Tag Archives: BLE

Pair a Bluetooth Low Energy Cadence Sensor

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Related links:
Troubleshooting Your Sensors

Android Support for Cadence Sensors now Released!!

Fitdigits apps iCardio, iRunner, iWalker and iBiker are compatible with the Wahoo RPM Cadence Sensor and other Bluetooth Low Energy compatible cadence sensors like Bryton, Polar, CycleOps and more. Now you can use the sensor to accurately track your Spinning / Indoor Cycling cadence, or use the sensor to track a bike ride while using GPS to track speed and distance. You must have a Bluetooth Smart compatible device to pair.

    1. Install your Cadence Sensor on your bike or Spinning Bike
    2. Push the pedals in order to activate the sensor
    3. Open the Fitdigits app and go to Menu > Sensors
    4. Scroll down to “Cadence” hit the + button
    5. The app should scan and find the active cadence sensor. Tap OK to pair

You are now paired! Begin a Spinning or Bike workout to get real time cadence. Check out DC Rainmaker’s post on “How to get and record cadence information on a spin or gym bike” for tips on how to utilize the RPM Cadence Sensor on a bike – pretty cool stuff.

Pair Your Polar Bluetooth Smart Stride Sensor With Fitdigits

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Fitdigits is now compatible with the Polar Stride Sensor, the first Foot Pod to use Bluetooth Low Energy/Bluetooth Smart, as well as other BLE stride sensors. The Foot pod will work with all Bluetooth Low Energy compatible iOS devices. First, you need to install the Stride Sensor. Once you have done so, you are ready to pair. To do so:

  1. Stomp your foot a few times to activate the sensor
  2. On your BLE compatible device open your Fitdigits App
  3. Go to Settings -> My Sensors, and under Foot Pod turn “Bluetooth Smart” to ON

Pair your BLE Stride Sensor with Fitdigits

The Stride Sensor should pair immediately. Once it does, just begin a workout and you are good to go!

Pair Your Bluetooth Low Energy Speed & Cadence Sensor

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Related links:
Troubleshooting Your Sensors

Fitdigits iOS apps are compatible with the Wahoo Blue Speed and Cadence Sensor, the Scosche Speed/Cadence sensor, and other Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE / BT 4.0 / BT Smart) Speed and Cadence sensors.

Pair a Speed & Cadence Sensor

1. Install your Speed and Cadence Sensor on to your Outdoor Bike

Speed + Cadence pairing

Tap Bluetooth Smart ON under Speed + Cadence to pair

2. Open your Fitdigits app and go to Menu > Sensors, and scroll down to Speed + Cadence.

3. Move the pedals on your Bike with the installed sensor. This will turn on the sensor

4. Turn Bluetooth Smart under Speed + Cadence to ON. It will now search for the sensors

5. It will find the sensor and assign a sensor ID.

 

Calibrate the Speed & Cadence Sensor

 

Calibrate your Speed and Cadence Sensor with GPS, similar to the way you calibrate a foot pod. Once you have the sensor installed and paired, tap Menu > Sensors, and under Speed + Cadence tap Calibration (Note: this will only appear if S+C is turned on).

On the cycle calibration page, the process is the same as calibrating a foot pod. Enter in your Calibration factor, and all bike workouts will now use this calibration factor during workouts.

 

Battery Replacement for your Polar H7 Heart Rate Monitor

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Polar H7 heart rate monitors are awesome. They run on bluetooth low energy, which for me is great because the fewer devices tracking my workout, the better! However, if you find it’s time to change the battery (you experience erratic heart rate data or drop outs or no data at all), here are your step-by-step instructions. Users rejoice–your inner handy-person awaits!

Photo 1: Intact battery

Directions to change battery:
1. Using a coin, open the battery cover by turning it counterclockwise to OPEN. Remove the cap.

2. Using a sharp edge (knife), lift the battery out from inside the cap. See Photo 2.

3. Insert the battery (CR 2025) inside the cover with the positive  side against the cover. Note: the positive side is also the side with the writing; insert the battery with writing side down. Make sure the sealing ring is in the groove to ensure water resistance. See Photo 1.

4. Place the cover back into the connector. Be sure to do this carefully by lining the arrow on the outside of the lid directly with the dot on the connector next to OPEN.

5. Use the coin to turn the cover clockwise to CLOSE.

Note: When changing the battery, make sure the sealing ring is not damaged, in which case you should replace it with a new one. You can purchase the sealing ring/battery kits at well-equipped Polar retailers and authorized Polar Services.

For more information about using the Polar H7,  read the manual.

Photo 2: Battery being lifted from the cap

Photo 3: Battery successfully extracted!

