Polar Bluetooth Wearlink

I gave this three stars because the design is great. When it functions properly, the integration is superb, everything I had hoped it would be. Unfortunately proper function has turned out to be the exception instead of the rule. My opinions are best explained by pasting in the email that I have sent to both Polar and WorkSmartLabs:Spending nearly 30 minutes of precious morning workout time fiddling with a costly fitness device was the last straw. I guess I should explain. I have been using Cardio Trainer for close to a year and loved it dearly. I have also been using HR monitors for the last eight years, and I have viewed Polar as the golden standard. When I was notified that HR integration was now available on Cardio Trainer due to collaboration with Polar, I could not be more thrilled. I waited for my next paycheck with baited breath and shelled out a little extra for express delivery because I could not wait to get started. When it arrived, I followed the instructions precisely and tested it out with a short yoga session. It worked like a dream.That time.Ever since then I have experienced the full range of problems that I have come to learn several users are experiencing:1) Frequently it will not pair. Sometimes my Droid will not even pick it up. Or, if it picks it up, it will be unable to pair.2) Just as frequently it will pair but it will not connect with Cardio Trainer. Does not matter what I do.3) It will get stuck on inaccurate readings for several minutes at a time (we're talking as high as 254 BPM and as low as 10 BPM).4) It will get stuck on inaccurate readings and remain so for the rest of my workout*None of these things are mitigated by how wet or clean the chest strap is* I am sure that you understand my frustration( and that your first instinct is probably to tell me as much in reply) and that you are likely flooded by emails and phone calls from other customers. I do not see myself as any more important or special than any of them and I apologize in advance if this email conveys a sense of entitlement. But it has been just over a month and due to the nature of the Polar device and what it has been through, it is past the point of return. So I am out $80 and stuck with an item that only functions properly about once or twice a week and the only thing I can think of to do is to beg for answers, even if some of those answers turn out to be "We don't know but this is what we might do/can do/ are doing to fix it." To that end, I have sent this email to both Polar and WorkSmartLabs because I have contacted both with my concerns and each seems inclined to point the finger at the other or at the user. My customer satisfaction would be increased greatly if everyone was willing to look at the problems and each own what they are accountable for. Therefore, for my part I want to state up front that:a) My Droid is up to date and in perfect working order. The Bluetooth signal is consistent and strong in each location where I work out (and for that matter, everywhere I go). It has no problem picking up other Bluetooth devices however I do not utilize any other Bluetooth devices during my workout.b) Cardio Trainer is up to date and working well in every other way. I have no problems with its GPS signal, its voice notification, or its music integration.c) I use the Polar device in accordance with all of its instructions. I drench it before my workout (sometimes twice) and handwash it afterward (with plenty of soap and elbow grease). I toss the strap into the laundry machine every five uses and keep both parts separated on a high shelf atop a bath towel when not in use. I have already changed the battery (despite being told that the original battery was guaranteed for two years).d) I have utilized some of the user generated trouble shooting tips such as unpairing the Polar after every use and disabling the autostart feature in Cardio Trainer.Nothing I have tried has yielded any improvement in the quality or consistency of the HR integration. With no other ideas, I can only inquire:-What was it about the design of this chest strap that made it inherently necessary or superior to the sturdy material of most other HRM models? I am open to trying new things but this thing really asks for much more than it gives. The instruction book does dictate that it be run under the faucet (indicating that a swipe of saliva or KY jelly isn't going to cut it) but I didn't take that to mean that it had to be so saturated that it would drip down my body and possibly require an additional soaking by the time I get downstairs to begin my workout. Nor did I know from the manual that it not only had to get soaked but that it had to stay soaked and that it couldn't get too salty or else the conduction would be compromised. In other words, the amount of sweat produced during my workout and the salt content thereof must be the precise amount desired by the HRM or else it is not going to do what it is supposed to do. I am not only unaware of any exercise method that will allow me any degree of control over those elements I am also concerned about the durability of the chest strap. After being subjected to daily hand scrubbings and at least 1 weekly round in the laundry machine, the fabric of the electrodes is already looking snagged and worn. As I have had the item barely more than a month, this tells me that it is too flimsy to withstand both my workouts and its own care instructions.- As sort of an addendum to the above concern, I'd like to address one of the responses I saw to other user complaints; that the Polar "responds poorly to repeated attempts at connection." So, if it isn't working and trying to get it to work makes it worse, where does that leave us? Are we simply to just accept the poor performance and just try again another day?-My primary reason for purchasing the item was for more accuracy of the calorie counter so I was quite surprised and disappointed to learn that this feature was not included but that it should be "coming soon." No doubt many others have expressed concern and disappointment over this and rightly so. A heart rate based calorie counter is a standard feature of all but the most basic and inexpensive of HRM models but in this case it is apparently a feature for which we are going to have to wait for an unspecified amount of time. Naturally I am wondering how high this feature is on the priority list (as in, is it actively being worked on now?). The anticipation of this feature is what has kept me from completely throwing in the towel on the device.-I had chalked it up to another case of dysfunction (and it is sad that I had already become so jaded two weeks in) that I wasn't getting a HR display or notification when using the Pro module, but reading other user questions/concerns indicated that HR integration is not available for Pro. That calls for a big WHYWHYWHY?? Without the benefit of demographics I am going to assume that the Pro users include the most serious of runners, walkers, and cyclists who (a) would probably be the most concerned about their exercising heart rates and (b)PAID for the privilege of advanced features!! I have seen at least two additions to the HR integration features since I got the Polar. I am wondering how high on the priority list is integrating HR with Pro for the customers who have paid their dues twofold? In conclusion, this is a cry out for help (albeit lengthy) or at least validation (even if it is minimal). I would just like to know if there is any chance that I will be able to quit spending so much time monitoring the HR counter to see if it is working and instead rely on it to monitor me while I concentrate on my workout.Thank you!I understand that new technology often starts out buggy and needs some time. But I didn't pay this kind of money to be a beta tester and these problems seem beyond the normal kinks of newly introduced product. I went ahead and purchased in right away because I trusted Polar to give me a certain level of quality. In retrospect, I wish I had waited.

