HRMs and Interference
 

I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for a HRM that is sheilded against interference from powerlines and stoplights. I currently have a Performance Axiom HR600 HRM. It works great as long as I don't get interference. Unfortunately, I ride on the local bike paths most of the time and they all have power lines along them. So for most of my rides, the HRM doesn't read my pulse for about 1/3 of the time... sometimes more.

I'm not looking for anything super fancy... just need the basic functions. But I need something that isn't going to be screwed up by the high power lines and stoplights.

I've tried researching the reviews but nobody even mentions shielding from interference.

I also saw a new HRM by ciclosport, I think the model was CP29. It said it was digital. I assumed all HRMs were digital, but I guess they are not. Has anyone used this type of HRM? Does the digital do better against interference?

Thanks for any help.

PBW

Digital ones are supposed to prevent interference. I wear a Timex HRM, and it is digital, and I've never had any kind of problems.

The analog HRMs seem to have a lot of interference and cross talk. I'd avoid them. Most HRMs are analog, not digital.

You can find Timex HRMs sold cheaply at walmart.com.

Koffee

I use the Polar s210 and do not have any problems with it.

Not a fan of Polar-when your battery in the band dies you have to send it back to them for replacement. Also, I had a customer get a bum band for their S210 (it died within a month) and Polar makes the customer pay to ship it back and forth and won't let me take care of it as a dealer. They're dead to me.

Well, the Polar s210 sure ain't the answer. What good is a max HR function, when every time you get near power lines [Sam Kinneson voice] YOUR #@*&% !~$#& HEARTRATE HITS 234? GAWD IT P!SSES ME OFF![/Sam Kinneson voice]

Actually, it's weird. Some days it's awful, other days I won't have any trouble at all. Same routes, same power lines. Maybe weather? My condition? Sun spots? Phase of the moon?

I do think that you're more prone to problems if the transmitter strap battery is low, or the strap isn't sufficiently moistened. I'd probably ebay mine in a heartbeat (pun intended) if I heard of another that didn't have the problem.

Mine is a Polar too and works great. Never a problem.

Koffee, I also have a Timex HRM and I lose the signal every time I go under high tension lines. Because of that, and because it doesn't have any memory features, I'm not all that happy with it. I'm kinda hoping it dies soon so I'll have to replace it.

I have two Polars, and have not experienced any problems. Plus, the high-end Polars are coded to not interfere with other HRMs. I also have a Freestyle, which was horrible up to the day that it died (which was less than two years after getting it).

Yeah I was told by the salesman at Performance Bike Shop that the higher end Polar HRM have some kind of shielding against high power lines/ cross talk/ stop lights. Unfortunately, the lowest end model he told me had shielding was in the $150+ range. I'd rather just use something with minimal features and pay in the $50 to $75 range. I'm not in a super intense training program. I basically ride as much as possible and try to keep my HR under my Lactic threshold because I'm really using it to lose weight. Plus I have a concern about letting my HR go super high.

The two ciclosport HRMs that I saw looks interesting since they were digital. Unfortunately I have not been able to find anything on the web that says digital is resistant to high power lines and such. But as Koffee says they are supposed to be. So I guess that's the route I'm going to take.

Thanks all.

Caloso-

I haven't had any problems, except when I accidentally mix up the straps with someone else's!

Could it be that the battery is low for either the strap or the watch?

Koff

I have a sigma sport HRM and it seems to be affected by my wireless computer signal. I take the computer off when using the HRM and it does fine. If I leave it on I will occasionally look down to see a 290 BPM heart rate.

This is a shielding issue. Play with tin foil to shied your HRM and you may get it to work.
Joe

My Polar S710 works great most of the time. There is the OwnCode function which prevents cross-talk as it gets the frequency of the transmitter and continue to log on into it for the rest of the exercise. However, the problem that I have is that the heart rate monitor records a HR, lets say 160, and it stays there for quite a while. It is a totally horizontal line and it doesn't change, until I stop exercising and then the heart rate monitor gets a totally different reading.

stop lights?? the're my life, my bread and butter, but they aint stop lights, they are traffic signals!!
and it is more likely that the method of detection used, ultrasonic or radar detectors that are used for temporary opperation untill the damaged detectors are repaired.
That is probobly what is the culpret. tell your city to get off thier asses and replace the damaged vehicle detectors!!

Good to know. I didn't know what the exact situation with the traffic signals was, but I do know there are a couple in my area that totally send my HRM and wireless cyclocomputer totally out of wack. I just love to see that max speed on my cyclocomputer of 91 mph. LOL.

But truthfully, traffic signals are the least of my worries. It's the high power lines that screw me up... the major bike trail that I use follows the power lines.

I did a search on the Timex HRM that Koffee suggested, and I think I am going to go that route. If I still get interference, I'll just take it back and continue to use my Performance HRM.

I'll let ya'll know what happens...

Probably because it's an analog heart rate monitor. The readout takes longer to display. :(

Koffee: You're probably right. I bought it from REI-Outlet.com and I bet it was sitting in a warehouse for a year or two. I don't think it's even the current model anymore.

This may be my excuse to chuck the stupid thing! :)

I've got a Cateye HR-100 and haven't had any interference problems.