Broadcast Heart Rate to Zwift?

marsfarce · 7 Dec 2021, 02:16

I’m trying to use my S7 as a heart rate monitor during indoor Zwift cycles. I’m amazed that Suunto does not offer that function considering it’s one of their flagship, enthusiast sport-tracking watches. My friend’s Garmin 245 has that feature. It also seems the only WearOS app to support this is “Heart for Bluetooth” which has serious connection drops - every time the watch goes into power saver mode (ie. when the wrist is tilted down and not towards me) the connection cuts off.

Is a heart rate broadcast on the Suunto development roadmap?

Are there any alternatives to “Heart for Bluetooth”?

Is there a way to keep the watch completely on, ie. no power saver, basically always on to at least reduce the connection drop outs between Heart for Bluetooth and zwift?

Thanks.

Jamie BG · 7 Dec 2021, 11:24

@marsfarce
have you tried: "Some watches cause interruptions in the HR data due to battery saving restrictions: As a workaround, starting another native sport application on the watch in the background keeps the device awake and helps stabilize the connection. "
I wouldn’t use the suunto app as that uses the lowpower copro and thus you would probably still have the same drop out issues.

Alternatively you could check the app permission settings and see if there is a permission you can toggle there. But can’t otherwise remember a way to get an app whitelisted on the watch.

marsfarce · 7 Dec 2021, 16:52

@jamie-bg

Actually I have been using the suunto app to run in the background in the hopes it would help a little bit. What app would you suggest instead? Never considered that the native app resorts to the power saving mode.

Thanks

Jamie BG · 8 Dec 2021, 10:34

@marsfarce - google fit, ghostracer, sportygo - whatever you can find. The point being it keep the main processor running. Note you are going to take a hit on battery life!!
its part of the reason why the S7 can get much better tracking battery life that similar wear os watches, and especially ones with a AMOLED screen. I suspect that with the wear 3.0 changes - this may change in the future as part of the change is moving sensors to a low copro sensor (part of the reason why I think that Ticwatch Pro 3 users are in for disappointment if they ever get wear 3.0).

marsfarce · 8 Dec 2021, 20:07

@jamie-bg It actually worked! No drop outs using FITIV Pulse, ill try the ones you recommended!

Cheers!

Jamie BG · 10 Dec 2021, 11:07

@marsfarce - glad it worked. Don’t be surprised that you battery life will drop, as not using suunto app which uses the low power copro which allows you main power processor to sleep (battery drainer).

Dimitrios Kanellopoulos · 10 Dec 2021, 11:08

@marsfarce there is an app that makes the S7 broadcast

Jamie BG · 13 Dec 2021, 10:44

@dimitrios-kanellopoulos which is what @marsfarce is using (assuming its the same one you are referring to)- however it needs something to ensure the watch doesn’t go into sleep (i.e. low coprocessor) - so suunto app doesn’t work in this regard.
Funny thing is it would work well with any other wear os watch as none use the low power copro for HR so none would have that issue.

Dimitrios Kanellopoulos · 13 Dec 2021, 11:37

@jamie-bg works fine for me . Just leave the app

marsfarce · 14 Dec 2021, 23:55

@dimitrios-kanellopoulos Not sure how it works fine for you, as soon as the screen dims (and presumably the watch goes into low power mode) the “Heart for Bluetooth” drops connection with zwift, I have to wake it up by pressing a button or do the wrist-turning gesture to wake it up.

I’ve been running some app called FITV in the background so it seems to keep the watch -awake (obviously inefficient for anything other than this). Heart rate for bluetooth produced consistent results now with no drops.