Submitted by
Richard Abbott
a Racer
from Salt Lake City, UT
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2002
Strengths: See my old review.
Weaknesses: I've figured out the chest strap problem. The chest strap doesn't work if you build up static in your jersey. Synthetic fibers are particularly prone to this (which all my jerseys happen to be made from). Keep your jersey wet or tucked in under the strap and it works fine. BTW, after I figured this all out and called them and they confirmed this.
Submitted by
Patrick Peak
a Weekend Warrior
from Louisville, KY
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2001
Strengths: Durability, Data, Reliablity
Weaknesses: Expensive...especially if you get all the options---interface, cadence, altitude.
Bottom Line:
Great, if you want tons of information and you plan to use it. The download feature is nice and should be standard, not optional. It allows you to graph your workouts on your PC and see how everything relates---awesome for training. If you're not into reading manuals, this one can be a pain because there's so much to cover. It can be confusing at first. It took me a while to get the hang of it. But, in all honesty, I'd buy another one if I had to. I recommend this HRM if you plan to use all the features and you don't mind spending the extra $$$ for the extras!
Bike Setup: Schwinn Moab 1 Mountain Bike and Lemond Buenos Aires road bike.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Robert Brewer
a Cross Country Rider
from Arlington, TX USA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001
Strengths: Support, Repeatability, Dependability, Parts availability.
Weaknesses: Small display. Not easy to change batteries.
Bottom Line:
I have upgraded twice to newer Polar HRM's. So, I must like the company. And, I won a M52 HRM last month. I'll probably get the S710 when it is available.
Submitted by
Jay Range
a Weekend Warrior
from Washington, DC
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2001
Strengths: Records lots of data. I have mine set up for heart rate, speed and cadence on my commuting bike and heart rate and speed on my road bike. With the computer download it keeps track of mileage, time, speed, cadence, heart rate, etc., and "diary" information on weight, resting heart rate, training details, etc. It is easy to transfer the unit from bike to bike and the computer records two different wheel sizes. Until I began using it, I believed my evening commutes involved more strenuous exercise than my morning commutes since there is more uphill on the way home. The monitor and computer download demonstrated, however, that differences in traffic patterns, etc., resulted in virtually the same workout morning and night.
Weaknesses: The signal from the speed sensor to the monitor is too narrow and therefore reduces mounting options and can result in signal receipt failure. A slight shifting of the unit on my commuting bike will cause total loss of speed function. In addition, there is in my opinion a software defect that causes the data transfer to fail when 99% of the data has been transferred to my PC. The result is you must repeatedly start over until you can (if ever) obtain a successful data transfer. This occurs on my IBM portables. The problem is referenced on Polar's web site. I emailed Polar about my problem and customer service provided a quick response that largely ignored the information in my email and referenced me to Polar's website, which off course I had already read. I do not find Polar's suggested fixes to be useful. In my experience the only way to avoid data transmission transfer problems is to restrict the size of the file being transferred. That means either shorter rides (less than two hours) or recording data less frequently (i.e., recording data every 15 seconds rather than every 5 seconds). I do not understand why this problem cannot be addressed by Polar with a software fix. Also, when using the monitor as a cycling computer, there is a delay associated with recording speed changes, etc. I do not find this to be a significant issue. My road bike has a cycling computer, which I use in addition to the Polar speed sensor, and the two record reasonably similar data in terms of speed, mileage, average speed, etc., though the Polar lags behind the cycling computer. Finally, while I was able to set up all the features by following the directions very carefully, neither operation of the product nor its manual is intuitively obvious.
Bottom Line:
Very expensive product that works better than indicated by many of the reviews I read before buying. Narrow beam of the speed sensor, software glitches with the computer transfer feature, and inability of the recorder to figure out that I forgot to turn off the stop watch so it doesn't record 5 hours of nothingness sitting in my gym bag are disappointments in a product this expensive. But the overall function of the monitor has met or exceeded my expectations (based on reviews from this web site) and the device provides lots of useful and fun to review information.
Bike Setup: Road Bike: Litespeed Tuscany w/Dura Ace. Commuting Bike: Bridgestone MB-4 frame with Bridgestone XO-2 components (accidents happen).
