Heart Rate Monitor Way Off

[LaurieAD]

I purchased the Fitbit Charge 2 last Friday.  I am an Apple Watch owner but wanted the Fitbit for better exercise cardio tracking and breakdown.  I have found the heart rate to be way off.  When my Apple Watch says I am at 124 BPM my Fitbit would say I was at 88.  Yesterday at the gym during my warm up, my Apple Watch had my HR at 85 BPM and my Fitbit had me at 184 BPM!!!!  I know that there can be some discrepancies among devices but this is more than ridiculous.  Is anyone else have problems like this?  So far I'm not very impressed with my Charge 2 and thinking of returning it.

[MarreFitbit]

Hey there @LaurieAD, welcome aboard! I'd like to start saying that your tracker can have difficulty finding a signal, typically due to the tracker's fit. For example, wearing your band tightly may constrict blood flow in your wrist and affect the signal. We recommend experimenting with how high you place the tracker on your wrist. When you're not exercising, wearing the tracker just above the wrist bone--as you would a watch--typically works fine. However, moving the tracker up a couple inches can be helpful during high-intensity exercises or exercises that cause you to bend your wrist frequently. If you haven't already done so, please review our recommendations for wear and other tips shared by @SantiFitbit. 

If you're wearing the tracker correctly and the heart rate setting isn't turned off, try changing the setting (either Auto to On or On to Auto) and then syncing your tracker. The change won't take affect until you sync. If heart rate still doesn't appear after the sync, try restarting your tracker 3 times in a row and wait at least 60 seconds before checking heart rate again.

Give it a shot and let me know the outcome! 

[Arzolafam]

Im having the same issue. No app alterations or Charge 2 resets have helped. Now my Fitbit always records my heart rate about 45 bpm too high, and doesn't even track it any more on the app. AND as of last night, it quit tracking sleep. It says I only slept 30 minutes last night (I slept about 7 hours). Super disappointed in this product, I've only had mine since February 25th 2017.

Moderator edit: format

[LaurieAD]

My heart rate monitor was way off when I would start exercising my Apple Watch said 74 BPM and my Charge 2 would say 177 BPM. I contacted Fitbit and they are sending me a new on as this one is clearly defective.

Sent from my iPhone

[LaurieAD]

I tried everything. I finally called Fitbit and they are sending me a new one. I understand how to wear it and that BPM may vary between my Apple Watch and Fitbit but certainly not a 100 BPM difference. I hope the new one works.

Sent from my iPhone

[MarreFitbit]

I'm glad to hear that our support team found out what was going on with your buddy @LaurieAD. Don't forget that you can set up your new tracker on your currently Fitbit account so you won't lose any previous data. Here are the steps just in case you need them:

• From the Fitbit app dashboard, tap or click the Account icon.
• Tap Set Up a Device.
• Choose your tracker and follow the onscreen instructions to continue.

On the other hand sweetie @Arzolafam (welcome here, BTW), have you tried what I suggested here? If so, please try the following:

• From the Fitbit app tap the button on the top left corner and tap "devices".
• Tap on your Fitbit listed in the menu and then at the bottom tap "Remove This device". 
• Go into the Bluetooth settings on your phone and tap on "Forget This Device".
• Go back to the Fitbit app, go to the "Account" option in the upper right corner and select "Set up a Device". This should start the setup process for your device.

Make sure all other bluetooth enabled devices are out of range when you do this. Once you've completed the steps, go for a workout to see how your heart rate does this time.

However, I'm a bit curios, have you tried syncing your tracker twice in a row to see if the sleep comes up? Are you getting a blank screen when trying to see your sleep graph? If you're getting this or any other error message, please provide me screen shots so I can go from there.

I'll be here waiting for your reply!

[LaurieAD]

Thanks so much but this isn't my first Fitbit. I have had many that is why I was so surprised that this one didn't work. Thanks for all your help. Hopefully when I get the new tracker tomorrow there will be no issues.

Sent from my iPhone

[MarreFitbit]

I feel you my friend @LaurieAD. But don't be afraid since now, I know your new buddy will work like a charm! 

Hope to see you participating in the Community more often since I think it would be awesome for you to explore our Community, so you can go ahead and log to any of the topics that might be of your interest in our Discussion boards. Feel free to comment and contribute with your knowledge and experience.

Happy stepping! 