This is lengthy, but I know you will find this helpful when making your purchase decision.I am a CardioTrainer user and was excited to hear about the heart rate monitor integration. I decided to wait until some reviews were made, but the reviews here seemed very polarized (no pun intended), so I thought I would take a risk since most complaints in the reviews are: 1) lack of integration of existing Polar equipment, 2) Bluetooth issues, and 3) heart rate inaccuracy. Let me address these issues and let you know of my experience with this heart rate monitor.1)Lack of integration of existing Polar equipmentI don't have existing equipment, so this is of no concern for me; however, for those who do have other equipment, you should read the technical details on this page: "Uses Bluetooth transmission." Now I can understand that the WearLink+ name would make you *assume* that it works with other Polar equipment in addition to the Bluetooth, but shame on you for not waiting on other people to buy it and review it.2) Bluetooth issuesWhen the company says they have tested thoroughly and since there is a large split in what the reviewers say about the Bluetooth capabilities, I'm going to guess that it will work for me. This is day two for me with this heart rate monitor. I wanted to get my first impressions out before I forgot them, and let me say I have had no issues pairing with the heart rate monitor. None. I am using an HTC Evo. I am a cyclist, but I haven't tried my phone in my back jersey pocket yet. The manual says, "Do not wear the receiving device on your back," but the CTO reports they experienced no problems with their testing doing this. I have had my phone mounted to my handle bars. I'll give updates in the future.3) Heart rate inaccuracyOther reviewers have commented that their reported heart rate using CardioTrainer or SportsTracker have shown absurd heart rates in the 200s. I have not experienced this issue, and I find my heart rate is seemingly accurate. I say seemingly because I haven't used another device to compare it, such as a treadmill. I'll wet the strap with cold water, and it works right away. I don't have to fiddle with it. Contrary to another reviewer, there is help online if you are experiencing problems. Google Search: "Polar Bluetooth" and you'll find this heart rate monitor on the first link. Click "Find support for this product," and you'll find some helpful links there.As I alluded to before this is my first heart rate monitor. I find it comfortable, and I even forget that I am wearing it. The clip is NOT plastic as another reviewer commented (Sorry, Richard. I don't mean to pick on you). I thought it was at first glance, but it is definitely metal and will certainly last for the lifetime of the belt.Now, I will concede there are what I consider to be major bugs with CardioTrainer's implementation; however, my my five star review is based solely on the heart rate monitor itself, but I will now discuss the issues of CardioTrainer among other fitness applications since it is the reason to purchase this HRM.1) CardioTrainer(your experience may, excuse me, *will* be very different depending on your phone):For my first use of the HRM with CardioTrainer I did have to restart my phone to get it to report my heart rate. Before the restart, CardioTrainer recognized the HRM, but simply didn't show my heart rate. I am not sure if this was CardioTrainer's problem or not. At the time I was testing other fitness apps before I tried CardioTrainer, so it may be possible that the other apps prevented CardioTrainer from showing my heart rate. Great. Now it was reporting my heart rate accurately. I commenced to exercise on a stationary bike at the gym. When I was finished, I clicked "End Workout." It appeared to end the workout at first, but then the application returned to the home screen and showed my workout as paused. I tried it again. This time it erased all my workout history, and still failed to save the current workout (Backup your workouts to your SD card before trying the HRM). Since then, I have successfully recorded a stationary bike workout and a weight lifting workout. Although, I have to end the workout a couple of times, but it records it once. Today, I experienced major problems. I went cycling outside for 31 miles. This is the first time I used GPS in conjunction with the Bluetooth. It read my heart rate fine. It tracked my route and all the other statistics fine. The problem was ending the workout as per usual. I ended it twice. It saved it twice. I went to the history to review it. One of them showed that it was a "Restored Workout," and I was unable to view it. The other showed me a driving workout from a month ago despite showing up as a cycling workout in the history tab (it was, however, labeled a driving workout once I clicked on it to see the details). Both the history tab and the detailed view showed the correct time and distance, but the calories, speed, climb, and map were from the driving workout. I wish my average speed on my bike was 69.9 mph! The CardioTrainer website did recognize it as a bicycle workout, but none of the statistics were there. Not even the correct time.The following applications I briefly tested on a stationary bike without the GPS:2) SportsTrackerIt worked. Good statistics on phone. No issues, despite the name "Zephyr Connection" module that must be installed in order to connect to a HRM.3) EndomondoIt reported that is was connected to my HRM, but it did not show my heart rate when viewing the statistics on Endomondo's website. More testing should be done.4) Runtastic ProIt worked. Good statistics on phone. Good graph on phone.5) SportyPalIn the short time I tried this at the gym (I should have figured it out a home first), I couldn't figure out how to set up an indoor workout. Testing needed.Also: According to the manual: "Polar WearLink+ transmitter Bluetooth is water-resistant but does not measure heart rate in water." But also states to "always [wash] after use in pool water with high chlorine content."You probably got more than you bargained for, but I hope this helped you. Please comment and ask questions. I will gladly test a scenario for you and report back.UPDATE (3-5-11):I used the HRM with CardioTrainer this weekend in a collegiate race. It recorded my heart rate until I put it in my back jersey pocket. I will try again later, but it was disappointing. My workout saved fine. I didn't have to end it twice. I also had the GPS on. It is apparent the folks at CardioTrainer have worked out many of the issues I was having in their last update or two.Google's My Tracks application has added Bluetooth functionality, but it seems it is only designed for the Zephyr model for now.UPDATE #2 (4-2-11):Again, this weekend I used the HRM with CardioTrainer in another collegiate race, and it recorded my heart rate in my back jersey pocket! I put it in my left pocket this go around (as if it makes a difference), and it worked great. Currently, however, when I end the workout, the program crashes, and I force close it, but thankfully, it retains the workout and all the correct details.

