Permanent heart rate display during workout

[chiguy]

As a workout enthusiast I would like to view my heart rate on my Charge HR throughout my workout without having to hit the side button.  I would like to see an option that can be set to "keep display on during workouts".

Moderator edit: Updated title for clarity and labels.

[raphaekg]

Weird. My first fitbit hr Did this with no special tweaks. The side button fell off so I bought a new one and NOW I am missing continuous hr display. Help! Very unhappy here.

[Gastev]

Continuous display of Heart Rate during exercise, along with vibration alerts, is a no brainer. Without these features, the ChargeHR only really provides post workout stats (as pushing buttons during workout is just a distraction). These upgrades should be top priority for development in the next software upgrade, in order to make the ChargeHR usuful DURING workouts.

[pops63]

anyway you can connect the CHARGE HR to an I Phone to get continuos read out of hesrt rate?  Prefer to just look down and see it on your wrist.

POPS63

[BigHaole]

@pops63, If you connect your Charge HR to your iPhone, with All-Day Sync on, it will display your instantaneous heart rate...unless you tell it to track an exercise.  Then, you get much more detailed reporting, after your exercise, including GPS data (for running/walking/biking, etc), but you loose real time heart rate data.  There is no way to see real time heart rate data, on your smart phone, if you tell it you are exercising.  FItbit has had to work hard to make sure that the Charge HR cannot be used as an exercise tool.

[boulaa]

I am also am dissappointed that this is not a standard feature. Why call it a hear rate monitor,,,it is really a heart rate logger ( when it logs properly)  Please update the program to give the users this control.

thanks

[AllanSaul]

I also would like to be able to monitor heart rate continuously since I also need to ensure I don't exceed a maximum heart rate - If it is not possible to keet the heart rate display on coninuously on the fitbit, is it possible to modify the iPhone App to display heart rate continuously - preferably in big letters so us old guys can see it.  Again the display on the iphone would need to say on for the duration of the exercise.  Other heart monitors(/app - like "heart Graph" with my old chest sensor can do this.

[Jeffpack1957]

I don't know about the iPhone app, but the fitbit app on Android will continue display heart rate. Unfortunately I'm learning the fitbit really isn't a good hrm, as it's always averaging, not giving true heart rate. So short term peaks and bursts don't show

[BigHaole]

The iPhone app shows you your continuous heart rate, as long as you don't set it to log exercise. If you do that, you get the map screens, which do not allow you to see your heart rate.  

If you pull up the iPhone app (and you have all day sync enabled), you should see your real-time heart rate in the 3rd box, along with your resting heart rate (in smaller numbers, below).

[nadler]

I would also really like to be able to see continuous heart rate on the device.  I realize it will drain the battery, but please make it an option.  This is the reason I bought the FitBit, and it is not useful to me.  I only wear it for workouts and sleeping, so it is absoutely fine with me if it uses more battery during my workout.

Unfortunately using the iOS app isn't a good solution for me.  My work requires me to have a time out lock, so after five minutes the phone will lock and I can no longer see the continuous heart rate in the app.

Is the current heart rate available in a developer API?  I might be able to access the data from the FitBit using my own software program if that information is available.

Thank you,
Eric

[Carlasn]

I would like to have the Fitbit show the heart rate continuously. Especially important as I recover from a chronic illness and can't overdo it when I exercise

[SilviaFitbit]

Good idea! This could totally help people to keep the pace during the whole exercise in order to get more active minutes . 

[Jeffpack1957]

I finally said enough of dealing with this and got a Mio Alpha 2 which has real time HR.  Arrives today.

[BigHaole]

@Jeffpack1957, let us know what you think of the Mio.  I'm reaching the point of frustration with Fitbit.  I tried emailing them to express my disappointment in the lack of useful exercise features and, while I appreciate the quick email response, the content was basically the same nonsense that the moderators here give us, "You can set it to display HR with a simple double tap, why would you need anything else?"  Very frustrating.

[Jeffpack1957]

I just used mine this morning, excellent real time HR tracking.  The app is buggy though, I started the app, an hour into it I switched to another app for something, and the app exited workout mode and lost an hours data.  But since all I really wantd was real time to be able to see what exercise , lifts, etc elevated my HR (and some were interesting and unexpected) its working for what I need.

Next time I wont switch out of the app, or pause it, one or the other.

Only other to mention, is the strap is pretty short.  I'm right on the end of it, and I'm not he man big arm guy either.  OTOH, very comfy band, more so than my fitbit.

So far I'm most happy with it.

[BigHaole]

@Jeffpack1957, were you in exercise mode, in the app, where you see the map?  How did you see your real-time HR?

