Strange. Heart rate suddenly freezing up

[Greymire]

@Greymire, that's an excellent suggestion by @tony
One of the great features of Gear Tracker is this ability to pair with a BLE chest strap and if you are having problems with Galaxy Watch HR sensor, this would solve your tracking problems.
However, it doesn't solve the problem of constant HR throughout the day (and night) not working for you and I know that's crucial for you, so I hear what you are saying. It's a shame and I wish it would work for you.

Thanks. Actually the watch works fine for normal everyday use. It is moisture from sweat or rain that cause issues. I look at gear tracker and once I see the same heart rate with a number in parentheses I know it's froze. I just take it off quickly, dry my wrist, and wipe off the sensor. It will start right up and work for the rest of my walk unless it's raining hard. I cooler weather I didn't seem to have issues so sweat seems to be an issue. It is weird.

 

[sonnnet]

Thanks. Actually the watch works fine for normal everyday use. It is moisture from sweat or rain that cause issues. I look at gear tracker and once I see the same heart rate with a number in parentheses I know it's froze. I just take it off quickly, dry my wrist, and wipe off the sensor. It will start right up and work for the rest of my walk unless it's raining hard. I cooler weather I didn't seem to have issues so sweat seems to be an issue. It is weird.

Ah, ok. Glad everyday use is good.

Just some of my observations:

The number in parentheses is the number of times Gear Tracker has tried to restart the HR service after it has stopped. The question is whether it has been successful in restarting it and the best measure for that is to look at the heart rate graph after the workout. It's perfectly possible to have something like HR (15) or more showing on your wrist and still have a perfect readout IF Gear Tracker has successfully restarted it 15 times during the workout.

In the beta, we have the choice of changing the sensor software from Internal (Samsung) or GT Service (written by the developer). I've always had problems with Internal, but GT Service is perfect. This will come to the main store version at some point, so you will probably notice a massive improvement when that happens.

As regards sweat, I don't understand why this is causing issues and I know @TonyHudson has the same problem as you. But for me, sweat is not a problem for the watch and I am dripping wet after a hard run in the heat (T shirt completely soaked etc) and still have perfect HR readouts. (However, I do have GT Service).
When you sweat, obviously you are hot and your wrist expands, causing a tighter fit of the watch and hence HR sensor to skin. With this expansion, the moisture from sweat will help form a seal around the band, again giving a firm grip. It's not as if your watch is sliding around (if it is, it's on way too loose). The skin in contact with the HR sensor is compressed against the watch. That part of your body won't be releasing much sweat. So I don't understand how sweat could be the problem, but clearly that's your experience.

All I can advise is hold out for GT Service coming to the main Gear Tracker App soon. It is quite amazing.

 

[Greymire]

Ah, ok. Glad everyday use is good.

Just some of my observations:

The number in parentheses is the number of times Gear Tracker has tried to restart the HR service after it has stopped. The question is whether it has been successful in restarting it and the best measure for that is to look at the heart rate graph after the workout. It's perfectly possible to have something like HR (15) or more showing on your wrist and still have a perfect readout IF Gear Tracker has successfully restarted it 15 times during the workout.

In the beta, we have the choice of changing the sensor software from Internal (Samsung) or GT Service (written by the developer). I've always had problems with Internal, but GT Service is perfect. This will come to the main store version at some point, so you will probably notice a massive improvement when that happens.

As regards sweat, I don't understand why this is causing issues and I know @TonyHudson has the same problem as you. But for me, sweat is not a problem for the watch and I am dripping wet after a hard run in the heat (T shirt completely soaked etc) and still have perfect HR readouts. (However, I do have GT Service).
When you sweat, obviously you are hot and your wrist expands, causing a tighter fit of the watch and hence HR sensor to skin. With this expansion, the moisture from sweat will help form a seal around the band, again giving a firm grip. It's not as if your watch is sliding around (if it is, it's on way too loose). The skin in contact with the HR sensor is compressed against the watch. That part of your body won't be releasing much sweat. So I don't understand how sweat could be the problem, but clearly that's your experience.

