I've been an advocate of the Polar V650 for quite a while. As low as $169 at times and given the features, it is an incredible value.

Unfortunately mine is bricked and I can no longer recommend it. The touch screen stopped working.

I first used it July 4, 2016. That was 364 days ago, a day short of one year.

A hard reset didn't help. A reset to factory defaults took the device to the initial setup screen which requires the touch screen so I'm stuck.

I don't know if water is the cause but the device worked fine through an hour of torrential rain. The device synchronized when I got home, took a full charge and was put away. Two days later the touch screen would not respond.

Polar was way ahead of anyone else 15 years ago. Their wrist based units were amazing at the time. Unfortunately I have to admit that they are not what they were, more interested in social networking than actual training.

The Polar has a 2 year warranty so I'm going to contact them and see what they say but I held my nose this morning and purchased a Garmin 820. Paid retail at REI so that it can be returned if it fails.


-Tim-

I wonder if the humidity (inside) killed it. maybe it'll start working again if it dries out (on the inside).

If you can open it up, open it, and put it in some uncooked rice, leave it for a couple of days. Even if you can only open the battery chamber.

Edit ~ put this all into a closed container.

Garmin 820 screen doesn't hold a candle to Polar.

The Polar V650 display and touch screen features are spectacular in comparison.

I got a 520 instead of an 820 because of potential touch-screen issues. Do you really need a touch screen?

Well, since you bought the 820, if Polar replaces the unit under warranty, maybe you can user the 920 as a backup.

I too bought a 520 because the lack of a touchcreen is a big selling point-- I've watched people try to navigate touchscreens while riding with nice sweaty fingers. No thanks. I've had uncharacteristically good luck with Garmin, using both a 500 and a 520. They remain imperfectly Garmin, but have both been solid performers.

Ditto on the bag of rice trick. Ive performed some miracles with that method.

Agree that moisture is likely the enemy here.

When I was in grad school, I fixed several electronic devices by placing them in a vacuum oven and using hard vacuum and moderately low (120° F) overnight. BMW used to (1998 740iL, for example) use a speedometer panel that had LEDs that degraded, and I think that the services out there that offered to fix them used the vacuum oven method.

Not everyone has access to a vacuum oven. Other desiccants are available that work a bit better than rice. Damp rid is calcium chloride. You can buy lime (calcium oxide) or the blue stuff (calcium sulphate, with a color indicator, aka Drierite) that turns red when it's wet. I think to reclaim your unit, I'd buy one of the little bags (ifixit's "Thirsty Bag"). Here's an article about how to get best results.

Probably worth a try.

By way of a follow-up:

What did Polar have to say regarding the item under warranty?

After trying a Garmin Edge 820 I purchased a new Polar V650. That's how much I enjoy the V650.

So much for my original post.

I have not tried to get the old one repaired yet.


-Tim-