A beginner got a Galaxy Watch, now what?

[Persisto77]

So I got myself a Galaxy Watch, (because I read the reviews, liked the looks, got a bonus recently and my Fitbit HR had broken down.)

The Fitbit HR would register my heart beat rate and steps and make that available graphically on my phone or PC. I would like to get similar output from the GW but this is not happening out of the box:

I went for a walk 2 days ago for 9.5 km, from 17h30 to 19h:00; to see my HR, I installed "Heart Rate Graphic" on my watch. It showed what I wanted; while going uphill my HR went up to 140 (a bit high but plausible.)

However after synchronisation S.Health shows a HR every 10 minutes from the moment I switched the watch on till 17h and then 17h10(66)m 17h30(70) 19h20(85) with nothing during the walk. "Heart Rate Graphic" showed a plausible HR graph during the walk. (I hv not found a way to retrieve the "Heart Rate Graphic" data if it still there.)

I have installed Google FIT+Healt sync on my phone. FIT shows my HR data during the walk. (going upto 72 only!!)

I did an hour of fairly intensive gym Thursday evening, wearing the wacth, there is no evidence of it on either the watch or S.Health.

The watch shows sleep info for Wednesdaynight only, S.Health shows sleep for Wednesday (Agitated, Light and w/o Movement.) and Thursday night (no detail, the hours are plausible for both nights.)

The watched was charged at > 50% at all times.

How do I get detailed HR, Step count and sleep information (vs time, not just totals) out of the watch?

Is there a setup to do to get basic functions to work, am I not getting something, or should I prepare to become disappointed?

(It is possible I inadvertandly touched settings, but after verification nothing seems obviously wrong)

Much thanks for showing me the way!

Pete

 

[amyf27]

First off. Congrats on the bonus and the new Galaxy Watch. I dont have it but have had the Gear s3, s2 in the past. For workouts I've been using Endomondo - does a fantastic job with accurate heart measurement throughout-low, avg,max. Go into the settings there should be something there for the step count accuracy and heart rate measuring that should be able to be set varying like once an hr, more often, etc

 

[stackberry369]

First off. Congrats on the bonus and the new Galaxy Watch. I dont have it but have had the Gear s3, s2 in the past. For workouts I've been using Endomondo - does a fantastic job with accurate heart measurement throughout-low, avg,max. Go into the settings there should be something there for the step count accuracy and heart rate measuring that should be able to be set varying like once an hr, more often, etc

What about Samsung Health?

 

[amyf27]

With S health you have to have Auto work out enabled with the watch you also have to have Auto work out enabled. Got to make sure that the watch syncs with Samsung Health. With this particular watch I don't know if there is a sync setting for how often to sync.

 

[jrsharp70]

Don't download stupid apps for this watch. Unless it says Samsung on it (like the smartthings controller, or find my car or other little stuff). There is nothing you need that doesn't come on the watch. If you expect a bunch of cool apps, forget it. Just use it like it is, customize your screens, and maybe get a few watch faces.

1. It doesn't automatically record HR during auto detected walks. It will tell you what it is when you look at the screen, but it won't show up in the data afterwards.

2. If you want real time HR while working out, run a work out manually. I like the 4 workout widget (you can have as many as you want) or just tap workout and select. (See pics)

3. If you want 24/7 real-time heart rate monitoring, you have to go to settings and select always on. Mine runs every 10 min because that's fine for me. During a workout, it automatically changes to constant.

4. For your last question... I have no idea what you are asking... if you want your step data, just put a complication on the watch face. Or open a health and see your steps. If you want a graph of your HR over time, just open the app and go to HR and Trends.

Look, I think this is the best workout watch samsung has ever made. I've owned them all. Just trust me, don't put any apps on this thing. Just use it as it comes. The apple watch is the same way, there's no need for 3rd party apps that mess with your battery and slow down the watch.

If you need help with settings or there is something you want to know, just ask before you try to fix it with a poorly written app.

 

[jlangner]

Agree, best to manually start workout. Auto works good for continuous activities like running, walking (Cutting grass - lol) but auto requires activities for 10 minutes before it starts so if you have a lot of downtime between machines, etc, you may not reach 10 minutes.

 

[amyf27]

Funny thing - when I had my Geae S3, I had been sweeping the car and it came up as "Dynamic workout ". We have two Siberian Huskies, so vacuuming my car is a big job.

Agree, best to manually start workout. Auto works good for continuous activities like running, walking (Cutting grass - lol) but auto requires activities for 10 minutes before it starts so if you have a lot of downtime between machines, etc, you may not reach 10 minutes.

 

[bbgpsuser]

Endomondo has a lot more capability. You can find a lot of details of your activity in history in the phone app or on the web site. During the run/walk/ride it will show you heart rate, time (anyway you want to slice it), map of your activity, altitude, etc.

Pre Gear S3, I did the tracking from the Endomondo app on the phone. Now I use the app on the phone and it links to the app on the phone.

 

[KoukiFC3S]

Change the heart rate monitoring to continuous on the watch. I haven't found that to impact battery life much.

 

[Bosbouer]

+1 for S-health combined with the watch. Calorie input I've been using My Fitnesspal for years. It(the watch) has to be connected to my fitnesspal, but thereafter its seamless.