Which sensors can I use?

To get the most out of ZonePoints, you need to track your heart rate accurately. Connecting a dedicated sensor directly to the app provides live feedback and unmatched precision. And because there are no start or stop buttons to press, you simply put your sensor on and start moving.

The gold standard: Chest straps

For serious training, chest straps are the ultimate tool. They measure the electrical signals from your heart (ECG), rather than using light to detect blood flow. This makes them instantly responsive to sudden changes in heart rate, which is crucial for interval training or short, intense efforts[1]. Chest straps are unaffected by sweat, arm movement, or gripping a handlebar, providing the most reliable data possible.

Armbands: The comfortable compromise

Optical armbands are worn on the forearm or bicep. While they still use optical sensors, placing them higher on the arm avoids the "noise" created by wrist movements[2]. This makes them far more accurate than smartwatches, especially during activities with heavy arm motion, though they may still struggle during interval sessions compared to a chest strap.

Smartwatches

Smartwatches provide convenience but compromise on accuracy. The wrist is a challenging place to measure heart rate due to movement, sweat, and varying skin tones[1]. While fine for steady-state exercise like jogging or cycling, they often lag during rapid changes in effort. Additionally, many smartwatches do not broadcast heart rate over Bluetooth. If you use a watch, you will likely need to rely on the Health Connect background sync rather than a live connection.

How to connect a sensor

ZonePoints supports almost all modern heart rate monitors. You don't need to visit a settings menu; you can connect your sensor directly on the app's home screen before starting your workout.

  • Compatibility: Bluetooth Heart Rate Service
  • Connection stability: Newer Bluetooth versions, like Bluetooth 5, can offer better connection stability. Keep your phone relatively close during a workout to prevent the connection from dropping.

Unsupported legacy devices

ZonePoints does not support ANT+ connections, as modern Android phones rarely include the necessary hardware. If you have an older dual-band sensor (ANT+ and Bluetooth), ensure it is broadcasting in Bluetooth mode, or it may not connect. If you record your workouts on a bike computer or another platform (such as Polar or Fitbit, provided sync with Health Connect is enabled), ZonePoints will still import and score the data seamlessly.

References

  1. Variable Accuracy of Wearable Heart Rate Monitors during Aerobic Exercise
    Gillinov, S., Etiwy, M., Wang, R., et al. (2017).
    Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 49(8), 1697–1703
  2. Evaluation of wearable consumer heart rate monitors based on photopletysmography
    Parak, J., & Korhonen, I. (2014).
    2014 36th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 3670–3673