What's the most basic HR monitor which lets you store HR throughout a session?

Sparks

Hi all, quick question. I'm using a basic Polar FS1 at the moment, but I'd like to be able to download heartrate data from a training session or a match and plot it over time (as opposed to a single average). What's the most basic heartrate monitor that allows this?

(Polar compatible would be nice, but I don't mind getting a new strap as well if needed; and it's not going to have to put up with anything more than the elliptical trainer; but it would have to be able to record up to two hours of data).

Anyone got any ideas?

robinph

From a quick look on http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk/ it appears that your looking at about £100 for the lowest models that do allow you to download data from them and record more than just the averages for a session.
Sunnto M4
Polar RS300x
Garmin FR60
That site is not going to necessarily be the cheapest though.

But you can get a Garmin 305 for £105 from Amazon.co.uk.

go for the 305 at that price - it's not a specialist hrm tool but should do the job and the gps elements add so much more....

Sparks

I can't really see the 305's GPS being much use for me glasso - I'd be using this in two places: the elliptical trainer in the gym, and standing on the firing line in a match - in both cases I wouldn't be moving from the spot I was on

The RS300x is going for about €115 on ebay, that's looking like the best contender to me. Has anyone here tried downloading data from it?

Krusty_Clown

Sparks wrote: »

I can't really see the 305's GPS being much use for me glasso - I'd be using this in two places: the elliptical trainer in the gym, and standing on the firing line in a match

True, but it does meet the need of storing a continuous stream of HR data, and is very easy to upload and analyze afterwards (and you could mark specific points in time during your shooting matches using the lap button. The only problem I have found is that the actual HRM straps can be dodgy, and not provide very solid results for the first 4-5 minutes of wear.

No experience with that polar model I'm afraid. Used to use an old Polar years back, but it suffered the same kind of problems, and only recorded/uploaded average and max Heart rates.

sconhome

Sparks, not to cloud the Garmin / Polar line but some info on the Polar options:

The RS 300 will store the info in a file format on the watch. You can buy the Flowlink as an optional add on and it will upload to My Personal Trainer on Polar.fi. You create a profile online. This allows you to track and record your data.

The RS300 is a great mid level watch which can be expanded to include a footpod or GPS unit to track distance, pace and routes if you are exercising outside.

To be honest if you are using it simply to record the HRM data you could go for the FT4 or FT7 which are units aimed at fitness or gym users. The data is stored on the watch in both cases, think x10 files on FT4 (about €89) and x99 on FT7 (about €110). The FT7 is compatible with the Flowlink.

If it is about keeping the cost to a minimum the FT1 (about €55) will store one file which you need to manually record either online or in a spreadsheet of your own making.

In all cases including the RS300 you can manually enter the data into the Personal Trainer which will allow you to keep track of and graph your progress over time. So Flowlink is very much optional.

Sparks

Thanks amphking. How would you get the data off the FT1 (and is it definitely a record of heartrate data for the entire session and not just an average (ie a single number) over the entire session?)
I'm more interested in seeing how the heartrate climbs during the session (and how it behaves during a match) than knowing the overall average - I have that data already.

sconhome

Sparks, sorry I mis-read your first post thinking you wanted to track a graph of progress.

A manual transfer of the data for any HRM will only give you average & max HR with the time spent training and in some cases calories consumed.

To get the full data set with the curve per session you will need to use a Flowlink. This limits you to RS300x & higher, FT7 & higher models in the Polar range.

If this link works it will show you the type of info available from an upload.
https://www.polarpersonaltrainer.com/user/calendar/item/exercise.ftl?id=126120767

Sparks

amphkingwest wrote: »

Sparks, sorry I mis-read your first post thinking you wanted to track a graph of progress.

Ah, I see. No, to be specific and clear, what I want is something like this for each session:

To get the full data set with the curve per session you will need to use a Flowlink. This limits you to RS300x & higher, FT7 & higher models in the Polar range.

So the FT7 can definitely give me the kind of data I'm looking for if I get the polar flowlink dongle to download the data?

If this link works it will show you the type of info available from an upload.
https://www.polarpersonaltrainer.com/user/calendar/item/exercise.ftl?id=126120767

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Any chance of a screenshot?

Any chance it looks like this?

sconhome

I'm not the best at this end of tech stuff. Hope this works, I have a screenshot attached which shows the HR data.

Sparks

That's perfect, that's exactly what I'm looking for amphking. And that was from an FT7?

sconhome

That's my old RS200 (now RS300). The data files for all up to RS800 are the same format.

I will double check the FT7 and get back to you.

Sparks

Actually, looking at the FT7, it seems to only use SonicLink to talk to the PC - I think I might say no thanks to that and pay the extra tenner to at least get the Flowlink in the 300 (IRDA's a pain, but a soniclink to a linux box - or a windows virtualbox running under linux - would be a complete nightmare).

Thanks for the help again amphking.

sconhome

Sparks, all the HR data will be the same across the range, you just dont have the options of pace, distance etc that you can have with the RS range (from 300 up)

Just for clarity the FT-7 is a new watch and does work with the Flowlink. The older F-7 used the sonic link or infrared. My RS200 was sonic and it was like an old school modem squealing at the PC.

Best of luck, glad to have helped.