Q & A: Wahoo Fitness Blue HR Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Strap for iPhone 4S

Wahoo Molly — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:28:00 GMT

Wow! It’s been a while since we blogged. Sorry about that. We’ve been pretty busy working on some awesome new products for you. We promise to be better! Stay tuned for another post on the cool things we saw at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week (one of our lame excuses for not blogging lately).

In other news, we’re pumped that the Wahoo Fitness Blue HR Heart Rate Strap for iPhone 4S is finally in the market and even more excited that you all seem to be enjoying using it! We’ve had a few questions on Facebook and Twitter about the Wahoo Blue HR and about Bluetooth Smart in general, so below is a little Q and A that might be interesting to y’all. Let us know if you have any other questions.

What is a Wahoo Blue HR?

In case you’ve been under a rock, the Wahoo Fitness Blue HR Heart Rate Strap is a hardware (strap and sensor) and software (app) tool that allows you to track your heart rate on your phone. Worn on the chest, this wireless device gathers electrical activity data to derive your heart beats per minute. It operates on Bluetooth Smart (aka Bluetooth 4.0, Bluetooth Low Energy, BTLE) wireless technology and it the first of its kind, available now!

Will it work with my iPhone 4?

Nope. The Wahoo Blue HR ONLY works with the iPhone 4S right now, but in the future it will work with other “Bluetooth Smart Ready” devices. Rumor is that the next several generations of iPhones and Android devices will all have Bluetooth Smart wireless technology integrated. This product will NOT work with the iPhone 3, 3GS, or 4.

Will it work with other Bluetooth Devices?

Nope. Bluetooth Smart is a completely new type technology and therefore is not backwards compatible with other generation of Bluetooth devices.

Can I use ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart Wahoo Sensors at the same time?

Yes! We built our product so they play nicely together. Therefore, if you have our ANT+ iPhone Bike Case collecting data from an ANT+ Speed and Cadence Sensor and/or Power Meter, you can also read your heart rate from a Wahoo Blue HR- all simultaneously. You can also wear your Bluetooth Classic (any generation up to, but not including, Bluetooth 4.0) wireless headphones at the same time, without interference of any kind.

Is there a limit to the number and type of sensors I can use at the same time?

There is, but you’d have to turn yourself into The Bonic Man/Woman to reach it. We’re told that there is “no practical limit” to the number of sensors that can run simultaneously, and as mentioned above, as long as you have an ANT+ receiver (Wahoo Key or Wahoo Bike Case) you can mix and match ANT+, Bluetooth Classic, and Bluetooth Smart sensors without interference. Go wild.

What Apps can I use with the Wahoo Blue HR?

You can use the free Wahoo Fitness App or any of our awesome partner apps. If your compatible App isn’t working, make sure you have the most updated version.

What’s the difference between ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart?

Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ are both 2.4 gHZ Wireless technologies. They both allow your iPhone to read data from sensors that run on their respective wireless protocols. ANT+ is great because it’s a standardized protocol that’s prevalent in the Health and Fitness industry. This is good for you because if you buy an ANT+ Sensor you know it will work with any ANT+ receiver, regardless of brand name. Bluetooth Smart has a slightly better connectivity range. Neither can read signals underwater because water is a great insulator against 2.4 gHZ radio waves. Both technologies are low energy, meaning they can run for about a year or two on a small coin cell battery without recharging. This means no plugging in and a simple battery replacement when your original battery dies. We like both technologies- they’re just different. We have plans to continue making both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart sensors in the future.

How do I use it?

Thoroughly wet both electrodes on the strap with water or electrode gel.
Snap one end of the strap to one side of the sensor. Either end of the strap can connect to either end of the sensor, just make sure the Wahoo Fitness logo is facing up.
Wrap the strap around your back, snap the free end in place, and adjust so that the sensor is located on your breastplate, or just below your breasts. Make sure the strap is snug, yet comfortable.
Once in place, move within 5’ - 10’ of any device that receives Bluetooth Smart wireless data, such as the iPhone 4S and pair the device to your phone with any compatible App.

How do I pair it with my device?

Each App pairs a little differently. Make sure the Bluetooth setting on your device is turned on and that you have latest version of your favorite compatible app.
The Wahoo Blue HR heart rate strap pairs in the app, not in Bluetooth settings in your phone. Note: This is a different process than how Bluetooth Classic devices traditionally pair.
Follow pairing instructions of whichever app you are using. In the Wahoo Fitness App you’ll need to go to “Quick Settings” and choose “Add New” under “Sensors Used.” You’ll have to be wearing your Wahoo Blue HR in order for the App to find the sensor. When you see your heartbeat on the screen, choose “Save.”

It won't connect! What do I do?

Check that the electrodes are wet. Lick them good.
Make sure you have good contact with your skin and that the strap is snug across your chest.
Check that the Wahoo Blue HR is ‘awake.’ It ‘sleeps’ with inactivity to save battery. Do a few jumping jacks to get the blood flowing.
Make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your settings.

How do I change the battery?

The battery in your Wahoo Blue HR should last a year or so and is cheap and easy to replace when it dies. The battery is located behind a cover on the back of your heart rate sensor. Use a coin (nickels work best) to turn the cover counterclockwise to open. Replace with a 3-volt CR2032 battery.

Have other questions/comments? Email us at marketing@wahoofitness.com!

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Q & A: Wahoo Fitness Blue HR Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Strap for iPhone 4S