Heart Rate Monitor using chest strap reads high

[Custom24]

Hi there
I am trying to use a HRM that I have, which has a watch and a chest strap. It is an unbranded one, I think, from Aldi or similar.

It's fine at first, but when I start cycling, it reads all over the place, jumping to approx 220 bpm after a couple of minutes. If I stop cycling, it reads OK again after a while. And I am sure it is not my actual HR that is jumping to 220!

I am not sure if it is the other stuff on the bike interfering with it (e.g. my Boardman wireless cycling computer with speed and cadence), or if it is static from the clothes I am wearing. I am wetting the chest strap before I put it on.

Any others finding this problem, and suggestions for fixing it? I don't know if buying a better HRM would help - I don't really want to spend loads because this is just to see how hard I need to work to get my HR into the zone I want, so I probably won't wear it all the time.

Are optical based ones better or worse?

Thanks
Mark

 

[Tizme]

Have you tried a new battery? I had a problem with "silly" readings and it was just the battery, despite being almost brand new.

 

[screenman]

Electric power cables around here give a spike like that, and 220.

 

[Custom24]

Have you tried a new battery? I had a problem with "silly" readings and it was just the battery, despite being almost brand new.

Have already replaced the strap battery. Watch display looks fine but I will also replace that battery and see if it is any better

 

[screenman]

You can replace everything and still get the spikes, I used to have 3 different monitors and got the the spikes.

 

[screenman]

You can replace everything and still get the spikes, I used to have 3 different monitors and got the spikes.

 

[HLaB]

You can replace everything and still get the spikes, I used to have 3 different monitors and got the spikes.

With my last HRM I'm getting the exact opposite, it never spikes but often if the ride is not the ideal temperature it fails to record. My previous HRM's have all recorded but suffered spikes, you just can't win

 

[Tin Pot]

Can be static in the jersey, or poor contacts. Sometimes rubbing saliva onto the contact points before starting can help. Other times too much sweat interferes.

But what’s best is HR analysis that lets you see and edit the outlier readings. Apple and it’s Watch allows this. Strava free, Polar cheap doesn’t.