GW 5 heart rate monitor laggy

[mesocyclone30]

for the past several months my GW 5 has been lagging on reading the heart rate. it's been reset at least once as i reset my phone and had to reset the watch. i think i reset it again because of the heart rate not working as snappy is it did when I first got this earlier in 2024 renewed on Amazon. It takes up to 5 mins to get a reading. it either flashes the same number for up to 5 mins or it stays stuck on one number for up to 5 mins. rebooting doesn't help. I'm frustrated. I have to use my pulse oximeter just to see what my heart rate is because it takes too long to wait on the watch. and forget using it for a workout as it misses all the higher heart rates during cardio. so half the workouts is missing. I've been having Tachycardia on the high end and brady cardio on the low end and its important to monitor my heart rate. Sadly watches aren't very reliable.

Is my heart rate sensor getting weak? or is there a software issue ? I see the green light off and on but not when I'm looking underneath it when it's trying to get a heart rate.

 

[SpookDroid]

Try adjusting the watch higher on your wrist or switching wrists. If that improves the reading speed, the problem might be on your skin (especially wearing the latest models has been known to cause way more rashes and friction burns than prior models) and the sensor may not get an accurate reading on 'the usual spot' anymore. If this is the case, not wearing the watch on that spot for a few days should help clear up the issue.

 

[mesocyclone30]

Try adjusting the watch higher on your wrist or switching wrists. If that improves the reading speed, the problem might be on your skin (especially wearing the latest models has been known to cause way more rashes and friction burns than prior models) and the sensor may not get an accurate reading on 'the usual spot' anymore. If this is the case, not wearing the watch on that spot for a few days should help clear up the issue.

i've tried holding it down or moving it up the arm slightly but it will just slide back down anyways. it doesn't make it any better holding down on it. I'm left handed and it will drive me crazy to use it on the other arm.

 

[SpookDroid]

I get that, it would drive me insane to wear mine on the other hand. However, for the purpose of testing if the problem is the watch/sensor, it's the safest/quickest bet.

 

[mesocyclone30]

I get that, it would drive me insane to wear mine on the other hand. However, for the purpose of testing if the problem is the watch/sensor, it's the safest/quickest bet.

oh ok. I gotcha. do you know if the green laser that does the readings gets weak over time or does it just go out all at once?

 

[SpookDroid]

oh ok. I gotcha. do you know if the green laser that does the readings gets weak over time or does it just go out all at once?

If it's hardware failure, it can start flickering incorrectly or not receive enough power from the controller. The LED itself it's rare to fail over time (at least not in a device-expected lifetime anyway).

 

[mesocyclone30]

If it's hardware failure, it can start flickering incorrectly or not receive enough power from the controller. The LED itself it's rare to fail over time (at least not in a device-expected lifetime anyway).

thanks for the reply sorry for the late updates but i switched wrists and it started working perfect again for a few days and a few problems here and there. then i forgot and put it on my right wrist again and it works fine there again. perhaps the skin gets too moist underneath and it messes with the conductivity for the heart rate sensor. i'm experimenting with body power to dry the skin up to see if that is the case. not sure if it makes a diff now. I think i tried it before switching wrists the first time.

 

[SpookDroid]

Yeah, now that we barely take them off our wrists it can create that 'hot spot' on your wrist. My advice would be to try to clean the back of the watch daily and let the wrist 'breathe' for a couple hours a day making sure the watch isn't wet when you put it back on (that last part courtesy of a dermatologist friend).

 

[mesocyclone30]

Yeah, now that we barely take them off our wrists it can create that 'hot spot' on your wrist. My advice would be to try to clean the back of the watch daily and let the wrist 'breathe' for a couple hours a day making sure the watch isn't wet when you put it back on (that last part courtesy of a dermatologist friend).

I already leave it off for several hours while it's charging and often go 2-4 hours without it on in the evening and night. and i wash it with hand soap and water whenever i take it off to take a shower. believe me I keep my devices clean. I can't stand dirty devices. Plus i want the watch to be optimal. I think if it starts acting up i'll just swap wrists for a couple of days. but i tell you when i'm laying in bed and don't see it on the right wrist I think i forgot to put it on so i have to pull my left hand up to see if it's on. lol. I am left handed but actually used to play guitar right handed and bat a ball with the right hand but catch with the left hand and right with the left hand but use the computer mouse with the right hand. I guess i learned to use the right hand for the mouse because that's how it was at school. I can't use my left hand on the mouse very well. I'm autistic so i wonder how common it is to use both hands for diff things with autistic people vs non autistic. I know in general it's pretty rare if i remember correctly.

 

[SpookDroid]

There are things that aren't just 'lefty friendly', unfortunately... I do know a few 'lefties' that have had to learn to use some things with their non-dominant hand because otherwise it would just add a second layer of complexity (computer mouse being one of them or driving a 'stick'). But don't think it's common for other things... If you can, then that's a win! I wish I could use both hands for some tasks, like writing... alas, I can barely write with my right haha (one college professor summarized it brilliantly for me: You have built-in encryption in your handwriting. Stick to typing.)