Archive for the Heart Rate Monitors Category
r-r intervals - Polar RS800 - Suunto T6C
17/06/2008 by Tris.
A useful question asked today by a customer regarding Polar RS800 and Suunto T6C and their use of, and analysis of R-R heart rate data - with regard to heart rate variability.
I have been looking at Suunto T series because of the R-R facility. (1) How does this compare to Polar’s R-R facility.
(2) How does the software differ between T6 and T3 (not really interested in T4 Coach system).
Thanks for the mail regarding R-R analysis.
1) The big difference is that the RS800 Pro Trainer software gives you ACCESS to the R-R data - so you can extract the RAW R-R information
The Suunto Training Manager does NOT
HOWEVER….
Suunto analyses the R-R data it has stored and outputs TRAINING EFFECT and EPOC data to give the user a very clear understanding of the WORK LOAD.
That means you have TRAINING EFFECT data for EACH and EVERY session you perform, so it is clear to see when you are over training
The Polar has the OWN OPTIMISER test. This is performed voluntarily and, upon completion, gives the user an idea of their current wellbeing - over trained, under trained, balanced training state etc.
Both are GOOOD.
For the average user, TRAINING EFFECT is useful and gives immediate review of progress and workload
The Polar RS800 is possibly better suited to the purist, the user that wants access to the RAW DATA.
2) Please review the SCREEN GRABS on these pages:
Suunto TRAINING MANAGER software with TRAINING EFFECT and TIME versus HEART RATE curves
Suunto TRAINING MANAGER LITE software - does NOT give time versus heart rate curves
The T3/4 does NOT give a TIME versus HEART RATE curve.. the T6 does
www.heartratemonitor.co.uk
Hope we can help
Suunto - Total ascent / total descent
02/06/2008 by Tris.
We had a mail from a customer about Suunto T6/S6/X3HR altitude data.We thought it would be useful to publish this:Many thanks for the email.
The first two figures are, as you suggest, the MAX and MIN heights, above sea level, from a session. This figure is based on barometric pressure changes. It relies on an accurate setting of start altitude. It seems that these were pretty close, so no problem there. These are simply the HIGHEST and LOWEST points within a session
The other two figures are TOTAL ASCENT and TOTAL DESCENT heights.
While you are cycling you are either
On the flat, thus no climb
Going uphill, thus ASCENDING
Going downhill, thus DESCENDING
If ascending at a rate of 3 m/min for 6 minutes… the x3HR would put 18m to TOTAL ASCENT data (3m/min x 6 mins)
If descending, steeply, at 20m/min for just 30 seconds.. the x3HR would put 10m to the TOTAL DESCENT data (20m/min x 0.5mins)
This is done throughout the ride….
If you’re ride was pretty flat, the total ASCENT / DESCENT heights would be low
If the ride was hilly… it is represented by a high total ASCENT / DESCENT height
Normally, ASCENDED and DESCENDED totals will be quite similar… but not always identical.
Your two rides look very different… one very FLAT with on a 15m climbing and 9m descending
The second ride was pretty hilly… with climbs approaching 1000m
The max/min (start / finish) heights do not have any impact on ascend/descend figures.
Hope that makes sense
Suunto heart rate monitors with ALTITUDE ASCENT / DESCENT
Garmin Edge 705 IN STOCK
19/03/2008 by Tris.
We are pleased to say that BHIP Ltd now have stock of the fitness monitoring GPS with auto routing for cyclists etc - the NEW GARMIN EDGE 705 BUNDLE with HR and pedal CADENCE - Garmin Edge Bundle with HR and CADENCE 010-00555-31
Polar USB IR problems
19/03/2008 by Tris.
One of the questions we get a lot of at www.heartratemonitor.co.uk is with regard to Polar USB Infra Red stick.
Some general pointers would be - with Reference to problems with the Polar RS800/RS400/CS400/CS600
If it looks like this :
good - this is the new one - if it nothing like this.. sorry… this information won’t help…..
1) Have you got latest version of PRO-TRAINER - www.heartratemonitor.co.uk always supply the latest versions available on CD ROM with the product, BUT it is not always the VERY latest version …. sometimes it’s just worth checking www.polar.fi then DOWNLOADS and SUPPORT area. There are also some USB.exe files to download and correct USB driver issues… This is particularly so for Windows Vista 2) www.polar.fi has an extensive knowledge base with keyword search, so it’s worth spending 10 mins there. If you are getting a specific error message - try entering the main terms in the KEYWORD SEARCH field. Go to the GLOBAL SITE then bottom left, support and download… there is LOADS of info there. This is normally where Polar UK or Polar Finland will send you first….
3) In the settings of your PRO-TRAINER interface, make sure you have OPTIONS - PREFS - HARDWARE set to “IRDA” and NOT “USB” - this is quite a common mistake
4) Make sure you have the unit VERY CLOSE to the USB IR stick. I normally suggest just a few mm. The IR contacts on the watch are the small 2 x white LED’s between the Polar LOGO.. it is NOT the big red button.. another common mistake
5) I always recommend simply putting the watch in to CONNECT MODE then do the rest from the PC - press the GREEN “TRANSFER DATA” icon - third from left.
If it still doesn’t work, and you’re a customer of ours, contact us via the website - www.heartratemonitor.co.uk . If you didn’t buy it from us, contact Polar via your LOCAL website, found through www.polar.fi
Tris
Choosing a heart rate monitor
04/02/2008 by Tris.
