in a power station?

or is there some other form of em interference going on?

If not then it's either the strap or the unit playing siller buggers.

garmin are pretty good on sorting stuff out ime so they should see you right.

Posted 4 months ago #
sefton - Member

wet the concave section on the strap

Posted 4 months ago #
bentos - Member

Or buy a polar strap and plug the Garmin transmitter to that!

Posted 4 months ago #
DanW - Member

I always wet the strap in the right place. Interference shouldn't be a problem as it happens in the middle of nowhere.

If Garmin can't sort it I think I'd just get the plastic strap...

Posted 4 months ago #
PlumzRichard - Member

I have just the same problem! have done for the past year, very annoying.If you do ever manage to sort the problem please let me know.

Posted 4 months ago #
trickydisco - Member

I had this problem with mine recently. Really doing my head in. I accidently left it outside last week and it rained overnight. It's been fine ever since!

Posted 4 months ago #
druidh - Member

I can only say that I've used the plastic strap version for years and it's been faultless.

Posted 4 months ago #
MSP - Member

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/08/solution-to-heart-rate-dropoutsspikes.html

Posted 4 months ago #
DanW - Member

I'm thinking a new strap may be the cure and it's somewhat good to know that this seems to be a common problem

Posted 4 months ago #
Omar Little - Member

I had the same problem so phoned up garmin about it, they sent out a replacement strap free of charge (arrived the next day so pretty good service) and it has been working fine since

Posted 4 months ago #
richP - Member

I found my heart rate readings would become irratic when the popper button contacts got dirty. cleaning them would fix it for a while.

I bought a new polar strap off ebay (not including transmitter) and clipped the garmin transmitter to it (as shown in the dcrainmaker link) and since I haven't had anymore problems.

I think that garmin have now moved to a similar method for their newer premium straps... but the polar vesion was much cheaper.

Posted 4 months ago #
DanW - Member

Any links to cheap compatible Polar straps? ...As I am a little lazy today

Posted 4 months ago #
richP - Member

I bought one from here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270734335304

Posted 4 months ago #
DanW - Member

Just a quick update:

I emailed Garmin and they have offered to replace the strap under warranty. Fingers crossed everything will be sorted!

Posted 3 months ago #
Dibbs - Member

do you live in a power station?

No trouble getting mine to work in a Power Station

Posted 3 months ago #
Janesy - Member

I find mine has a problem when just wearing a cycling jersey, when flapping around in the wind.

Its perfect when wearing a base layer. which I always do now.

Posted 3 months ago #
Stranga - Member

Before I got the HR monitor for mine I read a few reviews and apparanly this can happen with the newer more comfortable strap but the older ones are fine! I went for teh older version and its comfortable enough and had no issues at all.

Posted 3 months ago #
rootes1 - Member

cardio sport ones from HRM have an ANT+ softstrap:

http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk/cardiosport.html (so wish they would sort the design of their website!)

Posted 3 months ago #
DanW - Member

Seems the soft strap warranty replacement is out of stock at Garmin (only just found out after emailing them) so hopefully they will be sending the older hard strap (what I'd prefer anyway ) Fingers crossed it turns up soon. Can't fault Garmin warranty beside the delay

Posted 3 months ago #
DanW - Member

Hard, older style strap seems to be doing the trick (touch wood)!

Posted 2 months ago #

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