Heart Rate Extremely Inaccurate, Microsoft Says Band is Entry-Level Device

[foofighter#AC]

If your pulse gets up to 160 playing tennis - go see a doctor.

I'm 45 and when i'm cycling, my avg HR is 150-155 so that's not far off. When I'm really on the rivot i've been up to 180 but try to keep it below that as recovery would be a little longer to accomplish.

To the OP, I did a run yesterday and it seemed about right when I rand w/ the H7 Polar HR strap

 

[SteveVII]

Yeah... it just seems way off all the time. When outside of exercise modes, I've noticed that the HR often locks in at a higher heartrate, and takes about 5-10 seconds to drop down and truly lock in on my heart rate. This might be why my heart rate seems high after analyzing sleep activity. Think there is any chance they will push an update before the 14 day return policy is up? Really hoping they can address this through software, else the band is dead to me, unfortunately.

 

[foofighter#AC]

Yeah... it just seems way off all the time. When outside of exercise modes, I've noticed that the HR often locks in at a higher heartrate, and takes about 5-10 seconds to drop down and truly lock in on my heart rate. This might be why my heart rate seems high after analyzing sleep activity. Think there is any chance they will push an update before the 14 day return policy is up? Really hoping they can address this through software, else the band is dead to me, unfortunately.

14 days? The person at MS store told me 3 days to return LOL

 

[SteveVII]

Cool, I'll make a profit on eBay then ;-).

 

[mados123]

Interesting discussion here regarding the accuracy of the device. I would guess that with the sensor on the inside of the wrist, it would absolutely be more accurate due to the vasularity being more superficial and in abundance on that side.

If your pulse gets up to 160 playing tennis - go see a doctor.

Regarding this comment, it is just not accurate as others have said. One major cause for the HR to go up that high (assuming this is an older person as a younger or more fit middle aged would be able to handle that normally during tennis) is due to what is called the 'Valsalva Maneuver' which people will perform (mostly unknowingly) to stabilize their core if their muscles aren't conditioned to properly to so on their own. The effect of essentially holding one's breath and constricting the descending aorta by the diaphragm is the response of the heart rate to increase and spike to a level that is not consistent with a workout with regular breathing and associated exertion. Also, you will get an immediate drop in blood pressure during that time the constriction is happening but then a bump in blood pressure as well. To use a most familiar experience as an example, it would explain why you might start sweating while/after you take a dump regardless of the fact you had a normal heart rate when you sat down (that along with a reflexive response to earlier vagus nerve stimulation). While seeing a doctor is recommended for health in general, a strength and conditioning specialist might be more appropriate to keep that HR controlled

Hemodynamics of a Valsalva Maneuver

 

[smurfalarm]

14 days? The person at MS store told me 3 days to return LOL

It takes 3 days for them to credit your money back to your credit card after you return it. Are you thinking of that? I think their hardware return policy is 30 days for the online store. I don't know about in person purchases.

 

[valadon]

It takes 3 days for them to credit your money back to your credit card after you return it. Are you thinking of that? I think their hardware return policy is 30 days for the online store. I don't know about in person purchases.

The store clerk told me 30 days, and the receipt says 30 days as well. So we still have some time to test, and see if Microsoft says anything or provides an update.

 

[Willyman]

This is something the consumer will eventually figure out:
No matter how much marketing hype will be placed on these wrist worn sport watches, so far the technology is not as accurate as a chest strap, which in turn is not as accurate as a proper ECG.

Most of the current watches are using the exact same technology by the way ... If you see green LEDs, it's Philips Research technology (first popped up in the Mio watch as far as I know).

EDIT: so yes, Apple watch and Microsoft are using the same tech.

 

[sdrexler11791]

Interesting discussion here regarding the accuracy of the device. I would guess that with the sensor on the inside of the wrist, it would absolutely be more accurate due to the vasularity being more superficial and in abundance on that side.
Regarding this comment, it is just not accurate as others have said. One major cause for the HR to go up that high (assuming this is an older person as a younger or more fit middle aged would be able to handle that normally during tennis) is due to what is called the 'Valsalva Maneuver' which people will perform (mostly unknowingly) to stabilize their core if their muscles aren't conditioned to properly to so on their own. The effect of essentially holding one's breath and constricting the descending aorta by the diaphragm is the response of the heart rate to increase and spike to a level that is not consistent with a workout with regular breathing and associated exertion. Also, you will get an immediate drop in blood pressure during that time the constriction is happening but then a bump in blood pressure as well. To use a most familiar experience as an example, it would explain why you might start sweating while/after you take a dump regardless of the fact you had a normal heart rate when you sat down (that along with a reflexive response to earlier vagus nerve stimulation). While seeing a doctor is recommended for health in general, a strength and conditioning specialist might be more appropriate to keep that HR controlled

Hemodynamics of a Valsalva Maneuver

Hey guys, all bets are off on your comments as you have no idea what my age, medical conditions, medical history, medications and level of fitness are. I will tell you that my heart rate only spiked this high briefly after playing a long a hard point. So stop speculating. I was only trying to illustrate that the band accurately measured my heart rate when compared against my actual pulse taken by feeling it and counting with a watch.

