UV and ambient light sensors not working

[anon(5345826)]

With the screen brightness set to auto-adjust, the ambient light does not change the screen brightness. The UV sensor always tells me 0 UV detected even it direct sun light.

When using band sensor monitor, the ambient light reads: "--", and the UV reads "0".

Why are these sensors not working?

 

[indiW]

I consider UV sensor as just a gimmick, with little or no meaningful value.
This is my way of thinking, just ask from yourself that, how many people closely known to you have had a major health problem relating to UV for the last 50 years, then you widen the circle and ask the same question, I don't think you will need that many fingers to count the figures.
However I agree that in principle, MS promised it then it should work.
I have never seen my band picking any information on that, on the other hand we are in the mid of winter months here in the UK.

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

 

[Dave47]

Take note of the sidebar and read this article:
Health Effects of UV Radiation | Sun Safety | US EPA

 

[indiW]

Sure, I agree of UV effect, however if you put that in prospective, how many people have died following Road accidents comparing to exposure to UV

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

 

[DroidUser42]

I'm not sure where the ambient light sensor is. I know the UV is in the clasp, as is the battery. Reading the forums I get a sense that there's a cable problem from the clasp to the main display. So your unit may be defective and power problems may be in the future.

 

[luxnws]

I consider UV sensor as just a gimmick, with little or no meaningful value.
This is my way of thinking, just ask from yourself that, how many people closely known to you have had a major health problem relating to UV for the last 50 years, then you widen the circle and ask the same question, I don't think you will need that many fingers to count the figures.
However I agree that in principle, MS promised it then it should work.
I have never seen my band picking any information on that, on the other hand we are in the mid of winter months here in the UK.

Posted via the Windows Central App for Android

It depends on where you live, what time of the day you run and how much you are outdoors. If you spend your days cooped up in an office and only run in a gym on a treadmill then the UV won't matter much to you. But what would be the point of being in great shape only to spend all of your life indoors? There ought to be a way to measure the suntans of Microsoft Band users.

 

[jlzimmerman]

I don't think the UV notifications and its sensor are gimmicks. It's a nice to have a reminder that my 30 minutes of getting vitamin D is complete and to be cognizant of longer exposure. Years of working in the fields and military have taken it's toll. I don't need any more skin damage.

 

[ajj3085]

I wasn't sure mine was working either, it always said no uv even in a bright sunny day. Until i went to FL, then in the sun there it'd warn me about uv and i had a couple of low readings and one moderate. So i think its just that i live up north and its the winter. Will see this summer.

 

[HomeBound12]

I'm hoping it's a reading treshold issuse.

Local weather station says UV is low (1 or whatever that means) and maybe a band needs UV to be at least at 2 before it indicates low... Otherwise mine is broken as well... we'll see come summbertime...

 

[DroidUser42]

we'll see come summbertime...

Or find someone with a tanning bed.

 

[HomeBound12]

Or find someone with a tanning bed.

I realize that this is a joke but I just spent entire minute thinking about walking inside tanning studio (there is one not too far from where I work)... Boy i can just imagine owners face if I were to ask if I can test my band on their tanniny bed..

 

[luxnws]

Pack up your Band and take a vacation on a tropical island. Or head to somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere where it's summertime like Australia.

Or find someone who keeps lizards as pets. :O
Robot Check

 

[Pajot]

Hi everyone! I see some tongue-in-cheek answers here about using a tanning bed or finding someone with reptiles as pets.

I am ready to report on my findings. The UV sensor on my Band 2 works apparently fine, as demonstrated when outside in the sun. Got Low and Medium readings so far.

It also happens that I have a reptile as pet and am using a UV lamp. With Band 2, there is no reading when directly 3-4 inches under the lamp and pointing the right way.

I also tried the band today in one of the standing tanning machines that is supposed to deliver more UVBs than other machines. It showed a reading of Low right in the beginning, when the machine was starting and absolutely no reading for the balance of my 6min session. I got to this page trying to figure out if that tanning machine is a huge scam :smile:, if maybe the band UV sensor looks for a different spectrum, or if something else is at play.

For what is worth, these are some findings you guys may use. If anyone has a good explanation, please let us know. If I find out answers, I will post here.

Cheers!

 

[ajj3085]

I didn't think it was working either, but i live in a northern state in the usa. I found it to be working on a vacation in Florida.

 

[Gcarraro]

Hopefully that's the problem.. Just bought the band 2 and was disappointed with the 0UV readings... But as you said, maybe it's just Canada weather that's not helping
I'll try again when the good weather comes

 

[DroidUser42]

if maybe the band UV sensor looks for a different spectrum,

Good question. From what I can find, the skin is most sensitive to wavelengths 295 nm and below. (High UVB and UVC) However, that's not not where the sun is strongest, and not something you'll find from a artificial source (unless you take up arc welding). I don't know what the sensor is tuned for, but I'm sure the designers wanted to try to handle the filtering effect of clouds while keeping the sensor simple.