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benchmarkman

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 12, 2015
29
14
The step counting and stand tracking has been about 50% accurate since I first got the watch in May but the last few weeks it's gotten horrible like 10% accurate. For example tonight I walked for 20 minutes and I was given credit for only 200 steps. Another example is on Sunday I was in my kitchen for approximatly 30 minutes preparing dinner (chopping chicken, vegetables, and general movement) and at the 50 minute mark I get the buzz and the watch says it's time to stand. WTF do you think I've been doing for the last 30 minutes? I've calibrated the watch multiple times, reset the watch, and nothing helps. Anybody else having the problem with activity tracking getting worse over time?
 
As far as I know from what I read, when it tells you to stand it is not only requesting you to stand but also to move significantly for one minute while standing. Confusing, I know.
 
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As far as I know from what I read, when it tells you to stand it is not only requesting you to stand but also to move significantly for one minute while standing. Confusing, I know.
Wouldn't you think prepping a meal requires significant movement? Reaching, chopping, lifting, walking back and forth.
 
Wouldn't you think prepping a meal requires significant movement? Reaching, chopping, lifting, walking back and forth.
I believe it has to be movement that significantly raises the heart rate for the watch to measure. Google it and read for yourself, it is very strange what makes you qualify for that achievement. It does not seem to be very consistent.
 
As far as I know from what I read, when it tells you to stand it is not only requesting you to stand but also to move significantly for one minute while standing. Confusing, I know.

Standing and walking across the room is sufficient for my watch. I saw a post the other day that holding your arm up in a non-sitting position would work.
 
Standing and walking across the room is sufficient for my watch. I saw a post the other day that holding your arm up in a non-sitting position would work.
Does not seem to be the case for my watch at times. I've had to do a good amount of movement to make it register. Just giving my experience and offering things I've read. Maybe it varies for different people for different reasons, don't know.
 
I find that to get credit for standing, there must be some amount of movement on the arm the watch is on for it to register. I have had times where my arm is up, maybe I'm cradling something in my left arm, and because of the angle of my arm it doesn't register. It's not great, but I guess that's where the technology is at right now. If you leave your arm down by your side as you walk, or even have it swinging a bit, many times it will register the "stand" credit in much less than a minute.

The same thing applies to steps. I remember when I first started using the Watch when I would go to the gym and use the treadmill. On average, I was receiving probably 50% of the steps/calories burned as compared to what was being tracked by the treadmill. Later on, I discovered that since I was holding on to the handrails, which had pads on them to track your heartbeat, my arm wasn't moving as much so that's why my calories burned was so low. When I stopped doing that and moved my arms normally like if I were walking/jogging outside, I saw the calorie count rise to the point where it was +/-10% of what the treadmill displayed.

Sadly, my solution to your problem seems to come down to "swing your arm more when you're moving."
 
Again my arm was in constant motion chopping, stiring, shaking.

If my heart rate has to be raised I'll never get credit because I have a resting heart rate between 35-40 and walking about 45. Those numbers don't come from the watch but doctor and cardiographs machines.

I find that to get credit for standing, there must be some amount of movement on the arm the watch is on for it to register. I have had times where my arm is up, maybe I'm cradling something in my left arm, and because of the angle of my arm it doesn't register. It's not great, but I guess that's where the technology is at right now. If you leave your arm down by your side as you walk, or even have it swinging a bit, many times it will register the "stand" credit in much less than a minute.

The same thing applies to steps. I remember when I first started using the Watch when I would go to the gym and use the treadmill. On average, I was receiving probably 50% of the steps/calories burned as compared to what was being tracked by the treadmill. Later on, I discovered that since I was holding on to the handrails, which had pads on them to track your heartbeat, my arm wasn't moving as much so that's why my calories burned was so low. When I stopped doing that and moved my arms normally like if I were walking/jogging outside, I saw the calorie count rise to the point where it was +/-10% of what the treadmill displayed.

Sadly, my solution to your problem seems to come down to "swing your arm more when you're moving."
 
Again my arm was in constant motion chopping, stiring, shaking.

If my heart rate has to be raised I'll never get credit because I have a resting heart rate between 35-40 and walking about 45. Those numbers don't come from the watch but doctor and cardiographs machines.
It is not heart related. It is measuring the natural arm swing that happens when you walk. The activities you describe will probably not trigger this (have had it happen too). Things like chopping and staring probably 'look' like typing to the algorithms. When you get the splash screen at xx:50 while standing simply drop your arm and swing back and forth to emulate walking.
 
Again my arm was in constant motion chopping, stiring, shaking.

If my heart rate has to be raised I'll never get credit because I have a resting heart rate between 35-40 and walking about 45. Those numbers don't come from the watch but doctor and cardiographs machines.
As Julien said, I meant the arm had to be down by your side. Basically, if your arm is parallel to the ground, you likely aren't going to get credit for standing.
 
The step counting and stand tracking has been about 50% accurate since I first got the watch in May but the last few weeks it's gotten horrible like 10% accurate. For example tonight I walked for 20 minutes and I was given credit for only 200 steps. Another example is on Sunday I was in my kitchen for approximatly 30 minutes preparing dinner (chopping chicken, vegetables, and general movement) and at the 50 minute mark I get the buzz and the watch says it's time to stand. WTF do you think I've been doing for the last 30 minutes? I've calibrated the watch multiple times, reset the watch, and nothing helps. Anybody else having the problem with activity tracking getting worse over time?

were you carrying anything?
 
I do not think it has anything to do with your HR. If I get up and walk for minute of less I get the "you did it" message on my AW. No way my HR has anything to do with it.

Sounds to me like the OP's AW need to be replaced.
 
I could understand step count should be accurate, but stand tracking accuracy, why?
Before AW, how do we all track stand, oh, we did not.
Technology has a way to get people away from focusing on bigger picture. Stand count help people to stand more, that's it. How does that help improve or not-improve health, if it is or not 100% accurate? A little inaccurate will effect your health?
Even step count, is that really that important to track every single step, or you know you are actually improving your health?
I know a lot of people feel like once they buy a piece of technology, and if that technology is not close to 100% accurate, they are robbed.
Stop let a piece of device control your life, think of how the device is designed it for, not how accurate it is. I could tell you it is not to design for tracking as big picture, it is design for better your health!
End of day, look at yourself in mirror months after you get AW and start using health app, are you looking better in the mirror?
 
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