I am a long time lurker making my debut - so please be gentle…
I just bought an Ergomo which is great. I also have a Polar 710i which is also great. But, it seems that I cannot use them both simultaneously.
The 710i will only pick up an HR signal from a coded transmitter and the Ergomo will only pick up an HR signal from a non-coded transmitter (as well as its own transmitter). Not a problem in training but it means I cannot get complete data in a race. I’ll have to chose which transmitter to race with or change it during transitions! What’s worse is that when I wore my (coded) Polar WearLink transmitter on the bike the 710i didn’t pick up the signal presumably due to inteference from the Ergomo (it was mounted on the handle bars so I might have to put it in my back pocket or something). The Ergomo picked up a signal but it was 30-40 beats too high.
Surely, this is a common problem. Have I got this wrong? Any ideas?
I’ve got a similar problem. I’ve got an SRM, which also requires an uncoded transmitter and a 725i, which requires an encoded. The SRM has the same problem of showing a HR 20-30 beats too high.
I think SRM knows people want more complete data, so the SRM software allows you to import Polar HR files and merge them with your SRM data. Perhaps the Ergomo software does similarly? If not, perhaps there is a third party software that can do something similar for you…
I like using my Polar because it gives me altitude measurements. And also I like the wearlink transmitter, which is only available encoded.
Sorry this isn’t more helpful, but maybe you can bring up the issue with Ergomo and point out that SRM has addressed the issue, and perhaps they can as well (if they haven’t).
the 710, 720, 625, etc are for info junkies like Vernon and myself.
Unlimited lap splits, hr for each lap, bike speed, bike cadence, mileage, altitude (total climbed), temp (completely inaccurate btw), big ass triple display, put your own logo on the display, really really complicated heart rate/time/bike distance based intervals, possibly even run speed, bike wattage, hell whatever you want:) Umm, but most people just use the basic features and find it’s cool that you can download and use it on your bike.
Hey Vernon, try the new Polar Wearlink T31 coded strap. Yes it’s coded but we’ve tested it on some of the lower end uncoded Polar watches like the A3 and A5 and it worked fine as well as working with my S625. Plus it’s a hell of a lot better strap then the one you had to begin with and it’s cheaper!
You can download data (including altitude) from the 710i into some pretty good Polar software. I have found it useful for checking out various parts of the race where I might have gone slower or faster for some reason.
Also, for IMs I can completely separate the swim, ride and run by starting a new ‘session’ for each. It gives me more data but you can’t do it on most HRMs because you lose the detail (such as lap times) from a previous session once you start a new one.
I also much prefer the WearLink for comfort but also I get much more consistent readings on the run.
The software with the Ergomo is the Cycling Peaks software. I will ask those guys whether I can import and merge Polar files - good thinking and thanks.
The solution is to use an uncoded strap. Works fine with my Polar S610. The Polar S series do not require a coded strap they just have the ability to use it. They still work fine with the Ergomo’s uncoded strap.
Only problem is that you are now spoiled with your WearLink…I don’t think it comes uncoded??
The guy from the Polar distributors in Australia swore black and blue that the s710i needed a coded strap but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was wrong - I’ll check that out somehow.
The Ergomo problem is exactly why I went with SRM rather than Ergomo for a power meter - ergomo still hasn’t figured out how to work its unit with coded straps and uncoded straps pick up a lot more interferance from other heart rate monitors and powerlines than coded ones do. It’s kind of an SOL situation.
FYI – The SRM comment (at least for all newer SRM) is incorrect. SRM does work with a coded strap and comes up with largely identical reading (except that the interferance from power lines can impact both the Polar and SRM at different times). SRM specifies that you should use a coded and not an un-coded transmitter. I use my SRM always with the Polar S710 without any problems and the SRM software lets you correct any error readings in the data set.
(***** Polar Xtrainer Plus, Protrainer XT, S510, S520, S625X, S710, S710i, S720i, and S725 are compatible only with the coded transmitter. **This is due to multi-sensor use (speed, cadence and power).
I have a brand new SRM with a Power Control V computer, and it occassionally gets the HR right with my T31 coded wearlink strap, but 99% of the time, it is wrong. Where did you get the info that you can (should) use a coded with the SRM?
got the info on the coded strap directly from SRM / see also www.srm.de - I have no problems with using mine (just came back from a ride). I am using the SRM Pro which one are you using?