Thought I would post a little Polar Did you know or FYI concerning the cycling segment for you retailers and consumers. This post is meant to help with what is compatible and what is not.
S Series (S510,520,710,720i,625x,725i,725x) can only use S Series Speed and Cadence Sensors. These sensors can be opened and change your own battery and even boost the signal. Depending on the size of your frame, you may or may not get enough signal strength to mount on the rear. All of these can use the a none WIND WEAR LINK. The 625, and all 7 series can use the older power sensor. The 725x can use the footpod, the 725i can not. None of these units can use the new S3 Stride Sensor or G3 GPS, just the RS800
CS Series CS100,200,300,400 use the CS Series Speed and Cadence sensors. These sensors can not be mounted on the rear for speed/cadence while on a trainer. These can not be opened up for any reason. I am sure someone will crack one open like a walnut, investigate and use some silicone sealer and tell us it is possible. Please report on this science project. CS units can all use a none WIND Wear Link. Only the CS300 can be worn, the others are bike dedicated. None of these units can use Power
The CS600 can only use the WIND Speed and Cadence sensors as well as the WIND Wear Link. The CS sensors can be mounted on rear of the bike for speed/cadence. This unit can use the new Wind Power Sensor.
The S625 and all 7 series IR download to none MAC(I know, lay off me on this topic, Finland knows alright) to Polar software as well as the new CS400 and CS600(Protrainer5 software)
I know that some of have you tried to swop cad sensors and do some math that one sensor on the wrong series will show double cadence and if you divided by two is our actual cadence, what ever works. Hope this helps everyone making the correct investment or order
It might be worth mentioning that the speed sensors ARE interchangable. The S-series speed sensor works with the CS computers, and the CS-series speed sensor works with the S-series HRMs. At least the do on my bike. I have a S625X and a CS100. I tried both speed sensors, both worked, and decided to go with the S-series speed sensor because of the interchangable battery.
I’m not sure what you mean by “All of these can use the a none WIND WEAR LINK”, and “CS units can all use a none WIND Wear Link”. I think you meant they all cannot use the WearLink W.I.N.D. transmitter, except the CS600 and RS800 which can only use the W.I.N.D. transmitter. Can you clarify?
Technically CS head units should not work with S series speed sensors, but in some cases they may, not always. I do not have enough info to comfortablly state that all S series sensors work with CS units. For those of you who have a collecion of Polar units, send in feedback on compatibility.
As for Wear Link. Polar makes two Wear Links that look identical if you are not careful. The RS800 and CS600 use the Wear Link labled WIND. So when I stated these CS units can use none WIND Wear Links, my paragraph was focusing in the CS100,200,300,400. These units must use the Wear Link that does not state WIND, just Wear Link.
Anything pertaining to the CS600 or RS800 can not be used by any other Polar units. These units work on a 2.4ghz, whether it is Wear Link, Speed Sensors, footpods for running or GPS for running.
Thank you for the info. My bike guy put a CS 200 on my bike but it wouldn’t upload using your infrared software. So I bought a S625X to use the infrared function, but it can’t read the CS cadence unit, apparently. Sigh. Double sigh. Does that mean that I need to buy another cadence sensor specific to the S625X? And I don’t see anything on the S625X monitor or software to even measure or record cadence anyway? Does it read across the very top of the unit when it works?
OK I am an airhead when it comes to this geek-freak stuff. I’m a POLAR user and fan from way way back when the first units were sold in the 80s. (I think) But to me this is all really ~~ and maybe unnecessarily ~~ confusing. It might be a good idea to put all this noncompatibility information on the marketing information before you sell it to people and then it turns out not to be complete/compatible/useable as is? Now, frankly, I have NO IDEA which of my many HRM straps to wear to get all this stuff to work. Guess I should just try 'em all till something registers?
CS200 on sonically download to our webservice, your retailer could have known that, many do not. Per my first post, you do need another cadence sensor, one labled “S Series”. Your retailer could swop it out or maybe if you have or get another bike, you may add a simple CS100 on it?? Under bike setting turn cadence it, does not happen autmatically. Cadence is turned off as of now. I am sure a really old t-belt may be dead by now. The Wear Link that your S65x came with will work with everything you currently own. Don’t sigh, this should help you
If you are referring or asking does the CS600(wind) transmit from the rear wheel while on a trainer, yes. Is your alias Charles Shaw, aka $2 Chuck?? Merlot or Cab?
I appreciate all the information. I purchased the CS400 and really like the computer. I do have one big gripe with the whole system. Most computers now do not come with a IR port and therefore I have to now go and buy another piece that in my opinion should have come with the unit. You provide the computer and all the software but no way for it to talk to each other but for another $45 bucks I can get the piece that works. This I have a problem with. It is a great product but when I talked with CS before I purchased this unit there was no mention of that. I should have looked much closer. I guess let the buyer beware.
Craig, I know exactly where what your talking about. Polar has recognized this and started included the IRDA(Lipstick looking),DO NOT GET TEHE OLDER WHITE ONE, with some units. Until you get the IRDA, change your REC RATE so you do not get a memory full. It is sunday night and Nascar has three laps left, boogety boogety Boogety guys, lets go racing!!
Would love to hear about how to increase transmitter strength on the S series speed transmitters. I’ve just about given up on mine as the reception is very spotty even on the front wheel. I did replace the battery in the head unit and transmitter with no improvement.
Geez… When did they start doing that. I just got it less than a month ago. That really blows that I gotta pay $45 and they are shipping it. It would have been nice to hear that from the CS when I called and asked them about this very thing. I do have to say it is a great product but no very happy with the support!!!
I suspect that my WIND CS600 speed sensor battery is flat. The CS600 head unit have difficulty getting the signal even though the speed sensor lights are blinking when I test them.
The manual says that I should refer back to the distributor to have the batteries changed. Is there a way I can change the batteries myself? Its too troublesome to go all the way back to the distributor and I need a quite fix!
I have a related question that I posted earlier: So I did the Cali 70.3 today and used my RS200sd from start to finish. Prior to starting the run, I turned on my footpod so I could get my pace and mileage. When I checked the mileage at the beginning of the run it read 33.X miles?! Not possible. The RS is picking up mileage from somewhere and it must have been on the bike right? I have a Polar CS200cad that I use on the bike…is it possible that the cadence on my CS is being interpreted as mileage by the RS? Anyone else experienced this issue? I think that must be what’s happening. How do I prevent this? Thanks.