Here’s a copy of a fairly technical heart rate monitor enquiry we received recently…. Please feel free to add your comments
Suunto T3/4 Heart Rate Monitor and s/w: Seems to have a good range of features, but does the “coach” system really work? seems too good to be true…[Tris] <<< yes, it absolutely works… I use it - BUT, it needs to SEE all your training sessions and it’s only worth having if you’re going to follow the prescribed plan >>>
Suunto T6 Heart Rate Monitor : Looks great, does everything you could want, but expensive. Is the only real advantage over the T4 the EPOC stuff? (A new one on me, but seems interesting)
[Tris] <<< The T3/T4 do use EPOC to give TRAINING EFFECT, but they don’t show actual EPOC value>>> . Is the software and the intelligent coaching side of things different between the T4 and T6, or are they the same? This one seems great, but obvious downside is cost.[Tris] << very different software.. the T6 does most the clever stuff POST EXERCISE on the PC, the T3/4 gives only a summary of what is in the watch data>>>
Garmin Forerunner 50 Heart Rate monitor: Got a good review in one of the cycle mags, cheapest of these, probably ok, Less features (eg altimeter), and I’ve read some mixed opinions on the software, which would be a big downside.[Tris] <<< Very basic, but great value for money >>>>
Garmin edge 305 HRM GPS Heart Rate Monitor : Didn’t seem to be exactly what I was looking for, but maybe combines some of the features. The GPS itself doesn’t seem ideal, but it’s good for biking, though not ideal for anything other than cycle based training- true?[Tris] << Skip this one…. >>>
Suunto Memory belt and PC link: How would this work. Apart from the obvious downside of having no HRM to use while training- so no instant feedback, it’d give me good feedback to use for sessions, and be possible to swim with it on, use the sowtware and coach. I could get this plus another unit, but obviously the cost would be massive.[Tris] <<< you use it WITH a T3/4/6 instead of the standard belt… main advantage is HR data while swimming >>>>
An other not mentioned… something else come to mind?
OK, so what do you think would best suit my needs? ………. your site seems to suggest that someone should at your end have a few opinions or ideas.
[Tris]
<<< T6 is the best by a long way for your needs…. altimeter… EPOC… good PC download…. etc etc…. You could go for a T3 or T4 with a MEMORY BELT (just add £50 on to package price and we will swap the belt) You then have EPOC on PC download data.. but still no altimeter…. brings me back to T6…. 
Suunto T1 coded heart rate monitor
23/01/2008 by Tris.
Suunto have now released a range of CODED - but not ANT digital - heart rate monitors. The range of Suunto T1 CODED heart rate monitors is available now and at under £70 they offer great value for money. The original T1 was a popular unit, but COULD suffer heart rate crosstalk in a gym environment. The new CODED T1 heart rate monitor will avoid this crosstalk / interference. Please note that it will NOT interface with gym equipment, nor does the T3/4/6… not a massive problem as you have the data on your wrist….
Suunto T1 coded heart rate monitor
Garmin forerunner 405 gps heart rate monitor
12/01/2008 by Tris.
it’s been a long time coming - but it’s now officially on it’s way - the new Garmin Forerunner 405 will be here in march - Garmin Forerunner 405 gps heart rate monitor - reserve one now
Tristan and the gang at BHIP will review and report on it’s funtionality as soon as w have them in stock - they look loads better than the old garmin forerunner 305.
Heart rate logging
05/12/2007 by Tris.
CUSTOMER QUESTION
Keywords: logging, memory, sample, heart rate, pulse monitoring, sleep monitoring
QUESTION: I’m looking for a heart rate monitor that will log heart rate accurately over a period of at least 8 hours (whilst I sleep) and allow me to analyse the log on my PC. Which of your many products on offer would you recommend for this please? I’ve been wading through your web site and cannot put my finger on logging monitors but I know you do do them you see.
ANSWER from Tris : I would recommend the Polar RS400 - it will record 31 hours with 1 second sample rate
http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk/Manuals/RS400/ch07.html#N10D81
Hope we can help :http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk/polar_rs400.html
Tris - BHIP Ltd
Polar multisport heart rate monitor
15/11/2007 by Tris.
When are Polar heart rate monitors going to produce a TRUE multisport HRM. The old Polar S725X could support bike speed, bike cadence, run speed ( via foot pod) and optional bike POWER. The new RS800 cannot support POWER and the new CS600 cannot support the foot POD or GPS…. nor does it fit on the wrist…
It seems to be a big hole in their otherwise excellent line up??
Polar RS800 heart rate monitor
Polar CS600 cyclists heart rate monitor
Good job the Polar S725x is still available Polar S725x multi sport heart rate monitor
GPS or Foot POD
12/11/2007 by Tris.
We’ve been using heart rate monitors with both GPS and foot pod accelerometers for 4 years now. The Garmin Forerunner 301 was the first GPS based unit we used. The Nike CV10 was the first foot pod style heart rate monitor.
From our own tests:
http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk/footpod_accelerometers_inertia.html this is the link
We’ve found that there isn’t much difference at all. Personally I prefer foot pod style as the batteries last that much longer, and you don’t notice the pod on your shoe. Although… GPS is convenient as it works for any outdoor sport, and it doesn’t require calibration…… that said… 90% + of our customers don’t need to calibrate the foot pods….
What do you think?