Heart Rate Monitors BLOG

r-r intervals - Polar RS800 - Suunto T6C

Tris — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:33:22 +0000

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 T3c T4c and T6c - general questions

Tris — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:19:51 +0000

Copy of mail from a soon to be customer…..Hi…… I would like your advice. I am a recreational runner looking for a HRM to improve my performance - mainly 10k and half marathon distance. Previously bought a ciclosport from you some years back but stopped using it because after a while I didn’t feel it gave me sufficient feedback.

I now think that a HRM with distance/pace measurement would help and and have also been intrigued by the training effect concept. So have narrowed down my selection to the Garmin 405 and the suunto t3c/t6c.

<<<< Good choices to start with >>>>

My questions are:

1) I mainly run outside in variable terrain, also tend to be alot of trees where I run. Would the GPS of the 405 and Suunto be able to cope with this?

<<< yes, the new SIRF aerial is VERY SENSITIVE >>>>

http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk/garmin_forerunner_405.html

Garmin forerunner aerial sensitivity tests.. for 405 read 305 … same SIRF high sensitivity aerial

2) Would the Suunto foot pod work in hilly terrain - the Suunto web-site indicates it accomodes hills but I have read conflicting information on the web about foot pods - what is your experience with this particular one?

<<< yes, from my experience it is fine on hills… as it is on SAND or soft grass versus tarmac / track etc>>>>>

3) Does the training effect concept work and is it in your view more important than perfect distance/pace measurement in improving performance?

<<< it 100% works… it very clearly indicates where there are patterns of over/under training… allowing you to make changes to training plan and achieving results more effectively and quickly. It is 100% not a gimmick and it is justification enough to buy a T3/4/6 >>>>

4) Finally - is the T6c overkill for someone like me - what would it give me in practical terms that the t3c would not?

<<<< It would give you better PC analysis and altitude data…. nice if within budget, but not the end of the world it outside budget >>>>>>

Finally which would you most recommend as an effective training tool for runners?

<<<< T3C or above with FOOT POD >>>>

http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk/suunto_t3c_heart_monitor.html

Suunto - Total ascent / total descent

Tris — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:08:14 +0000

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

Tris — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:35:36 +0000

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

Tris — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:33:14 +0000

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

Tris — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:31:45 +0000

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

Tris — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:42:58 +0000

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

Tris — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:21:06 +0000

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

Tris — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:35:45 +0000

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 Own Optimiser question

Tris — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:12:32 +0000

Apologies for contacting you again, however I do have a query about the polar products but don’t have my order number (my girlfriend bought my RS800 for me last month). My query is I have been a life long support of polar products and really like them. I currently own a RS800SD. I do about 8-12 hours training a week and have been training at this level for about 3 years. However this year didn’t see much of an improvement in my performances. At the time I was worried that I was over training. Therefore I took a break of about 1.5 months and then bought the RS800SD to use the Polar Optimiser to keep track of my recovery levels as I restarted my training.I have restarted my training and test myself everyday as I train everyday. I do mix it up with a long run at the weekend and interval session mid week. However the optimiser is reporting “stagnant training” and has done for the past few weeks. Even though this morning when I woke up I definitely felt tired (I did my running intervals and a hard 1hour turbo yesterday). The fact that the optimiser is reporting stagnant training should mean something to me, but I don’t know what. I was thinking that perhaps the optimiser is testing how tired my cardio system was so I might be feeling tired because my muscles are tired, but my cardio is un stressed and is not the limiting factor? As you can probably tell I don’t know, and would appreciate any advice you had on the matter?PLEASE HELP - ADVISE - thanks ANON

REPLY from Tris at heart rate monitor shop

Many thanks for your emailPlease follow this link for a full explanation of the Polar OwnOptimiser results - OWN OPTIMISER Personally, i think the problem is that you are not having ANY rest days.

The OwnOptimiser works best when used the morning after a heavy training day, and hte morning after a rest day.

This information is taken from the Polar manual, and the link I have pasted above:

>>> Polar manual >>>

Monitoring OwnOptimizer Values:

After the baseline recordings, you should continue to perform the test 2-3 times a week. Test yourself weekly in the morning following both a recovery day and a heavy training day (or a series of heavy training days). An optional third test can be performed after a normal training day. OwnOptimizer may not provide reliable information during detraining or in a very irregular training period. If you take a break from exercise for 14 days or longer, the baseline tests should be performed again.

>> TH comment again >>>

The OwnOptimiser is monitoring the difference between your resting heart rate status on days after training, versus days after resting.

You are not resting so it sees all the results as the same… thus stagnant….

I would recommend adding at least ONE REST DAY and make sure you perform an OwnOptimiser the morning after that

Perform ONLY TWO other OwnOptimiser tests in the week, following training days.

Let me know how you get on

LINKS : Polar RS800 - Polar RS800 G3 - Polar RS800 SD