FITIV + Scosche Rhythm+
The Scosche Rhythm+ is an optical armband heart rate monitor that straps to your forearm or upper arm. It's useful when a chest strap is uncomfortable (HIIT, rowing, lifting) or when you'd rather not track workouts from your wrist.
FITIV Pulse connects to the Rhythm+ over Bluetooth on iPhone or iPad and turns its heart rate into live heart rate zones and training load for every workout, with the session counting toward your daily Strain.
Which Scosche Models Work With FITIV
FITIV works with any monitor that sends standard Bluetooth heart rate, so it doesn't need a Scosche-specific setting or the Scosche app. That includes:
- Rhythm+ 2.0, Scosche's current armband
- Rhythm+, the original version
- Rhythm24
The Rhythm+ 2.0 also sends ANT+ at the same time as Bluetooth, so it can feed an ANT+ bike computer or gym display while FITIV records your workout. FITIV itself uses the Bluetooth connection.
Connecting Scosche Rhythm+ to FITIV
- Charge the armband fully before first use
- Strap it to your forearm, bicep, or tricep, snug enough that the sensor stays against your skin
- Turn it on (see Scosche's instructions for your model)
- If it's connected to another app or device, such as Scosche's Rhythm Sync app, disconnect it there first
- Open FITIV and go to the Workout tab
- Tap the device banner at the bottom to open Workout Tracking
- Under Bluetooth Sensors, tap Discover & Manage Sensors
- Tap your Rhythm+ under Discovered Sensors to add it to My Sensors
- Go back to Workout Tracking and tap your Rhythm+ to use it for workouts
- Start a workout and check that your heart rate is coming through
Pair the armband inside FITIV rather than in your device's Bluetooth settings. FITIV remembers it and reconnects when you turn it on, and you can manage your sensors any time under More → Bluetooth Sensors. While it's connected, the sensor list also shows its battery level.
What You Get in FITIV With the Rhythm+
Once the armband is connected, FITIV records the workout on your iPhone or iPad using its heart rate:
- Live heart rate and zones, with time in each zone as you go
- Heart-rate-based calories for the session
- Daily Strain: the workout's heart rate counts toward your daily Strain score
- Training load, so the session feeds your Training Readiness over the following days
- Live Activity on your Lock Screen while the workout runs
- Voice Coaching for zone changes and high or low heart rate alerts
- Apple Health: when Apple Health sync is on, the workout and its heart rate are saved there
FITIV uses one heart rate source per workout. When you pick the Rhythm+ in Workout Tracking, the workout runs on your iPhone or iPad. If you'd rather record on your Apple Watch, pair the armband to the watch in its own Bluetooth settings instead, and FITIV's Apple Watch workouts use it for heart rate. If you paired it in FITIV first, remove it under More → Bluetooth Sensors so the two connections don't conflict. The help center explains how to connect a Bluetooth heart rate sensor to Apple Watch.
Getting Accurate Readings From an Armband
Optical sensors read your pulse by shining light into the skin, so fit and placement matter more than with a chest strap:
- Wear it snug. Scosche designs the Rhythm+ 2.0 for the forearm, bicep, or tricep. Wherever you wear it, the sensor should press against your skin without sliding when you move.
- Move it if readings jump. If heart rate spikes or drops for no reason, try the other arm position. Lifting and gripping can shift a forearm strap, so the upper arm can work better for strength sessions.
- Charge before long sessions. Scosche rates the Rhythm+ 2.0 for up to 24 hours per charge, so check the battery level in FITIV's sensor list before a long ride or race day.
For the fastest response during short, hard intervals, a chest strap tracks sharp heart rate changes more closely.
Troubleshooting the Connection
- It doesn't appear under Discovered Sensors. Make sure it's turned on and close to your iPhone or iPad. If the armband is connected to another app or device, FITIV can't detect it, so disconnect it there and search again.
- Heart rate drops out mid-workout. FITIV keeps trying to reconnect on its own. If it gets no heart rate for 60 seconds, it shows Problem Detecting Sensor, where you can tap Retry to Connect or End Workout to save what you've recorded. Dropouts usually come from a low battery, another app connecting to the armband, or a loose fit.
- FITIV asks for Bluetooth access. FITIV needs Bluetooth permission to connect to a heart rate monitor. Turn it back on for FITIV in your device's Settings.
For more fixes, see the help center's Bluetooth heart rate monitor troubleshooting guide. The Need Help Connecting? link on FITIV's sensor screen opens the help center's setup guide.
Scosche Rhythm+ vs Other HR Monitors
| Feature | Scosche Rhythm+ 2.0 | Polar H10 | Apple Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor type | Optical (arm) | ECG (chest) | Optical (wrist) |
| Comfort during exercise | High | Moderate | High |
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours | About 400 hours (coin cell) | 18+ hours all-day, varies by model |
| Works with FITIV | Bluetooth, via iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch | Bluetooth, via iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch | FITIV Apple Watch app |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Scosche Rhythm+ with FITIV on my Apple Watch?
Yes. Pair the Rhythm+ to your Apple Watch in the watch's Settings app under Bluetooth, then start your workout in FITIV on the watch, and it records heart rate from the armband. To use it with FITIV on iPhone or iPad instead, pair it inside FITIV under Discover & Manage Sensors.
Does FITIV use the Scosche Rhythm+ for HRV?
No. FITIV uses the Rhythm+ for live workout heart rate. The HRV behind your Recovery and Training Readiness scores comes from the overnight readings your Apple Watch saves to Apple Health, or from a connected Garmin or Fitbit.
Can I use the Rhythm+ with FITIV while swimming?
Not reliably. Bluetooth signals don't travel well through water, so the armband can't stream heart rate to your phone during a swim. For pool swims, track with Apple's Workout app on your Apple Watch, and FITIV reads the workout from Apple Health.
Which arm position is best for the Scosche Rhythm+?
The forearm, bicep, or tricep all work, as long as the armband is snug and the sensor stays against your skin. If readings look jumpy on your forearm, especially during lifting, try the upper arm.
