My trusty older Garmin heart rate strap(not the soft strap type) is taking forever to start transmitting data these days, regardless of what I try, until I have a good sweat going it is unreliable so it is probably time for a new one. So wondering if people here have suggestions on what they would get, I am looking at the Viiiva heart rate monitor, and the Scosche (yes I have read DC Rainmaker) but because these are very different I am wondering how they compare for the time to start transmitting and stability. Any other ant+ options that are rock solid? Thx
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Re: heart rate monitor strap advice [s5100e]
[ In reply to ]
I have the old Garmin hard strap and the newer premium soft strap. If you wet the strap before you put it on, then it starts transmitting right away. Make sure to change the batteries every year. I also have the Viiiva strap and the comfort was great, but the battery didn't last long. Just found out you need to dry the strap after use or it will keep transmitting. I did find that if try to adjust the strap in the front while using it, it sometimes unclips.
Re: heart rate monitor strap advice [s5100e]
[ In reply to ]
s5100e wrote:
My trusty older Garmin heart rate strap(not the soft strap type) is taking forever to start transmitting data these days, regardless of what I try, until I have a good sweat going it is unreliable so it is probably time for a new one. So wondering if people here have suggestions on what they would get, I am looking at the Viiiva heart rate monitor, and the Scosche (yes I have read DC Rainmaker) but because these are very different I am wondering how they compare for the time to start transmitting and stability. Any other ant+ options that are rock solid? ThxI have found the Scosche to be rock solid in terms of dependability. There is a bit of time lag though. It seems to be doing 5 second averaging (approximately). I would imagine that this has to do with the nature of the measuring technology. Not an issue though. You don't get spikes or drop outs and it works well. I wear it on the wrist, next to my Suunto. Comfortable.
I used Polar wear link straps in the lab for hundreds of VO2 max tests. Never had a single issue with them. No drop outs, HR spikes or strange readings at all. Solid.
Simplify, Train, Live
Re: heart rate monitor strap advice [jdais]
[ In reply to ]
jdais wrote:
I have the old Garmin hard strap and the newer premium soft strap. If you wet the strap before you put it on, then it starts transmitting right away.+1. Run the electrode side of the strap under some water and it should start to transmit right away.
Also, not sure if this relates to the OP's problem of just getting it to start transmitting, but on my Garmin soft strap HRM, it would seem to constantly drop out. To fix this, I used a solution found on DCRainmaker's page: Buy just the Polar HR soft strap, not the actual unit, and clip the Garmin unit onto the Polar strap. I haven't had a single drop-out since making this change. The problem just seemed to be with the actual Garmin strap.
Re: heart rate monitor strap advice [C_Hassard]
[ In reply to ]
C_Hassard wrote:
Buy just the Polar HR soft strap, not the actual unit, and clip the Garmin unit onto the Polar strap. I haven't had a single drop-out since making this change. The problem just seemed to be with the actual Garmin strap.+1
I've gone through several straps, but the head unit is fine (replace batteries yearly, as someone else pointed out).
Later!
Brian
.
Swim. Bike. Run. Repeat as necessary.
Welcome to the Church of Briantriology!
Re: heart rate monitor strap advice [s5100e]
[ In reply to ]
Wash / scrub it in soap and water. The strap will get layers of grime that includes sodium and everything else that your body releases....... this for sure will interfere with the conductivity of the strap.
Re: heart rate monitor strap advice [s5100e]
[ In reply to ]
there's a good chance the little snaps on your strap (assuming you have the soft version) are corroded after a year or two. Home Depot/Lowes... ...etc. usually sell conductive grease that may help
something like this (I don't recall the exact brand I have)
http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-22058-Dielectric-Tune-Up-Grease/dp/B000AL8VD2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1425402502&sr=8-3&keywords=conductive+grease
has kept my dedicated trainer strap going for a looooooooooooooooooong time
something like this (I don't recall the exact brand I have)
http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-22058-Dielectric-Tune-Up-Grease/dp/B000AL8VD2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1425402502&sr=8-3&keywords=conductive+grease
has kept my dedicated trainer strap going for a looooooooooooooooooong time
Re: heart rate monitor strap advice [Tim_Canterbury]
[ In reply to ]
Tim_Canterbury wrote:
there's a good chance the little snaps on your strap (assuming you have the soft version) are corroded after a year or two. Home Depot/Lowes... ...etc. usually sell conductive grease that may help something like this (I don't recall the exact brand I have)
http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-22058-Dielectric-Tune-Up-Grease/dp/B000AL8VD2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1425402502&sr=8-3&keywords=conductive+grease
has kept my dedicated trainer strap going for a looooooooooooooooooong time
thx
I use polar wear link strap with the garmin pod on it..
Better reliability and comfort than the garmin softstrap..
After a year or more they loose a little elasticity, which means you run them tighter, which means the expand less in unison with your chest and can then rub..
So chuck em out and get a new strap but keep the pod.. they go for 20 bucks a go or so these days.. so cheap really.. (750hrs a year.. )
Better reliability and comfort than the garmin softstrap..
After a year or more they loose a little elasticity, which means you run them tighter, which means the expand less in unison with your chest and can then rub..
So chuck em out and get a new strap but keep the pod.. they go for 20 bucks a go or so these days.. so cheap really.. (750hrs a year.. )