I initially thought of just titling this post “Scosche’s New Rhythm24 Optical HR Band”, but in reality, that doesn’t begin to capture what they’re doing with the new Rhythm24. Because almost everything they’ve added is about things beyond the optical HR sensor. They’ve jammed NFC in there, onboard memory, cycling cadence, swimming support, tripled the battery, and much more.
No doubt, the original Scosche Rhythm+ has been mind-bogglingly popular because of its incredible accuracy, as well as being cross-platform with dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart. It’s the optical HR sensor band that you can put up against virtually anything and come away winning the accuracy war every time. But it was also getting a bit long in the tooth. The battery life was a downer, at only 6-10 hours depending on how old your unit was, and it lacked some of the newer functions found in other optical HR sensors – like storage.
All of which Scosche aims to change with the new Rhythm24. Note that while this unit is being announced today (and you can also place pre-orders now), it won’t be shipping till later this spring (late April). So keep that in mind for any purchasing decisions.
Also note, that this isn’t a review. I’ve had a prototype/beta/something unit in my hands for about 72 hours, barely enough time for a few workouts squeezed in between the jam-packed CES schedule. Further, given it’s early beta, a bunch of pieces aren’t yet complete. Note that as usual, when I’m done with this loaner beta unit I’ll send it back like normal and go out and get my own through normal retail channels. You can help support the site here by hitting up some of the links at the bottom of the post.
Now before we go too far, here’s a hands-on video that summarizes it all!
With that, let’s dive into it!
What’s new:
It’s funny, these days we expect a heart rate sensor to do so much more than just be a heart rate sensor. Sure, we want it accurate, but we also assume it’ll have other features. Be it storage for saving a workout when a watch isn’t nearby to capture the data, or perhaps the ability to track running cadence/pace. Maybe even to have LEDs to show you heart rate zones, or to track aspects while swimming. All are things we’ve come to expect.
It’s somewhat ironic that despite lacking all those things originally, the previous Rhythm+ did enormously well because of the accuracy pieces. Thus proving that in some cases, accuracy wins all.
With the Rhythm24, Scosche is going back to the same optical sensor well, and using the same provider – Valencell for the optical HR sensor. That worked out pretty well for them last time, so no reason to change what’s not broken. Though, it’s now a new sensor. Valencell rightly pointed out that the previous sensor in the Rhythm+ is from 2012 (!), whereas the sensor in the Rhythm24 is now their latest gen. They noted that “since then we’ve upgraded the MCU for lower power consumption, upgraded the LEDs in the sensor, made countless improvements to the signal processing algorithms, and made the firmware field upgradeable for future enhancements”.
Previously though that limited them to about 6-10 hours of battery life, whereas now with the Rhythm24 they’ve got 24 hours of battery life (in 1-second broadcasting/recording mode). Scosche notes that the 24 hours is really more of a ‘minimum bar’ for them than the glass ceiling. They’ve got more work they want to do both in terms of improvements to battery life (since they aren’t quite yet at that portion of the development phase), as well as giving users options around tweaking some of the settings for different scenarios. Still, part of the improvement in battery life comes from Valencell and their more updated sensor.
Atop of that, there’s LED lights to now see battery status, something you didn’t previously have (aside from telling you it was dead):
The LEDs can also be used to show HR zones, which are configured through the app. At present, there’s no customization of the actual HR zones (it just uses a template), but it sounds like perhaps by shipping that’ll work out.
Then there’s the move to two buttons. One larger button for powering it on, and another multi-mode button for changing sports, turning on recording, and other functions. Unlike the previous generation Rhythm+, these thankfully don’t turn on so easily accidentally.
Here’s a super quick look at the button guide:
Next, the unit contains onboard memory. This allows it to store data even when a watch might not be around. This can be useful for sports where watches aren’t often permitted (like soccer/football), or even in other cases, like swimming where someone may not want a chest strap or may find an optical HR sensor on the wrist less accurate. But here’s the nifty trick: The unit will adhere to the ANT+ FIT file transfer standard, which means that your existing Garmin watch can actually download the data after the fact.
A little-known fact is that when Garmin’s swim-friendly watches download data from their swimming HR straps (HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM), they actually do so over common standards. Any vendor can support this nearly decade-old standard for transferring the HR data over. So Scosche is doing that. And thus, you’d be able to take something like a FR920XT, wear the Scosche Rhythm24 during a swim, and it’ll properly ask to download from that strap after the swim (assuming the planets align as planned). At this point in the beta though, that feature isn’t yet implemented on the Rhythm24.
For these and many other pieces, Scosche is working with NPE (North Pole Engineering) on the protocol side. They’re known in the industry as one of the deepest groups on ANT+/BLE. They develop the NPE WASP and NPE CABLE that many companies in the sports tech industry use for their own testing. Thus, they know many of the ‘special quirks’ that exist in the industry in making this kind of stuff look seamless to users. I’m personally pretty excited about that.
Speaking of standards, the unit also transmits out on the following standards:
ANT+ Heart Rate: Obviously
ANT+ Running Stride & Cadence: To pair to a watch as a ‘footpod’, or to pair to Zwift
ANT+ Cycling Cadence: To pair to a bike computer as a cycling cadence sensor
Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate: Again, obviously
Bluetooth Smart Running Speed/Cadence: Same as ANT+, just Bluetooth Smart
Bluetooth Smart Cycling Cadence: Also same as ANT+, just Bluetooth Smart
In addition, the unit will transmit heart rate variability information, though, that’s primarily designed to be used at rest and not in a workout. It’s a mode you can toggle within the app settings. Next, during swimming, the unit changes the algorithm a bit, enabling better accuracy. It doesn’t record things like stroke, distance, or pace. But instead, the mode toggle is all about telling the algorithm that what you’re doing isn’t likely running.
As part of the workout storage, the mobile app will allow you to download those workouts after the fact. It supports swimming, cycling, running, and gym modes, as well as triathlon modes. In the triathlon mode you’ll use that smaller button to switch between the sports, and the colored LEDs will ensure that you’ve got yourself in the correct sport.
Next, the unit includes NFC A-Tag. What’s A-Tag you ask? No, it’s not part of the A-Team (though, I suppose that might be debatable). Instead, it’s targeted primarily at gyms and such to allow the unit to interact with various gym equipment pieces, like a treadmill or other machinery. So this is different from regular NFC used for contactless payments. Not same-same. This isn’t really something aimed at you to use in your home, but really for larger gyms.
Finally, and for lack of anywhere else to plop it, the unit is IP68 waterproofed, which means that it’s waterproof for immersion up to 1 meter – which is totally fine for swimming. And the strap? Re-designed to use little snap modules that are impossible to accidentally pull off when worn (due to the locking mechanism), but easy to remove when not worn. This also should resolve the issue of the Velcro getting caught on everything.
Last but not least, the price for the new Scosche Rhythm24 is $99, versus the $79 for the previous models. This is a bit pricier than Wahoo’s new TICKR FIT or Polar OH-1 ($79), but simply put, it contains more features than those (see table down below).
First Run:
So let’s take this thing out for a run, shall we? On today’s run I went all-in on new optical sensors, or just new sensors in general. I had, of course, the Rhythm24 on me (upper left arm), then the new Wahoo TICKR FIT (lower left arm), then Polar OH-1 (upper right arm), and finally a Wahoo TICKR-X on my chest. And from a watch standpoint I had the Garmin FR645 (right wrist), then the Suunto Spartan Trainer (left wrist). And, sitting atop a treadmill to help record some of the HR data I also had a FR620 (connected to the TICKR FIT), another Suunto Spartan Trainer (connected to TICKR-X), Descent MK-1 (connected to Polar OH-1), and a FR935 (connected to Scosche). Holy balls! That gives me the following HR data streams:
1) Scosche Rhythm24: Upper left arm
2) Wahoo TICKR FIT: Lower left arm
3) Polar OH-1: Upper right arm
4) Wahoo TICKR-X: Chest strap
5) Garmin FR645 Optical HR Sensor: Right wrist
6) Suunto Spartan Trainer Optical HR Sensor: Left wrist
Please note that despite how many devices I have on, I’m actually super careful to have them heavily separated to not have them interfere with each other from a HR standpoint. That can happen if you have two watches next to each other on the same wrist. One will restrict blood flow a bit to the next, dorking with accuracy. The excessive number of watches are because it’s easier for me to normalize and then analyze data coming off a watch than saved files from each HR sensor. In fact, the data from this run is actually a treadmill run, so I just set all of the ‘collecting’ watches on the treadmill.
Oh – and wait – don’t forget that the Scosche Rhythm24, as well as the Garmin FR645, are both in beta. The Scosche more early beta, the FR645 more late beta. As such, things may get better or worse before they start shipping.
In any case, here’s the resulting look at the run, overlaid atop each other:
Now, as with the best-laid plans, sometimes things don’t work out. And in this case, that’s the HR data from the Wahoo TICKR-X chest strap, which was totally wonky (like drunk person wonky). So, I excluded that. I think my strap is dying.
From a workout structure standpoint, there was a 10-minute warm-up, a quick couple minute build, and then 3×2:30 at 6:00/mile, followed by 4x45s at 5:00/mile (the fastest the hotel treadmill would go). In between for recovery, it was simply walking.
What you see left above is actually four data sources, though with smart recording on two of the watches it’s hard to find a data point that shows all four signals. Either way, to be honest, the only thing that you need to know visually is that the maroon line is the FR645 optical. The rest are virtually all identical.
The slight differences you see with the Polar OH-1 are actually *correct* on three out of the four sprints, which is a great example of ensuring you know what the data should look like. See, at the end those are roughly 45-second sprints. And the OH-1 is the fastest to capture my HR declining after I stop running. We’re only talking by a couple of seconds, but I thought it was interesting.
As for the OH-1, it nailed everything here compared to the others. Things look really really clean. Obviously, this is only one run, but it’s actually kinda a tough one to get right with the fast changes in pace – and so far so good!
(Note: The accuracy chart was created using the DCR Analyzer tool. It allows you to compare power meters/trainers, heart rate, cadence, speed/pace, GPS tracks, and plenty more. You can use it as well for your own gadget comparisons, more details here.)
Product Comparison:
I’ve added the Scosche Rhythm24 into the product comparison database for heart rate sensors. This allows you (and me) to generate comparison charts like the one below. For the purposes of this post, I’ve compared it against two other optical HR sensor bands – the Polar OH-1 and Wahoo TICKR FIT. I’ve excluded Mio since they announced this past fall they’re getting out of the hardware game. But you can mix and match against any HR sensors in the database here.
With that, here’s how things stack up:
| Function/Feature | Scosche Rhythm 24 | Polar OH1 | Wahoo TICKR FIT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copyright DC Rainmaker - Updated July 27th, 2023 @ 10:46 am New Window | |||
| Price | $99 | $79 | $79 |
| Product Announce Date | Jan 9th, 2018 | Aug 30th, 2017 | Jan 3rd, 2018 |
| Product Availability Date | Late April 2018 | Late Sept 2017 | Jan 3rd, 2018 |
| Measurement Type | Optical | Optical HR | Optical |
| Typical Placement | Mid/Upper Arm | Upper Arm | Mid/Upper Arm |
| Battery Life | 24 hours+ | 12 hours | 30 hours |
| Battery Type | USB rechargeable | USB Rechargeable | USB rechargeable |
| NFC Capable | Yes | No | No | HR Transmission | Scosche Rhythm 24 | Polar OH1 | Wahoo TICKR FIT |
| ANT+ | Yes | Yes (with firmware update) | Yes |
| Bluetooth Smart | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dual concurrent ANT+/BLE | Yes | No | Yes |
| Analog for gym equipment | No | No | No |
| Usable HR data underwater | Depends: If on same wrist, YMMV. | No | Depends: If on same wrist, YMMV. |
| Bridging ANT+ to Bluetooth Smart | No | No | No |
| Can record activity in memory | Yes | Yes | No | Additional Data | Scosche Rhythm 24 | Polar OH1 | Wahoo TICKR FIT |
| Run Pace | Yes | No | No |
| Run Cadence | YEs | No | No |
| Run Economy/Metrics | No | No | No |
| Cycling Cadence | Yes | No | |
| Cycling Power Meter Estimation | No | No | No |
| Valid HRV/RR data | At rest only | No | No |
| Configurable Sport Modes | Yes | No | No |
| Displays HR Zones | Yes | No | No |
| Requires Bluetooth Smart Phone for Configuration | Yes | No | No |
| Firmware Updateable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SDK For App Developers | No | App | Scosche Rhythm 24 | Polar OH1 | Wahoo TICKR FIT |
| Can show workout afterwards | No | Yes | N/A (No recording) |
| Can sync files/workout to 3rd party | Yes | Yes | N/A (No recording) |
| More Info | Link | Link | Link | Purchase | Scosche Rhythm 24 | Polar OH1 | Wahoo TICKR FIT |
| Amazon | Link | Link | Link |
| Backcountry.com | Link | ||
| Competitive Cyclist | Link | ||
| REI | Link | ||
And don’t forget, you can mix and match any HR sensors against each other within the product comparison database here.
Wrap-Up:
Overall, I think Scosche is well-positioned here with the new Rhythm24 strap. Yes, it’s a tiny bit more expensive than the previous one, but as long as they maintain the same high degree of accuracy as the Rhythm+ has had, then I suspect they’ll continue to attract buyers, especially once you combine all the features found on the new unit. This might be even more so the case with the ability to offload swimming HR data, sans-chest strap. Using a chest strap for swimming is often fraught with issues (as is an optical HR sensor on your wrist). So this could be a solution for a bunch of folks.
I’m also looking forward to seeing where they go beyond the stated specs. With hints to areas like sleep and beyond, as well as extension of the battery life above 24 hours, they might be looking to leverage the HRV pieces in new and interesting ways not previously seen on a standalone HR sensor in the consumer realm here (most efforts are tied specifically to watches).
Still, it’s about four months away from when this will ship – so that’s still a long time for many people. If you’re in the market for a unit now, it’s probably going to be hard to wait, especially if there’s any slippage in the schedule (I think they’re probably good on that actually). Of course, for a company like Scosche, announcing at CES is the right move as it’ll afford them fitness media coverage they probably wouldn’t have gotten elsewhere with a standalone announcement. Hence why they likely announced now, rather than closer.
With that – stay tuned for my full in-depth review once it starts shipping. But since I have two beta devices, I’ll likely use them longer-term over the next few months. Much of the sensor pieces are complete based on Valencell’s existing work, whereas the time in the schedule is mostly around app integration and the non-sensor pieces (I.e workout transfer, etc…).
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want to have it and send my old Rhythm strap to sleep 😀
Any chance the new strap would work on the old unit?
Hi Ray,
I have a question. I use an Apple Watch Series 3 to track my tri-weekly swims. I’ve been somewhat unhappy with the heart rate tracking from the Apple Watch (I rarely get a graph attached to my exercise summary, for whatever reason…) and I was wondering if it’s possible to use this hear rate monitor in addition to the Apple Watch: will the data be sent from the Scosches to the Apple Watch and be consolidated somehow with the Apple Watch data to show my heart rate during my swim?
Thanks in advance if you can take the time to answer.
Apple doesn’t do Ant+ so no chance of getting the data over that standard which is how garmin gets data post workout. So depends on BLE creating a standard for downloading HR data and both sides implamenting it
@Ricolo good question.
The new Scosche seems to nail it in very many respects. Maybe it’s a tad expensive but that’s easy enough to change.
The ANT+ swimming/caching piece to a 935/920/F5 is brilliant (if it works)
I think the whole area of caching is one of the keys to future markets especially when transmitting over BLE to apps or Polar or, as the questionner suggests, to an Apple watch. Even some nifty post-workout way to combine the Apple data somewhere, somehow might win scosche new customers. Mayeb it’s jsut the case of an Apple Watch HR caching app from Scosche
Loot at STRYD on the Apple Watch. Maybe the units are not shipping in the millions yet but the market is there for devices like STRYD/Scosche.
I’m not just talking caching whilst swimming: I’m talking team sports, gym classes…BIG markets where not everyone can or should wear a watch. That was where Polar stole a lead with the OH1
Riclo – I have not used an external Bluetooth HRM with my Apple Watch Series 3 for a swim workout, so I can’t answer your main question. I can tell you that I get good swim HR data from my Apple Watch. I record my swims with the default Workouts app on the watch. Afterward I export the FIT file with an iPhone app called HealthFit. That app sends the file to SportTracks.mobi, where I can clearly see heart rate, stroke rate, stroke length, SWOLF, and more from the workout on a chart.
Thanks Sam. I actually do something fairly similar: I also use the default workout app, export the FIT file with HealthFit, then use the Garmin platform (just because I used to use a Garmin Swim before getting the Apple Watch, but I’m not partial to Garmin and could use any other platform). I have however noticed gaps in my heart rate recordings from the Apple Watch, and that’s why I was considering using an external source for the HR data.
I agree with the team sport market being big. Many of us do functional training where you can wear your watch (Fenix 3HR) in my case but you can’t use it during training on court (basketball in my case). This is a shame and I have been looking all over the web for possible solutions (footpods, straps, wearables). The only somehow manageable solution was Whoop, which does not ship outside the US. Footpods with internal memory are hard to come by and do not support all possible standards. Only found the Milestone pod with onboard memory but I wasn’t sure how well it would sync with GC and also activity is automatically detected which is somehow weird for team sports with lots of bursts.
So the 24 looks really like a viable option since the location is ok and you can cover it in order to avoid exposed plastics. DCM could you cover possible team sports applicability with such generic wearables maybe?
I wear my Vivoactive 3 under a sports wrist sweat band while playing basketball. No problems at all while playing no risk of injuries either the sweat band is thick enough to offer the extra protection needed.
Is the HR caching working for you? Mine is not and support said it is coming in July this year. I bought Mine thinking it was enabled after 1 year since release ;-(
Hi Ray,
I use my Apple Watch for swimming. Could I use this new Scosche unit for the HR data? I’m not sure how well AW plays with external HRM.
Have you tried it in the pool yet? I’m wondering if it will stay in place on the forearm.
BLE doesn’t transfer very far under water
The Rhythm24 has a record feature so you can record your swimming data and upload it to your mobile device after your swim. So BLE transmitting under water is not an issue.
Does it record swimming stroke data? I’m intrigued by the swimming data
No, just tweaks the algorithm for better accuracy.
Jay, have you done the full review of this yet? Googled but nothing.
Thanks,
Jed
How does “cycling cadence” work? I know the TICKR-X supposedly tracked cadence on indoor bikes, but I can believe that working a lot better on your chest than on your arm. Especially if you get in the aerobars ever…
You have to put it on your ankle.
You do not have to wear it on your ankle. The Rhythm24 provides excellent cycling cadence while the device is on the forearm. It uses internal accelerometers to detect body sway from left to right while pedaling. We have test this on bikes such as the Keiser M3i and have seen good results.
I guess you tested it not just on stationary bikes, but also on some moving on the road.
What about recumbent bikes when one’s body is lying, quasi in an attached way to the seat? Did you make any tests with them?
Zoltan, if you get the answer about recumbents, I would be interested as well.
Is it meant just for sport use or is it meant to be worn when less active? Valencell at least in the 2.0 version of their sensor has three modes Standard-Precision RRi, fast RRi sampling rate, and fastest RRi sampling rate so seems like battery life could be extended by detecting if not active so drop down a level in how it detects HR.
Ray, as a follow up to @Eli ‘s points on the Valencell unit.
I’m reasonably sure that the Suunto 3 has HRV over the optical HRM at night to support the new Firstbeat apps. I would assume the Suunto3 has the same OHR unit as this Scosche. So more detail on the HRV@sleep side would be super cool at some point. as you know there’s not really any practical nightly way to measure HRV apart from products like EMFIT…so this could be great for Scosche
With the Scorche just coming out it could be a newer version then the 2.0 revision of valencell hardware that came out last spring (velencell’s web site has details on their hw) with Suunto using the older version
Would still rather have a HRV traker that doesn’t require any work to get all the info. Thinking the details hrv4training gives. Though that is made harder by how supine position may not be the best link to myithlete.com
watch that space
Yeah, I spent some time with Valencell today getting clarity on that and exact which sensor packages each product is using (Suunto and Scosche), and what features they’re capable of.
The two-line version is that actually every product we’re talking about here is capable of HRV in a non-workout setting (rest + day to day usage) from a Valencell standpoint. It’s just a software feature that companies can choose to leverage. There’s no dependency on the 2.0 package, which nobody is using yet since the reference designs won’t be available till later this quarter, and then not available to ship till Q2.
The vast majority of the 2.0 package features are focused on battery life for ‘lifestyle’ applications (meaning: 24×7 HR for multiple days at usable intervals).
The Rhythm24 has a heart rate only mode that has less demand on the battery. HRV turns the frequency on the sensor way up so has the most demand on the battery, but only for short periods of time under normal use. The sport modes all fall between those two extremes.
No 🙁 I just bought the old model in clever training europe… I suspected that a new was arriving because the Scosche was’t available anymore in amazon.it
Hopefully they’ll make a better job of the firmware than the current version for the Rhythm+.
I’m looking to replace my Rhythm+ because I’m fed up of manually removing the erratic readings it produces (I’ve not got a max HR of 32,000+, honest), and at the moment the Tickr Fit is probably the safer option rather than risking another erratic Scosche.
From Scosche: For the Rhythm+ we have identified some issues in the 3.01 firmware when using Bluetooth and are working on a fix. We are also working hard to release a new app in the next couple months and the new firmware will release with the new app, while we phase out the current app. These issues have already been addressed with the Rhythm24.
@Steve: my Rhythm+ is circa one year old and it should have 2.6 firmware. I find heart rate accuracy quite good. I use it just with my Garmin FR610 with Ant+. Do you think that I would have an advantage with the 3.01 firmware for accuracy or it’s better to remain with 2.6 firmware?
The Rhythm+ has always been very accurate. The 3.01 fw wasn’t intended to address accuracy so you won’t see any improvement there.
Maybe I will update to have also running cadence. I think I will wait the new Android app. Thank you
I stopped using my rhythm+ due to the same issue as the post above. After I installed the 3.01 fw I started getting at least one reading per run of either ~8,900 or >32,000. I lost the data for several runs because the app I was using wouldn’t update to the website due to the errant reading. I upgraded the fw because I was having trouble pairing to my phone after iOS11 came out, but it didn’t fix that either. I still have to restart my phone every time before it will pair. Probably best to make sure these issues are worked out before buying the new one. And it’s great that Scosche is working on a fw fix, but this problem has been out there for at least 3 months and probably longer so it’s disappointing that they are still working on the fix. Most of us would be happy to just go back to the previous fw.
Hi – I just bought the new Rhythm 24 (today 13th July) … I updated the software via the app. I then connected it to my Apple Watch (software 4.3 (15T212)) … connects fine, gives a heart rate reading in the Heart Rate and Workout apps but after 5 – 7 minutes it just disconnects. And it keeps happening, each time I’d reconnect it and the same thing would happen.
Any idea why this might be? Sounds like it’s a known issue?
Would be great any help you could offer.
Thanks,
Steve
Was it designed by the 90s design team ? the look and size are not attractive .
I was thinking the same thing, but I rather like it. I like tech which is chunky and functional, rather than trinket-like.
Yes but time has changed, tech alone is not going to survive today competitive market.
In addition, the battery life is not that great and LED won’t help to improve the battery life.
I would love this this if it could supplement my Fenix3 to provide passive (non activity) HR data. Too bad
Why? I thought any HR chest strap can replace the mediocre wrist HR scanner of F3HR to get a full day HR graph.
I have two straps and if both of them are set as active there are pop-ups to choose from them, even if I have not started any activity app.
Looks like a solid piece of kit, but boy, do their product designers need to step up their game. This looks like a piece of cheesy electronics from the 90s, what with the shiny “swish” window onto the LEDs. The purple strap doesn’t help things either.
Interesting that it does cycling cadence. Any feelings as to how accurate it is?
I was thinking the exact same thing! It looks so retro and cheap. The Wahoo looks much nicer and I even think the older model looks nicer.
Having said that, for sweaty sessions in the basement, functionality will trump looks. If Ray confirms that it is still the best option, then I’ll go for it.
I think lots of people will choose the Wahoo based on the brand/looks though.
I’ll be honest, i don’t get the dislike of the strap design.
I wonder if it’s simply because of the purple color variant I happened to photograph? Maybe I’ll unbox the black one and take some pics.
I’m with you. It’ll be hidden under a shirt sleeve most of the time anyway!
I would do that, the black unit shots on Clever Training (ordered from your link!) are much better. The actual unit is a bit bigger than the Polar and Wahoo still and the LEDs are a bit ugly but all in all this is obviously the one to beat IMHO now between best in class accuracy, 1 day battery life, and all the new features.
I wish this was out about two months ago. I would have waited for it at $99 compared to the Garmin straps with swim capabilities (both $200). This is pretty nice!
I’m curious about that accelerometer they are using for cadence. It’s gotta be a nice multi-axis and algorithms would be the only limited factor. It’s going back a few years, but that upper arm was found to be a pretty good spot on the body for measuring physical activity. It seems like a next logical step would be using something like this for ‘running power’ since there’s a good chance consumers are going to want it, even if it’s definitely in its infancy at the moment. Sensewear was a pretty big name in physical activity research ~10 years ago and was using similar tech and algorithms. Maybe it’s not too far of a leap.
The Rhythm24 provides excellent cycling cadence while the device is on the forearm. It uses internal accelerometers to detect body sway from left to right while pedaling. We have test this on bikes such as the Keiser M3i and have seen good results.
