Is anybody else experiencing this super frustrating issue with their Polar HR monitor? I’ve got an S625x that performs flawlessly when running but when I hop on my bike with the Polar Output Sensor the speed, power, cadence and HR readings are fine until I put lean forward and put my elbows on my pads. Then the HR reading either goes to 00 or something like 42 (the speed, power, cadence numbers are not affected). As soon as I sit up the HR reading goes back to normal. The downloaded file shows the false HR as well, so it’s not just a case of a faulty display.
I’ve got the strap on very tight and even shaved a strip around my chest where the strap sits. Any ideas?
I had a similar thing happen (Unit worked OK on the run, but HR would fail while on the bike). A new battery in the chest strap cleared up the problem for me. I found a replacement at Office Max or Office Depot for about $3. If that doesn’t work, I’m out of ideas.
I had that problem too, and I just needed lube between the contacts and me. Usually need sweat, but in aero position it can be finicky. You can use KY (seriously) or good ole fashioned spit. I lick my strap before I put it on (lick the two contacts), and it always works.
This happens to me somewhat frequently, actually mine is doing this right now. I attribute it to one of three things:
Its time to wash the transmitter strap. I wash it every so often, but not too often. Probably not as much as I should
The battery in the transmitter is dying.
The contacts on the transmitter have become corroded from sweat, etc.
The last time this happened to me, I sent it to the Polar service center and they replaced the strap as the contacts were corroded (I could not see this corrosion, but they could). The cost was nominal, but I did have to live without my HRM for a couple weeks.
PS - I have no idea why it seems more prevalent in the aero position, but it does.
I use bah-bump gel for just that reason. I don’t sweat a ton, so I also used to have a problem in the first 30 minutes of workouts, especially if it is cold out. The spit just wasn’t getting it done.
That’s funny. I was about to send a posting with the exact opposite problem with my Polar hr monitor. Works no problem while biking but doesn’t work at all during run.
I would turn the watch inwards, not facing away from your bars. Also, get on your trainer with no shirt on. Go aero and see if the new position creates a gap. I found the aero position brought my arms towards my “lats” and this created a bit of pressure that caused my Polar T-61 t-belt to seperate from my chest.
This used to happen to me all the time. I ended up putting it on my stem. Still happened. It seemed that if it was right in the middle of my strap it was reading half my heart rate. I then still kept it on my stem but rotated it so it was more to one end and was reading more from one side, as on your wrist. Fixed the problem.
Thanks for all the ideas. Glad (well, for that I’m not alone, not for your misery) that others are or have experienced the same thing. My watch is currently on my base bar off to the side just outside my right elbow pad - there isn’t anywhere else to mount it unless I can put it above the stem (is there such a mounting bar out there?) - so it is very close to where it would be if it was on my wrist. I believe the strap must be shifting oh so minutely but just enough as I move my fat gut closer to my thighs so hopefully it is a conduction issue. I’ve tightened the strap and shaved the contact areas but I guess it’s time to move on to more aggressive remedies.
I wrote to Polar customer support and they suggested either trying conductive gel (I’ve got KY so I’ll try that on my trainer ride tomorrow night) or moving the strap to the side or even to the back (in which case it must be turned upside down so that the left side of the strap is still on the left side of my body). I have the T31 coded wearlink strap. I’ll try this as well if the KY doesn’t work.
The watch and strap are fairly new so I can’t believe it would be a weak battery, corroded strap, or anything like that, especially because it all works just fine in the upright position.
The watch and strap are fairly new so I can’t believe it would be a weak battery, corroded strap, or anything like that, especially because it all works just fine in the upright position.
Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll keep you posted.
Mine was only about 8 months out of the box when the battery issue started. I wouldn’t rule it out if the other solutions don’t work. Unlike the watch battery, you can definitely change it yourself.
I’ve got an even freakier one. Mine works fine in aero, but the signal drops out during one specific section of my favorite bike loop EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Same position, battery fine, was working 5 seconds before, but for some reason, it drops out for a 5m stretch during my favorite ride every time.
Have had this problem as well. I think the battery suggestion is your best bet…followed by properly lubricating the electrodes. The thought of a shaved strip around your torso where the strap goes almost made me fall out of my chair…LOL!
I noticed another poster mention hopping on the trainer but didn’t really notice you mention this was an indoor thing on a trainer.
I did discover that my Polar HRM would not work indoors with my trainer when I was watching TV. The RFI from the TV queered the HRM signal/reception and the HRM would not work. When the TV was off everything was fine. Now this was with the old traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) TV. I don’t think this would be a problem with a flat panel plasma or LCD monitor.
Now if your significant other will let you put the trainer in the living room in front of your flat panel TV you will be fine indoors with your HRM. Unfortunately, I had to wet mine up in the basement where the hand me down TV was.
