Some factors that might cause higher error percentages in Firstbeat Sports Sensor data are listed below.
To avoid problems, please instruct your athletes to properly wear and maintain the Firstbeat Sports Sensors and HR straps.
Artifact tail
You are getting incorrect RR-i values at the end of the data.
Issue: If the Sensor is left attached to the HR strap there might be an extra HR artifact tail recorded that can’t be automatically removed. A high error percentage at the end of the recording can increase the total average error percentage. This then causes the server to fully reject the data.
Solution:
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Detach the Sensor completely from the strap after a session has finished to help it automatically stop recording.
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Detach the Sensor and rinse the strap after each use. Don't just throw the worn, sweaty strap with the Sensor still attached into a sports bag. Check maintenance guide for more info.
Wearing the heart rate (HR) strap incorrectly
Issue: Wearing the Sensor and, therefore, the HR strap incorrectly can lead to poor data quality and unsuccessful measurements. Dry skin, poorly fitting and positioned HR strap, and worn-out HR straps can impact data collection.
Solution:
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Moisten the HR strap and dampen the skin under it before the session. Dry HR straps and skin conduct electric signals poorly.
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Make it snug! The HR strap should sit firmly so that it doesn’t move during activity.
Check before starting that the strap is tight enough. The strap might loosen during the session so tighten it occasionally if possible.Try moving the strap higher and, where women are concerned, under the sports bra if possible. Check the guidance on how to wear the Firstbeat Sports Sensor for more info.
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Some sport types with lots of arm and upper body movement might be more prone to errors. For example, CrossFit, tennis, and handball. In these cases, tightening the HR strap properly is vital.
Like all things, the HR straps wear out over time. When under heavy use, it might wear out sooner. If you need to acquire new straps, please visit our webshop.
Attaching the Sensor to the HR strap
Issue: Attach the Sensor to the strap carefully. Make sure that both pins are securely attached to the strap and the Sensor is not attached upside down.
Solutions:
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One of the two pins may be loose. Make sure both pins are securely attached.
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Make sure the Sensor is not worn upside down i.e. the Firstbeat text should not be upside down.
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If the Sensor does not properly snap into the HR strap try using a different strap to check both the pins snap in place correctly.
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There are athletes with big upper body muscles and/or a rounded chest. For them, the Sensor might more easily detach. We have observed that there are minor differences in how tight the Sensor attachment connection is on different HR straps. If you have problems with the Sensor popping out for specific athletes, you could try to give them a strap that has a tighter attachment.
Clothing
Issue: Some (dry) shirts can create lots of electricity. The texture and the material of the shirt can affect this. The texture and material of some sports bras can also have the same effect.
Solution:
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See if wearing a different type of shirt helps.
Ways to narrow down what is causing high error rate or measurements to fail
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Try using a different HR strap (This rules out HR strap as the issue).
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Try with a different Sensor (This rules out the Sensor as the issue).
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Try to replicate the problem in a different location, i.e. move from the gym to outdoors. (This will help identity/rule out a potential environmental factor causing the problem).
If the error percentages remain high despite considering all of the above-mentioned issues, the Sensor might be broken. In this case, please fill in the faulty device form to begin the replacement process.
If you need any further assistance with this, you can contact Firstbeat Support.
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