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Msinkam

Q: external heart rate monitor reporting

how do I get the screen on my watch to report the data from my external heart rate monitor on a run?

Apple Watch, iOS 8.3

Posted on Apr 26, 2015 5:10 AM

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Q: external heart rate monitor reporting

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  • Helpful answers

  • by nick101,

    nick101 nick101 Apr 26, 2015 11:53 AM in response to Msinkam
    Level 5 (5,103 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 11:53 AM in response to Msinkam

    You'd need an iPhone app with a watch version that was able to read from your heart rate monitor. But why wouldn't you just use the heart rate measurement in the Watch? I suppose that, if you're using something like a Polar and you've been using the Polar sifter to track progress you'd want to stick with it.

  • by Msinkam,

    Msinkam Msinkam Apr 26, 2015 12:33 PM in response to nick101
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 12:33 PM in response to nick101

    I need to use an external monitor because the heart rate monitor in my watch worked about 10% of the time during my hour long run. I run by heart rate zone so I need to know my heart rate for my entire run.

  • by nick101,

    nick101 nick101 Apr 26, 2015 3:20 PM in response to Msinkam
    Level 5 (5,103 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 3:20 PM in response to Msinkam

    Understood. Just check that you have the watch snug against your skin.

     

    But - as I said, you need to find an app that will read from your current monitor and that also has a Watch app

  • by RoniSueK,

    RoniSueK RoniSueK Apr 27, 2015 11:25 AM in response to Msinkam
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 27, 2015 11:25 AM in response to Msinkam

    If you have the Workout app open on the watch, just swipe to the screen that is showing the heart rate, and you should see the heart rate that you're getting through your chest strap. I did that the other day using a Wahoo Tickr chest strap.

  • by Elliot Feinberg,

    Elliot Feinberg Elliot Feinberg May 10, 2015 10:07 AM in response to RoniSueK
    Level 1 (5 points)
    May 10, 2015 10:07 AM in response to RoniSueK

    I Agree for High Intensity and interval training where keeping in a specific zone is crucial the HR on the apple watch is too slow. The only way I can get the Workout app to use my Polar Strap info instead of the apple Watch's less accurate ( at high heart rates)  photoplethysmography or infrared is to :

    BEFORE opening the workout app or connecting your Bluetooth headset go to apple watch settings ( on the watch) then Bluetooth then touch the external HR monitor you are wearing from the list.

     

    THEN go to workout app and start a workout. Peak under the watch- if there are no flashes and the HR is being monitorEd you've done it right.

     

    I Haven't figured out how do do this AND use my BT headset yet-working on it. It seems to be about the sequence.

     

    I Also cannot seem to consistently keep the apple watch workout app AND the 60 beat app to simultaneously monitor my HR. Any help there?

  • by Everman,

    Everman Everman Jun 6, 2015 11:14 AM in response to Elliot Feinberg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 6, 2015 11:14 AM in response to Elliot Feinberg

    Thanks for this reply.  This is what I am struggling with.  It seems to still be lighting the LEDs under the watch even after pairing with H7, but I'll pay more attention to the sequence and report back.  Anyone else have more info on the sequence making sure they are getting the heart rate strap data?  I think it will definitely help watch battery life as well.  I engage in  hour workouts and using the watch heart rate monitor is consuming about 40% battery in those two hours.  It would be really helpful if the H7 did the reporting.

  • by ACE11567,

    ACE11567 ACE11567 Jun 9, 2015 9:43 PM in response to Msinkam
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 9, 2015 9:43 PM in response to Msinkam

    Try this, go into the Apple Watch app and then go to Workout > Power Saving Mode.

    In theory, this should disable the HRM on the watch during runs and walk workouts only, and allow you to receive the data from the strap only.

     

    When I went running earlier today, I had both HRMs runnings, and the health app included both but seemed to mostly show the strap at the peak of my run when the watch readings would be a little slower from the wrist. So it should work either way, but to conserve battery, turn on Power Saving Mode.

  • by Ed McCarthy,

    Ed McCarthy Ed McCarthy Jun 12, 2015 9:22 AM in response to Elliot Feinberg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 12, 2015 9:22 AM in response to Elliot Feinberg

    Elliot,

    Was it easy to pair the Polar--H7?--and the watch? I've been testing out a Wahoo TICKR with the watch for HIIT and it paired once but won't do it again. The sensor works fine on the iPhone Wahoo app but can't pair with the watch, even with Bluetooth turned off on the phone. None of the ideas in the forum have worked and Wahoo support had no suggestions except contact Apple so I'm going to return the TICKR. Don't want to go through the same hassle with the Polar, though. Thanks!

     

    Ed

  • by Spider Mike,

    Spider Mike Spider Mike Jul 3, 2015 10:12 AM in response to Ed McCarthy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 3, 2015 10:12 AM in response to Ed McCarthy

    Ed, for what it's worth, I have the same problem pairing my Wahoo Blue HR chest monitor with my apple watch.  In my opinion, Apple need to sort this out as my Wahoo connects weigh iPhone just fine.

     

    Should have known we would be beta-testing apple watch for them !

  • by Ed McCarthy,

    Ed McCarthy Ed McCarthy Jul 5, 2015 10:04 AM in response to Spider Mike
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 5, 2015 10:04 AM in response to Spider Mike

    Thanks, Mike. An update: I returned the Wahoo and bought a Polar H7. I've only used the H7 twice for two low- to moderate intensity sessions but it connected immediately to the watch. If it fails to work for more intense workouts I'll post a follow-up.

     

    Ed

  • by tziptzi,

    tziptzi tziptzi Jul 27, 2015 3:00 AM in response to Ed McCarthy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2015 3:00 AM in response to Ed McCarthy

    Hey Ed. After you used the Polar band and saved your workout, do you get the average heart beat in the activity app on Iphone, under that workout? I do get an average in the short summary before saving the workout but after that is gone, just a line when checking workouts history.

  • by Ed McCarthy,

    Ed McCarthy Ed McCarthy Jul 27, 2015 4:39 AM in response to tziptzi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 27, 2015 4:39 AM in response to tziptzi

    I'm getting the same result as you--no average on the iPhone.

  • by hilmartor,

    hilmartor hilmartor Jul 30, 2015 3:32 PM in response to Msinkam
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 30, 2015 3:32 PM in response to Msinkam

    I use the Polar HR7 and it paired fine and the LED was off during the workout. The only thing I noticed is that the HR goes pretty high. Over 200 bpm which I did not see on the Polar V800 watch. I have yet to use both during a workout to see if the Apple Watch is misreading the HR7, or not working correctly.

     

    I also noticed when using the Apple Watch HRM it sometimes goes to 60-70 bpm and jumps to higher 100-160 which is more accurate. Don´t know why. Maybe difficulty reading my pulse.

  • by Ed McCarthy,

    Ed McCarthy Ed McCarthy Aug 17, 2015 5:40 AM in response to Ed McCarthy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2015 5:40 AM in response to Ed McCarthy

    Update to my previous posts. The Polar HR7 & Watch combo is working fine with HIIT workouts and seems to be much more accurate and responsive to heart rate changes than just the Watch. I just have to remember to turn off the iPhone's bluetooth signal before starting to work out so the watch pairs properly with the HR7.