Garmin 310XT - Numpty user error or WOFTAM ?

Kanga M

Seriously falling out of love with my new 310XT. The GPS seems to work fine, it is a bit of a lump but dont notice it once I get going, but the HRM is driving me bonkers when I run. I've tried soaking the strap before putting it on, tightening the strap to tourniquet proportions, moving it up/down/around,and leaving it where it is, but it still insists for several minutes at a time I'm pushing 170+ BPM and quite often 200+ BPM. It will go loopy for 5-10 minutes, then without doing anything, come back to reasonable (145-170), all at the same constant pace. It occasionally decides I'm doing < 100BPM at the same 8-9 min/mile pace, which I find hard to believe as well. Most of my regular running is along the tow path, so no other HRMs around, and it did it again in the wilds on Hampshire on the weekend, so hard to believe it's environmental interference as it happens randomly on the regular run. Only worn it a few times on the bike and think it's gone loopy once in a handful of short commute rides.

So, how hard can it be to get the fecking strap in the right place, or is this just a lemon, or are all HRMs just random number generators ? I work in IT so have a low tolerance level for expensive technology that doesnt work

fat buddha

tried a new battery in the strap? I often find issues with my Polar HRM comes down to nothing more than just a battery problem so it might be the same with the Garmin

Lee the Pea

Hmm, this is no help whatsoever, but i've not found any problems with mine.  Could be the battery as FB said, but failing that, send it back and report it as faulty before warranty runs outs...

joddly

I had the same trouble, Kanga. I never got on with the HRM that came with mine either. It seemed to work OK for running but not biking at first, and then became rubbish for both. I tried fiddling with the battery contacts etc but nothing worked.

I then bought an Edge 500 which came with its own strap, which has more ridges on the contacts. This one's been absolutely fine for biking and running. It says on the back "HRM1G", though it may say that on the old one, for all I know! It has made me get a much better idea of how I'm going on the bike.

Kanga M

Thx guys. It's brand new, so you'd hope the battery was OK, but worth a try. Also mindful that we're disappearing in a few weeks, so cant wait to long to go down the warranty return path.

Rode to work with it this morning, averaged 17mph, worked a treat. 140-160 all the way, Same strap tension, placement etc, so does seem to be running related. In fairness I do wobble a bit less on the bike ....

[Deleted User]

I'd send it in for a replacement. We've a few in the family and nothing like those symptoms.

Kanga M

Fine again on the bike home, same strap placement and tension, but same as yesterday's run home.

I hate technology

Chri5B

DC Rainmaker has some useful bits on his blog:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/04/troubleshooting-your-heart-rate.html
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/08/solution-to-heart-rate-dropoutsspikes.html

I've had some 200+ BPMs on my 310XT a couple of times but I reasonably happy that was down to a lack of water/moisture on the contacts.

Garmin have revised the HRM strap design according to DC Rainmaker.  Bit of scrolling needing but there's picture some information on the FR600 review:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/04/garmin-forerunner-610-in-depth-review.html