Mio ALPHA User manual

MIO Alpha User Guide 01
Complete User Guide

MIO Alpha User Guide 02
Table of Contents
Welcome
03 Getting Started
04 Your MIO Alpha
04 Icons
04 Activating Your Alpha
Using Alpha
05 Wearing Your Alpha
05 Getting Your Heart Rate
06 Setting Your Target Heart Rate
07 Using The Timer
08 Reviewing Your Exercise Session
08 Using Alpha With Devices and Apps
Maintaining Your Alpha
10 Charging The Battery
11 Using Your Alpha In Water
11 Caring For Your Alpha
12 Alpha Specifications
Warranty and Regulations
12 Warranty & Service
14 Disclaimer
14 Copyright and Trademarks
15 Regulations and Conformity
Have any questions
about your Alpha?
We’re ready to help!
Your complete satisfaction is our goal, so
your feedback is crucial.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or
concerns, just contact our knowledgeable
support team at:
1.877.770.1116
suppor[email protected]
facebook.com/AlphaHeartRate
twitter.com/AlphaHeartRate

MIO Alpha User Guide 03
Welcome
Congratulations on your purchase! MIO Alpha is the world’s first performance level, strapless,
continuous heart rate monitor you can wear on your wrist. Alpha uses ANT+™ or Bluetooth® Smart
technology to transmit your heart rate data to smartphones and other compatible devices. Take
advantage of hundreds of fitness apps.
Remember to register your Alpha online at mioglobal.com/alpha for full warranty service.
Getting Started
What’s Included
1. MIO Alpha
2. USB Charger
3. Quick Start Guide
1 2 3
Important safety InformatIon
Consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise program.
MIO Alpha provides very accurate heart rate measurements. However, it is not a medical device. The
Alpha watch and USB dongle contain strong magnets that could affect pacemakers and implantable
cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). If you have any concerns, consult your doctor before using Alpha.
See page 09 for important battery care and battery safety information.

MIO Alpha User Guide 04
Icons
Battery Indicator
Time
Exercise Mode
Timer
Heart Rate
Activating Your Alpha
1. Remove your MIO Alpha watch from the packaging.
2. Peel off the protective film.
3. Press and hold the SET or +button to activate the watch. The display will turn on and prompt you
to set the time.
4. Press the +button to increase the value of the flashing digit.
5. Press the SET button to confirm the value and move to the next digit.
Set/
Toggle
Optical
Sensor
HR/+/
Timer
USB Dongle
Contact Pads
Sensor LEDs
Your MIO Alpha

MIO Alpha User Guide 05
Using Alpha
Wearing Your Alpha
To use the heart rate monitor on your Alpha watch, you must:
• Fasten the watch snugly so the optical sensor on the back of the watch makes tight contact with
your skin. The tighter you can wear the watch, the better.
• Wear the watch above—not on—your wrist bone; wear it higher on the forearm when using Alpha
as a heart rate monitor, especially if you have a small wrist.
• Alpha’s performance is optimized with greater blood flow. Exercise for a few minutes to increase
your blood flow before turning on the heart rate monitor.
When you’re not using the heart rate monitor, you can wear your Alpha like any watch.
Getting Your Heart Rate
You can view your heart rate and use the heart rate monitor when you put your watch in EXERCISE
mode. You must be wearing the watch for it to read and display your heart rate. The heart rate
may take a few extra seconds to stabilize while your body is adjusting to the physical activity; we
recommend wearing your Alpha during the warm up stage of your workout.
turnIng on exercIse mode
1. Fasten Alpha tightly on your arm above your wrist bone.
2. Press and hold the hr button until the watch beeps and the display says FIND.
3. Hold your arm fairly still until the watch beeps again and displays your heart rate.
Note: It takes a few seconds for your heart rate to register. The icon flashes when Alpha finds your
heart rate.
If you don’t get a heart rate but the watch face shows , please refer to Troubleshooting below.
durIng exercIse mode
• Press the SET button twice to peek at the time. The time will be displayed for 3 seconds before
returning to your heart rate.
• If Alpha loses your pulse it will beep quickly 4 times and display . You may need to adjust
Alpha’s position on your wrist.
turnIng off exercIse mode
1. Press and hold the hr button until the watch beeps and the display says QUIT or END.