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Dallas, Tx USA
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2001
Strengths: Provides a lot of information. The software tracks your weekly exercise effort in hours which provides motivation to keep up with your exercise schedule (It's also cool to see the HRM chart of your workouts). Once I have the wrist receiver receiving the signal from the chest band, I have not had the same problem that others have had with the signal being lost. The speed sensor also has worked well for me.
Weaknesses: Sometimes it's hard to kickstart the unit to recognize the heart rate signal from the band. Also, when the battery runs out of the chest band, a replacement takes about 1-2 weeks to receive (the battery is not user replaceable).
Also, the unit will still run while the bike is stopped (speed sensor registers zero). I wish they had incorporated this feature because it throws off a comparable average heart rate between sessions if you forget to stop the stopwatch.
Bottom Line:
Great product to buy if you want the cool factor of being able to chart, and save your workouts. The speed sensor is ok, not terribly useful, but it is also fun to see on the chart. The software package is fair since it is not really going to provide you with the means to compare level of effort to heart rate between two exercise sessions. If you want to chart improvement, then I suppose you'll have to run one of the fitness tests the software offers every month or two. The unit provides a lot of information, but the software and wrist unit controls are clugy enough to make compiling that information into a useful form difficult. 3 chilis for value since they still need to figure out how to improve the software to assist the user in measuring improvement. 4 chilis for the cool factor - you will not be disappointed by how much information you get from this HRM.
Submitted by
Bob Geyer
a Cross Country Rider
from Asheville, NC
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2001
Strengths: Lots of information
Weaknesses: Cumbersome to reset, expensive, occasional EMF interference
Bottom Line:
Great gizmo. If you like techy stuff, it's the cat's meow.
I've used this for more than four years with the altitude and cadence modules (but can only use one or the other of them at a time), and the "Interface Plus", to upload data to my computer. I go through at least one battery per year, but I've had no trouble having the Polar Service Center replace it, and they test for waterproofness when they do that.
With a little data manipulation in Excel, I produce an altitude profile of my rides (with readings every 0.1 mile).
The only problem I've had is occasional EMF interference (not readily associated with any visible electrical source). The heatrate reading jumps to 212 when this happens. My car's electronic ignition causes no HR signal.
And my one annoyance is that you must reset each function separately -- average speed, max speed, trip time, trip distance.
Without the computer interface, this would be no better than a simple heart rate monitor and an cycle computer with altimeter. With the computer interface, it's a whole lot more. (And I've tried the Avocet and CatEye altimeters, and they both failed. This one keeps working.)
Strengths: Reliable. Accurate. I have had this product for years and aside from dead batteries has performed brilliantly
Weaknesses: Batteries. Easy to change yourself, but don't count on it being waterproof, even if done by a jewler. It stays water resistant though.
Bottom Line:
I was amazed to see the horror stories associated with this product. Mine has been excellent. I use it constantly and have had only two problems: 1) Running UNDER and Parallel to powerlines with a non-saturated sensor contact will send it for a spin. 2) the battery only lasts year or so and once replaced I have never been able to swim with it again. However, I drenched the thing during a tri shortly after a battery change and a little heat and time dried it out fine and it still worked great. it still is water resistant and has never gotten wet inside during rain- even really heavy rain over several hours! I find the download functions and cycling functions are all nice too. The speedometer is slow to update to quick changes, but I have a regular speedometer for that that cannot download.
I love mine and cant imagine not having it. It is essential to the cyclist/triathlete who is serious about documenting their workouts and demands a full functions HRM. Download capability cost another $250, so I have to downgrade the value. However, I would gladly pay it again.
Submitted by
Bill
a Racer
from Farmington, NM, USA
Date Reviewed: December 31, 2000
Strengths: Using this while running it functions very well. It has all the different features I could want. my computer interface works very well. I like being able to change the recording interval, and of course all of the heart rate ranges.
Weaknesses: I have just started using the cycling functions. The cadence transmitter does not appear to be working, (or at least works so sporadically that it is not very usefull). Also, it is remarkable how the heart rate receiver won't pick up when it is more then about two feet from my chest. I really hope I don't have the same problems that other people have had with customer service and getting batteries changed.
