Heart Rate Monitors in general Polar F11 in particular

Tinpusher · Post by **Tinpusher** » August 29th, 2007, 3:50 pm

You don't know what my price is!
Using some deductive reasoning, the watch would be US$105 + shipping and duty.
Make me an offer! Its still under warranty and in the box.

Dave

icomefrombirmingham · Post by **icomefrombirmingham** » August 29th, 2007, 4:05 pm

Tinpusher wrote:You don't know what my price is!
Using some deductive reasoning, the watch would be US$105 + shipping and duty.
Make me an offer! Its still under warranty and in the box.
Dave

Sent you a PM instead!
Brent

RowtheRockies · Post by **RowtheRockies** » August 30th, 2007, 1:25 am

icomefrombirmingham,

When my old Polar M60 watch battrey died for the second time after 6 years, I purchased an F11 because I also run and needed the watch to know my HR while running. The new soft chest strap that came with the F11 is nice and the battery in the chest strap can be changed without sending to the factory which is a plus but the battery in the watch needs to be replaced at the factory so they say to ensure it stays water proof.

A couple of notes to point out.

1) When rowing on the erg, I still use my old style "Hard" Polar chest strap. The battery in the watch died but the battery in the chest strap is still working. The reason I prefer the old "hard" strap for erging is that the plastic transmitter while being longer than the new new "soft style" is much thinner. The erg handle hits my chest in the exact spot where the chest strap lies so the thicker new "soft" strap is a little uncomfortable.

2) The HR average displayed and recorded on the PM3 and probably the PM4 is not a true AVERAGE. The so called average HR for each split is actually your HR at the exact time that the split ends. And the average for the entire session is the average of your HR captured at the end of each split. For example if you set your workout to record splits at every 5 minutes, chances are your HR of the first split will start out much lower than what it is at 5 minutes at the end of the split. So say for the first minute, of the split your HR climbs from 100-120, second split goes from 120-130, third minute goes from 130-140, fourth minute goes from 140-143 and fifth minute goes from 143-145. The true average (depending on how frequently it is sampled over the 5 minutes) would be some where closer to 133 but the PM3 will record it as 145. I have observed that my average HR on the wristwatch is about 5 beats lower than what the PM3 calculates.

3) As for the own zone, calorie calculator, etc. of the F11, to me they are bells and whistles that I don't have any use for.

Damn am I wordy tonight!!!

Rich

icomefrombirmingham · Post by **icomefrombirmingham** » August 30th, 2007, 8:51 am

RowtheRockies wrote:icomefrombirmingham,

When my old Polar M60 watch battrey died for the second time after 6 years, I purchased an F11 because I also run and needed the watch to know my HR while running. The new soft chest strap that came with the F11 is nice and the battery in the chest strap can be changed without sending to the factory which is a plus but the battery in the watch needs to be replaced at the factory so they say to ensure it stays water proof.

A couple of notes to point out.

1) When rowing on the erg, I still use my old style "Hard" Polar chest strap. The battery in the watch died but the battery in the chest strap is still working. The reason I prefer the old "hard" strap for erging is that the plastic transmitter while being longer than the new new "soft style" is much thinner. The erg handle hits my chest in the exact spot where the chest strap lies so the thicker new "soft" strap is a little uncomfortable.

2) The HR average displayed and recorded on the PM3 and probably the PM4 is not a true AVERAGE. The so called average HR for each split is actually your HR at the exact time that the split ends. And the average for the entire session is the average of your HR captured at the end of each split. For example if you set your workout to record splits at every 5 minutes, chances are your HR of the first split will start out much lower than what it is at 5 minutes at the end of the split. So say for the first minute, of the split your HR climbs from 100-120, second split goes from 120-130, third minute goes from 130-140, fourth minute goes from 140-143 and fifth minute goes from 143-145. The true average (depending on how frequently it is sampled over the 5 minutes) would be some where closer to 133 but the PM3 will record it as 145. I have observed that my average HR on the wristwatch is about 5 beats lower than what the PM3 calculates.

3) As for the own zone, calorie calculator, etc. of the F11, to me they are bells and whistles that I don't have any use for.

Damn am I wordy tonight!!!

Rich

Hi,
Don't worry about being wordy, it was all interesting.
When I get my HRM I think I shall be most interested in maximum HR to start with. But your comments on averages is noted.

I thought the battery might have to be changed by the manufacturer. Not too much of a problem really, it's not my "day watch".

On your first point....I've ordered the receiver and chest strap from C2. (And succesfuly negotiated a price for the watch from my friend tinpusher!). So whatever the strap is....I think the soft one....is the one I'll get. I imagine the chest strap to be worn on the "top" of the chest. My hands come in to the bottom of my sternum...I hope the belt is above this?

In any case, I'll soon know!

Thanks.
Brent