Heart Rate Garmin

[Block]

I recently had heart bypass surgery and started on the indoor trainer after 12 weeks recovery. My heart rate as read from a Garmin HR strap is completely incorrect. Sometimes a zero reading, then again so low its not possible and then high again. No real pattern.

Changed to another HR belt, pairing was normal and again these incorrect readings.

Changed belt batteries, paired to my wife's Garmin and again the same non accurate readings.

Then noticed it did exactly the same on MyWhoosh through the Ant+ dongle.

My Garmin watch on my wrist is 100% accurate.

My question - could the signal from HR belt be incorrect due to the wires that hold my breast bone together after surgery.

Has anybody else experienced something similar 

 

[JoeMerida]

56 minutes ago, Block said:

I recently had heart bypass surgery and started on the indoor trainer after 12 weeks recovery. My heart rate as read from a Garmin HR strap is completely incorrect. Sometimes a zero reading, then again so low its not possible and then high again. No real pattern.

Changed to another HR belt, pairing was normal and again these incorrect readings.

Changed belt batteries, paired to my wife's Garmin and again the same non accurate readings.

Then noticed it did exactly the same on MyWhoosh through the Ant+ dongle.

My Garmin watch on my wrist is 100% accurate.

My question - could the signal from HR belt be incorrect due to the wires that hold my breast bone together after surgery.

Has anybody else experienced something similar 

 

Get someone else to wear the Belt to test it.  

Try Rotating the Sensor 180 Degrees so the Garmin Logo is Upside Down.

Edited June 14, 2025 by JoeMerida

[Ruben101]

1 hour ago, Block said:

I recently had heart bypass surgery and started on the indoor trainer after 12 weeks recovery. My heart rate as read from a Garmin HR strap is completely incorrect. Sometimes a zero reading, then again so low its not possible and then high again. No real pattern.

Changed to another HR belt, pairing was normal and again these incorrect readings.

Changed belt batteries, paired to my wife's Garmin and again the same non accurate readings.

Then noticed it did exactly the same on MyWhoosh through the Ant+ dongle.

My Garmin watch on my wrist is 100% accurate.

My question - could the signal from HR belt be incorrect due to the wires that hold my breast bone together after surgery.

Has anybody else experienced something similar 

 

Try putting a few drops of water on the sensor pads and see if that helps 

[saggy]

1 hour ago, Block said:

I recently had heart bypass surgery and started on the indoor trainer after 12 weeks recovery. My heart rate as read from a Garmin HR strap is completely incorrect. Sometimes a zero reading, then again so low its not possible and then high again. No real pattern.

Changed to another HR belt, pairing was normal and again these incorrect readings.

Changed belt batteries, paired to my wife's Garmin and again the same non accurate readings.

Then noticed it did exactly the same on MyWhoosh through the Ant+ dongle.

My Garmin watch on my wrist is 100% accurate.

My question - could the signal from HR belt be incorrect due to the wires that hold my breast bone together after surgery.

Has anybody else experienced something similar 

 

Everyone will tell you that the chest straps are the most accurate.

 

But I am like you, I tried various different straps, changed batteries, spat on them, wet them etc. but I never found one that would work properly.

 

I landed up buying a polar arm band optical monitor and in 3 years have never once had a problem.

 

The only thing I could think is that I sweat very little so even if I wet the thing, me and the strap would be bone dry with in a few minutes. Especially in winter.