All I can advise is hold out for GT Service coming to the main Gear Tracker App soon. It is quite amazing.

I figured it was retries. I had two day of half a workout with flatline heart rate. So today I just did the take off and wipe trick and just had a very brief break in monitoring. Too bad he can't send Android apk files to update gear tracker beta. Stupid LG phone. LOL. He is cool though. He still let me in the beta group so I could see what was going on and ask questions.

 

[sonnnet]

I figured it was retries. I had two day of half a workout with flatline heart rate. So today I just did the take off and wipe trick and just had a very brief break in monitoring. Too bad he can't send Android apk files to update gear tracker beta. Stupid LG phone. LOL. He is cool though. He still let me in the beta group so I could see what was going on and ask questions.

The guy's a legend. GT Service for the store version can't be that far away and it is way more likely to solve your issues than another Samsung software update so at least that's something promising on the horizon. And you'll hear about when that is going to be if you stay tuned to the beta chat, too.

 

[TonyHudson]

Keep us updated about when the new release with GT service will be available Sonnnet. Thanks.

 

[sonnnet]

Keep us updated about when the new release with GT service will be available Sonnnet. Thanks.

Will do @TonyHudson
Are you in the beta testing group?

 

[TonyHudson]

No mate, is it now a closed group?

 

[sonnnet]

No mate, is it now a closed group?

Since you've purchased the app, go to this Web address and send the developer a message asking to join the Beta group and see what he says.....

https://m.facebook.com/GearTrackerApp

 

[TonyHudson]

Thanks Sonnnet. I have PM'd developer.

 

[TonyHudson]

I have got the Beta version. Let the testing begin.

 

[TonyHudson]

Flawless! I am one happy bunny people. For the very first time ever, tonight I have managed to record a full 56 minutes of exercise which included a warm up, a full squash game and cool down using the Samsung Galaxy Watch internal heart rate monitor and Gear Tracker. If the HR monitoring was dropped it must have re-connected very quickly. I used my Polar OH1 HR monitor paired with my mobile phone at the same time recording the workout using Polar Beat application and there was very little difference between the two graphs. The min and max BPM's were the same with a difference of 1 BPM on the average BPM. This Gear Tracker application is going to be the saviour of the Samsung Galaxy Watch's fitness tracking capabilities. Did I tell you I was a happy bunny.

Thanks for guidance Sonnnet.

 

[sonnnet]

Flawless! I am one happy bunny people. For the very first time ever, tonight I have managed to record a full 56 minutes of exercise which included a warm up, a full squash game and cool down using the Samsung Galaxy Watch internal heart rate monitor and Gear Tracker. If the HR monitoring was dropped it must have re-connected very quickly. I used my Polar OH1 HR monitor paired with my mobile phone at the same time recording the workout using Polar Beat application and there was very little difference between the two graphs. The min and max BPM's were the same with a difference of 1 BPM on the average BPM. This Gear Tracker application is going to be the saviour of the Samsung Galaxy Watch's fitness tracking capabilities. Did I tell you I was a happy bunny.

Thanks for guidance Sonnnet.

This is what I've been trying to tell people for a long time, @tony, lol!
So glad you've found the holy grail of Galaxy Watch fitness tracking that is Gear Tracker. Don't forget to show the developer some kudos, he more than deserves it.
Enjoy using your Galaxy Watch as a superb fitness tracker, the way it always should have been - out of the box.

 

[Kko 5]

Hi to all forum friends...Great new for me too...although the Gear Tracker app is Not available in my region area for use, ever since the watch UI update I have been enjoying a flawless watch. HR has been always right spot on with no freezing at all. At last, all of our continuous effort and pressure to Samsung via forum chats and complaints brought some real result enentually. Lets keep our fingers crossed that everything stays smooth like silk.

 

[Greymire]

It frequently quits on me during my walk. Not sure, why. Waiting fir the new release that sounds forthcoming. For now I can't use it