Ok….cool.
How will this know my cycling cadence? From my arm movement?
The Rhythm24 provides excellent cycling cadence while the device is on the forearm. It uses internal accelerometers to detect body sway from left to right while pedaling. We have test this on bikes such as the Keiser M3i and have seen good results.
Will in the future the old Rhythm+ support cycling cadence with a newer firmware?
There’s no current plan for that.
🙁
Steve, will this give me cadence while I an on my Recumbent trike? I would think not. We do not move our upper bodies near like on a bicycle.
Hello Bruce,
It would be great to hear how well it works for you – the Rhythm24 should pick up your cadence.
Here is what I tell everyone about our Rhythm24 cadence – it does a great job of capturing your average cadence on a road bike, indoor trainer, or running, but if you are looking to train to a specific cadence while on the bike, i.e…needing to be at 110rpms for 30 seconds and back down to 90 for 2 minutes — you should have a cadence sensor on your crank arm.
Let us know how it goes with your Recumbent trike.
–Fred
and what’s with everybody giving you pink and purple bands lately?
Looks like a nice piece from a features standpoint. Design leaves a lot to be desired.
But even with the reduced feature set, I’ll probably be changing to the Wahoo TICKR fit. Scosche burned me on their customer service, so I just can’t justify supporting them again.
Looks like a nice replacement for my existing Rhythm. Now if only Garmin would update the Swim to the modern era. I’m afraid to use to my 735xt in the pool. Need to push buttons underwater.
Another vote for an explanation of how it does cycling cadence. 🙂
I’m assuming you don’t strap this to your ankle/calf?
Yeah, once I get back (to my bike), I’ll test it out. Maybe I’ll give it a whirl in the morning on a gym bike if there’s one downstairs.
I don’t know if they’ve implemented the code for it yet. But from talking to others in the industry, it’s pretty easy to pull out cycling cadence due to the movement.
Thanks, this would make for a nice little device for spin classes and the like if it pulled HR as well as cadence.
You do not have to wear it on your ankle. The Rhythm24 provides excellent cycling cadence while the device is on the forearm. It uses internal accelerometers to detect body sway from left to right while pedaling. We have test this on bikes such as the Keiser M3i and have seen good results.
Pure speculation: the unit would be strapped around the lower leg to measure cycling cadence, not around the arm.
No, arm.
Aaarrggghhh!
My OH1 screwed up again today, but the tickr fit still isn’t shipping from Amazon…
The new scosche looks really interesting and I’d prefer it over the tickr. Don’t know what to do now… Wait until April with the OH1 screwing up or swap for the tickr and see how that goes now. I’ve got a 10 hour event planned for end of Feb, so will need something for that.
Competition is great… But it’s hard work!
Another question… How does the heart rate fit download work? Do you need to have an activity running concurrently on the watch, or will the watch detect the HR fit file on the scosche the next time it connects and then create a new activity when it downloads? Or will it do both?
IF it’s like the Garmin HRM-TRI you will need to activate the pairing and initiate a concurrent workout. Stopping the workout causes the watch to go search for the hr data.
Correct for a Garmin implementation.
The Application will have the ability to connect to the Rhythm 24 and download FIT Files. Depending on your Sport Mode it will contain, HR Data, Cycling, Running data. These files can then be uploaded to the pre-selected providers, E-mail, or Airdrop from the iPhone.
Ray,
Will this device remove the need for either my Garmin foot pod or running pod I.e will I get garmin running metrics from this?
Thanks
Steve
Correct on the footpod. You won’t get any Running Dynamics metrics though.
would the hardware allow for Running Dynamics similar to what the garmin HRM straps can do (like ground contact balance) … so something a future fw update could fix?
would that work at all if worn on the arm instead of the center of body?
Will this watch capture any metrics other than HR during HIIT classes such as Crossfit?
Hi, Ray, will this new Scosche compatible with old Fenix 3? I have rhythm+. Love it.
Thanks
Yup.
Can the app download workouts after the fact over bluetooth? I currently track volleyball on my Rhythm+ and keep my phone close enough to the court to record the data, it would be nice to not have to worry about the range?
Yup.
Ray, have you had a chance for a Rhythm+ vs 24 direct comparison yet? I’ve had 2 great years with a +.
2: if it exports FIT files, can’t you combine them and upload to the strava of your choice if you don’t have a multisport watch? Or are/is the recorded swimming HR data locked away?
1) Not yet, mostly because I was trying to do 24 vs TICKRFIT and OH1 comparisons. Once I wrap up at CES I’ll likely do some more comparisons of the optical sensors.
2) My understanding is it does export .FIT (it’s not yet working in my beta app), but there honestly isn’t a good way to combine .FIT files that I’m aware of. :-/
In our testing with the FIT Files, we have been able to combine HR Data with Cycling and other FIT Sport Modes.
This was tested by posting to Strava and Training Peaks, in which they were able to intemperate the different activities. So in a Tri or Duathlon mode.. it will show your correct activities in the FIT file.
do you mean combine more than one file of the same workout to create one workout in some piece of software OR combne two fit files for the same single workout to make one fit file where data types are merged eg merging swim hr from scosche with stroke data from a garmin
1. the former is easily done in sporttracks, probably other software too. you can then export it as one combined workout file (tcx poss fit too). However special stuff might be lost like swim strokes
2. combining fit files for the same workout may well be possible as one offs with “fit file repair tool” …
i think steve (presumably from Scosche) means that he can bolt a run fit file on the end of a bike one to create a multisport workout…that is an easier scenario i would imagine.
#2 is what I was thinking. I’d hope something like fit file tools would work. Maybe I can convince my wife to try it this summer
I’m one of those unlucky athletes who has not had great luck with the Scosche through the years :/ , even discounting the 5-10mins it needs to recognize my hr and not my running cadence. I rarely get a correct heartrate when I’m running downhill (yes I’ve tried both tightening down on it A LOT and leaving it just tight enough to stay in place) , so it’s pretty useless to wear it anywhere but flat workouts/races. Which are actually few and far between in my hilly town. I have correct hr readings for an hour of hiking-running uphill and then suddenly my hr is 180-200 for the downhill, which obviously messes up avg/ max hr #’s that would otherwise be interesting.
So my question is, with the problems I’ve had for years using the original Scosche Rhythm, is it likely that I’d have similar problems with their new version and should switch over to Wahoo? Will Wahoo customer service at least be more responsive/helpful than Scosche if I find that the product is really just not accurate for you?
I’ve also had a very uneven experience with the Rhythm Plus. No matter how much I tighten it or where I wear it, it mistakes my cadence for my heart rate for about the first eight miles of most runs. So I use my trusty Garmin HRM strap, as annoying as it is to put on, for my running and have relegated the Rhythm Plus to measuring my heart rate when I’m riding the bike. I’d be reluctant to take a chance on this new device.
Just to clarify on this: “even discounting the 5-10mins it needs to recognize my hr and not my running cadence.”
Are you starting running before it has HR lock?
I’ve been wearing the hrm with my watch turned on for 20+mins driving to a run etc., so I figure that’s as locked as it’s going to get on my hr. It’ll look correct when I’m standing still about to start the run, but usually by the end of minute 1 chill pace, my hr has jumped over 150. I used to stop and then wait a few mins to see the right hr again, only to see it jump back up as soon as I start running. After a few months of that I fully gave up on caring about the first 10mins of the run.
Perfect example is this run I did last week, 4 miles uphill where my hr steadily rose to the top of the climb (except for the garbage first 5mins), and then 5 mins in to running downhill and it says my hr is 180’s (I’d have to be almost-dieing finishing a 5k race to have 180’s hr). link to strava.com
I’m in your boat. Bad luck with the Rhythm+ and Scosche. I’m tempted by this b/c of the features, but likely will go Wahoo once it’s available on Amazon.
I’ve been having issues with a newer Scosche in the same way. I tend to turn it on while driving to my run location so it definitely has a lock, but it still tends to grab a cadence annoyingly too often while running and even moreso while cycling.
The irony is my original Scosche (the model before the implemented the hold-press to turn on) still works great and has none of these issues. So I use that one as much as possible and the newer one as a backup.
As Wendy and Brian mentioned, I also will wear it on my way to a run, giving it plenty of time to lock in. I’ll even walk for a bit on my way to a run start, giving my skin time to warm up. On some rare occasions, it will actually work OK. But in the vast majority of cases, it picks up my cadence. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been reluctant to give up my Forerunner 230 (which lacks built-in optical HRM) for one of the new Garmin watches out of concern that all my runs will start out looking like I should be in the emergency room. :O At least with bike riding it’s not a concern. I don’t usually wave my arm around when biking. 😀
In the irony of timing, my roomba just ate the power cord for my Scosche 😀 lol! So I placed an order on the Wahoo website for their new optical option (Clever Training said that the product can’t use that 10% discount code :/ oh well) since I didn’t like the unknown wait time on Amazon.
But it’s at least a lil reassuring to see that it’s not still just me having problems with the Scosche ! At this point I’d happily accept a few lil inaccuracies in an interval, compared to the 180’s+ readings for 30-40mins of downhill running. I’m really curious what my hr is on fast vs slow downhills, maybe someday I’ll find an optical hrm to tell me hah!
I had endless problems trying to get mine to charge. Most of the time when I set it on the charger, it would keep running instead of going into the charge mode. I’d have to turn it off, put it on the charger, take it off, put it on, turn it off, put it on, turn it, put it on for sometimes minutes until it would give the correct blink sequence indicating that it was charging correctly. If I didn’t fiddle like this and just put it on the charger, it would be dead/drained after the intended charge/overnight. This got old quickly, so I haven’t used it in years. A total waste of money.
Ray, what’s up with the 645 HR curve in the comparison above?
Doesn’t bode well for those of us who are interested in upgrading there unfortunately.
No idea, it’s the worst data set I have from 4 weeks of running with it. Which is ironic, because it was a simple treadmill run. Go figure.
I’ll be shooting it over to Garmin and they can dig into it. When something goes amiss, with the files they can tell me the exact moment it lost tracking and why.
Ray,
Can I use this as a TRI HR strap (and not have to go through the mode buttons?
Yes. I can’t validate how it works yet, but that’s the plan.
Andrew, there is a Triathlon mode in the app. Once set, the Rhythm24 will start in swimming mode and when transitioning, all you need to do is double tap a button on the device and it will switch to the next mode… biking then running. You can record your entire race and upload the data to your mobile device after, and you will see all three of your stages with the corresponding data that comes with each of those sport modes.
It would be nice if there was a feature to mute LEDs from the app.
Maybe you could nudge them about this.
“The unit will adhere to the ANT+ FIT file transfer standard, which means that your existing Garmin watch can actually download the data after the fact.”
Yeesssssss. Finally. Im totally buying this if it works with Fenix 5X. No more HRM-Swim with tape to keep it from sliding down to my ass dork factor 😎
my that thing is ugly.
its a good incentive to wear it as high up as possible so it can be hidden by a shirt sleeve.
Still better then a chest strap.
Hooray, another cadence sensor!
(Yes, I’m still bitter about wasting my money on the last Scosche HRM. Utterly useless.)
Can‘t help, but I find the „design“ so horrible. Looks like something out of a chewing gum machine from the 70-90‘s – but in 2018. ? It would be worth if they would put in some effort to make it appealing – good WAF is never wrong. ?
Any noteworthy weight differences between the OH-1, TICKR Fit and Rhythm 24?
Bluetooth 5?
Because that’s the one which supports connectionless broadcasting like ANT+, albeit less bytes.
Ray,
I’m trying to interpret your workouts according to your description and I’m totally confused – 4×2:30 at 6:00/mile, followed by 5x45s is not what I see 🙂
Doh, late night writing. 3×2:30 @ 6/mile + 4x45s. One of these days I’ll figure out how to count.
How’s the change of the band going to affect smell? One of the things I really find annoying is that despite washing it regularly I don’t get my chest strap free of all smells anymore. Other than that, I’d appreciate a budget option that indeed only offers heart rate with long battery life. And, yes, something that is going to be seen by people (unlike a chest strap), should have some visual appeal of 2018.
Very interesting!
I love my existing Scosche but this has some interesting new features.
2 yes no question though please Ray that seemed a bit ambiguous in the text:
1) can I use it for collecting and storing HR data whilst swimming (table says depends)
2) can I wear it for a “normal” (no exercise 24 hour period to capture HR whilst resting / working / sleeping ect.
Think I’ll be ordering one of these regardless but I am interesting in this functionality.
Thanks
…and pre-ordered through your clever training link Ray.
Small thanks for the huge amount of work you put into this.
Yes, you can do both of those things.
How cool is this! love my Scosche, is there an option to pre-oder on Clever Training UK?
+1 for pre-ordering on the .co.uk website
+2 for pre-ordering on the .co.uk website
I can’t wait until somebody comes up with a soft, comfortable, long lasting HR strap that goes around your chest so it can measure directly at your heart. That would be really accurate and unintrusive.
Hi Ray,
Any idea if the new app is gong to be compatible with the older strap?
Since the 3.0.1 update, my Rhythm+ has been dropping connections and locking up a lot.
The existing app appears to have lost the ability to update the firmware for the device.
I used the newer app to update my older Rhythm+ yesterday.
Is the app available yet, or are you on a beta?
Will there be an Android app?
Yes, the new app will replace the old app and work with Rhythm+ and Rhythm24. It will also come with a firmware update to address known issues with the Rhythm+. This new app is currently in Beta but will be released soon. Stay tuned.
I didn’t understand your reply: you confirm that there is an Android app?
Yes, there will be an Android app.
Hi Ray, what version was your “older” unit? I have one on 2.4 and one of the first that you only have to exhale on to trigger it. I guess I’ll have to go through sending them back to get updated
Ray, did your updated Rhythm+ provide pace and cadence data?
I thought Ray has an older unit that can’t be upgraded? Has this changed?
I thought so too, but remembering back, my original unit died after I lost it in a Tri, so my current unit is more recent than I thought.
Now that units have started to ship I don’t see Android as being supported. The webpage under compatibility only has iPhone and there is nothing in the google play store. Are there still plans for an Android App?
I and others have answered this Qn so many times now…
Would this strap be compatible with Garmin vo2 max and lactate data. Not bothered about the vertical or stride ratio stuff. Thanks
VO2Max, Yes. The Plus works with that.
LT? Don’t know, the FR230 doesn’t do that 😉
Is the after the fact recording of HR during swimming only compatible with Garmin’s premium watches, or can I use I with a VA3?
it will just be the premium ones 935/920f5
prob not even the 645 as that is not a swim watch
That would be odd, considering it supports indoor swimming.
That’s a shame, as I was debating returning my VA3 and getting a 645.
check out the sensors that the devices support
link to buy.garmin.com
Ray: I think you may have answered this before but assuming you weren’t testing equipment (yeah right) would you *ever* choose a chest strap anymore or do you feel we have reached the point where between optical on the wrist for most running and optical on the arm for interval running and all other supports (but perhaps swimming?) we are more than “good enough”?
Thanks.
H’m, I guess that the “Steve”, who commented a few times in this thread, is an employee of Scosche. This is new for me: Scosche communicating with customers about a heartrate monitor. I didn’t get any reply from them when malfunctioning was an issue with my Rythm plus and I wasn’t the only one….
When DC Rainmaker made his first review, Josh of Scosche was very active in the forum and very helpful.
I never needed to contact Scosche, so I can say anything about the support of Scosche. But if you read the forum of the first review of the Rhythm+ , all users were astonished how fast was Scosche to respond and find a solution.
Joop, my apologies if you didn’t have a positive experience with Scosche customer service when you tried contacting them. I work in product development and we have been working more closely with our customer service team to address concerns with Rhythm+. If you would like to try again, please contact us and we will try and help you.
Well Steve, one of the biggest sportswear retailers in my country used to sell the Rhythm+, when I wanted to buy another one they had already stopped. The reason they gave me after I inquired why they stopped was that the communication with you guys was bad. Their words, not mine. I do notice that it’s hard to get your hands on a physical copy in an actual store here (the Netherlands) but there are a handful of smaller internet shops that sell.
As for myself, I send inquiries twice to your company about where to get another item or when / if the then new colored straps would ever be available in Europe, but got no response. It’s not technical help that I needed, but it would’ve been nice to have gotten at least a reply. On to the good news: I’m looking forward to the new rhythm 24 because it’s ticking a lot of my boxes I was looking for in an upgrade. Better battery life was the most important one.
to Patrick Utrecht
try alzashop.com (the first/second biggest e-shop in the Czech Republic),
link to alzashop.com
Where is the iOS app? I’ve been looking all over for it.
It is still in Beta. It will be released closer to when Rhythm24 is shipping.
Will replacement straps be available on day 1 of release?
Yes, that is the plan.
During winters, the nice part of Rhythm+ was that you could wear it on your upper arm underneath your long sleeve jersey (cycling) as you kit up. At the race, you could press through your jersey to turn it on – basically just mash your finger on the center of the Rhythm+ and wait for it to appear on your Garmin Edge. With two buttons on the Rhythm 24, it’s not going to be as easy. But with the longer battery life, you could actually just turn it on when you kit up and drive to the race. I know you can never satisfy every customer, but I find Tickr’s one button solution to be a better match for my narrow needs.
The buttons are raised and different sizes and shapes. You’d still be able to do that.
Forgive my ignorance, but does this device not have a readout display? Must it connect to an app or a watch to do that?
No it doesn’t. but neither does any other manufactures as far as i know. Scosche’s led’s however would indicate what zone you are in at any given time.
Steve – As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I have two of the original Scosche units, the first I bought almost immediately after Ray posted his original thread, and another newer model that has the different button configuration (hold to turn on).
The newer model has been increasingly frustrating lately…grabbing onto cadence, dropping out signal, etc…while the original still works great. I’m guessing the new one needs a FW update, can I do that using the old “scosche fitness utility” app? I mostly just use that app to check battery life but it obviously does more than that, but the interface is fairly primitive.
Appreciate any feedback as I love the scosche HRM and have gotten several of my endurance friends onto the product.
Brian. I too have a similar Scosche units, One i only have to breath on to activate it and a later unit with firmware 2.4. Upto version 2.4 they have to go back to the USofA to be updated. So far I’ve resisted sending them back. Would i be charged import duty into the UK a second time when they came back? too many unanswered questions for me.
I think there are different 2.4 revisions too. Mine is 2.4 but it can be turned on by glaring at it, but needs holding down the button to turn off. I hate the button but I don’t want to send it back to the US and risk import charge either. Can’t wait to get the Rhythm 24.
For the Rhythm+ we have identified some issues in the 3.01 firmware when using Bluetooth and are working on a fix. We are also working hard to release a new app in the next couple months and the new firmware will release with the new app, while we phase out the current app. These issues have already been addressed with the Rhythm24.
Steve, will there finally be an Android app?
Steve,
What can you guys actually do for your customers? I’ve got 3.01 but don’t use it on bluetooth and still a ton of issues. I’ve stopped using it because it’s just too frustration and Scosche customer service was in no way helpful in my experience and multiple emails?
What’s the purpose of me emailing again just to be told “we’re working on a fix”? That’s great, but it’s now 4+ months with a faulty Rhythm Plus.
Matt, please email me directly at rhythm@scosche.com and I will try and help you.
Steve (Scosche)
Yes, the new Scosche Sync app for Android will be released in May. Stay tuned and thank you for your patience.
Any updates on this? I just received mine and am sad that I can’t really utilize it’s functionality without an app. Is there a way to download the recorded files without the app? I’m an android user and hoping to get an app that will work with this soon.
When the app for android will be realsed? Got my Rythm24 already (in UE 🙂 ) and cant configure a thing 🙁
Best regards!
Mike
For me it’s the same (in Germany). Can’t setup the thing without the app. Where is it? May is in the past.
I have been looking at getting an optical HR sensor that’s worn on the arm for some time (I think it’s much easier to wear than a chest strap). The Cycling cadence is very intriguing. I will keep an eye on this device’s more in depth review. Just hope I can find it from a retailer in South Africa.
Talking about accuracy at Scosche Rythm+ or any optical HRM, there will be always issues.
Based on my experience, there are gaps in recording during summer temperatures, because the unit’s LEDs are sliding on a sweating skin. In the winter there are bigger gaps, because the cold and dry skin is not a proper medium for the emitted light to penetrate…
Despite this, is like it with the 910XT combo. For the 920XT i got the HRM Tri and HRM Swim, so no plans to purchase a new one, just a jealousy on that 24h capacity…
That bottom chart looks like some sort of battery/connectivity issue, not typical HR drops. HR accuracy drops on a Garmin device don’t show up as null, they show up as an inaccurate value. Whereas connectivity/battery drops show up as what you see for ‘winter’.
I use my Rythm+ to track volleyball and sweat profusely with no gaps recording to the Wahoo Fitness app on my phone. I do wear mine fairly tight on my arm though so it doesn’t move.
The product page say it will be ip67. Usually, thats not good enough for long swims. Its that the final water protection rating? I’m worried about using the hrm for a swim longer than 30 mins.
What app are you using to sync the new rhythm? I tried looking on the iOS App Store but couldn’t find it.
Thanks
It’s a beta app at this point.
To investigate the real merit of the device (accuracy, stability, precision), a true HRV sensing application (ex. HRV Expert by cardiomood.com) excellently fits the purpose. Would be surprised how much noise (ectopic beats) even the “reference” grade monitors (Viiiiva, TickrX, H7) produce while in action.
I would be really interested to see how TickrFit ranks in that regard.
Hi,
Can this be used for tracking the pace for Zwift Running? And how is the accuracy conpated to footpods?
I’m surprised it’s taken this long to get a product like this. I’d think pairing a basic smartwatch to a feature-packed sensor array somewhere else on the body would work well.
The watch could forego things like optical sensors, and focus on being a great display with good battery life.
The sensor array could be slightly more bulky as it’s out of the way, and could pack in a lot more sensors that work better farther up the arm (or wherever) anyway. Sure, it’s two things to charge, but you get better battery life, and more sensors.
Hi, I have a question regarding the cached data. Will Heart Rate, Running Stride & Cadence be synced afterwards to a Fenix 5 if I start indoor run while connected and then leave the watch in my bag while playing soccer? Or will it be just Heart Rate as it would be with the HRM Tri?
Given cadence and Bluetooth, would this work as a running sensor for Zwift?
Going to cover any of the other new hr measurement tools from CES like underwear that tracks heart rate?
link to shop.skiin.com
I don’t suppose they are going to surprise us by announcing this device will also store and playback music? What a fantastic product that would be.
Hi there, I’ve been using the original Scotché for HR and HRV. Elite HRV, the app I use recently said that the Scotsche is not suitable for accurate readings as it smooths out the data.
Can you recommend a optical HR watch that is also good for HRV?
Thanks for all your hard work,
Ivor
Unfortunately, when it comes to optical HR data during a workout – no device on the market today is capable of it. Only for HRV data at rest (the other 23 hours of your data).
Keep in mind the Scosche 24 is using different sensor tech than the Scosche you currently have, hence why it has a dedicated HRV mode.
The new band without velcro will fit also the old Scosche sensor?
Not that I can see.
Excuse me Ray, but I watched your video and it seems that the new band with two hooks at both ends should fit also the old Scosche Rhythm+ sensor. If not, could you suggest Scosche to modify the new band in order to be compatible with the old Scosche Rhythm+? It would be nice if also the old customers of Scosche could benefit of the new and improved band. The velcro of my old band is now a bit deteriorated and the band comes easy out of place, especially when I wear clothes, and I need to buy a new replacement band.
In the picture attached you showed in your video the new hook system of the Scosche 24. It seems compatible to me also to the old sensor.
While the bands are the same width, the plastic ‘hook’ on the band connects to the metal pole that goes across. That metal pole is thinner on the 24 than the plastic ‘pole’ on the +, thus, it won’t hook onto the unit.
Also, on the 24, the metal pole is perfectly round, whereas on the + it’s squareish. So on the 24 the strap attaches in one position and then rotates around the pole to form a lock (you can see that in the video a bit at one point). Whereas on the +, it’d be impossible to make that rotation due to the square angles of the pole.
What a pity! I like everything of the scosche Rhithm+ except the fact that in the same way of the Chest strap you have to change the band every year.
Will it record resting heart rates under 41bpm? I recently bought the Rhythm + and am utterly disappointed that it won’t record my resting heart rate which is typically in the low 30s. See image – the recorded rate just flat lines around 41/42 and won’t record lower.
Please let me know, as I’d like to find a monitor that can record a full range of rates!
you beat me on the lowest hr, the lowest mine got to was 42!
I know it culls readings below this range as “errors” as part of its algorithms, but with the modes surely now they could put it into a “sleeping” mode for a lower range of values.
Unfortunately it does not detect heart rates under 41bpm. Due to the way the sensor detect blood flow in the tissue, it becomes very difficult to sense heart rate under 41, so to prevent reporting inaccurate data, it simply zeros out.
Steve (Scosche)
Very interesting that HR less than 42 does not indicate! I seem to indeed notice this. Then, could someone (Steve !) comment on whether there is a MAXIMUM HR the Rhythm 24 will indicate. I have some, indirect, evidence that this might be 220, but would like to know for sure if there is some technical upper limit for the device.
Hi Bill,
You are correct, there is a set range: 40 to 220. We are looking into the steps to broaden that range – I’m thinking 32 to 227 for people that have a simal range to a thoroughbred horse. ;o)
–Fred
Thanks Fred….. hard to come by these details! I might have thought such range limitations would have to do with limitations of the sensing method (PPG: sensing thru the skin). Are you implying that its only a digital limitation set in the electronics?
