Monday, November 2, 2015

Vivosmart HR - broadcasting heart rate data

I bought the new device primarily to monitor resting heart rate, I didn't see the broadcasting feature - whereby the Vivosmart HR ("VHR") broadcasts the heart rate signal from its Elevate optical HR module over ANT+ - to be a major draw.  However, after wearing it for a 5K treadmill run, I am reconsidering it as a strap replacement.  While it doesn't seem as instantly responsive as my Garmin HRM Run (it has a slight lag time -- from my subjective sense), it does seem good enough for my daily use after its first real workout.

I put the VHR into broadcasting mode - pressing the side button, scrolling to the settings icon then sliding to Heart Rate, pressing it, sliding over to broadcasting and then pressing the check icon - paired with my Garmin 920XT in the same way you'd do any other HRM (I now have three devices paired).  I started running, thinking I was good to go, but it seemed that I must have missed a step or the initial pair didn't work - when I went into indoor running and started the activity on the 920XT, it wasn't showing my HR a couple of minutes into the run.  You can see this on the red chart below as its flatlining around 60bpm.



I stopped the treadmill, re-paired, and started the run again (you can see where it happened on the upper (blue) chart.  

The monitor in the VHR broadcast to the 920XT worked like a charm -- it showed approximately 130bpm during my 9-10 min/mi pace on the treadmill, jumped up to around 155-160 during two 7:15 min/mi interval sessions.  I slowed down towards the end to a walk until I got my hr down below 100 - which usually takes about 2 minutes when running outside using the HRM Run strap, same with using the VHR.

The strap was not secured "very tight" -- tight enough not to slide loosely, but not so tight that it was uncomfortable for me (princess and the pea).

One side note:

When I ran on the treadmill, those minutes were reflected in "intensity minutes" metric, even though I didn't "create" an activity on the VHR, just on the 920XT.




7 comments:

  1. Wish my VHR would reflect intensity minutes.... :-) Good write up on the broadcasting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks. I am not super fond of the way Intensity Minutes are showing up. I ran 52 minutes this am, got 80 something minutes of intensity. That's what I call a good run.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I noticed somewhere (in the Garmin Connect app I think?) that it actually calculates two different levels of intensity - 150 minutes of "moderate intensity" or 75 minutes of "vigorous intensity".

      I think that's probably makes sense for a lot of people - people who aren't as active can get their 150 minutes of moderate activity (light jogging, casual bicycling, yoga, etc) - while people who are much more active (running, cycling, Insanity workouts, etc) can set a higher goal for themselves by upping the "Intensity" minutes to 200 or 300, then completing 100 or 150 minutes a week of "vigorous activity".

      Delete
    2. Good point. The mobile Garmin Connect shows moderate intensity on the snapshot page, which is a ratio of 2:1 vs vigorous intensity. So the fact today I showed 86 intensity minutes - really 43 vigorous intensity minutes on a 52 minute run makes a lot of sense since I stopped for water and walked a rocky path for a couple of minutes.

      Delete
  3. Thanks for the write up. Glad you were able to pair with your 920XT, I was hoping I would be able to pair with my fenix 2, but I have not been able to get them to pair. Have you heard of any problems with pairing between the VHR and the fenix 2?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Both things are possible if you carry Michael Kors Handbags Wholesale. If you are a woman who goes for innovative designs, a designer Michael Kors Bags On Sale is perfect for you. Offering a huge selection of chic purses, handbags, shoes and accessories, Michael Kors Outlet Online Store celebrates womanhood in an entirely unique way. Michael Kors Factory Outlet Online Store At Wholesale Price are one of the most sought-after handbags worldwide. We all agree that diamonds are a woman's best friend; however Official Coach Factory Outlet Online are absolutely next in line. To Coach Outlet Sale aficionados, don't fret because we have great news: a discount Official Coach Outlet Online isn't hard to find. If you are a smart shopper looking for a good buy and great deals on your next handbag purchase, you can go to Official Coach Outlet Online.

    Friendly Links: Toms Shoes Womens | Toms Clearance

    ReplyDelete