cheeseflavor

I'm especially interested in seeing a screen capture of the Alltitude/Ascent graphing that it's capable of. Is this feature a good enough reason to purchase the 725x over the 720i? Is it just a gimmick?

Thanks for any input!

Steve

trekking_TW

I have the S625x but can't give you a screen shot since I haven't downloaded any of the files to my pc since I don't have the IR port yet. I have used the altitude function along with speed and cadence without any problems. I compared the altitude readings to topo maps and it was accurate. Only thing is that when you turn on the altitude function, you have to input your current altitude. I usually leave my starting altitude at 0' so it makes the elevation gains easy to calculate.

80vette

TAnother advantage of the 725 is the "wear link" HRM chest strap. This is cloth as opposed to the 720's plastic front chest strap. Just the additional cost of the "wear link" is more than the cost diffence between the two. So yeah between the two (stap and altitude/tempature measurement) I went for the 725.

jameyj

Wearlink is a much better strap and the battery is user replaceable.

johninencinitas

My 720i has a cloth strap with coded HR data. Are you referring to an older model?

dahvaio

I can post a picture in about 2 hours...after I get home...

theshoemaker

At one LBS here, almost every employee has a S725x, and they all seem to love them. I'm interested but not enought to drop the dough quite yet.

melodybliss

Here is an image from Polar S/W for S725X. It's a quick simple ride to and from my LBS but you can see the graph showing altitude in it.

Mel

ReedZ

Here is another...

squeegy200

My training partner uses one and loves it. He's sent me the graphs after each one of the rides. Its useful and intriguing information. Especially when it's presented in graphical format. I like the optional power output. Anyone have any experience with that feature?

They typically sell for ~$200-250 on eBay brand new.

However, I'm stalling so that I can make a comparison to the soon to be released Garmin Edge.

ReedZ

btw, ths s720i also stores altitude data.

gpelpel

The altitude works great on the S725. I like to keep the elevation profiles of my rides.
If you have a Mac you should be aware that the Polar software doesn't support it. There's however a software from Otag (iSmartTrain) in the UK that works great with most Polar units.

cheeseflavor

Very cool. That's what I was looking for.

Thanks!

Steve

cheeseflavor

Thanks Mel. That's what I was looking for.

Take care,

Steve

cheeseflavor

Yep. This much I know. I have the 720i. According to the feature list of both units, the 725x is supposed to have enhanced altitude, ascent and descent recording and graphing capabilties. They don't show any details on their website, and I couldn't find anything by doing a google of it either.

So, naturally, I turned to BF

Take care,

Steve

TomMc1

I just got the Polar S725X yesterday. My wife was to get an F11 and instead of buying one, she took mine so I could get the S725X. The S725X has a lot more to it than the F11. I've only done two workouts so far and it is already growing on me.

Anyone have issues with speed and distance? The speed on a short ride was on and off today. It's still cold here in Michigan so I only went for a short ride, mostly to test the speed and altitude features as well as a short interval program.

I would think that once the magnet and sensor are close enough to produce a reading that they would be consistent like my little Cateye cycle-computer. But you can see from the attached graph that speed is often zero (no, I didn't stop at all). That may account for the distance to be 1.0 miles even though the Cateye read the ride as 6.41 miles.

thanks,
- tom

531Aussie

Some nice person bought me a 725x for my birthday, and it's fun checking out the
bazillion features, especially the temperature, although this seems to be affected by direct sunlight.

DrWJODonnell

This is true, but I have yet to encounter a time where I am in the shade and my polar is in direct sunlight. In other words, the temperature it reads is the tempurature you are feeling.

531Aussie

it says in the 'care' section to keep the unit out of direct sunlight.

how am i supposed to do that on the bike???!!!!

CheeseLouise

Hey, I got one for my b-day too!

Ignore the cadence readings, appears my cadence was not working, or maybe it was me not working

This is variation of our typical weekday ride. HILLS!!!! At least they are short hills

It was a balmy 38 degrees on todays ride with 17-20 mph winds. First half the ride with tailwinds and second half with headwinds. WIND!!!! I love the wind

Mariner Fan

I just took my S725 out for the first time. Unfortunately the only thing that worked was the heart monitor. The speed and cadence only worked sporadically. At first they didn’t work at all then gradually it came on most of the time. Any one else have trouble with their units? It is cold outside (38°) but for what I paid for this I expect better performance.

cheeseflavor

That's surprising. I've been using my S720 for a couple of months and it has been almost flawless in operation and I've got the speed sensor on the rear wheel most of the time (not supported by Polar). Where are your sensors mounted? What kinds of problems are you seeing?

Steve

F1_Fan

Cold weather is hell on battery voltage. A few weeks back at near freezing my Vetta 100A kept shutting off and my PowerTap SL gave some very funky readings. Back at 10°C now and all is fine.

Those of us with digital cameras know this well... battery life goes from a few hundred shots to 20-50. I keep one battery in my pocket to swap out when the camera dies. The "cold" battery gets warmed up for a swap back.

Mariner Fan

I'm just bumming because I chose to buy this unit from my LBS and as usual I paid top dollar for it. The weather here has been terrible every weekend and I haven’t had a chance to go and try it out. This morning, the weather was in the mid 30’s and I couldn’t stand it any more so out I went. Like I said the only thing that worked was the heart monitor for the first half of the ride but it came around later. Probably a cold weather thing. BTW it's snowing now.

gpelpel

Make sure that:
1) the sensors are not too far from the main unit.
2) The magnets are not too far from the sensors, they have to be very close to each other, about 2mm.
3) the sensors are not hidden from the unit by the tubes, problem I especially experience with the cadence sensor.