Bill,
It’s a combination, but pretty much a limitation of the sensing hardware and thus the PPG.
Thanks!
–Fred
As I said above, I have the “original” Scosche HRM (the one the above poster said will turn on if you just glare at it – funny) and I have the “v2” which requires the long-press to turn-on.
Again, lately the “v2” is just downright maddening to use. My original had a dead battery so I typically do, I used the v2 as my backup. On a treadmill workout, it just flat REFUSED to capture my correct BPM…
…unless I held my arm above my head. Every time I’d drop my arm in a normal swing, it would grab cadence (or something), as the numbers would drop down into the 60-70 range. Lift the arm and hold it steady, and BPM would rise into the appropriate 135-150 range. Of course I looked ridiculous in the gym holding my arm so I just made do with bad data this time.
I’m not sure there is anything really to be done about this, but it does feel good to at least vent about it.
Brian,
Have you tried wearing the Rhythm24 in other locations – upper arm, biceps, triceps?
–Fred
Almost sold on it. Make it track steps and I’m there.
If you get the chance could you see if it works on a rowing machine?
My dad got a Polar OH1 for himself after finding the below link of it working on rowing machines and it seems to work alright on the ergo, unlike the Rhythm+ which doesn’t work (tried numerous positions for ages) and has a panic attack, it would be nice to know if the Scosche can now also cope with rowing machines or other more complex use cases.
link to polar working:
link to analytics.rowsandall.com
Chris,
The Rhythm24 and Rhythm+ should pair via BLE or ANT+ to your rower. Try upper arm placements (triceps & biceps) for potentially better accuracy, as your forearms might be flexing hard to hold that grip.
Let us know how it goes.
–Fred
I’ve used the Rhythm+ with Concept2Rowers but it may require one of the newer performance monitors, i.e., PM5.
Most importantly, it did not work well around my wrist. The intense pressure on and off at the wrist gave me abnormally high heart rate readings. I ultimately settled on using a chest strap. Putting it on the upper arm might make a difference. I haven’t tried this.
Louis
Louis,
We recommend the forearm or upper arm for placement of the Rhythm HRM’s, as the wrist isn’t a great spot, especially during activities. Too much “noise” for the sensor to be accurate on the wrist.
–Fred
I typically wear it as high up on my arm as I can get it. This seems okay. I do wear it on my wrist occasionally while cycling and generally seems okay although I have seen some odd spikes from time to time.
Could you clarify the “Frimware update” does it mean online or I have to send the device in.
Based on your feedback and others I bought late last year the Rythm+, it has 3.1 on it. I am struggling to get proper reading as my HR is much lower than my Suunto Ambit 3. I found out that there is some issue with 3.1 and need an upgrade to 3.3 but can not be done remotely and need to send the device in. For me this is a major issue I am in South Africa and courier will cost more than a new one. I can’t understand with today’s technology that Scosche did not plan remote update, useless as far as I am concerned.
Will it be the same case with Rythm 24?
Scosche’s more recent units do enable user updateable firmware (even the Scosche Rhythm+, depending on when exactly it was produced).
Same goes for 24.
“Scosche’s more recent units do enable user updateable firmware (even the Scosche Rhythm+, depending on when exactly it was produced).“
Hi Ray,
I have their crude app on iOS11, but see no way to get to 3.3 from 2.6. Could it be, that my rev/production-date Rhythm+ is simply too old?!? How do I determine that?
I haven’t yet paired it with my iPad Pro 10.5″ via BLE, and yet to pair it with my Galaxy Note 4 via ANT+ & BLE, hopefully both work well and are well supported for that -quite old- smartphone model.
So maybe this is why I don’t yet see any way to update to the newest firmware?
Thank-you!
Ray, got a minute? Thank-you very much:
link to dcrainmaker.com
@Ray
I’m guessing I misunderstood your post, & you actually meant “no-one” can update OTA to 3.01+ at the moment, as it’s been removed from v3 of the iOS app (not sure if same applies to the v3? Android app, though I suspect it would), due to some issues with the 3.01+ fw.
And as 3.3+ is pre-release fw, it’s also not -yet- been made available via the app. Hence, only way to get it if you “really” want 3.3+; is to ask your local Scosche if they’ll flash it for you, & give you access to their next-gen beta app?
With that in mind, I sent this (below) to Scoshe Australia, I fully expect to be ignored, they don’t even provide a number, just a crude web-form!
Do you think this is the way to go, is that the ONLY way I can update from the ancient v2.6 fw that’s on my brand new Rhythm+? Not sure why my unit came with such an old version, must’ve been sitting in stock for yrs, major retail chain here in Australia recently had a big clearance sale of old stock.
*************************************************************
Hi,
I’m trying to update to 3.01+ of your firmware, but in your latest Fitness Utility app (3.0 on iOS) you have removed the ability to update to it, as there’s some issues with the 3.01+ fw!
Supposedly there’s now a 3.3x+ firmware, but one has to send their unit to Scoshe if they want to test that version for Scosche!
Can I send my unit in to have it updated by you, & can I test that new firmware alongside your new app? The app is supposedly coming within ~3mths, at the same time as the firmware.
The app is REALLY terrible at the moment (at least on iOS, I haven’t tested Android yet), I really hope the new one is hugely improved! I can provide lots of useful feedback towards that aim.
Why on earth don’t you guys have a support number? A web-form is really really unprofessional & unfriendly!!
Cheers,
Jed
Yeah, Scosche removed 3.1 as you noted (full thread here with Scosche peoples): link to dcrainmaker.com
Scosche does follow along here in this thread, though perhaps by now comment notifications are going automatically into a Clutter folder. I can poke them and see if they’ll swing back here on making the firmware available again in some manner (perhaps like Wahoo does, which is with a code required – i.e. ‘newfirmware’ to access it).
Hi Ray,
If you could it’d be very much appreciated, they’re way more likely to respond to you…
No number here in Oz (just a terrible web-form), though in the warranty disclaimer in the manual it suggests we can call a US no. or use a US email for Support/Claims etc, so I may try that at some point.
I’d love to be able to grab their 3.3+ firmware OTA, but if the current 3.0 iOS app doesn’t expose most of it’s features/fixes, then I don’t see the point!
So hopefully if they give me access to the beta fw, they’ll also give me access to their next-gen beta app for Android & iOS?
If it’s all still WAY too flakey then I’m happy to hold-off (though I’d like to be given the option to jump to at least 2.62), but if they’re at a point where it’s all relatively usable with some glitches here & there, then I’m happy to put up with that & provide feedback etc.
So long as there’s a way to leave the beta fw & app if I’m getting too busy, & just need rock-solid stability.
Thanks mate!
Jed
@Ray
See my prior post, did you hear anything from them yet?
link to dcrainmaker.com
Predictably, Scosche Australia have professionally ignored my web-form query.
I may have to stay-up late tonight so I can call Scosche US.
Thanks again/BR.
Jed, apologies for your trouble with the webform.
Please contact me directly at rhythm@scosche.com (ask for Steve to respond), and I will try and help.
Steve (Scosche)
Hi Steve,
Please carefully read my post above to see what I’m wanting:
link to dcrainmaker.com
Is this do-able to any degree, or not possible at this stage?
At the very least I’d like my unit to be upgraded to 2.62;
By dropping/posting it somewhere to be manually flashed.
TY/BR
Hi Steve,
Any special reason why you ignored my post…
I responded to yours within a few minutes of you posting it, see here:
link to dcrainmaker.com
Cheers.
No reason, Jed. My workload only affords me the ability to jump on here occasionally. I thought you might email me and I’d be able to respond to that more frequently.
We did have a firmware upgrade available thru the Fitness Utility App for a short time, but we discovered some problems and are addressing them now. So to prevent users from experiencing these problems, we removed the upgrade.
We also recognize that the Fitness Utility app is not up to par with expectations and not representative of the Scosche brand… so we have been working very hard to finish the new Scosche Sync app that will be available in the Apple App Store very soon and for Android soon after. It will come with a firmware update for R+ and will function with both R+ and R24.
I appreciate your patience and encourage you to contact me directly with any more questions.
Steve (Scosche)
Rhythm@scosche.com
Hi Steve,
Emailing you now, as this doesn’t fully address everything.
Cheers.
The Android app is terrible also. I’m on my second rhythm 24. Three attempts to use. Much workout time wasted!
For cached data, what is the max amount of HR data at 1 sec intervals that can be cached before having to download to a watch or phone app?
For instance I have a Suunto Ambit3 that has the chest heart rate strap which allows 3 hrs of swim time before the memory is full and having to download the data back to the watch. What is the max amt of data with this strap?
I’d like to pr it with my Suunto Ambit3 and them take the watch off and rock/ice climb without my watch on my wrist as it is too intrusive.
Will it work for Sleep for a whole nights worth of HRV data? I do not wear a watch to bed.
Any chance this could track kayak stroke cadence?
We haven’t tested that specifically, but I don’t see why not. Should work the same way as detecting your run cadence.
Steve (Scosche)
Competitive kayak and surfski is admittedly not a huge market but the primary current option for a cadence sensor is from Vaaka dot com and it runs about $225 on its own and does nothing but cadence. If the Rhythm 24 can track stroke cadence it would be a great alternative.
Sounds like a great idea. It would be great if a rowing enthusiast on here could test it out for us and report back results. Any volunteers? Email me at rhythm@scosche.com
Steve (Scosche)
I’m confused. How does the Scosche 24 interact with my Fenix 5x on swims? If I pair the 24 to the Fenix, will it then send all data to the Fenix at the end of the workout, followed by the Garmin uploading the workout to Connect and then onto Training Peaks. Or, do they record data separately which then needs to be uploaded to their respective apps and combined further down the line.
Furthermore, what data is the 24 collecting that will be shared with the Fenix? Will it be redundant or are they recording different things during the swim (aside from heart rate)?
I haven’t worn my Garmin HRM in the pool because there’s no good way to keep it from sliding down and I’m really excited about the 24 if it works well in the pool. I have the old “+” and it has worked great for me for a couple of years.
On a side note, I do think it’s funny, a community that will strap anything and everything their bodies from footpods to giant wrist mounted computers and crazy blue tooth ear buds, is offended because an armband that appears to be a game changer doesn’t fit their modern sense of style.
Hello Ray;
Thanks for the comprehensive review of the Rhythm 24. With the addition of memory, and the LED zone indicator on the device, this seems like my perfect solution.
I am a very active 74-year old male, and my primary (sole) interest is in HR monitoring/HR training. Tracking other metrics was relatively unimportant to me. The accuracy of the HR sensor was paramount. I had considered the Tickr-X, because it reads electrical pulses, and by many is considered the “gold standard” for wearables, especially in the high intensity range. (I understand Fitbit is being sued by users who claim that their device seriously understates HR during high intensity sessions).
Hoping to avoid the more inconvenient chest strap option, I was pleasantly surprised by your comparative study showing that Scosche’s accuracy was very comparable to the Tickr-X right through your training session. (It was hard to read the graph, but is that correct?)
I am excited to try it…placed my pre-order with Clever Training today.
One final request. Can you tell me the app that generates this screen?
2018-01-09 06.38.17 (img 12 of 19) I couldn’t save the image
And the graph
Thanks
Thanks Phil.
So far, I continue to use the device in testing, and things are mostly pretty good. Some minor beta quirks as always, but no red flags of yet (and these devices are early prototypes from December no less).
Regarding that screenshot, it’s from the beta Scosche app.
hi
I recently bought Suunto spartan sports wrist hr baro, but I am having difficulty getting accurate HR readings when doing my crossfit sessions (WOD). More over I would like to wear a wrist band for stability while doing weight lifting. So thinking of buying Scosches Rhythm 24, with that I can leave the watch in gym bag and do the workout with just Rhythm 24 on my upper/mid arm.
My question is, will this band connect to my new Suunto watch ? I think they will as both support Smart bluetooth. Would you please confirm this ?
Thanks
Kannan
Really enjoy your reviews. Thanks for the great insights and recommendations.
I want to love my Rhythm+ but the only place I can wear it is my upper arm, and even then I have to crank it so tight that I would almost call it a tourniquet. If I don’t, it works well up until I start pushing hard and then suddenly it just drops out and starts feeding some imaginary steady heart rate around 60-70 bpm (see the attached screenshot of today’s attempt to NOT tourniquet my bicep….any guesses where I stood up and started pedaling hard or any guesses where I gave up and cranked it down?)
Anyone else have this kind of problem with the Rhythm+?
I never had good results on my bicep due to slipping. For me, it works flawlessly on the top, left side of my forearm, about 3 inches down from my elbow bend. I’m always amazed at how optical sensors work differently for everyone.
Anything new on a release date?
Every few days Clever Training sends out an email, still saying late April.
Clever Training’s release updates keep saying the “end of April”.
It sounds like the shipping date that CT will likely be will be the first week of May, but pretty close to it from what I’m hearing from Scosche (which simply hasn’t yet told CT yet, since I just got the info).
How about the UK? Any news there?
Not sure, I’ll circle up with CT and see how precisely Scosche delivers it to them (I believe it’s separately to US and UK, versus just to US and then CT takes care of it globally).
hey ray . do you have an update from CT EU/UK?
Still waiting on dates for the UK … Any update Ray ?
Hi. Thanks to all the info! If paired with my Garmin 935 will I get more accurate instant walking and running pace from the Rythym 24 that I would get from the watch alone?
Hi. If it will work as a foot pod to give you more accurate instant pace, would it need to be calibrated occasionally [as most foot pods need calibration]?
Just as a minor update for those following along in the comments section…
Scosche handed off a final production unit to me at Sea Otter this weekend, so i’ll begin testing on that. They’ve entered full scale production and plan to ship in the first 7-10 days of May (roughly what they’ve said for the past month or so).
More to come…
Great to hear thank you for the update. Any news from CT on the UK distribution? Still cannot pre order here without being whacked with high shipping fees, it seems.
Clevertraining just moved the ship date to the end of May 🙁
Watching this thread. Interested in the rhythm 24 to go along with my new Tacx Neo
My email from yesterday says within the first two weeks of May. Did they send another update?
My email said 2 weeks as well it’s probably end of May for new orders.
Found the new Scosche App. In the Apple store ?. Rhythm SYNC. by Scosche
The new app lets you update the firmware on the Rhythm+, and from an initial hour-long test I’m not seeing the dropouts I was getting on the previous firmware. It’s way too soon to say it’s fixed, but I’m quietly hopeful.
It appears geo-locked or similar…. I’m in Germany and can see the app on the apple website on my PC, but it isn’t visible nor available in the app store.
For instructions on how to update the firmware on the Rhythm+, please view this video: link to youtu.be
If you run into any issues, please contact me at rhythm@scosche.com
Steve @ Scosche
Thanks for the heads-up about the problem accessing the Rhythm Sync app in Germany, I will look into it and get it turned on there. It is English only language at this time, but there was no intention to have it blocked in Europe… probably just an adjustment to a setting in app store.
Steve (Scosche)
I can’t find the Scosche Rhythm Android app in Google Play
They’ve always said it would be a good few months behind the iOS app.
I’d love to be able to do that, but as per the email I’ve sent to you, I can’t on my iOS device!
TY/BR.
As per my email to you, it’s also not Showing in the Australian app store, or wasn’t, haven’t check for ~10hrs. TY/BR.
Steve,
You’ve got mail. seems also some filtering issues that prevent it from being seen from an iPad (even when filtering for iPhone only apps). I was able to use your old app on my iPad Mini4, unsure what would prevent the new one from working. Perhaps just a filter setting?
I was one of the folks who took the 3.01 update and the unit has been unreliable. I’ve been patiently waiting for the update/fixes for some time.
Thanks,
Steve
@Steve
For an answer to that, see my response to Kevin here, read the email thread I pasted:
link to dcrainmaker.com
Not coming to iPad until/if Apple ever brings Healthkit support to them.
Thanks Jed..
I’m really disappointed by this… I just want my HR strap to work. I just need a firmware update away from the broken 3.01 release. I don’t need anything fancy, nothing supporting Healthkit etc..
I thought it was rather respectful to wait ~1yr for their new app understanding that they didn’t want to put resources into the old one.
I suspect somewhere they made the decision that there aren’t many users who upgraded to 3.01 who don’t have an iPhone. And that it isn’t worth putting the effort into supporting those users.
If that’s the case, the + is the last Scosche product I’ll buy.
There is workaround/fix in this thread or the rhythm+ one, it explains how flash to the older/non-buggy fw. It’s quite long-winded/complicated, but it sounds pretty important to you so it might be worth the effort.
Jed, 3.01, for me, has just not been reliable. I’ve had times where the device locks up and I needed to put it on the charger. Other times where it stops sending HR and I need to restart it. Is it the end of the world? No, but frustrating none the less.
I saw the downgrade instructions, agree it’s complex. It would have been nice if Scosche provided a similar solution over the last 10 months to resolve this.
Instead I’ll find a friend with an iPhone and mooch their device for a few minutes to update the FW now that it’s out.
Good news for UK/Europe Folks!
I’ve finally got a link for Clever Training UK/Europe for the 24! Ask (a bunch) and you shall eventually receive: link to clevertraining.co.uk
Don’t forget for readers to add the 10% coupon code at the end, DCR10BTF, so that’s totally applicable here.
In terms of general availability, I’m working to get clarity on what those ship dates are. It sounds like the production ramp isn’t exactly happening as fast as Scosche would want, but that things should be shipping very near-term, but that fulfilling all backorders may take a bit of…May.
As for my review, I’m using a final production unit with either final software or release candidate software. They’ve had two minor revisions to it in the last couple weeks. My hope is that once they lock that down and give me the word the software is gold, that I’ll publish a review within about 7 days. I’ll likely only use data sets from the last week, versus data from all winter on prototype devices (I often rode/ran with it in Australia Jan-March). Merely since it’s only logical to use final hardware/software. The software I had on that device was from back in December (with equally old prototype hardware).
In any case…more soon!
Unluckilly I can’t buy it from Clever Training UK/Europe: my address is not accepted in any way.
I also contacted the credit card company to get exactly how it’s written, but it doesn’t work anyway on that site.
I also tried to write to them, but was ignored.
I’ll wait for Rhythm 24 to become available from Amazon or other sites that I use with my credit card at least daily without any problem at all.
Do you have an idea about when it’s be available or at least preorderable also on other sites?
Thanks
Riccardo
Ray,
Any insight on this latest news from Clever Training regarding this product?:
“Dear Clever Training Customer
Thank you for your pre-order for the Scosche Rhythm 24 Heart Rate Monitor. We regret to inform you that these units will not be arriving as previously scheduled. During a final quality control inspection, before being shipped to our warehouse, the manufacturer discovered a minor issue that prevented units from being dispatched.
This was an unexpected turn of events and we share in your frustration and curiosity. At this time, we do not have any details regarding the reason for delay nor an updated confirmed shipping date. We will continue to work closely with the manufacturer and keep you up to date on any new information.”
I received roughly the same thing from Scosche’s engineering team directly. What CT sent matches what I received. It sounds like a minor hiccup, more than a big issue – but hoping to get a bit more clarity. Already sent an e-mail back, but tripling down on timezone delays (Europe to Pacific to Asia) don’t help with things.
Seems to be some problem with the release. Received a message from Clever Training…
“… During a final quality control inspection, before being shipped to our warehouse, the manufacturer discovered a minor issue that prevented units from being dispatched.
This was an unexpected turn of events and we share in your frustration and curiosity. At this time, we do not have any details regarding the reason for delay nor an updated confirmed shipping date.”
Yes, already posted just above you…
link to dcrainmaker.com
Ray, do you feel if you can state if you have confidence this new unit is at least as reliable / accurate as the old Rhythm+ prior to your full review hitting? I only ask because I preordered day 1 with CT and now with the latest message and unknown new timeline I’m beginning to be concerned that what was to me a nice little version 2.0 of an optical strap is turning into a whole other beast that perhaps I should have waited for your review to come out first before I ordered…
Without getting too deep into the weeds, the issue that’s held things up isn’t a software/optical HR/etc one, but rather a simple mechanical/case type issue that they need to resolve where in the production line something went amiss. Units shouldn’t have come off the line with that defect from a QC standpoint. I suspect it’ll be a case of days before resumption of production.
As for accuracy, overall it seems on-par with before. I saw some bugs earlier this winter on the pre-prod unit, but things are looking nice on the prod unit. I think there’s actually one or two data sets on the prod one in my Fitbit Versa review I published a few hours ago. And you’ll see more data sets shortly in my Suunto 3 Fitness review too.
Thanks, its been easier to be patient on this product because I have both wrist based optical HR and conventional chest strap solutions that work today but I just felt the technology and time was right to completely replace my chest strap with the rhythm for the more “difficult” workouts like biking or intervals, and use the wrist based for steady state runs or when i just don’t want to bring anything but the watch. i think i’m ready to be done with chest straps except for maybe strength training and even then i’m cautiously optimistic the Rhythm 24 will be good enough. My preorder stands lol…
From initial thoughts, would you think it would be worth holding out for over say a Tickr? I have just picked up a Tacx Neo and am planning on an Apple TV 4K soon. I’ve an old Ant+ Garmin HRM but thinking of going all Bluetooth for simplicity.
If it would be best to hold out and pick this up I’ll do the Mobile Companion trick from my android to link in my Ant+ HRM in the meantime.
Just received this
Dear Clever Training Customer
Thank you for your pre-order for the Scosche Rhythm 24 Heart Rate Monitor. Last week our pre-order notification indicated the units were pulled back last minute and were unable to be processed as originally expected. Since last week, we have been working tirelessly with the manufacturer for updated availability. Based on the most recent information, we look forward to fulfilling orders the beginning of June.
We do not have any specific details regarding the original reason for delay. However, the manufacturer has assured us that the quality control trigger has been resolved and these units are ready to be placed in your hands.
We will continue to monitor the status of our incoming shipment and keep you up to date through our weekly update until your order has been processed and tracking details provided.
How do I tell my head unit to ignore the cadence signal from the Scosche? I have dedicated cadence sensors in my Powertap P1 and I’d rather trust those than worry bout conflicting data. Any ideas?
It won’t override it because you still have to manually pair it as another cadence sensor.
Fabulous. Both head units I use seem to automatically decide what data they’re collecting from a source. Hopefully they’ll just decide it’s a heart sensor!
Are there any updates on when this will be available? The longer battery life, and ability to store data seem worth the wait. However, if the wait is indefinite, leaning toward the Polar OH-1.
Thanks!
Just found the thread above… Sounds like everyone is still working it out. hopefully not too long!
Do you know if the Rhythm24 only supports running cadence upload to their own app? Or does it also upload to 3rd party apps like Strava? This limitation exists on the Wahoo Tickr Run, so I’m curious.
Hi
Do you know whether Rhythm 24 will connect to Suunto Spartan watches using smart bluetooth sensor ?
Thanks
Yes. In fact, most of my testing of the 24 day to day is with a Suunto Spartan.
That’s awesome, another reason for me to wait for this product. Thanks.
Hey Ray
When can we expect your full review on the final product ? How is the HR monitor better than Suunto spartan sport series as both use the same Valencell technology ?
One thing I find it frustrating in my Suunto optical HR is that, it doesn’t read my HR as I have lot of hair on my hand (including wrist), only solution is to shave it around the place where I wear the watch. Hope this will go away with Rythem 24 ?
Thanks
Kannan
Hey Ray
For this test, were you wearing it mainly on the forearm or did you try them on biceps/upper arm as well ? Are the straps very secure if we go for HIIT classes ?
Thanks
Kannan
Almost exclusively on the upper arm/bicep for me. I hate it down lower on forearm, feels/looks stupid to me. No issues there.
As for a review, once they start shipping basically. I’m on a final prod (software/firmware). The hold-up is merely them sorting out a case related issue on some units coming off the line. It doesn’t impact the underlying product.
As for difference to Suunto, it’s actually the exact same sensor as the Suunto 3 Fitness (and newer than some, but not all Spartan units, I’d have to dig up my notes). There’s a bunch of differences, mostly around new potential features companies like Scosche could leverage. Plus a few years worth of accuracy updates.
Most importantly though, it’s really just placement. I’ve been going head to head between the Suunto 3 Fitness and the Scosche 24 on runs/rides, and the Scosche universally does better. Reason? Purely placement. I have no doubts if I placed the Suunto on my upper arm, it’d be flawless too.
Thanks, You are so correct about the placement. I have Spartan Sports Baro watch, in which HR consistently works fine only if I wear on the underside of my wrist. But even that goes off when hand/wrist gets sweat. If I wear it more tighter, then I might cut off blood flow to fingers 🙂
I am really looking forward to Rhythm 24, hope wearing on upper arm will hold tight when doing high intensity workouts.
Hey Ray
Now that Clever Training have started shipping, Would you please publish the full review on the final product.
Thanks
Kannan
Hey Ray
When can we expect your full review on the final product ? How is the HR monitor better than Suunto spartan sport series as both use the same Valencell technology ?
One thing I find it frustrating in my Suunto optical HR is that, it doesn’t read my HR as I have lot of hair on my hand (including wrist), only solution is to shave it around the place where I wear the watch. Hope this will go away with Rythem 24 ?
Thanks
Kannan
Hi Ray,
Do you know when the Rhythm 24 will be available in the UK? Shipping from the US seems to be expensive.
Many thanks
Will
Ray mentioned clever Training UK/Europe for the 24!
Don’t forget for readers to add the 10% coupon code at the end, DCR10BTF, so that’s totally applicable here.
It works in the UK, I bought it with the discount, thanks Ray.