[Arzolafam]

Things I've tried that I've seen suggested around the forum:
completely resetting the Charge 2
Removing the charge 2 as a device from my app, then re-adding it to the
app.
Adjusting where I wear the Fitbit on my arm
Adjusting tightness
Changing hr setting from "auto" to "on"
Cleaning the bottom of the Charge 2
Making sure green lights are blinking (I've never seen them stop blinking)

I loved this when I bought it. I paid extra for limited addition and
lavender. Now it just serves as a watch I can track my elliptical/workout
use on. It seems to be tracking steps okay, just not heart rate and sleep.
I really hope you can help!

[LaurieAD]

Call Fitbit and they should replace it.

Sent from my iPhone

[MarreFitbit]

Thanks for getting back sweetie @Arzolafam! Since this sounds a bit more serious, I've created a Support Case on your behalf - you should soon receive an email from Customer Support at the email you used to register with the Community forums. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to let me know. 

Thanks for all your help @LaurieAD!

Catch you later guys! 

[Arzolafam]

Thank you!

[Arzolafam]

Whoops, just saw this message, haha. I've done the other suggestions. As far as the sleep graph, it just shows as almost entirely red now. Here are snapshots of my sleep and heart rate.

 

[LaurieAD]

There is no need to have them email me. I have already spoken to customer support and a new Charge 2 is being delivered tomorrow.

Sent from my iPhone

[bbarrera]

@LaurieAD for what its worth give this thread a read. The simple fact is that optical wrist units operate indirectly - estimating from blood flow under skin - and when exercising its hit or miss as shown in that study or reading the more technical reviews on the Internet. For example optical wrist devices don't work well when your wrist is cold, can be fooled into tracking running/walking steps per minute instead of HR, someone else may see better accuracy as a result of your unique physiology, etc, etc. On the flip side optical wrist units are pretty good at resting heart rate, and generally good at walking and running heart rate although they can be a little wacky for the first 5-10 minutes, and sometimes during a walk/run wander off into the weeds for no apparent reason.

If you've tried everything in Fitbit wearing tips, and want good HR tracking while exercising, then I'd say get a arm device (Scosche) or chest strap. If its bluetooth HRM you can pair it with your Apple Watch, or you just use with an app, or go with a different fitness watch. I primarily do twice a week strength training, and 120+ miles a week cycling, and frankly that puts me outside Fitbit's target market and so its not surprising that I've found better tools outside the Fitbit world. The Health app has the advantage that it seamlessly works with dedicated cycling and strength training apps, so that I can focus on what is important while still getting the big picture. And while I don't care about steps at this point in my fitness journey, my AW+iPhone combo does a better job counting steps than my Flex/Force/Surge/Blaze. And setting up iPhone as Fitbit tracker in the Fitbit app still allows me to compete in the occasional step challenge with friends.

So a bunch of options, figure out what is important to you and that will make the decision easy.

[nm3296]

yes, my fitbit, totally drops off when i start hitting high during my workout, all of the sudden, i am half my rate.  i tried putting it under wrist, but did nt help.  i cant wear it higher up wrist, it just slides down and then below wrist.  

[LaurieAD]

Thanks for the read. I understand that wrist bands cannot be absolutely accurate, but I would not expect my Apple Watch to read 74 BPM when I put my foot on the elliptical, prior to any movement and my Fitbit to read at 177 BPM. I’m not looking for complete accuracy, just wanting the work out graph that Fitbit gives after a work out unlike Apple. When the BPM are off by that much before I eve move my arms something is terrible wrong.

[bbarrera]

@LaurieAD I don't use the Watch workout app, instead I use compatible apps and therefore I get the best graphs/stats/metrics (much better than Fitbit) and those apps will also fill the rings on my watch. That said I haven't tried logging elliptical.

Let us know how it goes with the new Charge 2 once you have a chance to use it on a couple of workouts.

[SuePearl]

I do basically the same treadmill workout every day. My heart rate is usually in cardio zone, and occasionally slips into fat burn zone. The past several days I have been getting reading of 170-190! And that is during the walk portions of my workout. There is no way my heart rate is that high. As a side note, my treadmill has a pulse rate built in. It says I am in the low cardio zone of 120's while tracker says I'm at 190. I have tried different positioning of the tracker. Seemed to work fine since I have had it until these past few days. Maybe I'll give the tracker a good cleaning......?

[SunsetRunner]

Haven't had any issues. In fact, often times while on the treadmill I will disagree with the displayed heart rate and slow down for 30 seconds and count for myself. Has never not been within 5-8 bpm. ONLY time I'll have an issue is if my wrist is sweaty and the band has slid down below my ulnar prominence. But even this resolves momentarily. Probably have to toss your issue up to a defect.