Charge 6 on Zwift and echelon

[dpmiller1986]

Hi all,

I want to get the charge 6 but want to know if the broadcasting heart rate works on Zwift or Echelon as I’d heard it doesnt

[Triletics]

@dpmiller1986 doesn't work with Zwift on my mobile phone:

Connects and then shows "No Signal". Charge 6 HR broadcasting works with a very few apps/machines. My advice is don't buy Charge 6 if HR broadcasting is one of major reasons. You'll be disappointed.

[ErikEngerd]

It works fine with my fitbit charge 6 and zwift running on a galaxy tab s8 plus. Did a session of 1 hour 43 min today and no problems with the heart rate. No luck so far getting it to work with my garmin edge 1030 though.

[redevill]

Is there a fitbit that does work in this scenario? I quite like my fitbit and have just joined with zwift and expected to be able to use the heart rate data.

[dpmiller1986]

So my charge 6 works with my iPad and a device called smart spin. I think that’s because smart spin handles the heart rate connection and not directly to Zwift 

[GreenGecko]

So what is smart spin, is it an app or device and do you use it with Zwift?

[Triletics]

@GreenGecko I think @dpmiller1986 meant smart trainer (like Tacx, Wahoo Kickr or Zwift Hub One) or smart indoor bike (like Peloton). I do the same on Zwift Hub One. My chest strap pairs with smart trainer and that is discovered by Zwift app. I haven't tried to pair Charge 6 though (and won't because I don't even know where it is now, I'm back to old Sense).

[SpideRaY]

It’s very hit and miss with Zwift sometimes it connects with the name Charge 6 and works but only gives the signal when you’ve started an exercise like a walk or a run then with that name it works. However mostly Zwift seems to connects with the name TRACKR HR 671F if this happens then it does connect but sends only zeros to Zwift it’s all a bit frustrating tbh, hopefully Google will realize and make it connect correctly everytime to Zwift lets be honest pretty much everyone uses Zwift for indoor training don’t they? 

[SpideRaY]

It does but it’s very clunky like the old process for Apple Watch :watch:️ with Zwift. It definitely connects but for me with two names Charge 6 and TRACKR HR the latter just sends zeros to zwift. The former when Zwift recognizes it as Charge 6 only gets a signal when you’ve actually started an exercise with Fitbit when you pause it looses signal as you’d expect. Think Google and Zwift need to get their heads together to make sure that it’s works seamlessly without any hiccups. Been using my fitbit 2 since 2019 sadly it died as the screen got smashed to just upgraded it the charge 6 love the extra options like the inbuilt GPS and the ECG checking for irregular heart beats AFiB and the SpO2 % all early warning :double_exclamation_mark: signs for the 50 something fitness fanatic in me.

[Triletics]

@SpideRaY there'a also Rouvy and BKOOL. Zwift probably is most popular but Rouvy is gaining some popularity. But I had some issues with getting Charge 6 working with Rouvy, too. Anyway, I'd rather go with chest strap (not only more accurate and responsive but also just works 🤷‍). Also, HR doesn't have any impact on Zwift outcome. Zwift is all power based so I'd rather focus on getting good smart trainer or power meter than getting Charge 6 broadcasting HR to Zwift.

[Triletics]

@SpideRaY this TRACKR sounds very like KICKR or well, any other Wahoo name. Is your smart trainer Wahoo? Maybe it hijacks your Charge 6 signal and starts broadcasting it as TRACKR but the connection hasn't been fully established between C6 and trainer because trainer doesn't expect encrypted protocol and more complicated BT handshake? Also, Wahoo chest straps are also named TRACKR. My Zwifr Hub One can also be a proxy for HRM and broadcast HR as Zwift Hub One.

[SpideRaY]

Finally found out what my problem was, my new Wahoo HRM belt was within BLE range, I don’t wear it much as the strap is too small, this was clearly connecting first to Zwift as it’s been used before. However I think I have now sorted the BLE broadcast from my new Charge 6. If you enter the Zwift game and goto paired devices first it almost always connects, when I start a run or walk it appears that the charge only allows one device to be paired at once? Also the exercise must be started and not paused, you’ll know it’s worked as the HEART RATE signal will be received if you don’t allow share from the charge you might connect but with Zero, pressing start will also stop it saying no signal

[Triletics]

@SpideRaY that sounds complicated and error prone. Do you know how broadcasting works on Garmin watches? You just go to HR settings, turn broadcasting on. That's it. It doesn't start any activity, it works in the background and allows you using watch as normal. It broadcasts over ANT+ and BT and pairing with machines or apps is no different than when using a chest strap. Moreover, some cardio machines connects automatically over ANT+ when you're in proximity (like my treadmill does). And this is not all. Broadcasting may serve as a proxy for any HRM connected to watch (for example, watch gets HR from chest strap and broadcasts that further). It's seamless, just works and is easy to use without workarounds. I don't know why Fitbit didn't go this way (and probably didn't check how competitors do it 🤷‍).

[SpideRaY]

Did some googling saw the post on DC rainmaker wrt Fitbit Charge 6 and the new broadcast of BLE heart rate data. I agree it’s a bit clunky, however if I toggle BLE off after I have opened zwift get to the pairing screen click the HEART RATE so it flashes and then start the broadcast Zwift usually finds it, then click share and it starts sending to Zwift. However they really need to make this work :hundred_points: % of the time. Pausing the activity and zwift will say signal lost, however pressing start again restarts the broadcast. I agree ANT + devices work without all this fuss. Also tried to see if my charge 6 would send to my Wahoo Bolt via BLE however that can’t seem to find it at all, and that’s usually bomb 💣 proof and finds everything so I guess it’s up to google so sort out the teething problems with their new device, something’s definitely a little off. Connection should be :hundred_points: of the time no fuss.

[SpideRaY]

Sometimes I have to restart zwift to get it to work so maybe 🤔 it’s both who need to sort it out, so that users don’t get frustrated 😣?

[redevill]

I went an bought a Garmin, after being disgusted with the lack of heart rate broadcast on the charge.The connectivity on the Garmin heart rate broadcast is good. 
However the accuracy of the heart monitor left behind by the charge. Capturing a heart level during a sprint (with my Garmin) has been terrible,it usually lags badly, tells me i'm at ~120 bpm when I know I'm at max 160 +