Thank you just ordered one for UK. Hope they will delivery in first week of June – fingers crossed 🙂
Many thanks. I have ordered one now from Clevertraining UK. Delivery expected mid June.
My Clever Training Scosche Rhythm 24 order just shipped. It’s a day 1 black version order.
CT just shipped my blue version as well.
Mine shipped too. I’ve been searching the webs to see if there was a manual on line, but haven’t seen one yet. Has anyone seen one? [Yes, I’m a RTFM type of guy, don’t judge me! 😉 ]
Strange… these are now shipping, but I’m not finding a product listing on the Scosche.com website.
Looks like it’s on now: link to scosche.com
Ummm… no Android support? Only crApple? Any plan for Android? Otherwise… I won’t even open the package.
I & others have answered this Qn so many times now…
Just opened mine up and read the manual. So I can’t even change this to the “Run” mode without having the Android app. Now I see the concern the others were having. Hope the Android app (that was supposed to be out toward the end of May) comes out before the return period for the 24 gets close.
No it wasn’t supposed be then, it was always ~3mths after the iOS app.
I said May based on a response from Scosche, link to dcrainmaker.com So when was the iOS app released? I got this from Clever Training, so I have 60 days before the return period to see if this can really do everything it’s supposed to.
I posted excerpts from an email exchange I had with them in a few places but can’t find it now, can’t waste any more time on it. iOS app came out roughly a mth ago, maybe a bit more.
I reckon it’ll be another mth “tops”, prolly sooner, but worst case 2mths…
We have always said the Android app was approximately 2 months behind the launch. We understand the frustration and are trying to release a Lite version of Android app in the next week, with the full version coming in August. In the meantime, you can use it out of the box in heart rate only mode, transmitting to your mobile device via Ant+ or Bluetooth, or if you have a sport mode selector on your device and can connect via Ant+, when you change modes on your device, the R24 should change as well. This only happens in Ant+. I will post on here when the Lite and full versions are released.
Steve @ Scosche, you said “if you have a sport mode selector on your device and can connect via Ant+, when you change modes on your device, the R24 should change as well. This only happens in Ant+.” I just paired my R24 to my Garmin 645, via Ant+. Does that mean if I use “Run” on the Garmin, it’ll set the R24 to Run mode, or is the Sport Selecter something else that I’m misunderstanding? Worse comes to worse, I know a few people with iPhones, and I might be able to ask one of them if I could borrow it to change the mode. Only downside is they love ragging on the Android platform. Thanks.
Just checked:
In multisport mode in my Fenix6pro, when the sport changes, the Rhythm24 mode changes as well !!!
Nice, very very nice.
What would be nicer is auto-recording when swimming is engaged…
Not nice. When I put my Rhythm24 in HR only mode, I expect it to stay there. It’s annoying to have to tell my Edge 830 that “yes, I really want to use the actual cadence sensor, not the Rhythm24” each and every time.
So I just got mine yesterday from CT, and promptly went for a run this AM using the Rhythm 24.
My first thoughts are that this thing is real comfy. Especially later in the run when I am getting winded, the arm band is more comfortable than the chest strap that I have been using for years.
I felt that the HR data was accurate, maybe a little low but I have not run in 3 days and it was 50F outside.
However after the run, when I saw my data, I am concerned.
My Garmin 920XT calculated 140 kcal for a 11.3 mile run at a 8 min/mile pace. This is totally inaccurate. It should be around 1200-1300 kcal based on my recent similar efforts. I examined the HR data that was recorded, and it looks to be accurate, there are no dropouts or spikes. The numbers all look good. So I am not sure what would cause this calorie count to be so far off.
Also, I did have the strap in “run” mode, and had set up the Rhythm 24 as the cadence source. The cadence data is totally off as well. Garmin reported a 22 spm average. Similar recent efforts using a Garmin foot pod and HRM-RUN Garmin HR strap are in the ~170 spm average.
Garmin Recovery Advisor also gave me a 0 hour recovery time at the end of my run. I would expect it to give me a ~48 hour recovery time for a run of this distance based on my experience with this feature.
My Garmin 920XT is running firmware version 9.70
I have pulled the FIT file off the watch and will be submitting a ticket to Scosche. Wondering if anyone else has seen anything like this yet.
Neat product, but I think there is something that is not calculating properly somewhere with Garmin or Scosche.
I took mine out cycling this morning and go the same “0 hour recovery” message. When I received it yesterday I put it in cycling mode, but this morning had a change of heart and had real trouble switching it into heart rate only mode. I tried numerous times with the app, and each time it flipped back. I don’t think I ever got it to switch because my Edge 1000 asked me which cadence sensor I wanted to use.
I’m going to try “heart rate variability” mode next (if I can get it to switch) just to see if getting (fake?) variability data fixes the recovery time. There’s no description of the modes anywhere I can find, though. That and the fact that I use an old Garmin hardshell chest belt (which doesn’t transmit variability data so far as I know) makes me think that something else is going on. (Maybe you need to build up historical data for each individual HR sensor?)
Took it out for the first time today. A short hour & a half easy ride. Heart rate data way under my usual numbers. Have owned several HR monitors over the last 30+ years and still own seven so I know what the numbers should be. I wore it on my upper arm just as I did with the original Scosche. I’ll try it on my forearm tomorrow.
I received the Scosche 24 from CT yesterday and used it for a 12 mile ride on my road bike. I too saw bad calories – way low, about 110 after a 45 min ride. The 24 was paired to my Garmin FR735XT. The heart rate seemed very reasonable, but didn’t have a way to really test. The cadence results seemed reasonable as well.
Good idea about sending FIT file to Scosche.
I caught your posting about two hours into a six hour ride. I, too, noticed the heart rate was much lower than my chest strap. I had the Rhythm24 on my upper arm (paired to a Wahoo Elemnt). I switched it to just above my elbow. Better numbers and matching close to my Garmin Fenix 5 (not paired to anything). I’m using the stock setting out of the box, but I use Android (can’t change any settings on the Rhythm24). I read there is a bike mode for the Rhythm24… but, need the app to change that setting. Waiting for the release of the Android version of the app.
Chris: if the Scosche was reporting the wrong cadence to Garmin (22!) that could account for why the Garmin calculation was so far off even if the HR was correct? Try it in HR only mode (not ideal obviously if you wanted to use the cadence feature) and see if it makes a difference for now…
Yeah good point. That is probably part of the issue.
I dont really care about the cadence feature. I have used a Garmin footpod for years without any issue. Don’t mind continuing to use it. All I really wanted was a more comfortable heart rate monitor.
Planning to use the Rhythm 24 tomorrow for a bike ride. Ill run a second computer with a Garmin HR strap to compare charts and averages.
We have been testing with a ForeRunner 230 to confirm our understandings.
* Calorie data is provided by the Valencell chipset in the R24 and it is ALSO calculated in the FR230.
* Calorie data is only transmitted from the R24 thru ANT+ when in Running Mode. This is a limitation of ANT+, not a decision by Scosche or Valencell.
* Calorie data is not transmitted in any mode other than Running Mode and it not transmitted via Bluetooth. Again, a limitation of the ANT+ and Bluetooth protocols, not a decision by Scosche or Valencell.
* Calorie data is recorded on the R24 when you record your workout. You will need to upload the FIT file after your workout to see the calorie data.
* The FR230 is making its own calorie calculation internal. This appears to be a proprietary Garmin algorithm. We are not sure what data they are basing the calorie calculation on, and we confirmed it differs from what the Valencell algorithm is outputting.
* We have alerted Valencell to the difference and are asking for clarification on their algorithm used to calculate calories.
I would also like to note, I understand with an an Android device and therefore can’t change modes on your device without an available Android app. And you will be unable to upload a recorded FIT file from the device with an Android app. We are still working on the Android app and plan to release a Lite version in the next week, and the full version in August. In the meantime, if you have your R24 connected via ANT+, when you change your device to Running Mode, it will tell the R24 to switch to Running Mode. Then you should be able to receive the Valencell calorie data transmission.
@Steve, thank you for engaging in this thread. There are numerous issues with the R24 that go far beyond the cracking case– thought that is very serious. I am a huge fanboy of the Rhythm+, and I have been looking forward to my R24 since it pre-ordered it upon announcement. To add to an earlier post, these are all the things that stopped working with my Garmin 735XT when I switched from my R+ to my R24 last week:
* Training Effect = 1.0 for all runs (used to vary based on workout intensity)
* Recovery Time = 0 for all runs (used to vary based on workout intensity)
* Performance Condition graph missing from Garmin Connect
* Calories understated compared to prior runs with the R+
Just looking at the above 4, something is missing or wrong in the data transmitted from the R24 to my Garmin 735XT, and based on other posts, it is not just this watch model.
One of the huge features I wanted was the swim capability– to capture HR data in my swims the same as Garmin’s HRM-Swim and HRM-Tri. Currently, it is not working, and I found it impossible to get anything of use out of the R24 in a swim. I tried capturing a swim in the device (which is cumbersome, and not something I would ever do outside of this experimenting.)
* Swim HR cache & forward to the Garmin does not work
* Swim internal capture in the R24 timestamp wrong (off by 4 hours)
* The net of the above is that the swim HR feature and data are useless– I could not fix the file, merge it into my Garmin FIT file, or do anything to view the data. And, it could not be viewed in the context of my swim workout intervals.
These all seem like easy firmware fixes, and I hope that they come out in the next couple weeks so that I continue using my R24 without the currently degraded performance I am experiencing.
Steve,
Thanks for the reply.
I am not sure that totally makes sense on calorie calculation. You say this only happens in running mode, but I am seeing the same inconsistency in cycling mode as well.
I do not have any calorie calculation issues using this same Garmin 920 watch when using other third party heart rate monitors. I even have a cheap Chinese no-name ANT+ strap that I paid less than $10 for on eBay, and it is giving me accurate calorie calculation on my Garmin 920, both when running and cycling.
There must be some what to get the R24 to work the same way. Uploading a separate file just seems like too big of a burden when there are other products out there that work seamlessly.
My casing is also cracking. I emailed the support email address that you provided. I opened a ticket through your website almost a week ago and no one ever responded to that support request. Hopefully going direct to the email address yields better results. I am leaning towards just returning for a refund but I might stick it out until a firmware update comes out to see if this improves performance.
Jaques – through the ANT+ connection, your Garmin watch with change the mode of your Rhythm24. This works for Running and Cycling modes. And Rhythm24 LED will change from Blue (or your current heart rate zone) to Purple while the Rhythm24 resets to the new activity (a few seconds).
Useless on swimming is the most accurate review I have seen so far. I echo that base on my experience with R24 and Fenix 5X
Anybody figure out how to get connected as a biking cadence sensor?
I know see it connected as I linked it as a heart rate monitor, maybe it does cadence automatically when this is done, will check on the road in the am
You need to put it in cycling mode. Then it will be visible as a cadence sensor as well as an HR sensor.
Went for a two hour ride, heart rate seemed very good, cadence awful, seemed to show heart rate rather than cadence or some radom number always higher than actual cadence (but would find accurate cadence for a few minutes also randomly)
Yep this thing is NOT accurate on the bicep. I hit the spin bike at the hotel for a few minutes. 4 on the bicep and 4 on the forearm. HR jumped right away when I moved the strap to my forearm. Went from 105 to about 120 bpm as soon as I moved it. Not a big fan of this as I cannot keep the strap stable on forearm without making it overly tight.
I don’t think this is the source of the calorie issue, as even at the lower HR the calories should be many times higher.
Chris, everyone’s anatomy is different. The optical sensor sees blood perfusion in the capillaries in the tissues under the skin. Try moving the sensor around the upper forearm, the bicep or tricep areas until you get a reading that is accurate for you.
Garmin 935 is seeing the Scosche 24 only a cadence sensor, not HR sensor. Seems to show HR data. Getting ready for 1st run with those two and Garmin RD pod (from which I expect to get the cadence data.
Any idea on how to get the 935 to see the 24 as an HR unit?
3 workouts done so far… 1 strength training, 1 spin cycle, 1 outdoor run. All in HR only mode, all worn on my forearm below the elbow with the device on the outside of my arm.
1st the strength training… I normally use a Polar H10 paired to my Apple Watch S3 since the built in optical HR in the Apple Watch is next to useless when lifting weights (so was my old Garmin). I paired the 24 to the Apple Watch (easy as could be) and it did an “ok” job. It did hit on all my intervals but with significant lag (the wrist based HR would actually go down before) and I suspect it missed some of my peak HRs on some of the sets. It was close and to be honest if I didn’t already have a chest strap I probably would be ok with this but I suspect in the future I will continue to wear a chest strap for lifting as it picks up sets instantly and with no lag (although I do wear electrode gel with it to help.)
2nd the spin bike: This worked great paired to both the Apple Watch and an older Garmin Edge 510 I have permanently mounted to the spin bike. The Apple Watch did ok with wrist based optical but was very slow to pickup intervals, the 24 seems to get them nearly as fast and as accurately as a chest strap and I can use both my ANT+ and Bluetooth devices at the same time. I’ll be curious to see how this works on my hybrid outdoor bike because wrist based is useless with a bumpy road but I *hate* wearing a chest strap hunched over on a bike, it always slides on me.
3rd the outdoor run: This was a steady state run with the Apple Watch and while the Apple Watch does well 90% of the time for me (and other times inexplicably has periods of time where it is very off or just records nothing) the 24 seems dead on with a nice gradual build over 30 minutes just like I would expect and even recorded my high near max HR at the end when I went all out for the last 1/2 mile. Intervals will be key but it was very comfortable to wear and didn’t slide at all.
Some last thoughts?
1. I’m glad I waited to get this instead of the original Scosche because with 24 hour battery life that means I can charge the device once every week or two instead of once every few days which makes it easier to justify “one more device” to deal with.
2. I’m glad I got a device with ANT+ and Bluetooth rather than one or the other.
3. The strap works GREAT and is easy to adjust. The device stays put and is comfortable. The strap does get damp from sweat and I imagine it might be a good idea to get a 2nd strap so I can change it out to dry or wash sometimes.
4. I paid the $99 premium vs. the others at $79 to get the latest Valencell tech and 24 hour battery and so far it seems very good to me. I know there are a lot of other features here that many of you will want to explore like storing workouts for later transmission, cadence etc. but I can only comment on HR so far.
It was a LONG wait of 6 months from when this was announced but it seems a solid product.
Thanks for posting. Weird about the strength workouts.
These optical HR units always struggle with strength workouts. When I am deadlifting, doing rows, overhead press, bench press etc. my forearms are engaged and the muscle movement in the arm throws off the sensor. I have not yet tried it on my bicep or tricep so maybe a different position for wear would improve things. That said it is far better than the wrist which when engaged (basically it always is except for running lol) causes huge inaccuracies with watches etc.
Ah, I see. Thanks!
First real comparison test here. This was a road ride with the Scosche on my bicep in cycling mode. Garmin hard shell chest band and Garmin magnetless cadence sensor paired to my Epix, Scosche both HR and cadence paired to my Edge 1000. Both Edge and Epix paired to the Garmin magnetless speed sensor and the PowerPod.
HR looks very good. As for the cadence, it looks OK, but it was immediately obvious that the Scosche will never get 0 cadence right, since there’s always going to be some other signal to grab its attention. When I stopped pedaling, the number started to wander rather than going to 0. Still it looks pretty good considering it’s being taken on my arm.
I have now received my Rythm24 and have used it for a 19mi run. Heart rate is good and comparable to what my Rythm+ would have recorded. I used it as it came out of the box. No change in settings through app.
I used it with my Garmin Forerunner 230. The following things do not work (yet):
1. Calories – only showing 376C where it should have been in the range of 2,000C
2. Training Effect – only showing 1.0
3. Recovery Time – 0 hours
I set up another test today.
Approx 13 miles on the bike.
Rhythm 24 on my forearm, paired to a 920XT in Cycling mode. Rhythm 24 in HR only mode. Rhythm 24 cadence sensor un-paired from watch. Also paired the watch to a magnetless cadence sensor.
Also ran a Garmin HRM-RUN chest strap, paired to a Edge 520. Paired to same magnetless cadence sensor.
Both devices were set to no auto-pause, and were started/stopped at the same time.
All data matches up, HR data looks pretty close on both units. However the calorie numbers for the Rhythm 24 are very low still. Rhythm 24 gave me 62 kcal, Garmin chest strap gave me 449 kcal.
There is something wrong with these device. I do not think it is my devices based on others that are seeing the same issue. This seems like something that Scosche would have noticed in beta testing.
Ray, have you had any communication with Scosche regarding this issue? I entered a ticket but so far no response.
I haven’t, it’s on my to-do list to validate my results and then circle back with them either way.
For me I’ve largely been using the Scosche 24 with Suunto products for running tests (wearables), and then for cycling tests I’ve been using with the Garmin Edge series.
I don’t tend to look at calories much to be honest, so I’ve gotta circle back and see what those values look like on the various devices.
That all said – the last time folks had odd calorie issues was when the original Rhythm+ came out, and Scosche had to do a small firmware update to address it on certain 3rd party devices.
would you please publish your reviews – I am thinking of cancelling my pre-order now. Looks like HR is not accurate as compared to their previous model.
Kannan,
I would recommend waiting. I am probably going to return mine, I also have some for team members and I am going to recommend they return theirs as well.
I might look at the Polar unit, or just stick with the chest strap.
Luckily I bought from Clever Training so I know they will be understanding with the return.
Glad you replied, I just emailed them back to cancel my order. Hopefully they will honor it and do the refund.
Done just cancelled it !!, such a shame, I was waiting for this product since this review was published.
Hope they will fix all these niggling issues in the next firmare update.
Just ordered Polar OH1, Not sure whether I will move to Rhythm 24 now. Hope OH1 syncs well with Suunto spartan sports watches.
Has anyone tried the Swim HR upload? I tried it with my FR 935 without any luck I put the device in swim mode It’s paired to my FR 935 and I also tried recording the workout. I think the issue might be after the workout if you go to view the current workout the date is off by 6 hrs if you save the workout then the date gets updated to whats on the phone.
Confirmed with Scosche support the tech’s device was also off on the timestamp of the device 🙁
I swam with mine this morning and got the same result. No sync of HR to my 920XT and the time stamp was off when I synced the workout to my phone from the strap afterwards.
Bart, we are looking into the time stamp discrepancy Should have a fix soon. We’ll push it through the Rhythm Sync app.
Hello Steve @ Scosche,
Any update on the swim issue with FR935? I just got my Rhythm24 and was super excited that it gave me real-time HR data during my swim. However, I was super annoyed that it will not pair that HR data to my swim workout. I just got the device yesterday and my firmware is fully up to date.
Please help!
Abel B.
This seems to be a creeping trend… releasing products to the consumer market before the product is ready.
For the Rhythm24… no Android app… which means… no way to install a firmware update to fix what is broke. (This is starting to read like the Hammerhead Karoo and some of the Garmin devices.)
I’m back to wearing my Wahoo Tickr chest-strap. I’m not getting paid to beta test Scoshe’s product for them.
totally agree with you.
What a shame to see the units shipped with no Android app available. I waited a long time for this and even delayed on buying a chest strap but as I am both Android and Garmin user I won’t be purchasing.
We understand the frustration and are trying to release a Lite version of Android app in the next week, with the full version coming in August. In the meantime, you can use it out of the box in heart rate only mode, transmitting to your mobile device via Ant+ or Bluetooth, or if you have a sport mode selector on your device and can connect via Ant+, when you change modes on your device, the R24 should change as well. This only happens in Ant+. I will post on here when the Lite and full versions are released.
Regarding any firmware updates, I know the workaround isn’t popular, but if you can have a friend with an iPhone download the Rhythm Sync app, it’s fairly painless to pair and update the firmware of your R24 on the borrowed iPhone.
Is the Android version going to work with Motorola phones or just Samsung. I’m hoping that I misunderstood this on the scosche site.
Received this product last week. Wore it on a 3.5 hour ride, and it worked great. Went for a run with it the following day, and it suddenly came loose 2 miles in. When I examined the sensor, I discovered that the plastic on the unit broke at one of the corners that hold the pins for the strap. The only upside is that I wasn’t doing an open water swim because the sensor would have been on the bottom of a lake with me left to wonder what happened. Very disappointing! I’d like to know if anybody has experienced this problem…
I just had this happen to me. While sliding the strap over my forearm, a corner of the plastic casing cracked, releasing the pin and the strap. I’ve only used the unit a couple of times and was putting very little pressure on the strap. I wonder if the manufacturing issues that caused delays has not been fully worked out. Very disappointing.
Blerg. Uploaded wrong photo. Here’s the crack.
When I saw your picture I checked mine under a magnifying glass: it’s developing the exact same crack on the same corner!
In case Scosche doesn’t answer by morning, I’ll circle back to them and the other issues folks have raised (primarily calorie ones) over the last few days and see what they say.
This is the exact same thing that happened to mine…
This is what I got back from Steven Sawyer (Product Development Manager) regarding the Garmin Calorie, Recovery Time and Training Effect issues:
“We have been testing with a ForeRunner 230 to confirm our understandings.
Calorie data is provided by the Valencell chipset in the R24 and it is ALSO calculated in the FR230.
Calorie data is only transmitted from the R24 thru ANT+ when in Running Mode. This is a limitation of ANT+, not a decision by Scosche or Valencell.
Calorie data is not transmitted in any mode other than Running Mode and it not transmitted via Bluetooth. Again, a limitation of the ANT+ and Bluetooth protocols, not a decision by Scosche or Valencell.
Calorie data is recorded on the R24 when you record your workout. You will need to upload the FIT file after your workout to see the calorie data.
The FR230 is making its own calorie calculation internal. This appears to be a proprietary Garmin algorithm. We are not sure what data they are basing the calorie calculation on, and we confirmed it differs from what the Valencell algorithm is outputting.
We have alerted Valencell to the difference and are asking for clarification on their algorithm used to calculate calories.
I would also like to note, I understand you have an Android device and therefore can’t change modes on your device without an available Android app. And you will be unable to upload a recorded FIT file from the device with an Android app. We are still working on the Android app and plan to release a Lite version by this weekend, and the full version by Aug 1. In the meantime, if you have your R24 and FR230 connected via ANT+, when you change your FR230 to Running Mode, it will tell the R24 to switch to Running Mode. Then you should be able to receive the Valencell calorie data transmission.”
I have now connected the R24 and my FR230 via ANT+ and the issues seems to be resolved.
I have also already informed Steven of the crack issue and sent him my picture.
This is a photo of mine…
Thanks, Ray. Upon closer inspection, I see that the other corner of my unit is also cracked, so if the corner to the upper left of the serial number hadn’t given way, the corner to the upper left would have given way soon. Given that my unit has two cracked corners (both on the serial number side), and several other folks are reporting cracked corners, it seems likely that it’s a design or manufacturing flaw, and the question is what percentage of units are affected.
Clever Training has been fantastic about arranging a return. I’m torn as to whether I should try a new unit or wait to see if kinks need to be worked out.
Had been holding out for this as wanted a dual HRM for Apple TV and Zwift but also use with my Edge 1000 and 910xt.
Think I’ll go with a Wahoo as I was also looking to record time and heart rate data for gym Spinning and Circuit classes and load up to Garmin Connect and Strava afterward rather than having to wear the 910xt.
It’s a pitty. Time to decide what option to go for now…
To correct the typo above, both corners to the upper left and right of the serial number are cracked.
….. as an Android user
If I had to take a guess, this issue is likely due to the case design and torquing of the bolts. New production line and I bet the torques are out of control leading to the extra pressure and cracking on these corners. So far my unit it ok, fingers crossed…..
From Scosche –
We have received a few concerns with cracking issues on our recently launched Rhythm24 heart rate monitor. We take quality very seriously at Scosche and want the best experience for our customers. For anyone that has a Rhythm24 with a cracked base, we will issue you a replacement unit at no cost. To receive your replacement unit, please contact Scosche Technical Support at (800) 363-4490 and select option 3 to be connected to a Customer Service Representative. You can also reach us via email at customerservice@scosche.com.
I would like toi know if/when the calorie calculation issue is going to be resolved. If that is a long way off, Ill just RMA the strap to Clever Training, rather than get a replacement from Scosche that still does not work right.
Also, Scosche was engaging directly with users on this website in the past. How come once the issues start, they go silent? It would be very helpful for us and them if they were to address these issues directly. I have heard nothing back from them regarding the ticket I opened with them last weekend.
Appreciate the offer, but you have a design defect on your hands. A replacement is not going to solve that problem.
We have received a few concerns with cracking issues on our recently launched Rhythm24 heart rate monitor. I am very sorry for those of you that are experiencing this issue.
We take quality very seriously at Scosche and want the best experience for our customers. We have done extensive testing and have worked very hard to make sure defects like this don’t happen. We have not seen any cracking case issues on any pre-production units, off-tool samples or through pilot production. Early mass production units also tested well.
We are doing everything we can to identify the cause of the defect and how many units escaped our quality controls. We are working to accomplish this as rapidly as possible. And we will absolutely make it right for every one of you, and correct the problem moving forward.
For anyone that has a Rhythm24 with a cracked base, we will issue you a replacement unit at no cost. To receive your replacement unit, please contact Scosche Technical Support at (800) 363-4490 and select option 3 to be connected to a Customer Service Representative. You can also reach us via email at customerservice@scosche.com, or contact me directly at stevens@scosche.com
Come on Scosche !!! You can’t release such a product to the market. You should take all these products back and redo the design. Such a shame.
Can anyone confirm if the new unit will fit on the old version charging dock? My unit came with a broken charging dock and in between the cost of returning the new unit and waiting for Scosche to warranty I am at a complete loss.
