I'd be a happy camper if mine wasn't so erratic. Sometimes it seems correct but, from time to time, it will jump to 230 bpm plus for a while for a time meaning I'm in Afib and dead and on other rides, it will jump to 00 meaning that I'm just plain dead.
Yes, I've had the batteries changed, I have both the regular and Wearlink chest straps and I rinse or wash them and use the Spectra Gel none of which makes much of a difference. I also have two FT 1 receiver units.
Sometimes, putting the sensor area on my back will bring back into my normal range, other times, that makes no difference.
I'd say it reads correctly about 50 per cent of the time.
Wayne at Polar customer service says it must be something in the chemical makeup of my sweat.