Charge 5 Inaccurate Heart Rate

[JamoC]

So I've been using the CHG 5 for a while and I just don't understand why the HR is so inaccurate. 

During excersise it is always off by 20bpm. 

See images 

Is there an update or a patch for this? 

 

 

[DavideFitbit]

Hi, welcome to the FItbit Community forums, @JamoC.  

Thank you for sharing this information and the screenshots about the inconvenience you've been experiencing with your Charge 5. 

If you haven't done so already, I recommend that you try restarting the device using the three pulse method mentioned here below, instead of the restart option found on the Charge 5 itself: 

1. Connect your device to the charging cable. For instructions, see How do I charge my Fitbit device?
2. Press the button located on the flat end of the charger 3 times (end of the USB cable), pausing for 1 second between presses. Then wait 10 seconds or until the Fitbit logo appears.

In addition, please follow the instructions in this article to improve the accuracy of heart rate information and check the information mentioned here about other factors that could affect your heart rate reading, this has been useful to other users who have experienced something similar. 

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and comments. Please let me know if you continue to experience the same problem. 

I'll be around. 

[JamoC]

Greetings.

I just received a replacement charge 5, because the screen was flickering and white-out. I thought this may also solve the heart rate inaccuracies, but I was mistaken.

I must say that a discrepancy of 20BPM is unacceptable. I understand it is an optical tracker, but there is no excuse for such a large error.

What is being done about this? Is anyone at Fitbit working to solve this. I cannot have my watch tell me I am at 100, but could actually be at 120, or worse.

New charge 5, same problem.

I am going to have to break up with Fitbit, and cancel my prem membership if this is not resolved.

 

 

[DavideFitbit]

@JamoC Thank you for sharing these screenshots and your experience with the Charge 5.

I'm sorry to see that you continue to see a discrepancy with the heart rate information. There are some general recommendations that have been useful for other users to improve accuracy, but if you already tried all the steps mentioned here earlier and you continue to experience the same behavior, I recommend that you continue the communication with the Support team so they can provide you with further assistance with this. Click here to get connected

I appreciate all the feedback that you've shared about this experience with the replacement device. 

[JamoC]

 

 

[JamoC]

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@JamoC wrote:

 

 

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Last night it said I was high heart rate during sleep which did got get tracked by much more sophisticated gear.

It seems to be a general issue. All feedback on JBHifi, Amazon, Dick Smith, and other retailers say this is one of the worst fitbits to date.

The heartrate sometimes freezes. I went to bed on Friday and it got stuck at 91bpm all night and did not record my sleep. This mis-event ruined my readiness score.

[UBOZO]

The heart rate monitoring on the CHG 5 is not acceptable. I have a condition that requires accurate monitoring. I could live with a consistent  3-5 beat difference, but this thing varies from -1 beat to + 20 beats. It's only accurate when I am resting. I've compared readings from a chest monitor during Cardio Rehab, and the CHG 5 is not even close. If a moderator replies, do not point me to shutdown/restart instructions, I've done that many times. Do not tell me to change band tightness and location. I've tightened the ban and moved this thing up and down my arm, including mounting the face on the bottom side of my arm. Algorithms for heart rate monitoring need to be updated and rigorously tested by regular folks, in addition to in-house QA, before release. The advertising for the CHG 5 is misleading.

[SunsetRunner]

Hello @JamoC what is that device you are comparing Fitbit with? It looks interesting.

[DavideFitbit]

@JamoC @UBOZO Thank you for your replies and for sharing the screenshots. 

If you already tried all the recommendations mentioned here earlier to improve accuracy, it would be necessary that you get in touch with the Customer Support team for further assistance with this. Click here to get connected. 

Thanks again for all your feedback. 

[Ktlacey]

Hi @JamoC 

I have similar issue power walk or jog/run doesn’t get into to active zone even thought I know it is. Yet sitting on the sofa waving my arm for 2 mins and puff HR at 200.  I just don’t get it, so frustrating. 

[UBOZO]

I'm returning this thing. It's way to inaccurate for my needs. Very dissapointing.

[DavideFitbit]

Welcome to the Community forums, @Ktlacey. 

Thanks for confirming that you're having the same problem with your Charge 5. Could you please confirm if you already tried all the troubleshooting steps mentioned here earlier?  

@UBOZO I'm sorry to see that you will be returning your device due to this inconvenience. Thank you for sharing all your feedback. 

See you around. 

[JamoC]

Hi mate. Polar chest strap during workouts and sleep apnea monitor during sleep.

I never had to use any of this other gear with my charge 3 and 4, but the charge 5 does whatever it wants so I cannot rely on it.

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks mate. And what app is that?

[JamoC]

Polar for the strap, and Wellue for the O2 ring.

The O2 ring is only for sleep, as doing physical stuff will trip it out with movements.

Polar chest straps are the gold standard 100% accurate with leads around the entire chest (ECG). 

[JeannieM67]

I hope and update comes soon. Heart is so inaccurate I have to do a restart daily. So disappointed.