Doe anyone have trouble using this device? It is almost impossible to download from the watch to the computer without the download stopping prematurely and the watch says "failed". This is a major pain in the a**. I have put the reader at all distances from the watch and in all lighting conditions and it still fails 90% of the time.
Any clues or tips?

Try putting the IR transmitting part of the watch about a cm from the reader, and then holding it very still. Seems to work for me.

Which Polar IR device do you have?How long have you had the monitor?

Replace the battery in the watch.

I had problems similar to yours and eventually resorted to resting a book on the watch strap, and placing the infrared device on top of the book, very close (less than a cm) from the watch receiver. It'd still fail 50% of the time, but it did work well enough

Honestly, the best way to line up the watch/IR is just placing the watch in connect mode and turning it upside down so the face of the watch is on the table and placing it right in front of the IR.

You should not be having ANY issues with it at all if its positioned like that and the watch is within 1 inch of the IR.

Don't allow too much bright light between the 2. Also don't wear the transmitter when you are downloading. Some other things that can effect the download are wireless keyboards/mouse or EMI from anything in the general area.

ALMOST 95% of the time Polar Tech Support gets a call with your issue, it is a low battery in the receiver.

If you have had the unit for a while(year+) look for the battery symbol on the bottom of the display. If you have one send it in for service to one of our 5 service centers. Start the repair process online at www.polarusa.com.

The low battery indicator may or may not be "indicating" for this problem. Replace the battery.

My low battery indicator has been on for about six weeks now. I really need to get the battery replaced but at the same time I hate to go without my hrm for two or three weeks to send it in. Is the battery really that difficult to change yourself?

Not difficult at all. I've done it several times without any apparent harm done to the device's use in the rain. What the service centers will do that you can't do is pressure test the device and replace the seals.

Not only that, but a lot of testing is done, and we guarantee our work. You really don't want to risk anything with a $400 unit. Plus, try finding that 2354 battery- its not like a 2025 or 2032. You may spend a few days just trying to find the battery.

I would very much recommend sending it in to the nearest service center. If that happens to be NY send it to my attention and I will have it turned around quicker.

Can the battery on a Polar S120 be changed by the user?

Thanks very much guys. Sounds like I should send the unit in for a battery replacement. I've tried everything else.

I have the N2965 - sort of flat and yellow with a small IR window.

Also, as stupid as it sounds, if your computer desk is glossy and a lot of light gets in the room, put something matte under the two. It's almost like the reflecting light was breaking up my signal. Then I just set the watch on the table .5" away from the receiver and it worked flawlessly from there.