I happen to be a physician, and am well aware of my medical conditions and level of fitness.

 

[Jazmac]

To the OP, I would return it. I would also make sure Polar was working to efficiency since this is what you compare it to. But if your MS Band is that much inaccurate, I'd get my 200 bucks back and simply wait for a better model or the update to come out. Then I would wait on reports before buying again.

 

[MikeSo]

This is something the consumer will eventually figure out:
No matter how much marketing hype will be placed on these wrist worn sport watches, so far the technology is not as accurate as a chest strap, which in turn is not as accurate as a proper ECG.

Most of the current watches are using the exact same technology by the way ... If you see green LEDs, it's Philips Research technology (first popped up in the Mio watch as far as I know).

EDIT: so yes, Apple watch and Microsoft are using the same tech.

I agree. There's a reason that there haven't been any accurate, inexpensive wrist HR monitors built into all-in-one devices meant to always be worn - it's REALLY hard to do! I think they can be useful and offer value, but for those who are serious about getting exact readings to maximize serious workout efficiency or monitor health, they need to get dedicated devices. That goes for pretty much everything in life - dedicated devices are always better and more accurate.

But for the rest of us, I think these devices are good enough, especially when measuring progress. If you start out with a HR reading pn the Band of 100 and 3 months later it's 90, that shows progress. If it REALLY was 90 and went to 78, that's less important for most.

 

[mados123]

I happen to be a physician, and am well aware of my medical conditions and level of fitness.

Glad to hear you are in tune with your body. I'm sure others will benefit from the educational information provided though.

 

[JamesPTao]

This is something the consumer will eventually figure out:
No matter how much marketing hype will be placed on these wrist worn sport watches, so far the technology is not as accurate as a chest strap, which in turn is not as accurate as a proper ECG.

Most of the current watches are using the exact same technology by the way ... If you see green LEDs, it's Philips Research technology (first popped up in the Mio watch as far as I know).

EDIT: so yes, Apple watch and Microsoft are using the same tech.

People should keep I mind even the hr measuring devices nurses use are very sensitive to vibration. So any unit using this method for measuring hr will have issues when being active. If you want accuracy, as mentioned, get a chest strap. You are right. Unfortunately most reviewers blame the device when innacuracies are from the method, not the device.

 

[SteveVII]

So the microsoft news post where they talk about directly going after the strap was a lie?

 

[theefman]

So the microsoft news post where they talk about directly going after the strap was a lie?

You could always ask them.

 

[SteveVII]

Who should I contact. Support obviously couldn't help.

 

[ytrewq]

So the microsoft news post where they talk about directly going after the strap was a lie?

While it sounds like the Band may be less accurate than a strap, it's still plenty accurate for what most people are doing. For most of us, it isn't critical whether our pulse at any given moment during a workout is 135 or 145. What matters is that we're staying in the target hear rate zone, which covers a span of about 65 bpm. (In my case, it's 90-155.) And if you are focused on whether you're in the aerobic or anaerobic zones, there's still a substantial range for each that do not require a hospital-level degree of accuracy. The Band is plenty fine for that. My wife and I have tested our Bands during workouts by comparing them to our pulse (measured with a stopwatch), and the Band is generally within 5 bpm of what the stopwatch says. There are moments when it's off by more than that, but only for a few seconds, and then it's back in line. That's close enough for what we do.

A professional cyclist may care a lot whether his heart rate is 148 or 153. But for most of us, the Band is accurate enough, and far more comfortable and convenient than a strap. Which is why our straps have been sitting in a drawer since we bought the Bands.

For the average consumer, yes, I think the Band is going after straps.

 

[k00ksta]

Microsoft snubs its new Band, bundles Fitbit Flex with new Lumia phones | PCWorld

Its already being blasted by the press .. I really want a device like this from MS due to the (more then fitness features) but buying one for my wife and myself I hope its accurate enough for us. Because its a damn sexy looking gadget.

 

[pj737]

So the microsoft news post where they talk about directly going after the strap was a lie?

Yes.

 

[Jerry Wall]

Or no. The band got me off of my strap, as the band is definitely good enough for me, and is a heck of a lot more comfortable to wear when working out.