I find my garmin HRM reads between 160-220 a good part of the time. I tried using water for the contacts against my skin and swapping out the battery.
Does a high reading suggest a contact problem or a low battery or something else? Maybe the battery I put in was bad?
Are you getting the readings while running? if so, the culprit is likely static electricity building up between your shirt and the transmiter (especially if it is the soft strap).
First, try washing the strap. That often helps.
If it doesn’t, try using Static Guard before you work out. Definitely solves the problem, but is also kind of a BS work around for a poor design. IMO, of course!
I found cleaning the contacts with contact cleaner worked best for me. If you could see the contacts under a microscope you would be suprised how dirty they can be when they look clean to the naked eye.
jaretj
same problem with me for a strap only 5 runs old. I have heard that the problem goes away with the polar wearlink strap, but have yet to try that.
same problem with me for a strap only 5 runs old. I have heard that the problem goes away with the polar wearlink strap, but have yet to try that.
If I need to go with this solution, are you suggesting just getting this polar strap or a whole new HRM from Polar?
I have the older plastic strap HR monitor and I usually get erratic readings in the first 10 minutes or so especially if I run outside where it is drier then indoors. When I’m running, I press my hand against my chest (holding the shirt next to the HR monitor) for a couple minutes and that is usually long enough for some moisture from sweat to take care of any static electricity problem. I sometimes wonder if people passing by think I’m having a heart attack, but the rescue squad has never tracked me down so nobodies been too concerned yet.
You just need to get the Wearlink + strap. The Garmin transmitter will then press fit onto the strap. This is what I have done and my HR readings are much improved.
If you’re using the newer softer strap it’s because of static build up. There are a few ways to avoid it, you can soak the entire strap with water, or you can rub a dryer sheet on the strap/your shirt before you start running. I was having the same issue on the run and on the bike, though now these techniques seem to help.
I had the same problems. I went back to the older plastic strap and tightened the strap a little more. I think the elastic in the Garmin straps wears out easier and doesn’t hold the monitor close to the skin after some time. About every month I tighten it about a 1/2 inch.
If you’re using the newer softer strap it’s because of static build up. There are a few ways to avoid it, you can soak the entire strap with water, or you can rub a dryer sheet on the strap/your shirt before you start running. I was having the same issue on the run and on the bike, though now these techniques seem to help.
I’ve been soaking the entire strap (not just the contact points) and it’s mostly gone away. This was happening in both running and riding early on. It was going away later, but that was because I had been sweating enough to soak it. Wash the strap off too. Clean of the metal connectors between the strap and the battery section.
I had same issue. Got the Polar strap (just the strap without the transmitter). I snap my Garmin transmitter (from the soft strap) into the Polar strap.
I bought the strap on Amazon and got the suggestion for some conductivity gel, so I got that too. Since using the Polar strap (with Garmin transmitter) and the gel I have had zero problems.
Do it. Now!
I had the same problem and called garmin and they sent me out a new strap and everything is working just fine. They said they had a problem with the old strap.
I have the older plastic strap HR monitor and I usually get erratic readings in the first 10 minutes or so especially if I run outside where it is drier then indoors. When I’m running, I press my hand against my chest (holding the shirt next to the HR monitor) for a couple minutes and that is usually long enough for some moisture from sweat to take care of any static electricity problem. I sometimes wonder if people passing by think I’m having a heart attack, but the rescue squad has never tracked me down so nobodies been too concerned yet.
I occasionally get exactly this problem. Starts high and erratic and settles down after five or ten minutes (presumambly when I have built up a sweat?). A smear of electrode gel on the contacts seems to eliminate it (I haven’t tried the “press hands to chest” method!)
I have the problem in August in Florida so I know static isn’t my problem. It is such a pain I no longer use the HRM. I never had a problem with my Polar.
You should not experience static issues this time of year,especially if you moisten the strap sensors. I can only discuss Polar, and any HR issue is usually a Wear Link that needs washing,hand wash 1-2x a week in cool to warm water and hang dry.
You should not experience static issues this time of year,especially if you moisten the strap sensors.
All of my static problems happen this time of year. Very dry, cool air. Just saying.
What are your weather conditions now and where do you live? I often here about “the dry heat” so maybe in AZ or NV it could be 20% humidity. Moisten the fabric or plastic transmitters and maybe use some water and moisten the shirt/jersey in contact with the the transmitter. We do not use static guard at Polar, we might have 30 years of hr technology where others have more gps history.
Santa Barbara, CA.
Cool dry fall/winter. Except when it’s raining.
If you look up at my previous post you’ll see that I haven’t any issues since I dumped the Garmin strap and got a Polar strap (with the Garmin transmitter snapped on). Also the conductivity gel helps, I suppose.
It was never a problem in the summer because it’s always overcast here or I’m not wearing a shirt.
Minnesota, the fall and winter are the worst times for static electricity.
This happened to me today too with my Garmin 305- first 10-15 min of run HR spiked to 216. I’m in Colorado and it was 18 degrees when I started my run this am. I’ve only had the Garmin a year and don’t usually use the HR portion, just like to know my mileage. On my polar, I’ve never seen my HR over 175. For the rest of the run everything was then normal. thanks for the tips and suggestions for avoiding in the future