Sense 2 loses Bluetooth connection with iPad Air 4

[Sailorhudson]

I’ve had my Sense 2 since it first was introduced. Over the last 3-4 months, it keeps loosing its connection over Bluetooth with my IPad Air 4. I reboot the IPad as well as the Sense 2 and it will sometimes take 4 reboots before it reconnects and then an hour later, it’s dropped again. Any suggestions on how to correct this?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi there, @Sailorhudson.

Thanks for the detailed information, and the steps tried on your own. Just to confirm, is your iPad your primary device? I'm asking this as if you're using more than one device to sync, that'd explain why your Sense 2 loses connection as it's trying to connect with your other devices. Assuming this might be the case, I'd recommend turning off the Bluetooth of the other devices, or taking your Sense 2 and iPad to a different room to prevent any interference.

For more tips to get your Sense 2 connected and syncing correctly, see this help article.

[Sailorhudson]

I have your program on my IPad as well as my phone but I figured out that if I have the program running I’m both, the Bluetooth feature goes crazy and may drop the connection from either or both so I only boot up the program on my iPad Air 4 and can delete the program from my phone if you think I should.
For some reason, I have to reconnect my Sense 2 repeatedly during the day(even with the program not active on my phone). I reboot the watch several times while looking at the Bluetooth connecting screen and some times it will connect after one reboot and can go as high as three reboots. I’ve rebooted the IPad as well and again, sometimes it connects and sometimes it doesn’t but then may drop the connection when I’m in the same room in my house with the IPad no more than five feet apart. A tad mystified as when I first got my Sense 2 it stayed connected just about all the time.

The other problem, and that’s been since day one was when I’m doing the EDA test, I don’t get a reading on the “Heart Rate Variability” or even the “Heart Rate” most of the time but it’s far worse with the Variability readings than the heart rate readings. I tightness up the strap on the program’s instructions and it made no difference in giving me my readings.
Could use your help in either of both of these problems.
Thanks.

Bill Hudson

[SunsetRunner]

The Fitbit app recommends using a phone rather than a iPad, as the the iPad doesn’t have Bluetooth as good as on a phone.

[SunsetRunner]

As for the EDA Heart Rate Variability, try keeping your hand on a table VERY still for the remainder of time. As the Sense 2 recommends keeping your hand still while doing a EDA scan to get the most accurate information. 

[Sailorhudson]

It’s what I do and it’s rare that I get both heart rate and variability results on the same test. I might get my heart rate but very rarely the variability results. Some times I’ll do the test three times or more trying to get results and get nothing and then 30 minutes later, I might get results. Anything but predictable in getting results.

[SunsetRunner]

It can be hard for these devices to get a heart rate variability if you’re not still. That is why it rarely gives you all the results.

[Sailorhudson]

I lay my arm and hand flat on the table while sitting in a chair and trying not to move and yet I still get that my Sense 2 can’t register my “variability “ and many times, my heart rate. I do get my heart rate more often than my “variability “. It’s really rare that I get it no matter how still I keep my arm and hands.

Bill Hudson

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi there, @Sailorhudson. @SunsetRunner Thanks for your help and great suggestions!

@Sailorhudson Thanks for getting back with more details, and the steps tried prior to posting. Because you're using an iPhone and iPad, as you noticed, the Bluetooth connection won't be stable and that might also be the reason why it keeps disconnecting. While you can uninstall the Fitbit app from your iPhone, you can also just turn off the Bluetooth and force quit the Fitbit app to prevent interference with the iPad.

In regards to your other question, may I know if your heart rate variability data appears in the Health Metrics? Is your heart rate being recorded correctly during the day and when sleeping? I understand you've tried adjusting the band, but please try tightening the band on your wrist. Keep in mind the band should be snug but not constricting. Additionally, restart your watch to refresh its performance and monitor its behavior.

[Sailorhudson]

Strangely, your app on my IPad seems to pick up the heart variation information at the same time the watch says it failed to read the information. Not every time but most. Once in a while the watch will show the information but rarely.
As to phones, I, running on a Motorola Edge 2022. It does have the application on it but I rarely look at it as I much prefer the size of my IPad Air 4 as it’s easier to read(old person with eyes that aren’t as good as they used to be).
The principle reason I bought the Sense 2 was to monitor my health as I’m not quite ready to “kick the bucket” yet.
As a substitute teacher, it’s interesting to me to see how far I walk during the day(4-5 miles). I go by the principle of “use it or lose it”.
It’s just bothersome to lose the connection to my IPad and have to go through the steps to get it back on my IPad. Happens multiple times during the day even though my watch and IPad are rarely more than 20 feet apart.

Bill Hudson