Pairing your Bluetooth Low Energy Heart Rate Monitor – Android

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View for iOS

When it comes to Heart Rate Monitors (HRMs), it is essential to make a gentle first contact; do not make any sudden movements as to scare it. There are many different types, they all react a little differently. There is the chest strap, and electrode-based type, which is a great, accurate solution that can last for a long, long time but also has it’s comfort and use drawbacks. That is the traditional HRM.

There are optical solutions such as the Scosche Rhythm + which sits on the arm, the Mio line of wrist based, or the new opticals now coming out in earbuds, bike helmets and sweatbands. Seems if you can see blood, there will be a way to get heart rate from it!

That said, many of the cheap daily activity monitors that claim also to have Heart Rate support, are not compatible because they are not to BLE/Bluetooth Smart specifications or, like Fitbit, decided to keep the HR proprietary thus they did not build the ability for others to pair for HR.

Pairing is very easy. Deleting a current pairing is also super easy. I would recommend, just to get comfortable with the process, the first time you pair your HRM you delete it and then repair just again. Practice makes perfect Mom always said.

If you haven’t already, download the Fitdigits app, and upgrade in-app to support the heart rate monitor functionality and more. We provide a 5 minute trial however so you can pair and do a small test workout without upgrading, if you are still on the fence. All apps have the same functionality but different messaging and graphics in areas.

Downloads

iCardio Apps iRunner Apps iBiker Apps iWalker Apps
Fitdigits iCardio app for Apple iOS Fitdigits iRunner app for Apple iOS Fitdigits iBiker app for Apple iOS Fitdigits iWalker app for Apple iOS
Fitdigits iCardio app for Android Fitdigits iRunner app for Android Fitdigits iBiker app for Android Fitdigits iWalker app for Android

 

Pairing Your Heart Rate Monitor

  1. Make sure the heart rate monitor is on and turned on with heart rate
    1. Optical HRMs: Typically there are green flashing lights from most optical HRMs as they try and read your heart rate (check the back of your Mio or Apple Watch, etc).
    2. Chest Straps: Dab water, saliva, or gel onto the underside of the electrode receivers on the strap to strengthen the electrode connection (it conducts when wet, sometimes initially there isn’t enough sweat to get it to pick up). You want to create real chemistry between you and the belt. Next, put the strap on, placing it on your bare skin on the top of your ribcage right below your chest. Make sure it is snug enough not to bounce around much during exercise. Check that the peanut (the plastic monitor part) is right-side up and properly snapped into the belt.

 

 v4.x

1. Tap Menu > Sensors
2. Tap Heart Rate Monitor in the Add a Sensor section
3. When it finds the HRM, tap on it to pair.

 v3.x

1. Tap Settings > My Sensors
2. Tap Add a Sensor: Heart Rate Monitor
3. Tap Auto Detect HRM
4. When it finds the HRM, tap on it to pair.

 

After pairing, the sensor will show in the Paired Sensors section below the Add a Sensor section. You can use the on-off switch anytime you want to not use the HRM, but you don’t want to delete the pairing (like if you forget your HRM).

Tapping on the name of the sensor will bring you to the Sensor detail page, where you can see more information on the sensor or tap Delete to delete it from there.

Deleting a Paired Sensor

  1. Tap Menu > Sensors
  2. Tap and hold on the paired HRM button on the name.
  3. Tap OK on the popup to confirm deleting the sensor.

You can also delete the sensor from memory by tapping on the name of the sensor, then tapping Delete from the Sensor details page.

Start a workout wearing your HRM and you are ready to finally realize your health and fitness destiny! When you are ready, read more on doing custom Fitness Assessments to get your custom heart rate zones, and why that is so important and effective in your own personal journey to health and fitness.

 

Troubleshooting

Try these initial steps if you are experiencing difficulties pairing, or these other articles for issues such as heart rate spikes or dropouts or general compatibility.

  • Chest Straps: Wet the electrodes on the belt part (which touches your skin) with water or saliva on the chest strap heart rate monitor to increase connectivity.
  • Optical HRMs: Make sure the green lights / receptors are pulsing in the part next to your skin.
  • Reset Bluetooth: Go to the Android Settings and turn off Bluetooth. Wait a few seconds then turn it back on.
  • Manually Close Your App: Exit the app and then double tap the iPhone home button. Look for the multitasking window to appear at the bottom of your screen. Tap and hold the Fitdigits icon to make a little red circle (minus sign) appear on all the apps. Then tap the little red circle for Fitdigits. Your app has now been manually closed. Relaunch the app and try pairing again.
  • Reboot: When in doubt, never hurts to reboot your phone/tablet.
If you still cannot pair with your Bluetooth HRM, check out the complete 

HRM pairing troubleshooting tips

 

Paring your HRM with Android

HRM Sensor Detail