Suunto7 and HR belt and without Google

jthomi

@isazi I appreciated your effort, but please also give others the ability to answer.

Jamie BG

@jthomi others will reply or up vote if they know or have any info. Bit silly to ask a person who probably knows all the answers not to respond to your questions, as might as well not even bother to ask.

As already stated you need Google to set up, as you have to use a Google phone app to set up. Once set up you can use alternative apps to run HR belt, but again you need a Google account to get them off the play store.

jthomi

@Jamie-BG
A bit silly to say that I have asked a person who knows all the answers not to respond when the person said two times that he don’t thinks so, or is not sure. 🧐
But thanks for your answer. Seems like it is really not possible to use this watch without Google. I asked this when the watch came out and thought the watch had an update of some sorts to make it better.

jthomi

@Jamie-BG But why do I need Google to set up the watch? What is installed or setup to use it?

jw cou

@jthomi I never tried if you could bypass that step, but when you start the S7 for the first time you need to install WearOs on your phone, and I think you must have a google account to setup WearOs…

masi0

@jthomi the very same question you may ask: why i need google or apple account to setup phone - because you have to , at least for security reasons knowing this is your device.

and yes you can use external HR with 3rd party app

jthomi

@jw-cou & @masi0
Thanks a lot for your answers, seems like there is no workaround to not use Google.

Jamie BG

@jthomi - as others have pointed out no, you need google account. Not sure what the big issue is though - just create a throwaway/junkmail account.

in regards to external HR, it will not do it through the suunto app yet (but got to expect that has to come at some point - though the actual built in HR is very good and apart from initial start tracks close to Garmin HR - see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv-X__Stk5k - note that this is currently the only review that I know of that is post latest update, so reflects latest GPS and HR tweaks etc), though you can use some external apps to do this, or use google fit:
Sporty Go: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.qooapps.sportygo
Runtastic (Addidas): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.runtastic.android

jthomi

Thank you @Jamie-BG

Brad_Olwin

@jthomi said in Suunto7 and HR belt and without Google:

Thank you @Jamie-BG

I have tried SportyGo and it was terrible, continual loss of BT connections and the altitude readings are completely off. There may be a Strava app that works for what you want as well. AFAIK, the watch will not function without WearOS installed on a phone, that is Google and you have no choice about that. You do not need to install any other Google apps.

masi0

Let’s hope Suunto will add external HRM support soon

Iván Martín Mora

I hope Suunto will add external HRM support soon. I’m a mountain bike user, and it is difficult to wear it on my wrist. The readings are not good at all because of the vibrations and some more parameters such as humidity, position on the wrist … etc.

jthomi

And that is why this watch in its current for is a no-go for me. A S7 model with only Suunto OS would be great!

@Brad_Olwin said in Suunto7 and HR belt and without Google:

@jthomi said in Suunto7 and HR belt and without Google:
AFAIK, the watch will not function without WearOS installed on a phone, that is Google and you have no choice about that. You do not need to install any other Google apps.

jthomi

I am a mountainbiker too, and most of the time the watch is strapped to the handlebar, especially in winter. HR belt support is a must have.

@Iván-Martín-Mora said in Suunto7 and HR belt and without Google:

I hope Suunto will add external HRM support soon. I’m a mountain bike user, and it is difficult to wear it on my wrist. The readings are not good at all because of the vibrations and some more parameters such as humidity, position on the wrist … etc.

jthomi

@Brad_Olwin The Suunto Wear App is not updated through the WearOS store from Google is that right? The software of the watch and the Suunto Wear App are getting their updates when the watch is charging and connected to the internet according to the manual. And release notes of the lastest software updates of the watch also lists updates for Suunto Wear OS. So there is no need for a Google Account after first time activating the watch? That would be a workaround. Activating the watch, after that delete the google account and forget about it. Hm, WearOS updates are with system updates too, might be a problem without an Google account and still the problem with the lack of HR belt support…

isazi

@jthomi Google serves also the system updates for WearOS, as they do with Android phones.

Brad_Olwin

@jthomi said in Suunto7 and HR belt and without Google:

@Brad_Olwin The Suunto Wear App is not updated through the WearOS store from Google is that right? The software of the watch and the Suunto Wear App are getting their updates when the watch is charging and connected to the internet according to the manual. And release notes of the lastest software updates of the watch also lists updates for Suunto Wear OS. So there is no need for a Google Account after first time activating the watch? That would be a workaround. Activating the watch, after that delete the google account and forget about it. Hm, WearOS updates are with system updates too, might be a problem without an Google account and still the problem with the lack of HR belt support…

I believe that the WearOS connection is needed for location data, to get weather and the heat maps (watch face) as well. I am not sure but the watch will ask to reconnect with WearOS on my iPhone. That is the only Google app I have but WearOS enables Google Assistant and is connected to my Google account. I do not know if a Google connection is needed to get the Suunto Wear app on the phone but I suspect the watch may not work properly without WearOS on the phone.

pilleus

@Brad_Olwin WearOS is the system running on the S7 (kernel, libraries, services). The Suunto wear app is a app using the system like any other app installed on the watch.

In settings - apps - system apps you can see all the Suunto apps listed. And the WearOS apps from Google (android).

Brad_Olwin

@pilleus There is a WearOS app on the iPhone that is necessary to set up the watch and is communicating with the watch, in addition to the Wear OS on the watch (operating system). If the S7 is disconnected from the phone WearOS app it will reset the watch. @jthomi has been asking if the watch can be used without any Google apps installed on the phone (or I misunderstood) and I do not think so as the WearOS app on the phone is necessary as far as I know.

jthomi

@Brad_Olwin The question is if the S7 can be used without a Google account. and it’s a no.