[Jeffpack1957]

In the Mio Go App, you put the device into workout mode, the app you select begin workout.

During this mode on the app, it also dsplays RT heart, and 3 or 5 zones of heart rate.

Also displays average HR.

[BigHaole]

@Jeffpack1957, I'm sorry, I forgot that you were switching over to the Mio.  Thanks for reporting back.  

I went back and forth between the Mio Fuse and the Fitbit Charge HR.  Ultimately it came down to the Charge HR being a "lifestyle" product, that I would use every day vs. the Mio being an exercise product, that I'd use once or twice a week.  If I had realized how frustrating the Charge HR would be, I think I would have gone the other way.  

I'm glad to hear the Mio is working out for you.  I may follow.

[nanimal]

I would also like to see a continuous display of my heart rate while exercising as I was lead to believe this Charge HR already had this. Most disappointed it doesn't as I'm unable to wear a chest strap. Please implement soon!

[Entangle]

A continuous HR is essential for me during a bike workout at the gym. Please add this feature.

[RedFeet]

I suggest a screen where you can modify your settings with this functionality:

2 modes: default mode and stopwatch/exercise mode

For default mode you should be able to set:

• heart rate monitoring on/off

For stopwatch mode you should be able to set:

• heart rate monitoring high accuracy/normal accuracy/off

For both modes you should be able to set:

• display duration per stat (info item in tens of seconds: f.i. 0.5s)
• auto cycling through all selected stats off/on
• duration of display (either static or auto cycling in m:ss like 5sec, 60min, etc.)
• the first info item to display when the button is pressed (shortly) should be selectable
• dito for when the fitbit detects the "looking at my watch"-gesture
• for both button and gesture there should be an option to display the last item that was shown when they display faded, instead of starting at the specified item in the list

For each mode you should be able to define a specific list of info items that will be displayed in specified order:

so, 2 display items can be dropped in and dragged in the desirable order

for both default mode and for when stopwatch mode is active:

• time (hh:mm / hh:mm:ss / day+hh:mm)
• date (day+mon / weekday+day)
• current heart rate
• current hr within target hr zone? (high / OK / low)
• average heart rate (during selectable period)
• peak heart rate (during selectable period)
• lowest heart rate (during selectable period)
• current speed (km/h / mph)
• current pace (m:ss/km / m:ss/mile / sec/km / sec/mile)
• total steps today
• total distance today (km / mile)
• total floors climbed today
• total calories burned today
• total active time today (h:mm / mm:ss)
• next scheduled vibration alert (day hh:mm)

Optional info only available in stopwatch mode:

• duration of exercise (mm:ss.ms / h:mm:ss / hh:mm)
• distance of exercise (km / mile)
• average heart rate (during exercise)
• peak heart rate (during exercise)
• lowest heart rate (during exercise)
• average speed during exercise (km/h / mph)
• average pace during exercise (m:ss/km / m:ss/mile / sec/km / sec/mile)
• total steps during exercise
• total distance during exercise (km / mile)
• total floors climbed during exercise
• total calories burned during exercise
• total active time during exercise (h:mm / mm:ss)

It would also be nice if restarting the stopwatch would be interpreted as resuming the paused exercise. A very long press could reset the timer to 0:00 again.

[mensa999]

I had purchased an off brand tracker and it had continuous HR readout.  Some of the other feature were less endearing, so I thought I would get a FitBit.  I never even asked if there was continuous read out as I fully expected there would be.  The off brand was a third of the FitBit price.  It would seem that this tiny bit of technology should be available for the FitBit price.  Had I known what I know now, I would have bought some thing else (and may yet do so).  Take my suggestion, don't take my suggestion, it's up to you, but this will affect sales as it becomes more widely known.  For the short time I've had the device, it seems to be good except for these two exceptions:  1) the afore mentioned continuous tracking and 2) my inability to buy an extra large strap in Canada.  That being said, the best I can come up with is : "Keep up the fair work".

A software fix would be greatly appreciated.

[moose27]

mensa999, I hope you voted!  Your point about sales and folks not realizing continuous readout is well taken.  We need to mention this in vendor's reviews and on social networks.  As stated by many, hard to believe it doesn't do that!

[SunsetRunner]

I think I read that they're marketing a new Fitbit with that feature! Annoyed that that's the solution rather than a software fix

Sent from my iphone

[Jeffpack1957]

I doubt its actually Continuous and real time. Most likely if anything a continuous display of the average HR. I've scrapped mine and got a Mio Alpha 2 for my workouts, and wear my charge HR during the day.

[mensa999]

Hey Jeffpack,

You are undoubtable correct, but it still is still far superior to what I have.