Heart rate tracking accuracy

[CrysMa]

My husband has went from the Blaze to the Versa 2.  The heart rate recorded is inaccurate.  

Things that we have tried: changing the band, wearing it at different places on his wrist and at different degrees of tightness, factory reset, swapping our Versas, etc.  

He does about 45-60 minutes on our max trainer.  It is a very even and consistent workout.  Yet the heart rate reading stays super low and just occasionally blips up to what you would expect it to be, and then back down to around 88bpm.  The Blaze would show a consistent climb and then stay at the expected heart rate until the workout was complete.  The Versa 2 starts the heart rate climb, then drops and stays around 88bpm while randomly blipping up to what it should be. There is no way it is accurate.  This is verified by taking pulse and comparing.  Plus he is getting off the machine drenched in sweat.  

He's about to return it.  I suspect this is related to the amount he sweats and the fact that the Versa 2 only has one light compared to the Blaze's two light heart rate sensor.  Thoughts?  I just want to do whatever I can to troubleshoot before we send it back.  I've cleaned the sensor with rubbing alcohol and he even just shaved his arm where the band sits as a final test.  He is not interested in putting on a sweat band or deodorant on his arm.  He wants it to work like the Blaze, where it just works without a huge amount of extra stuff.  Shaving his arm occasionally would be okay.  Wearing a sweat band would not.  

Moderator edit: Subject for clarity 

[RicardoFitbit]

Hi @CrysMa, welcome to the Community Forums! Sorry for the delayed reply.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention and the details that were shared in your post about the heart rate tracking inconvenience your husband is experiencing with his new Versa 2 device. To better assist you with this situation, can you please let me know when was the first time your husband experienced such accuracy issues and does this happens only when he's exercising or with his daily stats too? To learn more about how the Versa 2 tracks heart rate data, I recommend you to check our help article: How do I track my heart rate with my Fitbit device?. You can try the steps that are specified on: How do I improve the accuracy of my heart-rate reading on my Fitbit device? and let me know if the issue persists. 

I'll be waiting for your reply. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

[CrysMa]

So after more troubleshooting this is what we have figured out. If my husband starts an activity from his Fitbit (like a run or elliptical), the heart rate tracks accurately. If he gets on the elliptical and let’s it auto track, the heart rate is inaccurate.

Cleaning it, shaving his arm, placement on his arm, and changing the band have no impact. It comes down to starting the activity versus it auto tracking the exercise.

[smr9673]

I have been contacting Fitbit with the exact same problem!!  It will say my heart rate is like 107 and I am on the elliptical DYING!! I take it off and put it back on the exact same spot and then the rate is 157.. I look down a few minutes later and it is wrong again! I have tried it everywhere. 2 fingers above wrist in on my forearm and i tried that too.. I am frustrated already with this... 

[Rickist]

ME TOO!!! This just started happening for me in the last few weeks...I did all the suggested troubleshooting and still have the same issues...