Charge 5 not continuously measuring heart rate?

[Larlec]

My charge 4 measured continuous heart rate but my new Charge 5 does not. Is that the way it is supposed to work? Also, when I use an exercise activity logger like Golf it gives me steps but not distance, is that the way it's supposed to work as well? Are there setting to change that so both measure continuously?

Thaks.

[Wibby]

Hello @Larlec 

The heart rate thing isn’t a feature as far as I know.  It is sad that it doesn’t measure as reliably as the 4.  I’ve noticed it cut out often too and restarts haven’t changed anything for me yet.

On the Golf front though, it is possible to measure the distance if you want to use GPS.  Bear in mind that GPS will drain your battery by about 10% an hour if you use the built in one.  If you’re taking your phone with you, you could use that and save some battery.

If you tap start on the Golf shortcut and then scroll up, there’s a GPS setting you can switch to on.  Then each time you start Golf from the tracker it will start GPS.

To set up GPS to work from your phone scroll down from the Clock Face screen until you get to Settings, tap, then scroll up until you get to GPS.  Tap and then choose either Phone or Dynamic.  Phone is probably the best option if you’re going to have it with you on the Golf course.

 I hope that helps a bit.

[Larlec]

I am getting the distance issue working but it really sucks that the heat monitor keeps cutting out, it worked for a few hours and now I can't get it working again. Is this a known issue? Software or hardware? It works fine on my Charge 4.

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[Wibby]

Hello @Larlec 

I’m glad I could help you with the distance issue at least.

Is your heart rate not measuring at all now?  Is it still switched on in the Settings?  Sometimes it can get switched off accidentally when setting something else.

Do you have tattoos?  The Charge 5 has issues with tattoos and many people have said it won’t read their heart rate at all through them, so moving it up or down (or even to the other wrist) might help.

 I really hope the heart rate issue will be fixed in the next firmware update as I’m noticing it happening more frequently recently.

[Larlec]

Thanks for following this and helping me out.

The heartbeat setting is on and it seems to work every once in awhile
but mostly not, no tattoos. I really use this function a lot to monitor
certain maximum heartbeats so if I cannot get it going I will probably
return the Charge 5 and get something else, too bad as I like everything
else abut it, especially the ability to read it in the sun.

Thanks again.

LL

[Larlec]

Well, I decided that if I cannot get it working at least moderately well I am going to return it and go back to the 4 which sucks because it is impossible to read in the sun, of which we have a lot in Colorado. I'll stop at REI and check out the Garmin trackers tomorrow. It may be by, by fitbit.

[Wibby]

Hello again @Larlec 

I’m sorry I didn’t reply earlier.  Yes, your Charge 5 sounds defective if it isn’t measuring heart rate for hours at a time.   There’s a thread here about it.

Not measuring heart rate 

People recommend restarting the tracker from the charging cable.  Connect to the charger then press the button at the USB end 3 times.

 

If that doesn’t work, then contacting Support would be a good idea.

 I’m really sorry you’re experiencing such bad problems.  Mine cuts in and out for a second or two but not for long periods.

 I hope you can get a replacement that works for you.