MIO Alpha User Guide 06
troubleshootIng
• You may need to tighten the watch strap and/or move the watch further up your forearm.
• On cold days Alpha’s technology can be impacted. We recommend activating the heart rate reading
while still indoors and, if necessary, wearing a sleeve over Alpha.
• If you are still having trouble, try wearing Alpha on your other wrist.
• Minimize hand movement and extreme bending of the wrist while using Alpha’s continuous heart rate.
If Alpha cannot detect your heart rate during the FIND period (2 min), it will leave EXERCISE mode and
go back to TIME mode. Please refer to the steps above and try again.
Setting Your Target Heart Rate
To specify your target heart rate zone, your Alpha must be in EXERCISE mode.
Your target heart rate (HR) zone consists of your upper heart rate limit and your lower heart rate
limit. These limits are usually a percentage of your maximum heart rate (MHR). This table shows
some examples:
Exercise Type Lower HR Limit Upper HR Limit
Warm Up 50% of MHR 60% of MHR
Moderate 60% of MHR 70% of MHR
Fitness 70% of MHR 80% of MHR
Training 80% of MHR 90% of MHR
If you don’t know your maximum heart rate or upper and lower heart rate limits, use your preferred
method for calculating them or check with your doctor.
When you start using your Alpha while you exercise, you’ll soon get an idea of your personal heart
rate zone for different levels of activities.
Tip: When you set your target heart rate zone, you will be prompted to set the upper heart rate first, then the
lower heart rate.
to set your target heart rate Zone
1. With your watch in EXERCISE mode, press and hold the SET button until the watch beeps and the
display says SET UP .
2. Press the +button to select the first digit of the heart rate for your desired upper heart rate limit.
The first digit will be a number from 0 to 2.
3. Press the SET button to confirm your choice.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the next two digits of the heart rate, selecting a number between 0 and
9 for each.
When you have set the upper heart rate limit, the display will say LOW . Repeat steps 2 through 4
to set the lower heart rate limit.

MIO Alpha User Guide 07
usIng heart rate Zone alerts
Your Alpha watch can notify you by beeping once when you are not exercising in your target heart
rate zone. A double-beep indicates your heart rate is 10 BPM or more outside the target zone. To use
zone alerts, specify your target zone and turn on the timer while you are exercising.
heart rate Zone alert led sIgnals
With your Alpha in EXERCISE mode and the TIMER on, the LED light below the watch displays alerts.
Green flash: you are exercising in your target heart rate zone.
Red flash: you are exercising above your upper limit. A red double-flash means your heart rate is
10 BPM or more above the target zone.
Blue flash: you are exercising below your lower limit. A blue double-flash means your heart rate is
10 BPM or more below the target zone.
Using The Timer
Turn on the timer while you are exercising to:
• Track the length of time you have been exercising.
• Turn on heart rate zone alerts.
Your watch must be in EXERCISE mode to use the timer.
to turn on the tImer
• With your watch in EXERCISE mode, press the TIMER button. The display says START.
• Press the TIMER button to Pause/Resume the TIMER. Once the TIMER is running, the HR Zone
alert will be activated.
to VIeW the elapsed tIme on the tImer
• From the heart rate display, press the SET button to view the timer. This will make the timer your
default display.
• Press the SET button again to peek at the time. The time will be displayed for 3 seconds before
returning to the timer.
• Press the SET button twice to return to the heart rate display.
to exIt from tImer
• Press and hold the TIMER button until the display says END.
Turning off the timer also turns off EXERCISE mode.

MIO Alpha User Guide 08
Reviewing Your Exercise Session
Your Alpha exercise log shows:
• The length of time of your last exercise session (assuming that the timer was running for your
entire session).
• Your average heart rate during the last exercise session.
• The amount of time you spent in your target heart rate zone in the last exercise session.
to reVIeW the statIstIcs from your last exercIse sessIon
1. In TIME mode (with EXERCISE mode off), press the TOGGLE button. The display says LAST RUN
followed by the length of time of your last session.
2. Press the TOGGLE button again. The display says AVG followed by your average heart rate.
3. Press the TOGGLE button again. The display says IN ZONE followed by the amount of time you
spent exercising in your target heart rate zone.
4. Press the TOGGLE button to return to TIME mode.
Note: Once you start the timer, the data from your last exercise will be replaced by the new data.
Using Alpha With Devices and Apps
You can use your Alpha as a stand-alone sports watch with heart rate monitor. You can also transmit
your real-time heart rate data to an ANT+™, Bluetooth® Smart Ready or Bluetooth® 4.0 device
(depending on which model of Alpha you purchased), including Alpha compatible smart phones and
Alpha compatible exercise equipment computers, and use your Alpha with a wide range of fitness
apps. For a complete list of compatible devices please refer to alphaheartrate.com.
Compatible devices will only capture Alpha’s heart rate data in real time. This requires you to have
the device with you while you are tracking your heart rate.
WorkIng WIth a receIVIng deVIce
• If needed, purchase an ANT+ dongle when you purchase your Alpha watch.
• The Alpha starts transmitting your heart rate data as soon as it finds your heart rate. This means
it is discoverable to your devices.
• Wear the receiving device on your arm, in your front pocket, or in front of you on a belt or bike
handlebar. Do not position the device behind you (e.g. in a back pocket or backpack).
• The Alpha heart rate calculation is not based on instant R-R interval, and will not work for apps
that require heart rate variability (HRV) data.
Tip: The first time you use your Alpha with a receiving device or app, you must pair the Alpha and the device
or app. Pairing can prevent signal interference when other sensors and devices are in the area. Once paired,
just treat your Alpha as a chest strap or heart rate monitor.

