Garmin 920XT FENIX3 – Turn on HRV – Same for Forerunner 620, 735XT, 630, 930XT, 935, Fenix 5, 5x, 5s Fenix 3 – even Edge 820! 1030, 1010 1000

11 December 2014

Reading Time: < 1 minute

To enable beat by beat recording on the Garmin 920XT (or Garmin Fenix3 or Forerunner 620 or 735XT, 630 or most newer models) you need to do 2 things

1. Enable per second recording (NOT smart recording)

2. Open (this) zip file and extract the file “enable_hrv_settings_file.fit” directly to your 920XT in this folder: :\GARMIN\NEWFILES Sorted.

As of July 2016 this will NOT work PROPERLY with optical HR.

Now; how you plan to look at the data and/or use it in your training is another matter entirely 🙂 Maybe with Firstbeat ATHLETE software? Or Sporttracks using the Garmin FIT Importer plugin and/or Liverecording plugin? Here is a link for the Garmin Forerunner 920XT Review.

Support this site with purchases at these partners - should click to a local choice in your country

36 Comments

oldest

newest most voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Emmet Hart

5 years ago

Done

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Emmet Hart

5 years ago

🙂

kobestarr

5 years ago

Sorry what is the benefit of doing this? It feels like I’ve come in half way through a conversation!

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to kobestarr

5 years ago

you get proper beat by beat data. this leads into analysis of the parasympathetic nervous system. With statistical analysis of that derived data you can get a very good steer on fatigue/recovery levels. This is what the FRISTBEAT software does (they provide the Training Effect stats inside the 920). you might then even progress and look at taking early morning hrv readings with ithlete to determine if you are ready to go for the day ahead’s training……or not.

there you go !

kobestarr

Reply to tfk, the5krunner

5 years ago

Ah so gives more meaning to the “Recovery Good” and advised recovery times? Is there any downside to this such as increased battery drain/usage? Im trying to work out why this isnt a default!

THANKS!!

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to kobestarr

5 years ago

920 has superior battery imho – so unless you are doing a few back-to-back ultras you’ll be fine! it makes the fit file a bit bigger (but the wifi upload negates that.) yes it gives data that CAN give MUCH more meaning. however you will not get that ‘meaning’ in Garmin (Connect). Th HRV will not affect the RECOVERY GOOD type info, although in theory it would give the algorithm info to preduict more accurately (but it doesn’t use that info I believe) Firstbeat SPORTS will apparently also give you recovery analysis between intervals. but as I say I just use the hrv data as a morning fatigue test (to be clear: I don’t use that info from the 920..i actually use a suunto hr strap and a smartphone+ £6 app called ithlete…well one similar to that). however I also upload the GARMIN HRV/RR data to firstbeat ATHLETE where I look at METMAX and EPOC … that’s another story ! FB ATHLETE is a training planner so it tracks my training load and plans it … conceptually similar to TRIMPs if you know about that. in theory also proper sleep tracking algorithms should use HRV data however clearly the 920… Read more »

Anonymous

5 years ago

Is there a way I can use HRV recording with the 910XT? I have tried the above, but it seems to be different. I would like to use it in FBA.

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Anonymous

5 years ago

yes. search for turn on hrv 910xt on this site

Anonymous

5 years ago

I followed the instructions, but can’t see a difference like a HRV Menu . I installed the HRV App
via Connect IQ. But this app doesn’t offer log data 🙁

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Anonymous

5 years ago

it changes the data that will appear in the fit file. there is no menu difference on the watch.

Anonymous

5 years ago

THX, how can I see if the recording in the fit file is working ?

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Anonymous

5 years ago

what analysis software do you use? do a 1 month free trial with firstbeat athlete it will tell you when you import. I fyou have followed my instructions It will have worked.

Anonymous

5 years ago

I am using Rubitrack 4, because I am using Mac. It is supposed to show HRV as well since the latest release. I just tried uploading the FIT File directly not via Garmin Connect, and it showing a HRV value. THX.

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Anonymous

5 years ago

great stuff, glad to hear

Anonymous

5 years ago

Is there a way to use Garmin Connect and get HRV data ?

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Anonymous

5 years ago

not that I know of. although HRV is used in some of the recovery-type functionality in the fenix3/920xt and others. firstbeat athlete … have a look at that. or sporttracks (PC version for sure, not sure about mobile version)

Laufhannes

5 years ago

Just a note: That does work for a Fenix3 as well!

Thanks a lot.

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Laufhannes

5 years ago

Boris

Supporter

4 years ago

Late, but still good. Thanks for the link to the file. Helpful.

Michael Pohl (@mipapo)

4 years ago

RUNALYZE (runalyze.com) supports reading HRV data from FIT files and shows several values and graphs like R-R intervals and a Pointcaré graph

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Michael Pohl (@mipapo)

4 years ago

looks interesting

marty380

4 years ago

hi, when I copy the enable_hrv_settings_file.fit file on to the newfiles folder, it doesnt stay there. each time I reconnect to the 920xt the file is gone. anyone else have this issue?

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to marty380

4 years ago

my newfiles folder on the 920 is empty. yet hrv works.
maybe it updates the hrv enablement and then deletes the file…

marty380

Reply to tfk, the5krunner

4 years ago

thanks for response, ok i see, that would make sense. must be something else that’s an issue. i enabled per second recording also, still getting wonky HRV results. cheers

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to marty380

4 years ago

send me a file if you want. some hrms might have probs eg the wahoo is ok with Bluetooth but not with ant+ on some models

marty380

Reply to tfk, the5krunner

4 years ago

thanks, ok sure. i recorded these two right after another, the HRV data is coming out very different in each. (Actually how do I attached files here – or want me to email them?)

btw – I use Kubios software. so my process is:
setup Garmin – install hrv settings FIT file to ‘newfiles’ folder, then I set up recording to ‘per second’.
I then record 1min sitting/1min standing by using the indoor run activity – so it doesnt try search GPS.
I then upload file in to kubios, grab only the first minute for analysis. data is widely different every time.

Jay (@jayr517)

4 years ago

How do you turn this off once it’s on? The file sizes are way too big for longer runs…takes upwards of 5-10 minutes just to transfer from watch to phone over bluetooth.

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Jay (@jayr517)

4 years ago

if you do smart recording it effectively turns it off, or delete the file. in the 910 go through the maintenance menu and do the instructions in reverse

Herve

Reply to tfk, the5krunner

3 years ago

How could I turn it off definitely on the Fenix 3 ?

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Herve

3 years ago

good question! I don’t know for sure. I assume you follow the instructions in reverse ie delete the fit file. let me know if it works pls.

Herve

Reply to tfk, the5krunner

3 years ago

I can’t find the fit file. It has been “abzorbed” by the watch and transformed into a setting somewhere.

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Herve

3 years ago

yes.it probably uses it and then deletes it.
I thin kit is a question for garmin support
sorry

Thomas Hoppe

4 years ago

Is there a possibility to activate the Beat-to-Beat-Recording on the Vivoactive HR using a Heart-Strap?

tfk, the5krunner

Author

Reply to Thomas Hoppe

4 years ago

probably not

J Bussmann

Reply to Thomas Hoppe

3 years ago

I’ve tested this approach on a Forerunner 230 (with chest heart monitor) although this watch officially does not support HRV analysis. If you copy the enable_hrv_settings_file.fit into the Newfiles directory, R-R intervals are recorded in the .fit files coming from this watch. It might therefore work for other watches that do not officially support HRV measurement (including the vivoactive HR).