Forerunner 45 says heart rate is 0

[Yesletsgo]

Before you say ‘contact Garmin support’ I already have and despite trying everything they suggested I still have the issue. It happened with the first Forerunner 45 I had too, so I’m not sure if it’s me or the watch. I thought maybe one of you has had the same thing which might save me having to return the watch to Garmin. So here goes....

Bought the watch in June. As I’m running along the screen alerts me that my heart rate is 0. When I get home all my hr stats are there, as they should be.

That watch stopped working after six weeks. Garmin sent me a replacement. Same issue. If I set it to speak my hr while I run it will do this as it should, it’s just there’ll be a beep and the watch face displays ‘heart rate 0’

I’ve taken the steps Garmin suggest but it keeps happening. Is it just me? I’d rather have a solution but an explanation would be helpful too.

Thanks in advance

[Yesletsgo Graduate10]

This is a picture of it

Forerunner 45 watch face

[damienair Administrator]

Is there an option to just turn it off in the settings? Seriously I think smart watches have just become too smart for entry level. I mean none of us here are super athletes whom require a fraction of the amount of information that these watches offer. I have a Garmin Forerunner 35, the previous model to yours. I have basically dumbed the watch down completely. When I’m running all I want to see is average pace, distance and time. Nothing else. So I turned off all notifications and any other smart features. It works perfectly. I don’t need a watch to be an ECG machine. I know when I’m pushing myself too hard, and I use the average pace for interval and training.

I know that this doesn’t fix your issue , but maybe just turn off the Heart Rate alerts. You will still get all your Heart Rate information after your run.

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Thanks Damien, I've turned off 'broadcast during activity', will have to wait until tomorrow's run to see if that helps.Like you, I only want distance, time and pace when I'm running and then only on my wrist. At one time it shouted it out every so often even if I was out walking. So annoying, especially as it took me forever to work out how to turn it off.

Technology, pah!

[damienair Administrator in reply to Yesletsgo]

Ha I know. My watch used to give move alerts. Even 30 minutes after doing a 10K run. I just went in and basically turned off all the smart features. I don’t know or care what a V02 max etc is. I have not looked back.

[Ian5K Graduate10]

Have you tried it on another person’s wrist?

I’ve the same model, no problems.

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

I suspect it's me as the previous one I had did exactly the same thing. I've tried turning off the notifications (as above) but haven't left the house yet this morning, too much rain and wind!

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Before I got mine I wondered whether it was worn on the underside of the wrist, much like service personnel did so as to protect the watch face - at least my uncle did in the RAF. That’s where the blood vessels are closer to the surface and where the nurse takes your pulse usually.

But it seems technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. It even knows what I’ve had for breakfast! 😁

[nowster Graduate10]

Have you looked in a mirror lately? How are you to exposure to sunlight or garlic? 🤣

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

I'm pretty sure I'm not undead, if the amount of garlic in my food is anything to go by 😂😂😂