No, it doesn’t fit. The new contacts are slightly farther apart.
Nathaniel, please contact customer service and we will send you a new charging cradle free of charge.
(800) 363-4490 option #3
or email me directly at stevens@scosche.com
Thanks for the reply Steve, I was able to get a hold of someone in customer service and they sent me a new charger ASAP that I received Friday. Now that I’ve been using the device for the entire weekend, I am really happy with it. No signs of cracking and no signal dropouts.
I’ve been a rhythm user for years. Been on a few runs with my new Scosche Rhythm 24. It connects to Zwift just fine, with no dropouts, through my ANT+ dongle. HR tracks a little higher than with my old Rhythm+ . However, when paired with my Fenix 5s, I get dropouts continuously. Like every 20-30seconds. I have updated my watch, rebooted everything, unpaired, re-paired, fully charged, etc. I have no idea what is going on. My watch has no issues connecting to any other HR sensor, including my other Rhythms and my garmin strap. Any ideas??
I would say make sure your strap adjusted to be snug and the placement on your arm is correct (forearm or upper arm). If the center LED is purple it means it isn’t getting a good signal and you may need to adjust your positioning on your arm.
Ray, thank you for your review and all of the insights. I pre-ordered mine from Clever Training, and I got it last week in time for my long run on Saturday. And today, I took it on its first swim. I was hoping that it would cache and forward the HR data to my 735XT for the swim, but I got no HR data in the Garmin file. You mention above that the swim feature may have been in beta and not available yet.
Have you had any updates from Scosche or even experienced the feature during your in-depth testing?
I spoke with a Scosche support person today who was very helpful and did some research inside to follow-up. However, he said that the only method to capture swim HR data was to manually put the device into “Swim” mode from a mobile app and then capture the activity inside the R24 via the little button. This pretty much won’t work for me, since I would probably forget one or both steps during my swims. I just want it to work with my Garmin watch the same as with an HRM-Tri or HRM-Swim.
Brian,
I think you’ll have the same issue as well if you put your device in swim mode and record the activity you are going to find the timestamp of the activity will be several hours off and will not match the activity of your watch. If the timestamps don’t match then it will not be imported into your swim activity. My other observation is the unit does not feel very durable (cheap) not sure I am going to keep this one 🙁
I’ve been experiencing the same frustration. I bought the R24 mainly as an option to capture HR data in the pool, but the store and forward function does not seem to be working. I’m using a Garmin 735XT to record the workout, and the separate R24 heart rate only file is no good to me since the R24 doesn’t include lap count, pace, etc.
I will probably return the R24 to Clever Training unless I learn of a firmware update that fixes this problem. From reading some of the other comments, it sounds like it could be something to do with an incorrect timestamp on the cached data during the swim mode?
Any updates on this?
I have been trading emails and phone calls with Scosche tech support and product management. I encourage you to contact their tech support as well to add some customer momentum. There is definitely confusion on Scosche’s end about the importance of the swim HR feature.
I tried to capture and use the swim HR file today, and it was totally useless. It will not load into Garmin Connect or Strava for any kind of useful visualization, and I tried all the Internet FIT tools I could find to try to correct and merge the R24 file to no avail.
I bought mine specifically for swimming HR with my Fenix 5, so pretty disappointed to receive it today and find that retrieving cached HR isn’t working. It searches and searches but no luck! Is this just broken or was it never actually meant to work?
Yep mine started breaking during a ride yesterday. I have worn this thing 4 times max.
This thing is NOT multi-sport ready.
Returning to Clever Training, and I will advise my team members that have them to do the same. Between the questionable HR accuracy, the calorie calculation issues, and the device falling apart after very light usage, the Rhythm 24 is useless to me.
This really pisses me off! >:-( I live in Japan. Such a pain in the ass to make a return. Plus, the $30.00, I paid for shipping to Japan.
Jaques, if you are experiencing a cracked case or other manufacturing defect, please call customer service and they will take care of you, even in Japan. You may also contact me directly at stevens@scosche.com (see my other posts regarding this issue).
Thank you, Steve!
@Steve @ Scosche — Amazon USA estimates the 24 will be available beginning next week (6/14). May I order with confidence that the units in the Amazon batch are not from the batch that has case cracking issues?
The case crack issue is the only thing holding me back from an order. I am glad that you have a good replacement plan in place, however I don’t want to deal with the hassle of a replacement. I also don’t want an exercise device that I have to treat with excessive gingerness to avoid breaking it — I want to be confident in its ruggedness so I can forget about it, not concerned about its frailty and monitoring it for possible loss while swimming, etc.
Hi Guys,
I am running into some issue with the HR reading when the strap is set to HR mode.
1. my watch ( suunto Ambit2s) is having issue reading the heart rate, once in a while it will read but it is constantly dropping off. The strap has no issue pairing to the watch. my garmin/wahoo/suunto chesty has no problem at all with the watch.
2. When i download the file from the strap via the ios app, export the file and send via emails, and manually upload the .fit file to Strava. The heart rate data is missing.
If i share the data to strava via the app, the heart rate data is present. why the manual upload would not work?
Can someone give me a pointer on what i need to do? Thanks.
Maybe due to the new HR policy?
link to strava.com
This got me SO nervous! I thought all of them were cracked from the assembly line. I use mine mainly for an unusual purpose: sleep tracking (which was also supposed to be a mode in the app, I had read). Anyway, I thought my unit, which arrived about 4 days ago, was SURELY cracked after those pictures. I beta test for Sleep As Android because of several sleep disorders. I am a “violent ” sleeper, restless legs syndrome and so forth. I thought I surely must have cracked it the other night. Only the Scosche Rhythm+ stayed on all night, and by the time this new one arrived, my skin had wounds on it from all the tape I used to keep that horrible Velcro band attached every night.
So, I got the magnifier going, took every conceivable picture, and it is not a universal manufacturing defect affecting all units. Nor does it feel “cheap.” Even if it did, it works and is not cracked. I have included one of many magnified pictures below: no cracks anywhere.
I was very relieved because I was waiting and waiting for them to finally release it. I sure wish they had an iPad app, though. That’s disappointing. iOS is better with Bluetooth in fitness apps than Android, which is my phone. Tomorrow my iFriend will lend me her iPhone to upgrade the iFirmware. 😉
I have one question: where does one place the device for running cadence? I was thinking of getting an old Polar footpod until I discovered this can actually do it. And so you just tell your favorite app to capture running cadence? Because that was a no-go for cycling cadence. I tried it right out of the box going 20+ mph. Didn’t pick it up. It recognized a cycling cadence device but no numbers. I went back to my Wahoo bike shoepod.
I am interested in taking it into the park for a run and an idea of how I’ll do in a 5 K. I usually run on an indoor device. It’s like a treadmill.
Anyway, no cracks and night before last, I beat the dickens out of the thing during an RLS episode.
Robin – to capture cycling cadence it needs to be in Cycling mode, and to capture running cadence it needs to be in running mode. To change modes you need to change modes within the Rhythm sync app. Right now only iOS is out, but a light version for Android should be out next week. The Light version will allow you to change modes, but I don’t think it will allow you to update firmware. Full Android app is due sometime end of August.
Cadence in those two modes has not yielded anything accurate for me, so do not spend too much time fiddling with it until a firmware update.
I’ve found it pretty accurate except when I stop pedaling. Then the Scosche just doesn’t realize what’s going on. If I could switch it out of cycling mode (it switches back when I use the iOS app), I’d do that. As it is, I have to tell my Edge 1000 to switch to a real cadence sensor. For HR it’s been as accurate as my Garmin hardshell HR belts.
I used the R24 in a 1 hr spin class yesterday and cadence from the R24 matched what the computer on the indoor bike read. I’m impressed, because it’s hard for me to get my head around how a device placed on your forearm can figure out what your feet are doing! The HR readings I’m getting seem reasonable.
link to youtu.be
Here’s a link to a video instruction manual from Scosche.
EM wrote:
[quote]The case crack issue is the only thing holding me back from an order. I am glad that you have a good replacement plan in place, however I don’t want to deal with the hassle of a replacement. [/quote]
It’s great to see Steve from Scosche participating in this thread and attempting to do the right thing, but I think EM raises a fair question that deserves an answer.
Has Scosche identified the cause of cracks?
What has Scosche done to resolve the problem in manufacturing?
If Scosche is just saying, “Well, most don’t crack so we’ll just continue to ship and replace any that crack free of charge while we determine the root cause of the problem,” then I think EM is correct and, like him, I don’t want any part of this product. I’m not a lucky person when it comes to this sort of thing.
“What has Scosche done to resolve the problem in manufacturing?”
Since this popped up on units to people, they’ve:
A) Paused all manufacturing
B) Issued stop-ship notices to all retailers with stock, asking them to zero-out the inventory and cease any further shipments until they figured it out, even for stock on-hand for backorders. All existing/unshipped stock will be returned to Scosche.
C) Setup an e-mail and hotline number for existing impacted customers
D) Offered on the spot replacement with known-good units to existing customers
E) Also commented up here a fair bit, including personal e-mail addresses to e-mail if support is somehow failing (as it seems).
Obviously, they don’t yet know why (or haven’t shared why) the cracking is occurring. My guess is what a few people noted above around over-torque of that bolt causing it (thankfully an easy fix if true).
Given what Scosche is doing, I’m not sure I can blame them for not putting in a good effort to get to the bottom of it. One can blame them for it slipping past QA somehow, or that the Android app isn’t ready, or perhaps even the calorie thing (though, I suspect we’ll find that’s a trickier beast due to the way Garmin handles it).
But I think they way they’ve handled the issues seems legit. I’m sure they’ll either share the cause of the issue or that it’s been rectified. The fact that they’ve asked retailers to effectively kill any inventory of units and ship them back is a pretty big step.
Great info! I have to take off my hat to the way they have handled this whole thing from the start (no question replacement including postage, Steve’s participation here at DCR, etc.).
If I were Scosche, I’d have broadcast from the mountaintops the info you shared here because it puts them in a very good light.
I’d like to know if the initial delay in shipping was due to the manufacturing defect? I’m waiting for the android app before making a decision on which optical HR to purchase to replace my Mio Link.
It was previously noted the initial delay was due to units not passing QA testing coming off the line (it was totally unrelated to case cracking however).
I have been trying to reach Scosche for about a week now, with zero response back from them. Any other option like a personal email address or something?
Just scroll a bit up, or, direct to this comment link: link to dcrainmaker.com
I there any way serial number range that were pulled out? I hope i dont buy flawed one :/
Not sure that has been the case. Bought my unit 3 weeks ago ( mid July) and spindle support bracket failed. Would have thought that issue should have been resolved by the time I purchased it judging from the above statement. Not totally convinced that problem has been resolved.
I must say that Clever training and Steve at Scosche have been very helpful and am getting the faulty monitor replaced rather than refunded. I’m sure the replacement will be fine. More than satisfied with customer service at both the company’s
Just bought the rhythm 24. Pros:. Heart rate seems very accurate. WAY more comfortable than a chest strap, immediately synced to my Garmin watch. Does have to be spit on:. During the winter, my chest strap doesn’t work well because my skin is so dry!
Cons:. The scosche site! I got very frustrated looking for scosche Android app (looked for a long time), only to find out on your site that there wasn’t one yet! I also tried to register my band, and it took me to the survey! After reading the comments on this site, I’m concerned that it’s more fragile than it should be!
Overall, I like wearing a watch, so I wanted it as a substitute for my chest band. I’m happy with it…Can’t wait for the Android app, but, again, thanks to this site, my frustrations have been relieved!
Did my first run with the Rhythm 24. Can’t say I’m overly impressed with the recorded HR. I do Galloway “Run / Walk.” So in this instance, I ran 40 seconds, walked 25, repeat until done. I don’t know if that was the cause or something else, but my FR 645 kept losing the R24. I also didn’t get a “Performance Condition” until half the run was over. I did have the R24 on opposite arm of the FR645, but they’re what, a yard/meter apart at the furthest? (using Ant+) It’s further to my opposite foot where I have the Tempe. I guess I can give it another try with them both on the same arm next time. And I did slide it from the forearm to the bicep to see if a different location would help. Guess I should have thought of trying the same arm as well while on the road, but didn’t hit me until just now.
Whoops, thought I hit Ctrl-V. Sorry. link to connect.garmin.com
This time I did a run with it on the same arm as the FR 645. No problems with the heart rate. And it offered to link up the Foot Pod too, I didn’t get that offer last time. But it never got a Performance Condition rating, and the Aerobic/Anaerobic is suspect. (0.1 / 0.2) link to connect.garmin.com Still evaluating, and waiting for Ray’s review.
I agree. I am quite annoyed with the Performance Condition rating and the Aerobic/Anaerobic work feedback. Mine is running in HR mode only which my Fenix 5x is picking up fine, but for some reason the data at the end of my runs shows irrational workout feedback (related to performance condition and Anaerobic/Aerobic work). For clarity, it registers the HR data fine and shows min, max, average HR in a sensible way. What I don’t understand is how the data should be any different to any other external HR monitor than the garmin fenix 5x is receiving as I would have thought the Ant+ data was just “dumb” bpm data. So why does the watch see it as if i have done close to zero work. Is it Garmin’s fault from misinterpreting the “dumb” bpm Ant+ data, or Scosche’s fault for sending “odd” bpm data?
Ray or Scosche, any help understanding this and how this can/should be corrected is appreciated.
Ray,
Maybe you can help since Scoche won’t respond to my support questions. My workouts from my band are 5 hours off (earlier) than my phone/Fenix 3. I haven’t seen a way to manually adjust the time stamp. Have you found a way to do this? Isn’t helpful when trying to sync a workout when it occurs at 6 am and the band is at 1 am.
Also, I will set the mode to swim via iPhone, press record and then also be using my Fenix 3 to swim. The workout downloads as an HR Only mode workout. Is this occurring because my watch and band are paired and it is overriding the mode setting from the phone?
Thanks
Hi,
I’ll be honest: I was this week on the edge of ordering an UK-send Scosche Rhythm24 to the Netherlands to use with Garmin Fenix3. But after reading the issues in software, hardware, and even cracks in housing, I don’t feel comfortable anymore. Still I regret this situation and hope it gets resolved really soon. It’s a shame a product with such potential fails on so many aspects. As a consumer it would be stupid to buy it without assurance this will be dealt with in professional manner. I’ll await the reaction of Scosche when I can order this product with proper assurance I can use it without having fear it will fail…
So far for me it’s worked well for both heart rate and cadence (except for the trouble detecting zero cadence correctly). No cracks at all. Still, I’ve stopped using it for now. I find the arm band just as uncomfortable if not more as the chest strap I’ve been wearing for years. I don’t pay much attention to recovery time, but reporting a zero recovery time is clearly wrong. Apparently being paired to an Edge flips it into cycling mode automatically, and I don’t want that because I already have working cadence sensors on all of my bikes, and having to switch sensors to the one on the bike is just another annoyance. So for now I’m back to the Garmin chest strap. Still I’ll probably use the Scosche on occasion, probably bring and use it if I travel with a bike, and I’ll definitely try it in the winter for cross country skiing.
The quality of this device is below average, this is pathetic, a worthless designer, what a worthless manufacturing. I lost the device while swimming, I guess and I can only guess by the same issue many guys are having. I have send them an email asking for another device (not sure if that may fix the issue) most likely not, or calling the credit card and ask for the money back due to a lemon product. While I say lemon, it may be the whole production. Seriously if anyone was thinking about buying it, just don’t, make yourself a favour and don’t buy it, just for the hassle is not worthy. I live in the uk, so the batch here also have issues.
Stay away out of this product!!
Follow up:. Been using rhythm 24 for almost a week. When I try to pair it with my vivoactive he, it doesn’t initially say “external hr,” but throughout the workout, it vibrates periodically and says”external hr.”. I’m not sure whether that’s a watch or scosche issue. I take a lot of cardio strength classes and it seems to drop off intermittently, but comes right back on. I’m concerned that I am going to break the scosche strap. When I put it on my bicep, it seems too tight when flexed, and I can’t adjust the strap without taking it off. I’m mixed about whether I’m happy with the scosche….I definitely don’t miss my chest strap!
Starting with simple question. If I use Rhytm paired with my watch and do running, is there any benefit to heart rate readings if I switch Rythm from heart rate mode to running mode?
I’ve received my Rhythm 24 couple of days back and thus far I’ve used it for 1 roller skiing activity and 1 walking (both placed on my outside left upper forearm), 2 runs (outside right upper forearm). Thus far I’m unimpressed and close to being disappointed. Will try the gadget on my biceps to see if that improves the readings. For all except waking I’m comparing to Garmin cheststarp (I’m a 935 owner).
For roller skiing and walking I used the heat rate only mode while for runs the running mode. My observations:
1) there was one big extended HR spike in the middle of roller skiing (45 min ride, spike around 20th min) without any reason;
2) during walking I paired the Rhythm with my watch. And during the walk there were several HR spikes again without the reason (from ~65 to even 120);
3) during my shorter run (25 min), there was some elevated readings and spike around 6th min (again, no reason) while the rest was +- OK;
4) in my linger workout with shorter and longer speed sessions and intervals the Rythm was doing OK for first 2 tempo runs, then got a bit jittery during 3rd and 4th (having kind of OK reading and then jumping some 15 bpm higher than the strap), it missed a bit 1st out of 8 following intervals, while during the other 7 it was 15-20 bpm higher than the strap. That’s a lot in my opinion. And for some strange reason this activity was split in 2 activities when I downloaded activity in the app.
If I compare short slow run and walking to the performance of 935 optical, then unfortunately Rythm is behaving for me at the moment. I hope that placing on the biceps helps
Small update. Placed R24 on the outside of my right biceps and readings increased significantly.
Parallel runs with my 935 and Garmin chest strap & R24 in run mode:
1) 45 min workout with small climb and some strides. R24 did a good job of mimicking chest strap;
2) 25 min short run with couple of small climbs – again good performance!
3) 25 min run with only R24 in run mode paired with 935 in ANT+ and no chest strap. One spike and 1-2 dropouts in the beginning. Then it seemed OK.
BUT – after run Aerobic TE = 0.0!!!
Now, this is TOTALLY &%$#$#. Basically it means that I can’t use R24 or my Training load metrics will go down the drain 🙁
Has anyone found a solution for training effect problem?
Follow up from initial comment:. I’ve used my rhythm 24 with my vivoactive hr for about one week. First, when I hit cardio on my watch, it doesn’t always say “external hr” initially, but it will keep vibrating periodically to say it. I’m not sure whether it’s a watch issue or a scosche issue. I initially wore the band on my forearm, but I worried I would break it during planks. I moved it up to my tricep, which seemed to work, but feels very tight when my bicep is contracted. Because of everyone else’s comments, I’m very worried that it’s fragile and I’m going to break it! Once it’s on, it’s hard to adjust the strap, and I also feel like this type of strap will get looser with time. Overall, it seems to give me an accurate hr (at least zone wise….I’m excited about an Android app, where I can compare it to my watch. In general, I like it, but I’m scared I’m going to break it or lose it!
I’ve been waiting patiently for the Android app to come out. I just looked on the scosche site and unless I’m misunderstanding, it looks like the app will only work with certain Android phones, primarily Samsung. Does this mean that I won’t be able to use it with my Motorola phone?
Hi Margie – a bit of detail from Scosche in the comments section on this. Linked here: link to dcrainmaker.com
While we all wait for Ray’s In-Depth review, I thought I’d add a more moderate and positive review of the product for those out on the fence. As we all know, displeased people post far more comments than pleased people.
I’ve been using the R24 for indoor cycling workouts since receiving my pre-order from Clever Training. In that time, I’ve used it alongside a Wahoo Tickr strap that’s been bomb proof for a couple of years. This is all anecdotal (perhaps I’ll get a daypass to the DCR Analyzer sometime) but the two track very closely. I have never seen the two more than 3 BPM different. I think I may see the R24 go up slightly more quickly and perhaps to be slightly slower in lowering, but always within that tight range. I would also say that the R24 seems to be more sensitive because I’ll notice it go up a beat and then down a beat, while the Tickr will just stay steady.
I wear the R24 on the outside of my left upper forearm. I find the device to be comfortable, I have the strap adjusted tight enough to produce solid readings but not to the point of being overly constrictive. I have not notice any cracking issues on the back at all. I’m not sure if I’m just lucky and got a better unit, but I also tend to be kind to my property, i.e. I don’t tend to overtighten, slam cabinets or drawers, drop things to the ground from a foot up, etc.
For what it’s worth, my take on the calorie issue, or any tech issue for that matter, is that it can be easily remedied with firmware fixes. Let’s not forget, most of the negative comments so far have come from people that pre-ordered a new piece of tech. If one doesn’t have the patience to wait for the kinks to be ironed out, it’s probably best to not be a launch customer for a new tech product. Even Apple, beloved by most, usually has to release the x.1 version fairly quickly after the release of any new iOS. There is every reason to believe that the folks at Scosche will iron this out as they did with their previous version.
I fully realize that my experience with this product is quite limited in scope, but based on that experience, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the product to someone if its features ticked enough boxed for them.
You would have to be crazy to buy this unit right now. Even if the firmware issues were ironed out, it still has a defect that causes the case to crack and the strap to release. I can deal with issues that pertain to firmware. As you point out, all new tech typically requires a window to resolve outstanding issues. What I cannot tolerate, however, is a piece of equipment, tech or otherwise, that breaks within days of initial use. If you do own one of these already, do not wear it in open water. If it falls off in a lake, you will be completely SOL.
I think Scosche will probably post shortly, but in talking with them yesterday, it sounds like they found the cause of the manufacturing machine issue that was resulting in the cracks (and thus potentially the strap to release). They believe it was limited to specific batches of early-run units, and have resumed shipping of new units that have been double-checked from a QA standpoint.
Software/firmware issues are of course a different boat, but perhaps not as simple as a boat as people want them to be due to the complexities of how different watches handle HR from a calorie standpoint.
Out of curiosity, where are folks putting the Scosche when swimming? On your arm? Or leg? Trying to envision how I might wear it in the pool.
Not sure if they will enable cadence under water (swimming strokes) but depending on type of swim it will only work accurate on arm (cadence wise). For the rest it won’t matter much probably
Thanks, Patrick. I am only interested in getting the HR, as my 935 will do most everything else I need. Anyone else swim with it somewhere else i.e. around your upper leg?
For those who swim with it on your arm, does it stay on ok through freestyle strokes?
We all know by now about the defective production about scosche 24, my scosche 24 broke while swimming and it was gone forever, I contacted scosche thinking they will send me a replacement, after all it was a lemon product (lemon item most likely) but they said not. I have to contact the credit company because the transaction very recently and most likely I will get the money back. Just to let you know when you buy from these guys you aren’t getting a warranty. Amazing. My recommendation would be to stay away even further than sugar. Clevertraining doesn’t take responsibility of this device, many scosche24 are lemon of the production line. What a horrible dreadful team Scosche and Clevertraning are.
Hey David-
I guess I’m a bit perplexed. At the time you posted this comment on the post and my YouTube video, Scosche had already agreed to send you a replacement unit (in fact, without even offering proof of purchase). They did that about 8 hours prior to your comment publishing. Even moreso, they offered to FedEx to to you (which is set to arrive tomorrow).
Concurrently though, you had contacted Clever Training too. Given you had no product to give back, they were operating at a bit of a loss. But they too also offered to send you one free of charge, just to ensure you were good to go.
Thus I don’t understand how either company is a ‘horrible dreadful team’. In fact, it seems like both companies did their best to get you sorted as fast as humanly possible, including international priority FedEx shipping on a late Friday afternoon. Also, despite your comments otherwise, both companies went well beyond any warranty expectations.
But again, perhaps I’m missing something (though after detailed conversations with both entries following your complaint, I’m 110% sure I’m not missing anything). Cheers.
I’d like to add in my two cents, which are that I’m quite happy with the product I received in the end. The arm band is great, and I’m happy with the responsiveness and accuracy. Yep, looking forward to a new firmware release, but nothing I can’t live without for a few months. Much better than a chest strap!
All right guys, this is Steve from Scosche. We have been debating how much of the little details to share with all of you, but based on the frustrations with us, there seem to be some misconceptions and jumping to conclusions and I want to clear that up.
To start, know that we are taking all of your concerns very seriously and our entire team has been consumed with making this right for all of you. Immediately upon hearing of the problems being reported, mainly through this blog and you all as customers, we made the decision to offer a no questions asked, no cost, warranty return and replace. We wanted everyone to know we were going to take care of them.
Note: “no questions asked”?? Well, we have to have some proof you actually bought a Rhythm24, what color you bought and we need your address. So maybe a couple of questions ; )
Some background: We have had multiple rounds of off-tool samples produced during development for testing. We used and abused them and never experienced cracking. We had a successful pilot run in early March and yielded hundreds of units. Again, no cracking. This is not a design issue. It is a manufacturing issue. That is an important point, I want to be clear. We had our first mass production run in late April / early May and as you all remember those were delayed due to a quality issue. At that time, we discovered there was a problem with the gasket installation in the assembly process that allowed the gasket to twist when the covers were screwed together and if that occurred there would be water leakage if submerged. We decided to quarantine that first shipment until we worked out the issue. Those parts are still quarantined, we corrected the problem with an improved gasket and more rigorous waterproof testing on the production line and waited to ship the next production batch. Know that the units that you all received from Clever Training were from this batch. This was our first shipment released for consumer sales and it was given priority and drop shipped directly to Clever Training, so you all would be the first to receive the Rhythm24.