Bottom Line:
So far, ok, but if I can't get the cadence sensor to work properly I will be disappointed, and if I have problems getting the batteries changed I will definitely be upset.
Weaknesses: Still too sensitive to EMF interference. English version of the manual should be re-written or at least re-organized by native English speaker.
Bottom Line:
Initially had problems with the transmitter units (have both cyclocomputer & cadence) but after replacing the batteries & fiddling with their positioning they worked fine. The only trouble I've had with it so far is when riding thru 2 sections of a road route I ride a couple of times a week. There must be some sort of interference along those sections because the HRM receiver continues displaying time (in cyclocomputer mode) but HR & cadence go blank or to zero. Problem occurs on the same sections & HRM returns to normal function once I've passed thru these 'zones'. Doesn't last long -- about 1-2 minutes each way (the route is out & back). As for cyclocomputer functions they work fine & always have. And the only time I've experienced LCD 'fading' is with a low battery which has been a simple enuf fix -- I just replace the battery myself. I've done so 3 times since I've owned it, so that works out to about a 1 year battery life. Not a problem for me. As for durability of the crystal, I've had some pretty horrendous crashes off-road & I've never damaged any part of the system on. Also applies to the Accurex I previously owned. One reason, at least for the HRM receiver, may be because I've got it mounted on a donut (piece of foam that wraps around handlebar) which provides some cushioning in event of an impact & also allows the unit to rotate which also lessens the force of an impact. My only experience with customer service has been thru email & they've always been fantastic -- extremely prompt in answering any questions I've had.
Bike Setup: '97 Habanero, '00 Manitou SX-R w/lockout, Diatech frnt disc brake, Velocity Deep V rims, XT hubs, Bontrager Revolt ST2 tires, Alivio crankset, XTR frnt der, RX100 rr der, Shimano M545 pedals, Zefal QR fenders, Blackburn MDS-1 pump.
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Submitted by
cjm
a Cross Country Rider
from Glendale, AZ
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2000
Strengths: Everything works as advertised.
Weaknesses: Glass broke after falling 4" from kitchen table to floor.
Bottom Line:
Polar should never have put such an expensive piece of equipment, that is intended for serious sports, into such a fragile unit. My unit fell 4" from kitchen table to tile on floor, and because glass is not recessed at all, it cracked (diagonally, all the way). The Casio (Japan) G-Shock case design has recessed glass to protect from simple accidents. The Avovet (France) has Plexiglass instead of glass. Every product engineer who thought, thought about this problem. I will keep using the Polar watch as it is (with cracked glass) because a brand new one could also suffer same fate.
Submitted by
Jay Auxier
a
from Muncie,Indiana 47304-2877
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2000
Strengths: This unit has all features you will ever need
Weaknesses: lengthy set up
Bottom Line:
After working with this unit for almost 1 year I have finially gotten it to preforwm regulary. I replaced the battery myself and that seemed to help alot of the intermittet problems. I use this on every ride and would recomend it.
Submitted by
Arthur Smith
a Racer
from Knoxville TN USA
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2000
Strengths: As a preface to my comments: 1. I have a bio-med background 2. I really wanted this device to work.
Ostensibly, computerized integration of Heart Rate, speed, and cadence to a a program that track your progress and is programmed to 'advise' a training regimen based on performance. This would be an advantage IF it worked.
Weaknesses: No one should buy this unit. This is the second one I've owned and this one is as bad as the first one. It is terribly unreliable. This unit only functions intermittently. All parameters are affected i.e. heart rate, speed and cadence. They have at some time or another failed independently or together. There are no power lines where I ride, therefore there should be no interference. There is no correlation as to when or under what circumstances this devise will fail. I transferred its use to my road bike and found the performance to be equally poor. It is more a distraction than a help. My 'cheap' Nashbar HRM has never failed under any circumstance (except that the band has broken. Unfortunately, the retail outlet states that it would not refund my money although I returned it promply in the original packing material under 90 days.
The manual is terrible but I was able to program the device anyway.
Bottom Line:
This device is poorly designed and manufactured. I find its dealer support to be poor even when they cooperate. (just try getting a battery changed)
