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Garmin Edge 500 HRM problems
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Got an Edge 500 Premium Bundle earlier this year and have had to send the HRM and the whole lot back 3 times now.
Read all the help sites about getting the HRM to pick up properly (swapping the battery around, removing the battery for about 5 mins, resetting the Garmin itself) all to no avail. Even using a different strap. Battery charge is fine (checked that too)
All work for about 6 weeks and then the whole cycle starts again. HRM detected but no reading, or reading 60 BPM in the middle of a 4 hour race.
Anyone got any tips, besides sending it back again.
Also has anyone used a Polar equivalent of the Edge?
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garmin HRM 's are worse than cranky Girlfriends on PMS.
I have the 510 and exactly the same issues. HRM is very unreliable. especially when yoiur HR is peaking out It tells you....155BPM.
I've washed the belt. Ive tightened it. Ive worn T shirt beneath the jersey to reduce the noise frequency....but in the current heat.....OMG
you know what? I have none of those issues with the whaoo HRM which is bluetooth. But I need to use it with the I phone.
garmin really do need to pull thier heads out of tier backsides. Strava isd going to kill them, with good reason
I had the same problem with my 910XT HRM. It turned out to be the HRM band, not the sensor. I'm guessing the electrical contacts inside the elastic band may get damaged when you wash it. As soon as I changed out the band (using the same sensor) everything started working just fine.
A lot of people complain about the straps on the Garmin HRM. I take it you have the soft, 'premium' strap?
I've had one of these for almost a couple of years now, and it's had a lot of use. Not sure if we expect too much of technology these days... should I be upset that something in use hundreds of times a year with zero care over those couple of years might need replacing? Different thread perhaps
Some people recommend replacing the soft Garmin strap with a Polar one. You can get these on their own without any electronics and snap the Garmin 'pod' into the studs on the strap.
For me, after a couple of instances where the monitor read way to high, I've taken to completely soaking it before a ride, and also rinsing thoroughly after riding and that seems to work well. I leave the electronic 'pod' on the strap as it's waterproof.
Hope that help.
Ive had the cheap hard strap for nearly 2 years now. It's stopped working once and putting the battery in upside down to reset it fixed my problem.
The premium strap is a piece of shit IMO. They bunch up into fine ropes and become uncomfortable.
The contact points are very sensitive to small changes in position.
Ditch it and get the older non premium garmin strap. They cost about 20 bucks on eBay and never die.
Hi All,
I will solve all your problems. I have had this issue and have succesfully resolved it. if you have the garming strap with the press stud type sensor, then do the following.. dont bother trying to resolve it any other way.
Step 1, Find a bin and throw the strap in there, but keep the sensor.
Step 2, buy a polar soft strap that has the press studs
step 3, attach your garmin sensor to the polar strap.
Step 4, wet the strap in the right spots,
Step 5, put on the strap
sTep 6, turn on your garmin and start riding.
your probelms of wrong readings and drop out heart rates will be a thing of the past
happy riding people.
pete
I was having problems (abnormally high readings) with the garmin premium strap. I purchased a polar soft strap but am still having inconsistent readings but just not as frequently.
Yup, have the premium strap (Edge 800) and it's also useless.
I thought It could be because I sometimes use 2 straps at once, but even on it's own, it's no good.
Also use the Wahoo strap and app, it's great, but I also get erratic readings occasionally. All I need to do is disconnect the sensor for 20 sec and it goes back to normal.
Looking on fleabay now... Polar strap only is ~$40!
!!!!
https://www.clevertraining.com/p-5182-polar-soft...
$19USD!!!
Postage is ~$30, can split that on a group buy??
Only $22 AUD at Wiggle and it is only $9 postage.
http://www.wiggle.com.au/polar-spare-elastic-str...
I have already swapped to the Polar strap. Got one from Dickinson in Melbourne ~427 delivered.
Worked OK, but same issue.
Sounds like a standard Garmin complaint.
Thanks for the suggestions
Thanks Squigs.
Pity I just placed an order with Wiggle earlier this week :/
I have a wahooo strap, which has worked faultlessly. I'll try that.