Since we discovered the defect causing cracks, we have been doing non-stop testing and analysis of the design, the defective parts we have received back from you guys, and our manufacturing process. We have determined it is a manufacturing defect called a “weld line” that occurs during the injection-molding process. When the molten plastic flows around the charging contact pins, the flow splits around the pin and rejoins on the other side. The leading edge of the flow is a bit cooler than the rest of the plastic and when it rejoins it can cause a line of weakness. This weld line is where we are seeing cracks. Weld lines are sometimes seen in the first parts of a production run before the machine has completely warmed up and stabilized. We typically throw away a number of first parts during a production run. Some of these parts clearly made it through our quality controls and into the parts we shipped.
Also immediately after discovering there was a problem, we quarantined all inventory at Scosche, and at our distributors, until we determined what happened and the extent of the problem. And although many of you have been very frustrated, disappointed, upset and vocal about this problem, there was a relatively small number of defective units reported. We also pulled a very large sample of units from our quarantined batch at Scosche and re-inspected and tested them. We did not find a single unit that was cracked or that we were able to crack in destructive testing.
We know there may still be some defective units out there, but we decided to release the current inventory and continue to offer our no-hassle, no-questions asked warranty return and replace. If you experience any problem, we will send a call-tag for the return and replace at our expense to wherever you are in the world. You can contact me directly or contact our customer service department and we will take care of you.
As for the other issues such as calories, cadence, time-stamp, etc., our software engineering team is working day and night to fix these issues. We have next version beta of the firmware and app in Test Flight and early testing looks very promising. We hope to have updates released to solve these issues in the next week. Also, the Android app is progressing and will be released soon in a Lite version to allow some functionality while we finish the complete full-featured version for release in August.
Again, I will offer our sincerest apologies for the hiccups in this product launch, and offer my appreciation to the users on this forum for all of your constructive feedback that helps make this a better product for all of us. Feel free to contact me directly for any other feedback or questions.
Steve
stevens@scosche.com
I’m grateful for the clear explanation and customer service approach ya’ll are taking. And grateful for DCR as a forum for all of this.
Thanks Steve. I’m looking forward to the fixing of the time stamp sync issue. Otherwise I’m happy with the performance of my Rhythm 24 as an HRM connecting to my Garmin FR 935…just not yet useful in the water. Better days ahead!
Thanks for the explanation Steve, it is most appreciated. Hopefully all will be sorted by August when the full Android app is released.
Thank you for the detailed explanation. Many other companies will not do this.
Thanks for this. I was moving away from buying one of these to replace my lost Rhythm+, and your explanation and honesty here make it much more likely that I will now do so.
Thanks for the response Steve. Is the swim hr supposed to work with Garmin? The store and forward aspect… Mine doesn’t with my Fenix Chronos and it sounds like others are having the same issue.
Steve,
Thanks for the update. It sounds like Scosche is committed to making things right for us, which I appreciate as a consumer.
Are you guys able to tell the range of serial numbers that would have been in that first shipment to Clever Training? As I am an Android user, and bought the Rhythym24 primarily to cache HR data during my swims, I have not really been able to use it yet, but I would like to know if I should consider getting a replacement now while you’re still working out the firmware bugs and Android app.
+1 on the thanks. Clarity on the 2 distinct manufacturing problems is helpful. Knowing what you did to QC the units that you already shipped to retailers gives me confidence to buy. Let us know if there is something customers can look for to identify a unit that may be susceptible to cracking (I assume the weld weakness is not visible when it is there). I will do a little stress testing (not “breakage” testing) when the unit arrives.
Also, running cadence is incorrect. Ended up with an average cadence of 20 during my 5k today. Also no training effect data or calories. Had scosche set to running with my Fenix chronos.
link to connect.garmin.com
the TE issue is ultimately what will keep me away from the Scosche. I think Garmin might be in part to blame there, but with the Rythm 24, you might be missing out on some of the advanced metrics that you paid so much to Garmin to get in the first place!
Thanks Steve, I really appreciate the update. My R24 is holding up nicely and I look forward to the software updates.
I am in the same boat and would like to know too.
I assumed the app would also run on iPad as the Wahoo gear does or at worst I could use the buttons and push data to Garmin 920xt or Training Peaks. As a result I am waiting on an Android app to hopefully run things on my wife’s tablet.
As a result I have only been using the monitor like the Rhythm+ too, so none of the new features. Hearing that there are potential issues with the Clever Training batch has me worried that later I’ll have issues and it won’t be covered or during a time I would like to have it.
Bought item in middle of July from clever training and casing broke after 3 runs. Not convinced that problem has been sorted out. Poor design that needs more than simply overtightend bolts?
Thanks Steve for the detailed explanation.
I’m one of the lucky ones, my Rhythm 24 hasn’t cracked, and aside from the time stamp issue for swimming i am very happy with it so far.
So please keep up the good work informing us all and fixing the firmware. I’m confident you’ve got a great product here once you solve these teething problems.
Ray, I’m intrigued that you’ve held off publishing your in depth review, despite your normal schedule of publishing once units are shipping. Is this because you are giving Scosche some time to fix the manufacturing and firmware issues discussed above?
When they delayed shipping, it delayed my plans there a bit and they moved from a good spot in terms of my ‘publishing schedule’, to a less awesome spot. Right now I’m underwater with prep for products being announced near-term, and for Eurobike in a few weeks.
I’ve been collecting data on all workouts though, so it’s mostly just a matter of me getting through the first part of this week on a few other products and then hoping to squeeze it in later this week or maybe next week.
The manufacturing issues I would have waited for if they held up shipping resumption (since they had pulled all units and stopping shipping briefly), but I won’t hold up for firmware issues. My general line in the sand is once a company starts shipping, it’s fair game. At that point they enter in the general queue of products for review, which is roughly categorized on embargo/announce dates and then overall interest in a product.
Said differently: I need 48 hours in a day.
I just got my Rhythm 24 from Amazon. I am using it together with a Garmin Vivoactive HR+
1) Are the units coming from Amazon free of the manufacturing defect?
2) Am I correct to assume that this unit will also experience the same calories calculation issue since this is a firmware or software issue?
3) I want to record 24 hour heart rate data that I can export from Scosche to Garmin. Will I be able to import this heart rate data into Garmin Connect? Will it conflict with the data recorded by the wrist HRM on the Garmin?
4) While recording 24 hour HR on the R24, I want to also receive HR data from the R24 to the Garmin while recording activities in the Garmin. Will the R24 send data to the Garmin while it is also itself recording HR?
Thank you.
Same questions as I bought from the same vendor.
I don’t use HR in the pool, just bike and run, so the only issue (I think) i’m having is incorrect calories on the 920 for the run. However the calories were (or appeared to be) accurate on the edge 520 for cycling.
Well I have worked out and experimented with my new Amazon purchased R24 and I can report the following:
1) Lots of dropouts regardless of where I place the monitor on my arm. Yes I waited for the unit to start picking up the HR first.
2) Can confirm that the HR reported by the R24 does not come even close to the HR that is registering in my Garmin Vivoactive HR. When I do treadmill sprints my HR gets between 170-180. The R24 was flashing red (zone 4-5) but my Garmin was registering 110-120.
3) I was able to record to my Garmin while the R24 was simultaneously recording HR to its internal memory.
4) The app is clunky for managing files. Among other things, it quits often while downloading files.
Way disappointed. I guess I will hope there is a bug fix soon before the Amazon return period expires. I got this to replace my chest strap which does not work well for the many irregular activities that I do…animal flow, planking, burpees. Hard to believe that they could go from a rock solid unit to something that basically just doesn’t work.
I have used it for a 6 hour bike, and :30 and 2:20 run. The hr displayed actually is fine. Wore on the forearm and picked up well. Only dropout was when I rotated it so the sensor was on the outside. Didn’t work. It’s only the calorie calculation I saw was off. I only use it for Hr function, nothing else so other than calories it works for me (and calories I can estimate as needed) and don’t use the app. Expensive but I needed more than 8 hours
Also if you were thinking, as I was, that you could use this to record all day HR data to the device, think again. I got about 6 hrs recording before the memory was almost full. And battery was down to one LED. So you are not going to record 24 hours continuous data from either a storage or battery life perspective.
Well, that would suck as it’s the only reason I bought one. Granted, I haven’t read the full review, but I don’t care about memory recording, just current heart rate. Is there a way to turn off the memory/recording?
Memory recording is a special use case. You push & hold the small button to initiate, and it starts recording and saving. This mode is independent of any other device. Otherwise, it normally behaves like every other type of real-time HR monitor.
Thanks
I’m really surprised by folks’ concerns with the calories. I didn’t realize this was something folks widely used/relied on. I guess I’ve always just figured it was an estimation, and not ever something I really worked from. Shows what I know
I think the calorie calculation and training load stuff probably go hand in hand. Calories is not something i care a great deal about, but training load and the metrics that are derived from that are important. I’ve seen training load oddness on the Scosche rhythm+, and i’m sad to see this is still an issue.
Maybe it’s me but I use my Apple Watch (and for a long time before my Garmin’s including a Fenix 5S) to estimate my 24/7 calorie burn including workouts and then have the watch integrate that number with popular food trackers such as MyFitnessPal or LoseIt to give me a estimation of calories IN vs. calories OUT which for me at least seem fairly accurate with what I see on the scale. Because I’m using an Apple Watch with the R24 (using bluetooth) I don’t have an issue with calories but if I still had my Fenix 5S this would be an instant deal breaker.
I’m sure a lot of great people work at Scosche and have worked hard on this product but I’m surprised by the look, delays, build quality issues, software hangups, and seemingly slightly worse accuracy vs. their older model when competitors have released their own models in the interim. I guess I’m naive but I just thought “this shouldn’t be this hard” in 2018.
Seems like Scosche released the 24 prematurely in response to competitors also announcing new OHR products?
Today was not a good day for my R24 as for the first 14 minutes out of nearly 60 it though that my HR was 170+ when in reality it was ~115. Then it somehow adjusted…
But I’m not really concerned with that. What worries and prevents me from using it as a standalone HR solution for my Garmin 935 is problems with training effect / training load etc. Until they have a score of 0 after training with R24, tis product is not usable for new Garmins (as 645 have the same issue as I can judge from posts in Garmin forum). Unfortunately 🙁
Same issues here with not downloading after a swim and calories/recovery/TE being way off during runs when connected to Garmin 920XT. HR looks good during activities though. Will use the old one Rythm+ until this is fixed. Disappointed for now since we have owned 5 of the old units which were very solid in their performance. Killed two of them after many years of use. Happily replaced them since they worked so well.
I tried to update my 24 today from the iOS app, got through the first spinner, and then failed somehow, so now it looks like it’s stuck in some sort of DFU mode (solid green light on front, solid dim green light on back). The app says to let it sit and run out of battery (since it’s not actively checking, i feel like this is going to take forever). Working with support now to figure out what to do.
Try putting it on the charger for 15 to 20 seconds, then take it off and see if it resets.
Support hooked me up with a replacement (they also previously replaced my older Rhythm+ as well, so far great service from them).
Support had me try this, for 60 seconds, no luck. It’s basically completely unresponsive, buttons won’t work, kind of interesting.
I have the same problem today 🙁
I will try to contact with support 🙁 shame i have no monitor for next few trainings 🙁
NOTICE: There is an iOS update for RhythmSync in the App Store that includes a firmware update for your Rhythm24. The update also includes improved help and bug fixes for the app. Firmware updates: timestamp fix, calories adjustment, and other performance improvements.
Regarding calorie count – some apps are just reporting our calorie data, which is coming directly off of the Valencell module, calculated with their algorithm. However, there are a number of apps and devices out there that are trying to be smart and learn about your individual calories and training efforts, so they are always adjusting as you develop more data from your workouts. We have learned that Garmin is doing this. We adjusted the data that Garmins are receiving, but how they are calculating the final numbers is proprietary. You will get various readings from different devices as they are learning at different rates. But you should see improvement over time.
We will continue to monitor the performance of this new firmware and listen to your comments and feedback on this forum. Please share your results and observations and we will consider additional adjustments as needed.
Thanks for your continued support and feedback. You are all helping to make the Rhythm24 a better product.
Thanks Steve,
Will the time stamp fix the swimming store and forward aspect for Garmin Watches? It’s the main reason I updated from my old Scosche.
Appreciate the quick update!
I did a pool swim this morning, after updating the R24 firmware last night. It still did not cache and forward HR to my Garmin 735XT for the swim.
Interestingly, and unexpectedly, I did an open water swim Saturday, and that did capture swim HR (cache & forward).
I did not try to internally capture the workout in the R24 this morning, so I did not get the timestamp file.
Is there a plan to release Rhythm Sync to Android? I do not have an iPhone but have an iPad but I can’t install it on an iPad is there maybe a plan to enable Rhythm Sync for iPad?
After update Garmin still reports average running cadence of 22.
Steve,
Thanks for keeping us all infomed on updates and the prompt delivery of new app, firmware etc.
Ive updated my rhythm 24+ and took it for an open water swim yesterday. Setting it to swim mode and started the swim activity as normal, and it recorded the swim ok.
Can you confirm exactly how the rhythm 24+ is supposed to interact with a GPS watch in swimming mode?
My experience is that I can get real-time heart rate measurements on my Forerunner 935 (i have one screen set for HR which I can glance at whilst swimming). After completing the swim, my 935 automatically uploaded the activity to garmin connect and then on to strava.
I manually sync’ed my Rhythm24 with the new app after the swim; then uploaded that to Strava, and exported the FIT file to emai to myself.
The upload to Strava created duplicate activity to that uploaded from my 935 (with minimal info such as duration, and heart rate zone info). It certainly isn’t merging the rhythm24 data with my 935 upload – is it supposed to?
From a garmin connect perspective, when i try to manually add the FIT file that I’ve emailed to myself from the rhythm app, it appears to be an invalid FIT file and won’t load into Garmin Connect. Again, is that by design?
I think there are a few people on this thread who are expecting the rhythm 24 to perform the same as a HRM-TRI strap – so that HR info from the Rhythm will seamlessly merge into their Garmin activity file at the end of the swim. Is that a valid expecation?
Or should we be content with receiving realtime HR from the Rhythm24 during the swim, and not trying to sync post workout?
Hi Steve, I would like to echo and re-post a previously published comment/question:
“I think there are a few people on this thread who are expecting the rhythm 24 to perform the same as a HRM-TRI strap – so that HR info from the Rhythm will seamlessly merge into their Garmin activity file at the end of the swim. Is that a valid expecation?”
Installed the new software, did a swim with recording on, however my fenix935 still fails to upload the hr data afterwards.
While I had problems with the old rhythm this new rhythm24 tracks my heart rate perfectly
Peter
Sadly, the ANT+ swimming does not work on my Fenix 5. My Fenix won’t register any HR data from Rhythm 24.
Is there are downloadable user manual for the Rhythm24?
Hi guys,
I too have a cracked unit and seeing the extent of other people description of their problem, I’ll just skip the angry part and post a picture of where my unit broke. In all this, I’d like to command Steve from Scosche for openly participating in this post, and Ray for having a blog that has greatly accelerated the resolution of the issue.
Please let us know where and when you bought the units that crack. I just ordered from Amazon/USA.
See above comment from Scosche: link to dcrainmaker.com
It doesn’t matter where/when you bought it, all those units have been pulled from inventory (and were pulled a while ago).
It matters if you want to know if it’s likely to fall off while open water swimming?
I saw the official statement. I want to verify that their belief that there are no more bad units at the retailers is in alignment with what buyers are experiencing. Did Yannick buy an early batch or recently? It will be comforting to hear that Yannick bought from an early batch, not a recent one.
Yannick can confirm exactly, but he noted in an e-mail to me that he had bought via CT and had completed half a dozen workouts with it already before it broke. Given that, I suspect he was on an earlier unit.
Here are all the details:
Bought from Clever Training (sole option for Canadians) on June 1st;
Received at home on June 11th;
Used 5 times (including the time it broke), for runs only;
Serial number: 536875304
While lookingfor the serial nnumber I actually noticed that the unit is in much worse shape than I originally realized. There are 2 cracks I had not seen; one starts from the right charging contact and going upward and left (hard to see on the picture); two that start from the same contact and form a cone going downward and right.
I’ve got 536874xxx and 2 short runs in and no DMG yet but I fear the worst…
Yannick- That timeframe would have included the batch that would likely have been affected.
Martin – The best bet would be to follow-up with Scosche support, as they’d know exactly which units went where, which as noted by Scosche’s explanation is really more of the issue than anything else.
Thx Ray, i will do that. Sadly I’ve got another issue.
I am an Android user so i updated the app with the Iphone of a friend. During the process everything looked fine and when the 2nd update hit 100% it showed me a note that something went wrong and that i should let the R24 discharge completely and then charge it again 100% and try again.
BUT: After the whole processes which took 24h because it was 91% charged I’ve got a static green light on all the time (this was on since the updateprocess and just stopped when the R24 run out of battery) and the Iphone can’t find the R24 anymore -_- i am really frustrated right now… i really liked the R24 even though there was no android app and I only used it for heartrate with my F5 during cycling and running.
Did anybody experience anything like that and has any fix for it?
536875592
Purchased via amazon prime. Just before my fourth ride it popped off my arm; same failure mode reported by others -crack in the case where the strap pin is held in place. What surprises me is that the fracture doesn’t seem to involve he adjacent machine screw socket. Seems clear this is an unresolved design flaw. The fractures are not always on the same side of the case
update:
After i contacted Scosche they just asked a few questions and gave me some things to try. nothing seemed to work so they send me a new one.
Amazing support so far!!
And no matter what i really like the R24 because it’s so more comfortable to wear and still really precise
Thanks for this advice. I came on here hoping for a solution to the iPhone only app and now see there are issues with the early batches. I got mine on release from CT, so need to do a bit of inspecting later.
Had an email back of the support team regarding swim mode so i thought id share as it Might clarify for other swim users also.
Can you clarify how I should be using the device to record HR data for swimming in a pool with a Garmin Fenix 5s?
We recommend that you record in Swim mode, as Bluetooth and Ant+ don’t work very well in the water. When recording a swim, the Rhythm24 will only capture your heart rate. Press and hold the small record button until 3 LED’s blink through, and then press and hold record button to end recording.
Do I need to set the device to swimming via the app or will the Garmin do this when I select pool swim?
You will need to set the Rhythm24 to swim mode with the Rhythm Sync app. Garmin only can change running and cycling mode directly to your Rhythm24 – that is a function of ANT+.
Do I need to press the record button on the device or will this cause the device to not transmit the data to the watch when I finish/stop the activity?
It is possible to record while transmitting to your Garmin watch. Pair with watch first and then when you start your workout, hit the record button – this is more of a backup recording mode.
Remember though that transmitting in water with ANT+ or Bluetooth doesn’t work that well, so we recommend simply recording with the Rhythm when swimming. You will then need to add your Rhythm24 swim FIT file to your favorite workout data analyzer – DC Rainmaker has a great analyzer that allows you to combine multiple files for one workout together.
Sorry, this doesn’t work. As far as I can tell, the Analyzer will let you view the data side by side, but not combine it in a new file. In fact, I haven’t been able to find a tool that will overlay the data from the R24 with the data from my Fenix5. Open to any solution.
Correct, the Analyzer won’t merge files, only overlay them together.
I can’t think of a platform offhand that does that…but I’ll keep pondering.
Training peaks auto merges the two files together but I don’t have a solution to send the combined data to Garmin Connect as yet.
I haven’t had a chance to try it yet. But I’ve used some of these tools in the past but never the merge of HR data to another file.
link to gotoes.org
Mine is #536873xxx. Just noticed the crack on my unit as well.
Interesting. Where did you purchase from? Mine ends 624 so less than 100 before yours. I have no cracking but not home to do workouts with it – have only tested by wearing and taking on/off but traveling for a few more weeks so can’t do much more. Does anyone associate the cracking with getting it sweaty?
I purchased directly from Scosche, wondering if 700 started a new manufacturing run and a batch that went out to other distributors?
Any updates on when even the paired down android app will be available? Scrolling through comments from Scosche, there are several missed targets already…
I can’t seem to find any retailers in Canada that will retail the Scosche24. I tried to order directly from Scosche but they would not ship to Canada. Would I be able to get a Scosche24 shipped to Canada from Clever Training?
Yes Su-Chong, CT is the only way to go for Canadians for now. Mountain Equipment Coop will probably have them some time in the future (from what I’ve been told), but for now, CT is the only option. My advice: ask CT for another carrier than FedEx, as FedEx always add fees for « acting on your behalf » at the border (i.e., even if your package is not selected for duty/tax evaluation).
Mine came Fedex from CT and I was charged $15 which is less than Canada Post who would charge a $10 fee plus HST.
That’s true Greg, but only for parcels that the Canadian Border Agency selects for inspection (1 out of 10 according to my mailman, but I suspect the rate is higher); since the parcel is taken off course, Canada Post then charges you the extra fees for the remainder of the shipping to you, or so my mailman tried to justify the cost. In my case, nothing indicated an inspection by the CBA, but FedEx still charged me extra. It’s worth noting that I received my replacement unit (more on that later) through UPS and was not charged a penny more.
Hi, I just received my Rhythm 24 today and installed the newest firmware but i can’t seem to get it to work for indoor swimming with my Forerunner 935.
I set the R24 in swimming mode via the app, press the button until it starts recording and then start the indoor swimming activity on the watch. My HR is then transmitted to my watch during the activity (I set up a data page that gives me current HR). Then I end the recording on the R24, stop the activity on the FR935 and save it. However I see no attempt of the watch to download HR data from the R24. When I look at the details of the acitivity on the FR935 there is no HR data shown, neither in Garmin connect.
Can anybody tell me what I am doing wrong? Being able to get HR data while swimming without having to wear a chest strap was the reason I ordered the R24 in the first place so this is really buggering me.
Same here Thomas nothing uploads after a swim this is the main reason I bought this device, back to the Garmin HRM-Swim.
I’ve been using R24 (after its fw upgrade to 3.0) paired to my Garmin 935 for a week now and I must say that it performs very good both in TE effect area and capturing my HR during runs. Initially the TE was way off even after fw 3.0 upgrade (R24 paired through ANT+). After I received some suggestions from Scosche support team, I decided to perform a hard reset for my Garmin (holding light button for 15 seconds until it shuts down). Plus I decided to pair R24 using Bluetooth and switched it to HR only mode from Run mode. TE results were on par with Garmin’s chest strap (similar length activities with similar HR readings) as a result. I don’t know what solved TE issue, but I don’t care as long as I got the result 🙂
When I switched R24 to ANT+ connection again (and thus it switched its mode to Run automatically), the performance deteriorated. HR readings became worse (some falls in HR readings from 120 to 90 BPMs without any reason) and thus TE metrics suffered a bit. This might be due to R24 placement (although I put it on just like before) or some other random reasons.
What still is not working is downloading HR data from R24 to Garmin. No luck.
All in all I’m happy. R24 performed very well also in my roller skiing activity. Thus if I rate Garmin’s chest strap with a performance 9/10, then R24 would get some 8.5 from me.
This is one of the very few comments, which are positive about the scosche rhythm 24…
I am eagerly waiting to read more positive comments, reassuring me I can use this device to replace my broken Garmin HRM-RUN and enjoy a reliable tracking of basis parameters like heartbeat, TE, VO2-max on my Garmin Fenix 3. And of course to have a robust device, which lasts for many years.
I just don’t dare to buy in the present state with so many issues.
So please also mention positive comments.
Many thanks all for sharing your experiences.
And hopefully the Scosche development team can tell us soon most relevant issues are resolved.
It’s a simple psychology I guess. When it’s bad, one wants to cry out loud, but when it’s good one thinks it’s nothing special. As I commented on the problems before, I felt that I needed to give update on my experience after fw upgrade R24 had – just to give the balanced view and show the progress.
Android Users: While we wait for the official Scosche app, I’ve written instructions for modifying the Scosche 24’s HR Mode settings using a third-party Bluetooth app on Android:
link to roguish.com
I praised Scosche over a week ago on this message thread for giving us all of the information/background and how they were trying to problem-solve. They said then that they were working on the Android app to put out imminently. Haven’t heard from them via this channel since that post and still no Android app. They were doing great at responding in a public way but now crickets…
Sorry for the “crickets,” we are working hard on the Andriod lite app, but man there are a lot of Andriod phones on the market, making testing and bug fixes a lot more time-consuming. We are focused on delivering you a quality app, so stay tuned and thanks for your help and support.
So, any news on the HR Data for indoor swimming using a garmin watch?
if you have a Garmin watch, you can for now use ANT+ connection to set the mode as well.
would be nice to at least have some open beta program on google play even if the app is not completely ready yet.
How do you do that? I haven’t done it before.
OMG TY for the Android app link (BLE device scanner). It helped me find the FW on my old Rhythm+ after I’d written off any chance that Scosche would develop supporting apps on Android. It’s for this very reason that I’m hesitant to pull the trigger on a Rhythm24 after being a 5-yr Rhythm+ owner. Luckily there are very good 3rd party fitness apps that satisfy my data-gathering needs.
Well despite the calories getting apparently fixed with the new iOS update this morning went to put it on and yep, it cracked just like the above photos. Bought amazon 6/9. Luckily I had my rhythm with me
Not clear from the above posts how scosche is making this right
Just following up, I contacted Steve who said they’ll replace it. I appreciate the good customer service
After upgrading from Rhythm+ to the R24 I have experienced repeated signal drops on my Edge 520. Noticed yesterday that the signal seemed to drop every time I received a notification on my Fenix 3, Fenix not recording the activity but both Fenix and Edge are connected to iPhone. After removing the R24 from the watch there has been no signal drops on the Edge 520. Have tried to re-pair the Fenix and R24 which has brought back the signal drops. Anyone with similar experience?