Hallo zusammen,Lieferung erfolgte wie immer sehr zügig,so wie man es von Amazon gewohnt ist.Der Brustgurt läuft ohne Probleme mit meinem S2 und der App Runtastic. Habe die ersten Testläufe hinter mir und kann nichts negatives berichten. Der Gurt selbst sitzt nicht besser oder schlechter als andere Brustgurte auch. Die Kopplung des Bluetooth-Senders hat beim ersten Mal ein paar Minuten gedauert, nicht die Geduld verlieren. Wichtig ist auch, den Sender (Sensor) in den Gurt einzuklippen, sonst ist er nicht aktiv - gleichzeitig sollte man ihn nach Gebrauch vom Gurt trennen, sonst hat man nicht lange Freude an der Batterie. Hier ist die Batterieanzeige (über Runtastic App) nach ein paar Stunden Nutzung noch immer auf 95%. Nach erfolgreicher erster Kopplung mit dem S2 wurde der Gurt von Runtastic innerhalb weniger Sekunden nach App-Start automatisch erkannt (Automatikstart in der App einstellen) und die Pulsanzeige gestartet. Die angezeigten Werte erscheinen mir korrekt (Vergleich mit einem 2. Gurt und Polar Pulsuhr).Das Produkt ist aus meiner Sicht absolut empfehlenswert, es macht was es soll und das sehr zuverlässig. Einzig der hohe Preis erscheint mir nicht ganz gerechtfertigt.Wenn ich die reine Funktionalität bewerte, dann sind es klare 5 *****

