Heart rate readings too high in Fitbit Versa

[tiim]

I just went on my first run with the Versa and found the heart rate wildly off. I've had several other Fitbit devices that have registered a peak rate between 160-165 bpm for the same run, on the same wrist, with the same wrist placement. This run shows a lengthy section where my heart rate peaks at 209. I'm in my late 40's... No way that is accurate. Anything I can do to fix this?

Moderator Edit: Updated Subject For Clarity.

[Savikam53]

I recently called into support and they had me do a reboot on the device. I also bought a pulse ox meter to compare the HR to the Versa. The readings are now more in line with my expectations and almost identical to the pulse ox meter.

Read instructions on turning off the Versa and restarting to see if this will correct the issue for you as well. I forgot which button I was instructed to select. I think it worked. Let me know if. This corrects the issue for you.

Sent from my iPhone

[Savikam53]

I recently called into support and they had me do a reboot on the device. I also bought a pulse ox meter to compare the HR to the Versa. The readings are now more in line with my expectations and almost identical to the pulse ox meter.

Read instructions on turning off the Versa and restarting to see if this will correct the issue for you as well. I forgot which button I was instructed to select. I think it worked. Let me know if. This corrects the issue for you.


Sent from my iPhone

[jw41]

I have rebooted my Versa many times over the 8-9 months that I have owned
it. No change in HR measurement.

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[Konaneil]

I have done the same and while exercising or even just moving it is always much higher than my real heartbeat. I check against a personal EKG machine made by Kardia, the pulse monitors on exercise machines at the gym and by manuel count

Until and unless they can get this fixed it invalidates the reason for this to exist and for anyone to buy it. 

I'm going to wait a little longer but am likely to return mine to Costco. I am really thankful they will take back a product if you're dissatisfied with it

[Konaneil]

One further thought:

The company acknowledged the problem and said it's been working on it since at least last April. While software / firmware issues can be quite hairy, this nine month process with still no end date given is way beyond the norm for fixing a product killing bug. My educated guess is that this is a hardware issue to be cured in the Versa 2.😨

This thread really needs the input of a Fitbit company member.

[Savikam53]

I am still monitoring periodically. At one time I would wake up to >100 HR which was quite frightening. Now I wake to 70ish readings. My averages are better as well. This may be temporary. Since I bought the pulse ox meter I rely on it more than the Versa.

Sent from my iPhone

[Savikam53]

The HR readings make it unreliable. I opted not to buy it for husband and Son. I gave husband my old Alta HR and he loves it. I may opt for getting him the new Alta instead.

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[Savikam53]

I concur with that statement. I also feel the Versa is about to be sunset and replaced with one that works. After a while it makes no sense to fix. However, a trade in rebate would be nice since it is not working as designed.

Fitbit are you reading these posts? Are you listening?

Sent from my iPhone

[SomeGuyYouKnow]

Interested to hear of your experiences.  I was thinking about getting a chest strap HR monitor (e.g. a Polar H10) to check Fitbit accuracy in the swimming pool and/or doing Tai Chi.  The swimming readings seem quite accurate, while Tai Chi seems way off.

As for sleep, I have a low resting heart rate and I am not convinced the Versa can tell the difference between me lying awake but still and thinking, or being in light sleep :^(

[LWW73]

I gave up on the Versa and traded it back for a Charge 2. The Charge is
running fine, no problems. I'm told you can't beat a chest strap for
accuracy, but I haven't tried that myself. Good luck!

[Savikam53]

Thank you for your response. I purchased a Blaze for my husband and he loves it.

Sent from my iPhone

[getfit33]

Having same problem. Have gone through all the reset, including factory. Fitbit rep said this problem has been reported and engineers are working on it. They need to fix this soon!!

[Che4]

They've been working on it for over a year, beginning to think not fixable.

Get Outlook for Android

[Konaneil]

I've been pretty vocal about my outrage to this problem on this thread and others. Some of my postings were so specific about what I thought we should do  that administrators deleted them.

Recently I found that if I have the watch about three and a quarter fingers up my arm from my wrist the heart readings are consistent with those on the aerobics machines at the gym I go to.

Of course it looks weird but it does work. My guess is that this is the way that they tested the prototypes before product release.

[Savikam53]

I bought a Pulse Oximeter to monitor heart rate. Grew tired of trying to rely on Versa results.

I agree. Results unreliable. Sometimes it matches my pulse oximeter and BP machine. Mostly inaccurate most of the time.

I am going to give that a try. Immediate results is looking good. Resting HR is now 65. In other position it was always >85. Wow. Thanks

Sent from my iPhone

Moderator edit: merged reply

[SomeGuyYouKnow]

I will try that too! Though interestingly, my last couple of Tai Chi sets have registered a more believable max of around 125, compared to previous 175!

g

[jw41]

So if that works we should let Fitbit off the hook and create a new fashion
by wearing our watches half way to the elbow.

[Konaneil]

And maybe wear Rolexes on our wrists?

[Luvee8]

I still get inconsistent readings...sometimes they are right and others they are way off. It could be the way it is sitting on my wrist, I have really thin wrists and I have my band at its tightest so it doesn’t keep sliding down....but it does seem a little better. Fitbit really needs to come up with a fix for this already.

[JuanJoFitbit]

@getfit33 @Che4 @Savikam53 @SomeGuyYouKnow @jw41 @Konaneil @Luvee8 I'm sorry for the late response. However, our team is aware of the issue and expect to have it fixed soon. Once a solution is available, we'll make sure to post it in the Community.

I appreciate your patience. Let me know if you have any questions.