Polar HRM not reading correctly.

I would say both.

Even here in Melbourne, where a cold winter's day is rarely below 50F, we occasionally get erroneous readings if we're not sweating up enough.

I heard that there is a gell that you can get to help with the connection. Has anyone uese this product? it is any good?

basso97 said:

I heard that there is a gell that you can get to help with the connection. Has anyone uese this product? it is any good?

Just wet the electrodes of your transmitter with water and make sure that its properly positioned in your chest. Good luck!

tanggoman said:

Just wet the electrodes of your transmitter with water and make sure that its properly positioned in your chest. Good luck!

That is what I do, but it is not working in the winter out of doors. 🙁

Contact their tech support. My experience with Polar products is that if they are not working properly, there is a reason. Unless you are it, it is usually a problem with the gear. They are pretty good at troubleshooting either way.

basso97 said:

I was out riding this weekend in 20 deg weather. My HRM would not give me correct readings. I was getting 225, 55 or 0, very seldom I was getting a good reading. Is this because of the cold or was I not getting a good contact on the chest strap because not having much moisture because of no sweat.

P.s. It is working ok indoors.

I've had mine act erratic around power lines near the side of the road. Sometimes it will jump very high (250) other times it will drop to zero. It happens at the same spots on my rides so I'm used to it.

Check for similar interferance on your rides it may not be the cold at all.

basso97 said:

I was out riding this weekend in 20 deg weather. My HRM would not give me correct readings. I was getting 225, 55 or 0, very seldom I was getting a good reading. Is this because of the cold or was I not getting a good contact on the chest strap because not having much moisture because of no sweat.

P.s. It is working ok indoors.

I'm not sure that its the cold that is causing the errors in your HRM. I ride here in Maine all year long (many times below 20F) and mine tends to work all the time. I would think its the connection...maybe the gel, or maybe just some good old fashion spit..who knows...I have a guy that comes into my shop that uses plain old hair gel...says that works the best....

just my .02 cents

Go to your local medical supply store, not a drugstore, and get a tube of electrode gel. It is used for ensuring good contact with defibrillator electrodes. I had the same problem and it went away after using this stuff to ensure good contact. It is about $6/tube and will last you a year if you ride 4 times per week.

Regards,

Nik H

Thank you Nik

I ride about 5 times a week but during the summer I do not need this so it should last me a few years.

NikH said:

Go to your local medical supply store, not a drugstore, and get a tube of electrode gel. It is used for ensuring good contact with defibrillator electrodes. I had the same problem and it went away after using this stuff to ensure good contact. It is about $6/tube and will last you a year if you ride 4 times per week.

Regards,

Nik H

Aeroport radar messes with my Polar HRM.

This is not an interference problem. I know where I get interference on my route. I think it is a contact issue.

artemidorus said:

Aeroport radar messes with my Polar HRM.

I have the S720i with the original T61 coded strap and the wearlink strap. The T61 hardly fails me even in cold weather. But the wearlink failed me when the replaceable battery got weak. So if you're using the wearlink strap and it seems faulty - it could be a weak battery.

JTE83 said:

I have the S720i with the original T61 coded strap and the wearlink strap. The T61 hardly fails me even in cold weather. But the wearlink failed me when the replaceable battery got weak. So if you're using the wearlink strap and it seems faulty - it could be a weak battery.

I started getting the same reading at home now too. My battery is probley getting weak.

Has anyone had the Battery Replaced. How long does it take to get them back?🙄

basso97 said:

Has anyone had the Battery Replaced. How long does it take to get them back?🙄

I replaced the one in my A5 myself, no problem. Just unscrew the back and get a new watch battery at Wal Mart. The O-ring looked good and I was careful about re-assembly to make sure it was seated nicely so I didn't jeopardize its waterproofing. If I used it in a pool a lot I would send it back every few years to get the O-ring replaced to keep it fresh.

rcrampton said:

I replaced the one in my A5 myself, no problem. Just unscrew the back and get a new watch battery at Wal Mart. The O-ring looked good and I was careful about re-assembly to make sure it was seated nicely so I didn't jeopardize its waterproofing. If I used it in a pool a lot I would send it back every few years to get the O-ring replaced to keep it fresh.