All right guys, an update on my previous posts (#435 and #441),
After contacting Steven from Scosche through the address he left here, he managed to have a new unit sent, and through the carrier I asked for, to boot. I received the unit two days later. Oddly enough the unit came without the charging cable and craddle (which probably fell out of the box during inspection pre-shipping, according to Stephen) but since I had the ones from my first unit, Stephen agreed that I should keep those when I ship my first unit back. I must say I’m impressed on how quickly and seriously my problem was taken care of.
I have yet to try the Rhythme24 for real (it does work… when I wear it while sitting on my couch :o) ). I will not put it through the ringer, that’s Ray’s job!! I trust that the previous unit was an outlier and if the new one does fail… you’ll hear from me soon enough.
One last thing; I thought for a couple of minutes I too had connection issues with my iphone because the app could not detect the Rhythm24… only to realize that the unit was already connected to my Suunto Ambit 3 Peak. When I disconnected my watch, the app worked like a charm, I could change the settings and get the firmware update for the Rhythm24.
I’ve had my unit for about a week and have been very satisfied. By coincidence, though, during a workout on my indoor bike, while reading this very thread, the strap strap flew off my forearm as the plastic pin holder cracked, as others have reported. Dang…
OK, with some trepidation, because of several limitations of my prior Scosche Rhythm+, and because there is no Canadian distribution yet, I ordered a Rhythm 24 from Clever Training, and it was processed and delivered uneventfully.
I took it for a 3-1/2 hour bike ride yesterday, wearing it on my forearm, just below the elbow, and it took 20 minutes to move from the starting HR display value of 80bpm to the current biking HR, which at the time was 134-136 bpm. It tracked the HR accurately for the whole ride except for an odd episode after I stopped to fix a dropped chain. About 1 minute after I started riding again, displayed HR, rather than rising again, kept dropping, eventually reaching a low of 60bpm (very unlikely to have been the accurate value — I was riding hard into the wind) for less than a minute before becoming accurate again for the rest of the ride. So, compared to the Rhythm Plus it performs slightly better while biking.
This morning I tested it for a short run. I wore the Rhythm 24 above my biceps, facing outwards, away from my centreline. Again, there was an accurate display of HR before starting run, in this case 80-85 bpm, but on commencing running, the displayed value did not rise until 2 minutes later, when it suddenly jumped to 112, which was about appropriate at the time, and as I sped up, displayed HR also rose to expected levels. Amazingly, at the end I threw in a 1/4 mile sprint with cadence up to 102 rpm, but this didn’t bother the tracking at all, and the HR smoothly moved up to above 150 bpm and down again as I jogged and recovered. I say amazingly, because the Rhythm Plus would be thrown off easily by trivial running perturbations. I could sometimes rescue the process by running exceptionally smoothly and limiting the swing of the arm with the attached Schosche, and trying to limit vertical oscillation of the unit. But a sprint would be out of the question, and would never allow accurate HR tracking. I’m not sure what the reason for the 20 minute startup inaccuracy window when biking and 2 minute when running, but apart from this lag, the new iteration of Scosche seems to be a huge improvement.
I should mention I am of East Asian ancestry, and my skin pigmentation likely represents a challenge for the optical sensors, even with dual colour (yellow, green) LEDs such as what Scosche uses. But whatever they did to overcome the running arm-swing misreading seems to have worked well.
I also like the absence of Velcro on the new version’s strap. The continual snagging on the fabric of the technical running shirts was a minor annoyance, but an annoyance nevertheless.
It looks that I’ve started to suffer the “cadence lock” quite frequently recently 🙁
I’ve been running with BT connection in Heart rate only mode and almost every now has this lock. Initially, I thought that it was HR anomaly due to Rhythm positioning. But then I analyzes the data and the low HR of 85-90 mimics perfectly my cadence with maybe 1 beat difference.
Anyone else experiencing this?
See my prior comment. My “arm-swing misreading” is the same as your “cadence lock”, Further to my prior comment where I commended the apparent Rhythm 24’s improved accurate tracking of HR while running, I ran to a swimming pool this am, 3.18k, and the R24 tracked HR accurately on the way to the pool after an initial 5 minute inaccuracy lag.
But I forgot to take off the R24 and it remained on my lateral deltoid during my swim. (I had no watch on, so I wasn’t monitoring the tracking of HR during swim, and I wasn’t using the recording function yet — haven’t learned to use it yet).
On the run back home, the Rhythm 24 got a “cadence lock” 85-93 “bpm” signal for the whole 20 minutes of the run (except about halfway through when the Rhythm 24 HR value briefly headed up towards the appropriate HR value of about 128-132 before heading back down again into “cadence lock” territory. I don’t know if it had anything to do with the Rhythm 24 being wet, or that I had cooled off a little during the swim so my deltoid area skin temperature might have been cooler and thus my capillary blood flow might have been less intense (and not picked up as accurately). But it was a warm morning, 20 deg, so you’d think that during the run I would have warmed up to the point where the Rhythm 24’s apparently more accurate tracking algorithm might have managed to to peel off the cadence effect on the heart pulsation signal.
I’m going to try to attach a screen shot of my Scosche Rhythm 24 “HR” record overlaid on my Running Cadence record, to demonstrate the remarkable concordance of the 2 signal record graphs. Note the brief “almost lock-freeing escape” at about 8.5 minutes.
I’ll have to think a little about what might have happened differently this morning and how I can avoid this in future, if possible. This is annoying — I had thought the Scosche Rhythm 24 HR tracking accuracy during running was a slam dunk, and it now it apparently ain’t so.
It looks that changing Rythm’s mode from HR only to Running took away so called “cadence lock”. I still have to use Bluetooth connection with my Garmin 935 though as if I do connection using ANT+ then dropouts massively appear (HR dropping reading to 70, then disappearing and then returning to the previous reading level). Therefore Garmin’s TE is way below it should be
Oops, just realized I didn’t familiarize myself adequately with the new software. My running experiences described above were done with the Rhythm 24 App setting still set on “Cycling” mode, instead of “Running”. That would make my assessment inaccurate. I have to learn to learn how to switch the mode — hopefully I can do that without needing to use the iPhone each time.
I have a newly developed issue with mine I haven’t seen anyone else mention – as of yesterday, it simply won’t charge. I plug it in, and nothing happens. I’ve tried multiple different usb outlets, and no good on any of them. It was charging fine when I first got it (I think I fully charged it at least twice).
This is really frustrating, as I was really liking it up until now! I’ve emailed support and will see what they say. I guess I’ll try and find someone local who also has one to try their charger to try and narrow the problem down to the charger or the monitor…
I received one of the first units from Clever Training (pre-ordered) and have used it for about 5 rides and runs. It connects to my 920xt and my Edge 500. I keep checking to see if there are any cracks, but so far looks ok.
What’s the easiest was to put it on? I first tried clipping it closed on my arm, but that’s not so easy. It seems to be ok to clip it closed and then slide it up my arm. I use it on my biceps.
Any update on the Android app? I tried connecting it on 2 different iPhones this morning, but am having problems with bleutooth and can’t find where to change it in the app or phone settings (I only know where Android permission settings are and my friends don’t know what the error message means). Someone please help. See attached image.
“A little-known fact is that when Garmin’s swim-friendly watches download data from their swimming HR straps (HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM), they actually do so over common standards. Any vendor can support this nearly decade-old standard for transferring the HR data over. So Scosche is doing that. And thus, you’d be able to take something like a FR920XT, wear the Scosche Rhythm 24 during a swim, and it’ll properly ask to download from that strap after the swim (assuming the planets align as planned). At this point in the beta though, that feature isn’t yet implemented on the Rhythm 24.”
And exactly THAT was the reason I bought it and exactly THAT isnt working. Can anyone instruct me whats the solution for this issue? I have a FR920XT, it even shows real time HR and all that but it doesnt store the data and after swiming it cant find that stupid thing…
Thanks in advance, this is driving me nuts.
ok, reading threw all this I realize (thanks god) it isn’t me, its actually a lot of people having the same issue. The only way out obviously is to use their own app (which doesn’t even show any results, just too export them) with the record function of the unit itself. Which is pretty useless because i want to see this in connection with swim strokes and all that. As many of us, i bought the unit just for that specific reason and wanted to substitute the uncomfortable garmin TRI cheast strap.
However, once again – maybe someone from Scosche can bring some light into this – is there really no option to use this with Garmin? I mean, in real time it shows the data! If the sensor wouldnt connect at all i could understand. If HR under water isnt always precisely working, ok for me. But how in the world can this things show realtime data and once training is finished I cant download? there must be a solution!!
Yeah, I’ve tried swimming with my FR935 today, after firmware 3.0 update and it also didn’t download HR. I’ve tried recording the activity on the R24 but it also didn’t download it later. They suggest to figure out how to merge the fit file from the exported activity on the R24 app and whatever garmin generates but that’s certainly not why I bought this product to begin with… Big let down especially for the complete lack of communication on this issue specifically, so many people pointing this out in the comments but it has never been addressed.
Despite reading the reviews indicating “not possible”, i took a gamble that Garmin (or Scosche) will (eventually?) figure out the pool swim + HRM combo. No luck so far (what happened to Steve @ Scosche anyway?), but I did find a clunky work around in the interim… TrainingPeaks offers an auto-merge capability (explained here: link to help.trainingpeaks.com) that will pair up a Garmin .fit file from a pool swim (Forerunner 935) with heart rate data from my Scosche 24. You can then export the pwx file and use a free site like pwx.raytracer.dk to convert the pwx into a .tcx file, which Strava and other services can read… Not that Strava is any good at offering swim analysis. Better off just staying with TrainingPeaks for better insight. Was unable to manually upload that file to GarminConnect tho… but maybe if I put it through another corruption fixer that will do the trick.
Thanks for the info., I was going to buy the R24 but now I hold it.
Hi, I am in the same situation. I bought the Rhythm 24 to download HR data to my Garmin after a swim workout.
I have been in contact with customer service from Scosche and this is their response: “I checked with our team and they indicated that being able to download the recorded workouts from the Rhythm24 is dependent on the Garmin device. We don’t have a way to initialize the process from our device. I would recommend checking with Garmin and verifying whether the model watch you have has the capability you are looking for, and if it does they should be able to provide instruction on how to do this. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
I believe this is not the case but it seems that Scosche is not planning to implement this in the near future. So we will not be able to download HR data to Garmin unfortunately.
Knew about auto merge which is a pretty good work around. Did you need the Scosche app to do this?
Hi Barry, what is auto merge? The issue is not related to the app but downloading the HR data to the Garmin units.
Hi Gerardo. I should have addressed to Harry above. It sounds like he is getting the data from his Garmin and the data from R24 uploaded to Training Peaks which has a feature to merge workout files, he included the link. My question was if he figured out a way to do this without the Scosche app since I don’t have an iPhone.
Thanks Barry
It is a lie, and I got trick too.
Fwiw: I’ve had some pretty detailed discussions with Scosche on this over the last couple weeks (the swimming bit). I believe they’re supposed to be coming back to me shortly on the exact solution/timeframe for this.
Hi Barry, I did need the Scosche app in so far as it let me get the .fit file off my Rhythm24 and onto my laptop. If you have another way to do that (plug into USB directly?) you shouldn’t need the app.
Although, my TrainingPeaks free trial expired and AutoMerge seems to have disappeared (assuming it’s because I’m not paying…). I tried other tools to merge the files (like these: https://www.fitfiletools.com and these: link to gotoes.org) but none of them work like AutoMerge did. So back to square one.
Oh, and I used the R24 for an open water swim the other day… Fail. “Some” HR data actually synced with my Garmin 935… but only partially. It seems to have brought in a min and max value or some kind of limited data set that looks like a linear line when depicted in Garmin Connect but it’s definitely not the real data i can see separately in the discrete HRM file… frustrating and for all intensive purposes useless.
I felt bad doing this since I really want to like this, but I put in a return request at CT. My 60 days are getting close, and I’ll be going out of town soon, so the clock was ticking. I kept hoping Ray would have his review up with more detailed information, or we’d see more progress on the Android front. In the back of my mind I also wondered what this would give me over and above what the HRM on my 645 was giving me on runs. (which is why I was hoping to see the full review). With my luck it’ll pop up the day after I ship it off, with lots of great information. 🙂
Is the full review of this coming soon?
Now that Zwift running can be done on Android, I’m interested in a footpod. This looks like it has the potential to be my all-in-one (at least for training) as a triathlete, but I’d really like to see the full review before buying. Based on comments here there wasn’t an Android app? And that you need the app to switch modes? That still the case?
Also I’m curious if they’d give it a “triathlon mode” where it auto switches for switches when you press the button or something. That’d be awesome. Seems like based on the comments here that it only can be switched via the phone app, which wouldn’t work not only because time and wet touch screens, but because most raced won’t let you whip out your phone.
Of course, all that is dependent on them getting the swimming working and the swimming HR accuracy being decent not only in a pool, but also in open water…
Yes.
I had to get through Eurobike stuffs first, which in theory ended last week (in practice, I still have stuff to get through there, but almost none of it is time-focused).
On the list prior to publishing the review is to figure out what the heck the deal is with the promised swim to Garmin sync bit (I’ve seen the many comments on it). Will circle up with Scosche to get details/timelines/etc…
Thank you, that would be awesome! As soon as they can make the R24 Swim heart rate correctly sync to a Garmin 935 (i.e., act as a real substitute for the Garmin HRM-Swim/Tri), I’m going to get it!
Yea – I had thought this was going to be a fait accompli so was very disappointed when it didn’t work today – what I did however get was my HR at the end of each set – the accuracy did seem in the right ballpark, i.e. in my sprint intervals heart rate at end of set was pushing 170 but was lower in easy intervals, warm up, cool down etc.
Whilst I don’t know that it was “right” it also didn’t seem “wrong” when compared with the sort of average HRs I have returned when OW swimming with the HRM tri during racing. Does need to get the syncing correct though but so far, one run, one swim and 2 rides I do like the device.
I guess that i should have read the comments more closely before ordering it. I had put it in my shopping basket at CT “ages ago” and just ordered it for hotel delivery now i was visiting the states.
As many others i’ve bought it specifically for swimming recording to get rid of the chest strap ….
Currently i use a fenix3hr and while it does connect and show hrm while swimming (if they are close enoough), the garmin does not record it since it insists that it should be downloaded afterwards.
And since i only have an android smartphone i can’t even download the pulse and merge it afterwards,
I hope that Scosche have the resources to fix it real soon …. I’ve been a happy user of the old rhythm+ for cycling years and had hoped that the rhythm24 would be its replacement
Ray, any update on a full review timescale?
Had high hopes for this after having Rhythm but all issues reported and recent silence from scosche does look good.
Just checked mine today as it was late last night I saw the issues and it is also cracked. I got mine in the first CT batch.
Thanks to everyone that posted indicating the issues and Steve at Scosche for coming on here and explaining the issues they have had.
Chatted today with the service support, they said they expecting “the Android app available the first week of August, fingers crossed. ”
They also gave an advice how to turn swim mode without having an iphone (there is a special 3d party app for that). The problem is that you wont be able to download the heart data from the sensor without having an apple device.
So waiting for an androif app and just swimming without knowing your heart rate data:)
@Andrei, what 3rd party app? Can you get the data on to a Garmin when you switch modes? I was told there was no way to switch modes without the Scosche app.
Also, it is specifically an iPhone, maybe iPod too, not any Apple device. I have an iPad and the Scosche app isn’t available for it.
Hoping the Android app will run on a tablet because then I can use my wife’s to finally to more than broadcast HR like the Rhythm+ when I am shipped a replacement.
this is a third-party app from google play called “nRF Connect”. it is only to modify regimes (running, swimming etc), it cant download anythign from the rhythm24. So it is a temporary workaround till android app is issued.
You dont need to use it, as of Rhythm sync app has been released for android – i just downloaded it. As i understand it can ONLY modify the regimens, but cant download the workout (i may be mistaken, i only played by connecting to rhythm24, did not have a chance to do a workout to test transfer)
Can anyone pair the Rhythm 24 with the Polar Beat app?
I never had problems with the Rhythm+ pairing and Scosche lists it as compatible, but I haven’t had any success even after trying multiple things. I’ve updated the R24 to 3.0 using a friends iPhone. I’m using a Nexus 5x 8.1.0 and Beat app 2.6.1. Neither Polar or Scosche have been too helpful, just suggesting things I’ve already tried and then finally: specs say it should but compatible/i guess its not compatible. Very frustrating. I don’t really want to use a different app because most my data is within the Polar ecosystem.
So, on unit #2, and not sure if this is me? Put it on the charger and the blue light came on, solid. Next day still on. Took it off to pair with garmin and i can’t gwt it to turn on. No matter how long I press the button. Or put it back on the cradle. App doesn’t see it either.
So very frustrated at the moment.
This is my first practical heart rate measuring device, so take it with salt. I ordered mine late June, and was fortunate not to have any major issues. On occasion when I start the thing, the light on the front would come on but the blinking green lights at the back does not. It’s nothing a quick restart won’t fix, but I have noticed it happening more than twice.
I’ve been wearing it mostly on jogs/runs, doing heart rate based intervals that would be otherwise impossible, like keeping my heart rate within my aerobic zone. It taught me that pushing myself too hard can be counter productive. Needless to say, I love the thing. There’s a very noticeable lag when I’m running hard, which I’m starting to think is an inherent problem this type of sensor, although it’s nothing I can’t work with. At the end of the day, I want to be able to go by feeling and don’t want to rely on any device.
I sometimes wear this to sleep too. It’s comfortable enough that I sometimes forget that I’m wearing it, which is an impressive achievement in my book. It’s an area I doubt a chest strap can beat. Plus, the quick release straps make the thing super easy to clean.
I just hope the Android app comes out soon. I’d like to check out it’s other features.
Does anyone have any issues with dropping the connection over ANT+? I just got this last week and LOVE it. My only issue has been that it seems to drop out when cycling connected to my 520 and also my laptop. The laptop isn’t as surprising since my trainer has issues as well and I’m going to get an cable to move the receiver closer but my 520 never had issues with my chest strap. I wear it on my bicep and have seen no similar issue with my Fenix 3.
Go figure…I’ve had two more rides since and no problem. Looks like it was more of a positioning thing rather than a connectivity issue. I had been pretty resistant to the idea of a sensor like this for a few years but I’m glad I made the jump. The difference in comfort is pretty significant.
Had the issue where heart rate detection would drop out after a random amount of time, during which only one of the green sensor LEDs would be lit. I chatted with support on Scosche’s website, and they said it should not be doing that. But since they’re currently out of stock of the 24, they’re going to send me a Rhythm+ to use until the 24 is back in stock.
Despite the premature release of the 24 (IMHO), I’ve been impressed with the level of service Scosche is providing to make things right!
I faced a similar issue as well, with the unit refusing to work (switched it on, but occasionally only one of the led green lights active and cannot be connected via bluetooth). The bad thing is that it happened to me immediately when I first got the unit in end May.
Managed to get it replaced by Scosche though after sending the device back to them although it took a bit of convincing since it only occasionally happens.
but yah, I agree that their customer service is quite good.
Same here… and this is my second (replacement) unit. The unit has problems settling on a pulse at rest. It worked fine the first time I tried it on (see post above, if you’re patient enough to track it…), but every time since (only one run but several tests were I would wear it in “heart rate only” mode during the day/night), the unit would stop working entirely. Battery shows a 75% charge and I’m running the latest firmware version as far as I know.
I sent mine back due to the same problem. Wouldn’t connect and had only 1 green LED on. Unfortunately they didn’t give me a + to use in the meantime and the black plastic back of the + I bought 2 years ago cracked at the strap loop and can’t be worn now. No reply from Scosche after 2 attempts via their website “contact us” form. Might have to go to a competitor version or back to my chest strap unfortunately
For me, I actually called their customer support directly.
Damn.. Mine has just started doing this too. It first dropped out 6km into a run. I’ve got it to work once in a week since then – others nope. It stays with the purple LED flashing on the front and only one green LED on the back. Sometimes I can connect bluetooth – others not. As such I’d guess more firmware than HW fault… Contacted Scosche’s support so lets hope they deliver on service.
I finally received my replacement HR24 about a week ago, and I’ve had no problems with it! Still experimenting a bit to find the best placement, but I’ve experienced a reliable reading every time I use it. Swim HR data syncing with my Garmin Forerunner 920xt is still a missing feature, as others have noted. But I have a feeling that will be resolved with time.
As a straight up HRM, it is miles more comfortable and convenient than a chest strap!
Hi Ray, my Garmin Forerunner 935 doesn’t download the HR data from the Rhythm 24 after a swim workout, even when I have used the record function on the Rhythm 24. According to Scosche customer service: “it cannot be downloaded from the heart rate monitor to the Garmin device”. Do you know if this function was not added to the rhythm 24? Thanks!
Dear all, let me post it here – the lite “Rhythm Sync” app is now available in google play store.
Not showing up in my Play Store.
link to play.google.com
Thank you!
Ray,
I’ve just bought this in replacement to chest strap as it was constantly rubbing. It is pair to my Garmin 630 and left in heart rate mode. All seems good, it tracks identically to my chest strap but at the end of my run Garmin reports only a calorie burn of 35 and a TE of 1.0. For most people this isn’t an issue but incomplete data bugs me. Have you every experienced this, do you know why it’s happening and have you got any solutions to solve it?
Will
I believe they fixed that issue with a firmware update.
For me it also got fixed after the first update. Nevertheless, TE and HR readings are much better if I use Bluetooth rather than ANT+ with my Garmin 935.
Thank you, I’ll give it a go and see if that fixes the issue
The Andriod app version 0.8 (from memory) is still not fully functional. It is only good for heart rate reading, mode select and runner data. I’ll have to wait until they update the app before updating the HRM :/
Following the comment section for a while now and the whole swim issue got really quiet… Is it working for anyone or is everyone patiently waiting for the next firrmware update?
Without swim HR I don’t see the point in getting this piece of tech.
Did anyone try and fixed it at the lower arm right next to the watch? Maybe then live HR under water would be possible?
And I wonder why Ray didn’t get around to publish his full review? His last comment sounded like it was close to completion but something seems to have caused a delay…
The swim HR works for an open water swim, but it does not work for pool swims (with my 735XT) . It is not an issue of positioning, it is something different in the communication between watch and HRM.
agree! I would love to hear an update as to whether or not it could/will ever be able to sync pool swim heart rate data with garmin watch — I am looking to find a substitute for the Garmin HRM tri/swim and hope this could potentially be the real deal
The longer I have this band, the more frustrated I get! I wouldn’t have ordered it if I had known there was no Android app (only found that out on this site), and I feel like it’s do fragile that it’s a matter of time before it breaks. I hate the strap…I can’t adjust it when it’s on my arm, and the only way I can get it on is to carefully slide it up and down my arm. The connection with my vivoactive he comes and goes, but I can’t look at comparisons (no app). Overall, I wish I hadn’t bought it! I’m terribly disappointed in something that I’ve been so excited for!
Actually there is an app since yesterday…
link to play.google.com
Haven’t used Android much. Would the app work on Amazon’s Fire tablets?
I purchased early on, so from the range that had the cracking problem before shipping was stopped and all the stocks were checked. I too have treated it gingerly, but all of the descriptions from those who had problems suggest that it would have cracked by now if it had the fault. I have an iPhone so had the app from the beginning, but it really doesn’t seem that useful except for settings and firmware updates – so rarely open the app, and instead see the HR data through Garmin Connect.
I think the strap is a huge improvement over the velcro style strap. I know it is more difficult to adjust (you need to adjust first, then slide it on) but there’s no chance of the velcro popping off during intense exercise and swimming. Can you imagine if your HR monitor velcro popped off during an open water swim?
Everything has trade offs, but based on the number of velcro straps I’ve gone through on my Rhythm+, I’d say the new band is a home run!
Rob, I ordered pre-release from Clever Training, and mine only just cracked this week. 😛 So I wouldn’t count on being out of the woods just yet.
I believe if you pre-ordered via CT you got one of the early batches (roughly first week of June or slightly before). Which were the ones impacted.
Curious to hear an update from Steve @ Scosche. It’s been awhile since I’ve read an update from him. It was GREAT to get some really clear, direct answers from him early on but that was awhile ago…
Hi Ray. Have you heard any more when the below may be available. It would be awesome! I note there have been many questions asking the same thing . . . .
“Garmin’s swim-friendly watches download data from their swimming HR straps (HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM), they actually do so over common standards. Any vendor can support this nearly decade-old standard for transferring the HR data over. So Scosche is doing that. And thus, you’d be able to take something like a FR920XT, wear the Scosche Rhythm 24 during a swim, and it’ll properly ask to download from that strap after the swim (assuming the planets align as planned). At this point in the beta though, that feature isn’t yet implemented on the Rhythm 24”
Anyone successfuly pair the HRM with zwift on iPad for zwift running? Just through the native zwift app without the companion app.
How are the run metrics such as pace/speed cadence? Comparable in accuracy to a Garmin footpod? I want to have one device to be able to use for both indoor and outdoor running.
Not wanting to purchase a (stryd pod, milestone, Garmin pod) plus a HRM if it can be avoided ….
Stryd only pod tbat is both BLE/dual Ant…
I actually accidentally paired it as a speed/cadence sensor and heart rate monitor to zwift a week or two ago. It seemed to be pretty close to what the treadmill was reporting, but not quite so close to my stryd.
