Heart Rate Accuracy post latest firmware update 27.33.1.30

[Swarumfit]

Not sure if others are experiencing this but immediately after the update of the firmware my heart rate readings seems to have gone up. When I am running the same course, same distance, same pace and same effort even then it is showing a much higher heart rate than the week before the update. 

I was thinking it was my fitness but i feel great so the only thing i can think of is the firmware update. 

Can you please comment. Thank you 

[GineNor]

I know some people have complained about the HR measuring in the Ionic, but I just have to ask Fitbit: Will you resolve this in the next software update? Or is this new technology (that feels like a joke) hardware based only? Seriously, my resting heart rate is 37-42 and the Ionic shows in the 60’s and 70’s. I measured (manually sitting down, relaxing) at 37, and the Ionic said 76. The pumping heart icon on the watch is totally way off my pulse. How the heck can the average resting heart rate be correct when it’s nearly 40 bpm too high when I rest? 

Should I return the watch?

PS - it also registered 200 steps during the night, and I am not a sleepwalker. The next day it registered more than 3600 steps, and I didn’t even leave the house, just being Christmas lazy. 3600 steps? No way!

So - Fitbit - what should I do? Return it or wait for a possible software fix? Don’t tell me that I might wear the watch wrong - I don’t.

Hope to get an answer!

Moderator Edit: Updated Subject for Clarity

[SantiR]

@GineNor Welcome to the Fitbit forums! Thanks for taking the time to post the experience you are currently having with the heart rate readings and step counting you are getting. Thanks for checking the wrist placement and confirming you are wearing it the correct way. 

Your resting heart rate is usually higher than your heart rate while you are asleep, so don’t be surprised if your resting heart rate is higher than the lowest number that you see in your heart rate graphs.

Have you tried performing a restart on your watch? This should refresh your watch and should help you out. 

Regarding the steps, please check the dominant hand setting:

• The dominant wrist setting decreases the sensitivity of step counting and should reduce any over counting of steps when your body is not moving.
• The non-dominant wrist setting increases the sensitivity of step counting and should reduce any under counting of steps. Non-dominant is the default.

To change your settings, in the Fitbit app go to Account tab and choose your device at the top of the screen.

Try that out and let me know if this continues to happen! 

[GineNor]

Thank you very much for prompt reply. 

Still, when I manually measure my resting heart rate (around 37-43 bpm), and the watch is 20+ bpm off, I wonder how the sensors work. It surely doesn’t measure my pulse realtime. 

Ps - sometimes it’s fairly spot on, and I get excited because I think the Ionic has “understood” my heart rate, but later it’s way too high again. 😕

The steps are also waaay to many, and I really don’t want to wear the watch on my right (dominant) arm.

I have tried once before, but I will try another restart. Too bad this is happening, I really like the watch. But I got it primarily for the hr readings, since I have a very slow pulse.

Thanks again for quick and good service! 🙂

[Jenharr87]

I am having the same problems related the heart rate I was chilled out yesterday and it showed 111 there is no way that's right. 

[SunsetRunner]

I have been experiencing the same thing since I updated my Ionic to the latest firmware release.   My resting heart rate has increased by 15 beats.  I visited my doctor a few days ago, and he confirmed my suspicions that my Ionic is 15 to 20 beats too high since the firmware update.  His medical equipment gave a very different result.

I checked all of my account information like weight, height, and anything else that might have an impact on the reading, but it is clear to me that the latest release is the culprit.

I'm tempted to put my old Charge HR 2 back on just to compare.  

[LarryQW]

I typically use a heart rate strap and continuously compare it with my Ionic while I ride an exercise bike. The Ionic typically lags the HR strap by a few seconds on changes in HR. The Ionic can also give occasional big spikes or jumps of a few seconds, especially with arm movement. But mostly, I find the Ionic stays within a couple BPM of my HR strap.

The tracking of the Ionic with my HR strap depends a little bit on the Ionic band tightness and location.

However, I haven't noted any significant difference in HR accuracy or behavior with the upgraded software.

[Netsure]

Same here after the latest update hr is up 17 points...prior to the update 72 resting heart rate (I got the Ionic for Christmas and heart rate was in sync with my charge 2). I was concerned went to the doctor the charge 2 is correct. I’m going back today for an ekg as further test.  Here’s to Fitbit checking in on this.

[SantiR]

@GineNor You are very welcome! Thanks for your reply and for trying those steps and sharing all of the details regarding your experience with this.

Please let me know if after the restart you will perform again it will work properly. If it doesn't, let me know as well so I can contact customer support in your behalf for you to get further assistance on this.

@Jenharr87 Welcome to the Fitbit forums! Thanks for taking the time to report that you are also experiencing the same.

Please feel free to follow all of the steps I shared on my post above. That should certainly help you out with this.

Keep me posted!