squeegy200

I recently junked a Specialized P-Brain and a Timex HRM because of their flakey performance. I've never used the Polar and decided to buy the entry level F1 to see if it was an improvement over my previous HRMs. My previous HRMs were susceptible to cross interference from other HRMs, inconsistent, and finally non-operational after only a few months.

I purchased the Polar F1 shortly after Christmas and it has worked flawlessly during my indoor stationary sessions. However, I took it out on the road for the first time today. I wore it the F1 on my wrist. To my surprise, the Polar misread my heart rate as over 200+. After resetting it, it would read correctly for a short time and then jump upwards over 200.

There were no other operating HRMs in my ride group so the possibility of crosstalk is zero. I also use the Spectra 360 Electrode Gel on the chest strap.

Can the colder outside temperature affect a Polar HRM this way?

sambo76

sounds like you live in an area with strong electrical interference. Happens at certain points in my ride to but you get used to where it will happen.

BlastRadius

Do you have wireless speed or cadence on your cycle computer?

Pizza Man

+1

In certain areas of SF my Timex HR monitor reads near 200 when I'm really at around 120.
Since it always happens in the same places, and never in other places, must be interference.

1cyclepath

I get erroneous readings all the time with my Polar 625x. Usually under trolley lines and near power lines. Shows my hr over 200, speed of over 70 mph and cadence of 180+. Called Polar and they said there is nothing they can do about it. Just a problem with RF devices.

squeegy200

You just solved it. My stationary training bike is wired but my bike I used today has a wireless speedo.

Will the coded Polar Chest strap eliminate this interference from the computer?

2Rodies

I will have the same problem when it's windy. I'm guessing it's the static electricity that is generated from the windy conditions.

jameyj

You will need the F6 or F11 to get the OwnCode (coded transmission). The F1 doesn't have OwnCode. I have a F11 and use it all the time with my Cateye Micro Wireless without a problem on my mountain bike. On the road bike I use the Polar CS200cad which is the HRM and Speed/Cadence all-in-one number and it works just great.

luv2climb

I have the Polar 720i. It is coded and reads wirelessly my speed, cadence and HR. I would say that it is 99% accurate. The HR only has problems when I do not keep the strap tight (the buckle slowly looses over time). The speed on a rare occasion gets interference from external sources however as I stated it is right on 99% of the time.

The HR strap is the coded wearlink.

Hope that helps.

NJWheelBuilder

I have the Polar S625X. Occasionally, I will get erroneous data at the beginning of a workout. Wetting the transmitter belt and my skin before I exercise solves the problem. I rarely see interference problems.