Hello everybody,
I received my Rhythm 24 a few days before and have concerns to get technical datas.
Perhaps you could help me.
As I want to use the band in an experimental lab setting, I am trying to get infos about the security of data transfer from the band to an other device.
When the band is on, it is in pairing mode and that means that you can connect with any device which is scanning the band There is no pairing with PIN code setting. It tested to see if once it is connected for example with an iPhone, there is no possibility to connect with an other iPhone directly, you have to disconnect the first one, and connect to the second.
I was thinking that ANT+ allowed to connect multiple devices, how is it working and how to secure the connection ? Is there an encryption process during Bluetooth Smart or ANT+ data transfer to a device or the signal can be read directly ? Is pairing the band with a device guarantying that no other device can read the data ?
Imagine a situation when you have 2 rhythm 24 with two people running each other, when putting the band on, there is a possibility to mislead the good band with the good iPhone for example, and what about the possibility to connect to a Garmin (ANT+) device ? Is there a possibility to access the wrong band directly even if connected with the iPhone.
Many thanks for your help.
Best,
C
Hello,
Just to know if you have now (for exemple Steve@Scoche) more technical datas about the connection between the wrist and other devices – the discussion from August- as I would like to use the band in an experimental setting and must ensure security of the data.
Thanks a lot,
Best,
Chris
Hey, any idea if/when the in depth review will come out?
I would like to know that too please.
With all the initial troubles like not getting Firstbeat metrics (training effect/load/status) on Garmin devices, plastic case cracking and connectivity issues I am waiting to order it.
The in-depth review/testing by DCRainmaker and a response from stevens@scosche.com would certainly help.
I would buy the Scosche Rhythm 24 if it did not mess with the Garmin Training status and did not crack.
Also would like to hear if someone has used it to measure HRV with the HRV4training-app. They say it is compatible and gives accurate HRV.
+1
Was thinking this sounded like a great device. Tired of Garmin chest straps wearing out. But like many others here I’d be concerned with the issues mentioned.
Want to use it with Fenix3. Cycling, running, swimming, etc. Look forward to hearing some good news or I’ll have to consider another device.
After wearing the band on my upper arm, my guess from the colors that show, is that it’s much more accurate than the wrist monitor. Someone needs to come up with a watch band that will expand so that you can raise your wrist monitor to a higher, more accurate area of your arm.
Guys and gals, could use your expertise here — I have a Rhythm 24, and I’m unsure how to effectively record/access the data. For some context, I come from the FitBit ecosystem, where heart rate, sleep detection, etc, etc were nicely presented in one app. Of course, the heart rate was a bit useless during workouts, sleep detection was little more than just movement based, etc. However, it was “easy” to collect and see all the data.
I’m at a loss on how to effectively piece this together with the Rhythm 24.
I tried using the Scosche app, but I was a bit confused that it doesn’t really “record” anything except with the clunky “start workout” option which creates a file that seems to be dated wrong (and I don’t know to fix that). And then I have to export that file into another app?
I have now downloaded FITIV Pulse, which has a decently nice interface to at least record workout heart rate. But the graphs for sleep, resting heart rate, etc. are blank (I’m not 100% sure, but it might need an apple watch to populate that data.)
I also downloaded an HRV app, which is kinda neat, I suppose.
I don’t know what to do for sleep.
Or just general heart rate recording outside of the workout.
Basically, if I were to wear my Rhythm24 for an actual day…how many apps do I need to actually piecemeal a fitbit experience together?
Thanks!
I didn’t know about HRV when I purchased my Tickr Fit. I generally like Wahoo products so far having an element, Kickr, table, various sensors etc so it seemed natural. Then after 4 months of using my Tickr fit 3 days a week or less the band has turned to rubbish…..the layers have separated and its just trash. A new band is 15.00 and at this rate I’d need 3 a year. So I came here to learn about this brand, because i was going to jump on the HRV bandwagon and this was recommended. Once again it turns out that Rays work has saved me money at least in the short term and much aggravation. I get it Scosche will eventually figure it out, but first with the users with the wrong cadence and then wrong heart rates and wrong calorie burn and then the early breakage…..I’ll wait and be a later adopter here. I do not need more HRV data that badly…….
Maybe Wahoo will develop a new product even although they have been really quiet.
Either way the existence of Rays work certainly benefits me over and over. (and Amazon, I found a 5 dollar band with the word Piggy on it that works with my Tickr and while much less refined and velcro only on one end, works perfectly)
Really looking forward to the in-depth review. I’d like to start recording HR during exercise (cycling / running) and the previous chest straps I’ve used felt constricting to me. These optical sensor seem to provide high accuracy while not being in the way (for me at least).
It seems like the Scosche Rhythm+ is well regarded here, but it’s a bit old now so I was excited to come across the update here. However, I seems like QA really failed on this one in many respects (hardware and software). It looks like the company is trying to get things right, but I casts a bit a of shadow with regards to quality. Is this a one off or does the company have a bit of history with QA? Is it worth still getting the 24 or is the Rhythm+ a better product (from a quality and hardware standpoint)? The only other alternatives seem to be Polar and Wahoo which seem to be rated below the Rhythm+ by Ray. Is there any insights on new products being released in this category? The Polar one is about a year old now, is it up for a refresh?
I have the Rhythm+ and I really like it. Very convenient, extremely reliable and accurate. I really, really want to like the Rhythm24, but I interpret Ray’s delay of not posting an in-depth review of the Rhythm24 as a reflection of the fact that the Scosche guys haven’t fixed the teething problems on this device that have been rife for the last few months.
I wouldn’t interpret it that way.
The reason is far simpler: It’s been a crazy busy summer of product launches. I virtually always give priority to posts tied to a produce announcement date versus ‘catch-up’ reviews.
It’s super high on my list, but just a matter of getting to the top of the pile is tough. Super keenly aware of some of the issues folks are facing (and some of the promised features not yet implemented unfortunately).
Ok – got it.
Thanks, Ray.
Still hoping for some more fixes and an Android update soon – at the moment the 24 isn’t any more functional than my old Rhythm+ for me. I really want it for swimming. I find my Rhythm+ more comfortable for running. Even with the problem of my older velcro strap delaminating, I find them more comfortable and easier to adjust. The new strap is very difficult to adjust on-the-go (have to take it off first) and the edges of the new strap are biting into my arm/ forearm (I move it up and down depending on where is less uncomfortable on the day).
Still waiting for ability to download heart rate data to Garmin watches for swimming…
Sorry, it is a lie that the swimming data can be download to the phone after the swimming session. I could not get it to work. Export the fit file and try to upload it through browser would not work too ask Garmin will only accept Garmin specific .fit file.
After reading all the comments there, I have download TrainingPeaks and give it a try. It sync my Gamin Fenix 5X without problem but when I try to authorized Rhythm Sync to connect with TrainingPeaks, I am keep getting username/password incorrect error. Does any one else have this problem? I notice it bring up a page asking you to login to TP but it seems to be a sandbox and not the real TP production URL may be?
Hi Ray,
Do you think this has the possibility to be a viable product for swimming and match Garmin functionality?
Or should we all just give up and save ourselves the headache and buy the Garmin swim/Tri HRM?
Thanks
I’m not aware of any technical block here to this, they should be able to implement it.
I’ll likely see them at Interbike in two weeks – so looking forward to chatting more in person with them on it.
Please do. As you often say in in-depth reviews – “it’s out of beta and being currently sold to paying customers, so it’s fair game so to speak.”
I’ve not bought one, but with the comments I went from wanting to buy one to being too concerned. That said, if several/most of the features of it work super well without glitches/hangups right now, I’d still consider it. If it can be used well as a running pod and HRM for Zwift running, that honestly might be enough on it’s own. Or especially if that’s true and it also works well as a simultaneous cycling cadence+HRM. I definitely would still LOVE for an alternative to the HRM Swim more than anything, but given that I AM interested in all those other features, it might still be a good enough value for me to pick up…
I love your comment section for warnings and tips, but right now it’s a bit hard to tell whether people are frustrated here because it’s a good product now overall but was over-advertised and people mad at an otherwise decent product because it isn’t all it was advertised to be, or whether it’s a bad deal for most/all features regardless of meeting the marketing.
Anyways, cheers and good luck at Interbike! You’re our superhero when it comes to finding this stuff out!
What a piece of crap. First run, it kept losing connection with my Fenix5X (ANT+ connection). When I placed in the same hand, my watch connection improved, but started to loose my HR.
Updated to the latest fw, connect it via bt, and went for a second run. Connection was stable, but it kept losing my HR (blue led). If I off and on, then fixes the HR. After a while same thing. Tried all possible places at both hands, same behavior.
Third day went for a bike ride. Same behavior.
Send it back and got an HRM4.
A firmware update will be out very soon and will help with your issue, as well as cadence and other bug fixes.
Firmware 3.003 just released. But what does it fix. CNt find notes anywhere. Can HR data now be synced with Garmin watches in pool?
It can’t be downloaded at this time.
In my discussions with them a couple days ago, they noted they’re working with Dynastream to sort out how to do it. Garmin has previously said it’s possible, but now they’re saying it’s not possible. So…more research is being done.
Thanks Ray, that will be too bad if it can’t work out. I’ll admit to this being an “aspirational” purchase expecting (hoping) the swim paring issue would get sorted out. At the very least, they (someone) should make it possible to import Scosche swim HR files to Garmin Connect, which isn’t possible today. A bummer.
In that case, it’s really Garmin blocking that. A couple years back they started making it more difficult for 3rd party uploads to the platform from non-Garmin devices. Not impossible, but they’ve added a handful of checks to block some devices. It’s trivial for them to do checks to a certain degree, and unfortunately they’re doing so.
Now, that said, if all else fails, Scosche could potentially join Garmin’s developer program and probably get the .FIT file from Garmin Connect and then do a merge behind the scenes (Stryd and Notio do this today, as do a few others). A bit clunky, but it does get the two files together. Still messy to get it back to Garmin Connect though.
The odd thing about this is that the HR cache-and-forward feature works well with open water swims. I have a handful of open water swims, including a triathlon, and the HR synced perfectly every time. That is fabulous.
By contrast, it never works with a pool swim. Nor does it work in a triathlon with a pool swim. That seems like dark magic, because you would think that the the technical interface would be identical between pool and OWS.
@Brian – really? How strange…
In that case, I might still be able to use it swimming quite a lot – I live somewhere where I could go openwater swimming pretty much daily.
Still, that’s really strange… also I’d still like to hear about the openwater heartrate accuracy, as well as accuracy as a running footpod.
How was the OW heartrate accuracy for you? Even better – any chance you have an HRM-Swim/Tri to compare?
There was something with the Garmin 920xt that could be related to this; the watch allowed to connect to HR straps when swimming in open water mode, but it did not when using the pool mode. Maybe it is somehow related?
@Michael
If you primarily do OWS, then you would love the Rhythm24. Getting my HR in a swim is freakin’ awesome, I just wish it worked for my pool swims.
I do not have another device to compare. However, when I manually take my pulse, it matches with my R24 HR. Plus, the HR it captures during swims feels right compared to similar level of intensity workouts on land (with other devices and the R24).
I do not know about its foodpod accuracy. I use a Stryd.
Hello Brian, could you please share one of these activities? Thanks.
Open water swims with Rhythm24
link to strava.com
link to strava.com
Thanks, do you think it would load correctly also to Garmin Connect?
Did anybody try with Fenix 5 plus?
That came from Garmin Connect. My 735XT captured the data from the R24 and pushed it to Strava from GC. If it worked with 735, it would probably work with a F5+.
Hi Ray,
I am currently using a Suunto Ambit3 Peak for my swimming work-outs. I would really like to measure my heart rate during these work-outs. Would this Rhythm 24 / Swiss army knife be the solution for this?
I read of questions about whether this works for Garmin watches, but can’t find anything on Suunto watches. From your Suunto Ambit3 review I know this is possible, as the heart rate strap does the same thing. I am only uncertain whether this is compatible with the Rhythm 24.
Thanks in advance if you have time to answer.
It wouldn’t work for swim workouts.
Both Suunto and Polar use only proprietary solutions for syncing/offloading BT data. And while there’s some debate about whether Garmin’s solution is half-proprietary, the underlying mechanism is actually open standard (AntFS).
It’s not entirely Suunto/Polar’s fault here, there simply isn’t a standard for offloading this type of data on Bluetooth Smart. So they baked their own.
Given that and the fact that BT Smart signals (like ANT+) can’t travel more than a couple centimeters underwater, you’d be out of luck. 🙁
Thanks for the clear response Ray! Hope the problems for uploading to Garmin devices can be fixed for pool swims, then maybe I will switch to Garmin :). Would love to be able to see my heartrate post swim, but also would like to see swim metrics. A difficult combination without using a chest strap.
Pity there is not such a standard.
Hi Ray,
Are you planning on doing a full review soon? My Rhythm+ (which I love) is on it’s last legs. I’m attracted to the 24, but some of the comments on clevertraining and in this thread are discouraging. I not sure if I should take the plunge now or get another + and give them another few years to get the 24 sorted out.
I’d appreciate feedback from anyone who purchased a 24 after the initial teething problems, especially anyone who upgraded from the +.
Paul
Paul i don’t have issues using it as a “dumb” ant+ heartrate band – i just hoped that it would work in swimming and sync’ing with my garmin after the swim like the garmin band. So since you don’t pay much more you at least get a longer battery life for the extra money …
But since i’m on android i can’t access any of the new features. – no way i’m going to get an iphone just to use this …. I need Dual-Sim as not having to carry to phones and even trough it looks like its finally possible with the XS and XS Max it is a price point way above my previous phones ,,,
Thanks. I didn’t realise the new features weren’t available on android. I guess it’s still worth it for the longer battery life.
Seems like one of these optical HR sensors should add SpO2. Wonder how long of a wait it will be for that. (Guess it also needs a way to send that data to something)
And the value of SpO2 is? Indeed you could add every known conceivable parameter…..
Another one to add to the ongoing and known woes. Wish I had read all the comments below before I bought this for my girlfriend as a birthday present
1st wear – at the pool. Paired to 735XT, recording swim HR in Heart Rate only mode – failed to (and subsequently) get it to connect to the watch and download data
2nd wear – steady/progression run, no hard intervals or sudden changes in effort but the R24 kept dropping out on HR measurement, less effective than the watch itself
3rd (attempted) wear – frame cracked and pin came out – now useless.
Will be returning to CT UK once back from holiday
Really disappointed
What’s your serial number? I just bought one from scosche.eu and I hope it’s not from the old faulty batch.
I bought a Rhythm+ a few years back on the strength of the review here, particularly the fact that it worked with a lot of different Android apps visit allowing me to chose the one I was most comfortable with. I’m pondering a 24, despite the teething problems, partly because of the ability to use it in the pool and partly for the ability to use it without a tether and upload the data later. Is be very interested, when the full review comes, in how well that works with Android.
1st unit started playing up- stopping sensing HR mid run (purple LED on front and one solid green on sensor side- no flashing).
Then would do this on start and not get HR.
Scosche were great a replacement unit… sadly the replacement seems to be doing the same straight out of the box. 1st run lasted 8min then stopped by itself. Re-power and couldn’t get it going again.
Anyone found a fix for it getting stuck and not reading HR?
Just did my first swim with Rhythm 24 paired to a fenix 5. Had it set on my triceps during the swim, very confortable, didn’t feel it while swimming (it got some scratches probably while I was hanging on the lines in between sprints)
As expected from previous comments no sync of the HR data with the activity…and that was the main reason I bought the rhythm 24, I really hope a FW update will fix this asap.
Rhythm 24 HR data during the swim (recorded) is complete, the HR data transmitted to the watch shows some blanks probably due to the connection dropping underwater.
I tried to merge my swim activity FIT file with the one from the Rhythm 24 using fitfiletools.com but the result is a bit messy:
– The HR max and average shows on the activity (nice)
– The activity graphs on garmin connect website are messed up, Basically I only see graphs for HR and Temp, all others are blank… and Swolf is missing and altitude graph is added (very useful in a pool swim 😉 )
– The activity graphs on garmin connect iOS show only the usual swim activity graphs, but no HR graphs, swolf available.
… so basically the idea of merging the FIT file was nice… the result… meh….
Rhythm 24 was the kind of tool I was waiting for a long time but it turns out to be a very frustrating experience.
If anyone from Scosche still reads this comments section… please do something for the swimmers! You advertise this tool as perfect for the swimmers but it is basically useless if it doesn’t sync to the activity..
Hi Rico,
Thanks for sharing your experience. We are working on solutions for swimmers.
I have a few questions for you:
• Have you updated your Rhythm24 to the latest FW version (3.003) with the Rhythm Sync app?
• Did you connect to your Rhythm24 directly as an external HR monitor to your Garmin Fenix 5 while swimming (same arm)? It sounds like you did this and also recorded the workout, which is fine.
• If you did the above steps, I would be interested in seeing your Garmin Connect data file if possible?
Thanks for your help!
–Fred
@Fred, does the 3.003 update fix HR pool capture?
Hi Fred,
– yes upgrading Rhythm24 FW was the first thing I did after unboxing… it was on 2.x and upgraded to 3.003
– Rhythm24 was connected via ant+ to the Fenix5, and yes I was wearing it on the same arm
– I can send you the original Garmin file, original rhythm24 file and merged fitfiletools file if you give me an adress (or other means of transferring the files)
regarding ANT+, when the watch is on running or cycling activities, rhythm24 switches automatically to running/cycling mode, but when I go into swimming activity, rhythm24 switches to HR monitor and not to swim mode. I had to start the activity on the watch, then log back on the iPhone to change the mode from HR monitor to swim.
(For recent owners: sn#53688XXXX ,2 runs, 1 swim, still no cracks to be seen)
Rico,
Very interesting – yes please send to Rhythm@Scosche.com.
If anyone else reading this has tried to pair their R24 (w/3.003) directly to a Garmin watch for a swim and has seen some positive results – feel free to let me know.
Thanks!
–Fred
Fred,
Great to see you back in this forum actively trying to resolve our swimming woes.
I have a Fenix 5 plus and Firmware 3.03 on my R24. I set my R24 into swimming mode with the android app, but when I then launch a pool swim activity on my watch, it always changes the mode back to HR only.
I can confirm that that by reconnecting the R24 with the app. I’ve just then changed the R24 back into swim mode using the app, and am taking it for a swim now…..
Of course I still won’t be able to upload the swim activity recorded on the R24 using the android app as you haven’t released the updated app with that functionality yet. But I can continue to be patient on that issue if the workaround above works and I get some form of HR data synced with my watch after swimming….
Will report back when I get back from swim
email sent!
Rico, I just bought R24 #536884003 just for the record. After some faffing around, turning off other possible sources of Bluetooth interference etc. I got it the Iphone app to find it. I managed to update to new software 3.003, change user parameters, and tested it with Wahoo Fitness, Zwift, and my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt. It reads heart rate as expected when sitting and jogging on the spot. So I would say the only notable issues are to do with the Iphone Rhythm Synch App. One behaviour when toggling through modes the HR number can be a bit slow to change and you have to wait up to 8 seconds for the HR BPM number to come up in the screen. Not a problem really. But I cannot get the record button to register and show three blinking LED lights.
I finally got the record button to click but it is so stiff you need to hold the unit between forefinger and thumb to do it. I guess it means that you can’t accidental turn off record during a workout, which is good. Going through the app I shared the file with Strava successfully. So far it’s working well!
I’d be interested in a full review also. This time I’d like to see it compared to a chest strap because they are sorta the gold standard. Also, a main area these type of monitors lag is actually in their response to heat rate changes so maybe some data with sprints to see how the 24 smooths out the data against a chest strap type. Great initial review though. Wish the company wasn’t having tones of issues with the new design.
Ray I bought the Scosche because my Polar HR strap monitor was starting to show spiking and dropouts, probably as the weather here is quite dry and this can cause contact problems with the skin. My previous Rhythm+ was super accurate in this regard.
But I also I want to try out the R24 for swimming, with the record feature a winner for me – if it works. I prefer the comfort of wearing the monitor on the arm too.
Mine was one of the first ones from Clever Training. It broke on my indoor ride tonight.
If you reach out to support, they’ll happily replace at no cost. As noted, the first batch had the plastics issue. Actually spent some time discussing it with them tonight.
Already contacted Steve and received a response almost immediately. As noted by others, I also think the Scosche customer service can’t be faulted.
Looking forward to the swim and Android functionality.
I’m still curious what’s going on here. Love my original scoshe band – it just works- but I was anticipating this for many reasons, mostly non-chest-strap HR for my pool swims. But recent silence from Scoshe in these comments about the Android app, making the pool swims work, etc. seems baffling. I’m just waiting for them to give them my money.
And still no review from Ray. His review on the original was key for me in purchasing it (through CT). Maybe this isn’t a popular or anticipated product like a watch? Not a criticism but more a plea 🙂
crickets all around…
I think you’ll see some forward progress on the swim offloading bits soon. I met with them this evening on it, and it sounds like there’s a fairly concrete plan moving forward on that. I know
It’s definitely on my list to get a review out (and I’m definitely tracking issues that folks have had around breakage, and in particular trying to determine if breakage issues are totally isolated to the initial production issues – or perhaps later runs). There’s no doubt I’m behind on this review. If it were just covering the optical HR aspects, it’d likely be out by now*. But it’s the pile of additional features that has me behind a bit in ensuring I’ve got covered correctly.
*In fact, if you follow enough of my reviews, you’ll often see Scosche 24 data in them.
thanks for the update Ray – your guidance to Scosche on the importance of fixing the swim issues is helping a lot of us here.
Unfortunately I’ve just joined the list of people whose R24 has broken. Don’t think I got one from the initial production run, I received mine in early June (order placed in mid May).
Thankfully, you are correct that Scosche are happily shipping me a replacement.
Whilst they have been a bit quiet on the status of the Android App update and a timeframe for addressing the swim issue, I can’t fault their warranty response and customer service.
And I think they have got their priorities right in fixing the manufacturing issues and replacing faulty units before addressing the software issues.
Finally took the jump and ordered one through link to clever training a good few weeks back, but seemingly they were waiting on delivery from Scosche so hopefully it’s a new batch.
Will be pairing with a Garmin fenix3 , so hopefully will be a sound replacement to my battered chest strap. Will it replace my Garmin footpod too? Or how does it rate with that. Will also use with zwift too. Fingers crossed it will work soon seeminglessly with swim HR.
Iv been using scoshe rythm+ for a long time for running and cycling (both mountain and road and gravel 😉 )
Old one has two major cons. Battery life – it was not enough for ultra running and longer cycle trips. Second – velcro strap was very weak and few times i almost lost it while mountain biking.
Bought rythm24 because those two flaws were fixed. Now, after few long trips on bike one short ultra i can see it is good. Battery is superb, accuracy is similar to rythm+ (better than miolink).
I hope it will not break.
Best regards!
Mike
Unfortunately their Android app is garbage. There is no easy way to change the functions without the app. I can pair it with a Wahoo app and get a HR but none of the functionality.
I ordered a new Rhythm24 from Clever Training and received it last Wednesday (10/3/18).
I really want to like this strap given the features and this preview.
I updated the firmware to the latest version (3.0.3?) before using it.
Unfortunately, I see Bluetooth disconnects during workouts (just 2 hours of walking/jogging).
I was hoping to use it with my Suunto Ambit3 Peak – it pairs fine with it over BLE but no heart rate displayed. 🙁
And today I noticed that the contact pin on the charger is missing – less than one week of use!
The good news is that Scosche customer support has been extremely helpful and have set up an exchange for the HR monitor given the BLE disconnects.
Of course the Android app is still mostly non-functional; fortunately I have an old iphone that I have been using for managing the Rhythm24.
I hope the issues can be resolved before my 60 day return window runs out or I’ll just have to return it.
The charger was functional and intact out of the box – I noticed the pin was missing today when the Rhythm24 was not charging.
I was a happy R24 user throughout the summer. I managed to find a position where it gave me good HR readings (on the biceps) for running and roller skiing. Sure, there were couple of times when HR readings spiked, but it was very rear. TE readings over BR were also good.
And then the update 3.003 came out… Since then I’m lucky if there are no HR spikes every 2nd run. Usually, only 1/3 (or even worse) of my runs is OK. Everything has remained the same – positioning, tightness of the band etc. But HR readings have became very unreliable. What fixes it is if I move R24 around a bit. And also then there is no guarantee that it will work and that HR readings are reliable afterwards. Unfortunately this happened also on a recent trail race where I was targeting certain HR range.
So dear Scosche, whatever you did in 3.003, it really messed up things for me… 🙁
P.S. I’m using Garmin 935. And yes, hard resets have not helped this time.
Peter,
Sorry, you have been experiencing these issues. It would be very helpful if you could send us a few of your workout files, so we can dig into this issue further. Rhythm@scosche.com
Thank you!
–Fred
Hi Peter,
Please send us a few data files, so we can dig deeper into this issue.
Thank you!
–Fred
Already done on 12th and 16th of October. Haven’t you received the files?
The spikes continued to happen also after hard reset of the watch and switching to ANT+ 🙁
Please resend – didn’t come through. Thanks, Peter!
Done. Resent (forwarded) both emails to Rhythm@scosche.com.
Hope it goes through this time.
Found it – stuck in spam, super lame! ;o)
Sent another sample after with my Amsterdam marathon run from yesterday. Hope it helps in some way.
Here’s a pretty thorough test of this device’s “HRV Mode” capabilities…
link to hrv4training.com