Der Brustgurt begleitet mich schon seit einiger Zeit bei meinen Läufen und ich bin sehr zufrieden damit. Ich habe den Gurt mit einem Motorola Flipout, sicher kein Powerhandy, und mit verschiedenen Samsung Galaxy Handys benutzt und nur selten Probleme gehabt. Ich benutzte für die Aufzeichnung Runkeeper (Super APP). Anfänglich hatte ich das Problem, dass die Batterien sehr schnell leer waren, was aber offenbar an einem Softwarefehler lag und mittlerweile völlig in Ordnung ist! Schade ist, dass man keinerlei Status-LED an dem Gerät hat. Dass die Batterien leer sind merkt man somit erst, wenn der Gurt dadurch seine Arbeit einstellt und den Status der Gerätekopplung sieht man leider auch nicht!

Trotz des doch relativ hohen Preises habe ich mich für den Wearlink Pulsmesser von Polar entschieden um ihn mit dem Smartphone und der runtastic-App zu koppeln.Die in einigen Rezensionen beschriebenen Probleme mit der Batterielebensdauer kann ich nicht nachvollziehen. Nach vielen Stunden Training und vielen gelaufenen Kilometern funktioniert das Gerät immer noch einwandfrei. Man muß aber natürlich nach dem Lauf die Funkeinheit vom Gurt trennen und erst wieder zum nächsten Lauf anbringen. Das klappt auch super und zuverlässig mit den Druckknöpfen. Dann kann der Gurt auch gut unter fließendem Wasser abgespült werden.Der Gurt ist angenehm zu tragen, kneift nirgends und ist auch gut anzulegen / abzunehmen.Also eine absolute Kaufempfehlung.Nachtrag: nach über 700 gelaufenen Kilometern mit diesem Pulsgurt ist die Batterie immer noch funktionstüchtig.

Habe den Gurt jetzt seit 4 Wochen für radfahren und laufen in Verwendung.Der Gurt ist einfach am Brustkorb anzubringen und lässt sich einfach mit dem Telefon pairen (verwende einen Blackberry Bold und ein SE X10 mini pro abwechselnd). Mit der verwendetet Gratisvariante des Endomondo - App, welches für beide Systeme unter einem gemeinsamen Login läuft, funktioniert die Aufzeichnung einwandfrei.Praktisch finde ich auch das einfache an und abstecken des Bluetoothempfänger vom Gurt, was das Anfeuchten oder bei Bedarf das Waschen des Gurtes erleichtert.Der Preis hat mich lange davon abgehalten das Produkt zu kaufen, jetzt wo der Preis aber auf 62,95 Euronen war habe ich zugeschlagen, Konkurrenzprodukte die meinen Wünschen entsprachen konnte ich nicht finden.Die Batterielaufzeit kann ich noch nicht beurteilen, ist noch auf 100% :)Die Fehlmessung (Pulswert plötzlich auf 150) der Herzfrequenz in unmittelbarer Nähe von Straßenbahnoberleitung habe ich mit diesem Produkt leider auch (hatte zuvor nicht-Bluetooth-Geräte von Polar und VDO).Deswegen "nur" 4 Sterne, bin mit dem Produkt sehr zufrieden.

HTC FildfireEndomondoZusammenspiel mit HTC / Endomono:Bestens, keine Probleme. Nass gemacht, umgeschnallt, sofort gefunden und getrackt.Batterieverbrauch:Mag eventuell hoch sein, aber nur GPS tracking ohne Brustgurt ist nach knapp 5 Stunden fertig. Um 10 Euro externe Batterie kaufen, und dann kein Problem. (5 Stunden immer noch voll)Batteriewechsel:Einziger Schwachpunkt. Die Kappe ging nicht richtig rein.Fazit:Bis auf den Batteriewechsel macht es das was es soll. Misst, bricht nicht ab und harmoniert mit anderer Hardware und Software bestens.