MIO Alpha User Guide 09
tIps for paIrIng
• The Alpha must be in EXERCISE mode, reading your heart rate, before pairing.
• Position the receiving device within 3 metres (9 feet) of the Alpha.
• Stay 10 metres (30 feet) from other ANT+ or Bluetooth sensors and devices.
paIrIng WIth Iphone apps
1. If you are using the ANT+ version of iPhone, plug in the ANT+ dongle.
2. If you are using Bluetooth Smart technology, turn on the Bluetooth function of your iPhone.
3. Open the app to pair with. Instructions vary for each app, but typically you add or scan for the
heart rate sensor using the app’s Settings mode.
Note: Once you have paired with the app, it will automatically recognize Alpha each time you use the app.
4. Repeat for each app that you want to pair with.
paIrIng WIth androId™apps – bluetooth®smart
• Open the Android’s Settings menu and follow the standard Bluetooth pairing process to add or
scan for the Alpha heart rate sensor.
After you pair the Alpha to your Android, all apps will be automatically paired.
paIrIng WIth androId apps – ant+™
1. If your Android phone does not have a built-in ANT+ receiver, plug in the ANT+ dongle.
2. Open the app to pair with. Instructions vary for each app, but typically you add or scan for the
heart rate sensor using the app’s Setting mode.
Note: Once you have paired with the app, it will automatically recognize Alpha each time you use the app.
3. Repeat for each app that you want to pair with.
paIrIng WIth receIVIng deVIces such as bIke computers
Instructions vary for each device. Follow the instructions for receiving heart rate data from a chest
strap; your device will register the Alpha heart rate sensor.

MIO Alpha User Guide 10
Maintaining Your Alpha
Charging The Battery
Your Alpha watch contains a rechargeable lithium polymer battery. Follow these instructions and
guidelines to ensure long life for the battery.
If you do not follow these guidelines, the battery life could be shortened and there is the risk of
damage to the watch, risk of fire, risk of electrolyte leaks and chemical burns, and risk of injury.
battery IndIcator
• The battery indicator in the upper left of the watch face shows three bars when the battery is fully
charged. Each bar represents about 1/3 of the battery’s full charge.
• If you put the watch in EXERCISE mode and the battery charge is below 1/3, the display will say
LOW BATTERY. You can still use the heart rate monitor.
• If you put the watch in EXERCISE mode and the display says NO BATTERY, you must recharge the
battery before using the heart rate monitor again. The watch will automatically return to TIME
mode.
battery lIfe
• The length of time you can use the heart rate monitor while EXERCISE mode is on varies from
8–10 hours.
to charge the battery
1. Make sure that the 4 connection pads on the caseback are dry. If not, dry them with a towel.
2. Plug the USB dongle into the USB port of your computer.
3. Attach the 4 connection pads on the caseback to the 4 connection pads on the dongle. The
magnets in the connection pads will help the two pieces lock into place.
The display will indicate that the battery is charging, and the blue LED will flash.
Tip: When the battery is finished charging, the display will say FULL .
battery care guIdelInes
• Recharge the battery at least once every 6 months.
• Do not expose the watch to high temperatures.
• Use the watch in the temperature range of 5°C to 45°C (41°F to 113°F).
• Store the watch in the temperature range of 0°C to 25°C (32°F to 77°F).
• Do not disassemble, puncture, or incinerate the watch or battery.
• If the watch casing breaks and the battery is exposed, keep the battery away from children.