Umm...What about the chest strap battery? I believe they have a transmitter battery in them as well. Does anyone know this for sure? The chest strap is completely sealed and I'm not sure how Polar replaces the battery in them. Do they just replace the whole strap?

KGnagey said:

Umm...What about the chest strap battery? I believe they have a transmitter battery in them as well. Does anyone know this for sure? The chest strap is completely sealed and I'm not sure how Polar replaces the battery in them. Do they just replace the whole strap?

Good question. According to the Polar service web page they can do a battery voltage check on both the chest strap and the wrist watch. They list a $10 charge for the receiver battery replacement but there's no mention of the transmitter.

http://www.polarusa.com/service_repair/serverinfo_con.asp

rcrampton said:

Good question. According to the Polar service web page they can do a battery voltage check on both the chest strap and the wrist watch. They list a $10 charge for the receiver battery replacement but there's no mention of the transmitter.

http://www.polarusa.com/service_repair/serverinfo_con.asp

Thanks that answers it. I looked at the following site http://www.polarusa.com/service_repair/show_faq_con.asp?ID=6
and yes the enitre transmitter is replaced. They have a trade-in policy $25 non-coded and $35 coded, for the transmitter.

This might sound crazy, but my polar wasn't working when I first got it, because my chest strap wasn't on tight enough, even though it felt like it was. I did it up really tight and now it works fine.

I emailed Polar and asked the Question this is the responce below I cleaned the contacts worked today.

Polar Responce

If you are having difficulty with the transmitter it may be due to one of
the following reasons:

Electrical Interference: Erratic readings on the receiver are usually
caused by interference. If the heart rate readings appear to be abnormal,
check that your Polar HRM is not within range of other strong
electromagnetic signals. Common sources are televisions, computers, cars,
cellphones,TV antennas, high voltage power lines (both above and below
ground) and some exercise equipment. Re-locating the position of the wrist
receiver can usually solve this problem.

To find a location that has no interference, remove the chest transmitter
and exercise as usual. If the heart symbol continues to flash, you are
picking up interference. In this case, move the wrist receiver to a
location where it does not flash, then replace your chest transmitter. In
most cases when the interference is cause by a piece of exercise equipment,
placing the wrist receiver on the side rail, away from the front
electronics display of the equipment will correct the problem.

Please note: Static electricity in clothing or a flapping shirt can cause
electrical interference, so some items of clothing, i.e. man-made fibers,
could be the cause. Please try wetting the t'shirt in the area where the
transmitter is.

Poor Conductivity: It is important that the electrodes are wet during the
heart rate measurement mode. If water does not ensure the flawless
transmission, you can use water-soluble conductive cream instead. If you
choose to use a conductive cream, apply it to the ribbed-area of the
transmitter belt only.

Dirty Electrodes: The transmitter electrodes should be cleaned with a mild
soap and water solution and thoroughly dried after each use. Try cleaning
the electrodes and test the transmitter again.

Positioning: If the electrodes are clean and moist, and there is still no
heart rate registering on the receiver, try to shift the transmitter around
to the side of your body (try the left side first) or position it lower or
higher on the chest. In some cases, you can try the transmitter on your
back, however, the belt must then be worn with the Polar logo upside down
and facing out. This ensures that the left electrode stays on the left
side of the body and the right electrode stays on the right side of the
body. Make sure to wet the electrodes every time it is moved to a new
position.

If you need further assistance please feel free to contact Customer Service
at 800-227-1314 or 516-364-0400.

Thank you for choosing Polar.

Customer Service
POLAR ELECTRO INC.