Issues with respiration rate on the Fenix 6 with the Polar 10 & Polar OH1, but not with the Verity Sense: – does respiration rate require a completely new battery or HRM?

Last Updated on June 8, 2024 by pg@petergamma.org

  • The Fenix 6 requires an external heart rate monitor to show respiration rate.

The Fenix 6 requires an external heart rate monitor to show respiration rate.

  • This is most probably based on respiratory rate estimation.
  • Peter Gamma from www.petergamma.org fist had tested it with the 2 Verity Sense heart rate monitors and tit worked.
  • Then he tested it with 2 Polar OH1 sensors which did not work.
  • Now he went back to the Verity Sense and it works again.
  • I do not know why this is so.
  • The two Polar OH1 sensors are older ones, eventually the battery is weak.
  • Respiration Rate with the Fenix 6 worked also with the Polar H10 but often had drop-outs.
  • When the battery was replaced of the Polar H10 lesser drop out occured.
  • The replacement battery was also about a year old but never used.
  • Maybe the problems described here are a battery issue.
  • In our tests often respiration rate drop-outs occurr.
  • Respiration rate eventually needs a battery which is completely new to work without issues.
  • Respiratory rate estimation needs a time window to get the respiration rate of about 5 – 10 seconds
  • Only ofter this the Fenix 6 but also the Venu 2 shows values on the watch screen.
  • There where more drop-outs in the lying position with respiration rate and Polar H10.
  • There where lesser drop-outs in the upright position with respiration rate and Polar H10.
  • I did not test if shortening the Polar H10 could solve the problem.
  • But to wear the Polar H10 continously for isntance for 24 * 7 is uncomforable anyway.
  • Moisturing reduced the drop outs in respiration rate of the Polar H10 a bit.
  • Respiratory rate on the Fenix 6 occurrs only after a lag of view seconds.
  • Respiratory rate is according to our own little experience only of limited use on Garmin watches.
  • The best experience to this date was a Fenix 6 with a Verity Sense.
  • But respiration rate with this setup was only accurate at 12 breath per minute which is the lowest value in the physiological range for respiration rate at rest which is between 12 and 20 breath per minutes.
  • The inaccuracy of respiratory rate estimation is around 2 breath per minute.
  • Which physiologists use such inaccurate devices?
  • Physiologists use spirometry.