Polar V650
 

Hello folks,

All of the information I can find about the Polar M450 says it can upload data to Polar (and thus Strava) through a bluetooth data connection to a phone, but this isn't listed as a feature that the V650 has. I think that this is a feature that Polar added to the V650 after it released the M450, but I can't find any information confirming this. Can anyone comment on it?

Thanks a lot,
Brad Davis

My guess is that it should, as it's the higher end product, and if it works with BT sensors there's no reason it shouldn't be able to use BT in your phone to transfer your data wirelessly.

Since there's some uncertainty, I'd strongly recommend buying it from a store that will refund (all of) your money if you aren't satisfied. Wouldn't hurt to call Polar up either to confirm.

Maybe useful? Compare Polar models | Polar Global

DC Rainmaker did a review of the V650 prior to its release. Keep in mind that this was January 2014.
Uploading workouts to Polar Flow through the phone via bluetooth was clearly on Polar's feature roadmap at that time.

I recommend contacting Clever Training at 800.577.8538 or Sales@clevertraining.com. They had the V650 on sale yesterday for $170.55. That price might have been a mistake but it is $249.95 right now.

I don't think it was supported as of Dec 2015.

Reviewing Polar Flow/Strava integration then, DC Rainmaker said...

-Tim-

Yeah, that's what I thought too. It seems surprising to me that this is a feature that the M450 would explicitly have and the V650 not, but it seems to be the case. The feature comparison tool on Polar also indicates that is the case, but that feature comparison tool seems to be out of date.

I can call up Polar and ask them, but so far their customer service has been bad. When I've emailed them it takes multiple days to hear back from them and they often don't answer the questions that I've asked. It's annoying.

Thanks,
Brad

Again, it's really in your best interest to buy it from a store that will accept returns. You're finding a lot of conflicting information about a feature that's important to you, it's completely legitimate to return it if you make a decision based on bad official specs.

I just called Clever Training and spoke to Jennifer in the retail store. She called me back and confirmed that the V650 does not do wireless push of workouts. You have to use USB.

She also said that shipping to Canada was $29.95 flat rate but could not speak to the issue of import fees.

Thanks for doing that, I appreciate it. I guess that clears things up. It seems like it's the V450 then! The Garmin Edge 520 would be nice, but it's just too much money.

Thanks guys,
Brad

For future reference.

Polar Updates Blog

FWIW, choosing the M450 will enter you into the Polar ecosystem via the Polar Flow app and website. That may not be a bad thing as the Training and Recovery stuff sounds interesting. Garmin Connect and Garmin Express act mainly as a ride forwarding system for me and other Garmin users. Looks like Polar Flow uploads to Strava, but how about RidewithGPS?

Guys like me think about other considerations, though. Check out this image:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=507685

Three devices are capturing heart rate simultaneusly from a dual band strap: a smartphone via Bluetooth LE (aka Smart) and two Garmin Edge 500 bike computers via ANT+. This just simply would not be possible with a Bluetooth Smart head unit such as the Polar M450.

Bottom line: due to BLE protocol limits you could only operate the Polar M450 solo with a bluetooth heart rate strap. A fitness tracking BLE phone app will not connect once the strap pairs with the M450. Redundancy is not possible! Minor point, I know, but an important one to data monkeys.

Now let me get back to checking out my heart rate on three devices while I ride. :) (The phone goes in the jersey while the second Edge attaches to another bike, actually).

I don't mind being part of the Polar ecosystem. Polar flow does upload to Strava and there is another 3rd party tool that'll do it for you too. If you want to use RidewithGPS you'd probably have to manually export it and then import it. I don't use RidewithGPS, though I haven't tried it, so I don't really care about that.


There are a lot of things that the Garmin can do that I can't do with the Polar, but the reverse is also true. I can get the Polar M450 w/ a Bluetooth strap for around $250 which gives me the flexibility to use the bluetooth strap off the bike too if I choose to do so. To get something similar from Garmin, the Edge 25, it would cost me around $325, and that would only come with an Ant+ compatible heart rate monitor strap. It would cost me $350 to get it with an Ant+/Bluetooth strap. Plus it the screen isn't nearly as configurable (or large) as the Polar. I would be willing to pay $350-$400 for the Edge 520 w/ an ANT+ only strap, but it isn't worth it to me

Also, Clever Training says that you can use a V650 and pair it with a Phone to transmit data. I asked them directly. Here's my question followed by their reply.

Quote:

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I'd be curious to hear your opinion on Polar Flow once you've had the unit a while. Also on Polar's training load and recovery features.

I will definitely give it a review when that happens. I tend to make purchasing decisions very slowly. I don't have the money for it at the moment anyway, I've got to sell some of my things that aren't getting any use in order to fund this.