PowerTap Chest Strap - working poorly

DParker said:

I can't get a good, steady reading from my PT chest strap - only intermittent data that's sometimes wrong.
Any thoughts on techniques to getting good HR data from your PT?
Thanks,
DParker

It depends upon moisture to work. If you are either a light sweat-er or in a cooler climate it may go intermittent for that reason. One thing you can try is that medical stuff or the HRM lube that bike stores sell. You put it underneath the strap and put it on and it works fine after that. Or just remember to spit on it before you put it on. I tightened mine and got a rash from the dang thing.

DParker said:

I can't get a good, steady reading from my PT chest strap - only intermittent data that's sometimes wrong.
Any thoughts on techniques to getting good HR data from your PT?
Thanks,
DParker

You might want to try cleaning the chest strap. I had some problems of intermittent readings a while back. I would just take it off after rides and toss it in the drawer. I noticed that it can get a little "grungy". I clean it well with clean water once a week now and that has helped.

DParker said:

I can't get a good, steady reading from my PT chest strap - only intermittent data that's sometimes wrong.
Any thoughts on techniques to getting good HR data from your PT?
Thanks,
DParker

The battery doesn't last anywhere near as long as Polar claim, particularly if you don't dry the transmitter thoroughly after use. Make sure there's no sweat in the narrow groove around the contact area.

When the battery started to fail on my Polar chest strap the reading would often become half what it had been reading a moment ago.

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm going to try to find some of the "HR Lube" stuff, and also clean it more regularly - hopefully those changes will improve the transmission/reception.
DParker

i had a similar problem with my pt strap. i was losing half my data so i thought the battery was low. i opened it up to put in a new battery but i found that sweat had gotten past the moisture seal and had corrored the inner connections of the strap. i sent mine back to cycleops since it was within a year of me purchasing it and they swapped it out for free.