HRM

JBennis1013

So, I purchased the Polar F6 because everyone on her rants and raves about it. Well it interfered with the machines at the gym (mine and the one next to me), which I thought it wasn't supposed to. It gave me the same calories burned as the elliptical at the gym. So I am curious if anyone else has had this problem. I am going to return it because there is no sense in buying something for $85 when the gym machines give me the same information.

phitme

Are you completely sure you have the F6 & not the F4? The F6 is usually a bit closer to the $100 mark but I remember my F4 being about $80. Double check, that does not sound right.

I have had my F6 for about 3 years now. I workout in the gym exclusively and have never had it interfere with the equipment. The F4 will though.

S_H84

I have the Timex Ironman watch. It is awesome and doesn't interfere with my gym machine's HRM. However, it does state that it might in the manual if it is too close. However, I have had it for 3 weeks now and never had problems.

This is the one I have: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Timex+-+Ironman+Road+Trainer+Heart+Rate+Monitor+-+Black/9279158.p?skuId=9279158&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=9279158&ref=06&loc=01&id=1218124225558

JBennis1013

Are you completely sure you have the F6 & not the F4? The F6 is usually a bit closer to the $100 mark but I remember my F4 being about $80. Double check, that does not sound right.

I have had my F6 for about 3 years now. I workout in the gym exclusively and have never had it interfere with the equipment. The F4 will though.

Yup I have the F6. I bought it on Amazon for $85. My sister was working out on the elliptical machine next to me and her heart rate was going up to the same as mine and down when mine went down. The elliptical I was on read my heart rate even when I didn't have my hands on the machine. It read exactly what the readout on my watch was. I may give it one more try before returning it though.

SFinn

I had the Road Trainer as well and actually returned it simply because I felt that it grossly overestimated the amount of calories that I burned. As far as the heart rate, it was very accurate.

I was on the elliptical next to her with the Polar watch and it kept replacing my heart rate with hers everytime I took my hands off of the sensors, so the Polar definitely did interefere on the LifeFitness machines at our gym. Strange.

bjerkins

I have the F6. Bought it at Amazon for only $72. I do not work out at a gym. All home so far and it it working wonderfully. It really pushes me.

S_H84

I had the Road Trainer as well and actually returned it simply because I felt that it grossly overestimated the amount of calories that I burned. As far as the heart rate, it was very accurate.

I was on the elliptical next to her with the Polar watch and it kept replacing my heart rate with hers everytime I took my hands off of the sensors, so the Polar definitely did interefere on the LifeFitness machines at our gym. Strange.

Why did you think it was overestimating it? I haven't had any problems so far.
However, now that you said that I will go on a run tomorrow wearing m watch and my husbands Garmin and see if I get the same calories burned.
I will update this tomorrow then when I know.

SFinn

I had the Road Trainer as well and actually returned it simply because I felt that it grossly overestimated the amount of calories that I burned. As far as the heart rate, it was very accurate.

I was on the elliptical next to her with the Polar watch and it kept replacing my heart rate with hers everytime I took my hands off of the sensors, so the Polar definitely did interefere on the LifeFitness machines at our gym. Strange.

Why did you think it was overestimating it? I haven't had any problems so far.
However, now that you said that I will go on a run tomorrow wearing m watch and my husbands Garmin and see if I get the same calories burned.
I will update this tomorrow then when I know.

I wore it for a 30 minute elliptical cardio and a 5 minute cool down. It was estimating my calories burned at about 582, which I felt was a little high. It was more of a moderate workout too, so I didn't feel as if I was working out hard enough or sweating enough to be burning 582 calories in that period of time. Maybe I'm wrong though?

phitme

Are you completely sure you have the F6 & not the F4? The F6 is usually a bit closer to the $100 mark but I remember my F4 being about $80. Double check, that does not sound right.

I have had my F6 for about 3 years now. I workout in the gym exclusively and have never had it interfere with the equipment. The F4 will though.

Yup I have the F6. I bought it on Amazon for $85. My sister was working out on the elliptical machine next to me and her heart rate was going up to the same as mine and down when mine went down. The elliptical I was on read my heart rate even when I didn't have my hands on the machine. It read exactly what the readout on my watch was. I may give it one more try before returning it though.

While I can't explain your sisters HR, the machine reading your HRM is actually normal. That is not interference. Interference is when your watch reads wonky or won't register your HR at al because it receives interference from the machine. This is just the machine reading your HRM. Mine does it all the time. I actually like that because I can see the readout without having to look at my watch.

Why do you think the other one grossly over estimated your calories? If your basing that on this site or any machine, know that they are notoriously wrong. MFP always underestimates my calories & machines are generally calibrated for a 6'0 200lb man.

phitme

I had the Road Trainer as well and actually returned it simply because I felt that it grossly overestimated the amount of calories that I burned. As far as the heart rate, it was very accurate.

I was on the elliptical next to her with the Polar watch and it kept replacing my heart rate with hers everytime I took my hands off of the sensors, so the Polar definitely did interefere on the LifeFitness machines at our gym. Strange.

Why did you think it was overestimating it? I haven't had any problems so far.
However, now that you said that I will go on a run tomorrow wearing m watch and my husbands Garmin and see if I get the same calories burned.
I will update this tomorrow then when I know.

I wore it for a 30 minute elliptical cardio and a 5 minute cool down. It was estimating my calories burned at about 582, which I felt was a little high. It was more of a moderate workout too, so I didn't feel as if I was working out hard enough or sweating enough to be burning 582 calories in that period of time. Maybe I'm wrong though?

That does not sound off. Sweat is actually the worst indicator of how hard you are actually working. Some of us just sweat more than others. It does not mean that we're working out harder or more efficiently than someone who doesn't.

Also, what was your HR generally speaking? Lastly, do you normally workout on the eliptical? I don't so I know that when I get on it, my calorie burn will be higher because my body is not used to it like it is me running on the TM or lifting weights.

SFinn

I had the Road Trainer as well and actually returned it simply because I felt that it grossly overestimated the amount of calories that I burned. As far as the heart rate, it was very accurate.

I was on the elliptical next to her with the Polar watch and it kept replacing my heart rate with hers everytime I took my hands off of the sensors, so the Polar definitely did interefere on the LifeFitness machines at our gym. Strange.

Why did you think it was overestimating it? I haven't had any problems so far.
However, now that you said that I will go on a run tomorrow wearing m watch and my husbands Garmin and see if I get the same calories burned.
I will update this tomorrow then when I know.

I wore it for a 30 minute elliptical cardio and a 5 minute cool down. It was estimating my calories burned at about 582, which I felt was a little high. It was more of a moderate workout too, so I didn't feel as if I was working out hard enough or sweating enough to be burning 582 calories in that period of time. Maybe I'm wrong though?

That does not sound off. Sweat is actually the worst indicator of how hard you are actually working. Some of us just sweat more than others. It does not mean that we're working out harder or more efficiently than someone who doesn't.

Also, what was your HR generally speaking? Lastly, do you normally workout on the eliptical? I don't so I know that when I get on it, my calorie burn will be higher because my body is not used to it like it is me running on the TM or lifting weights.

The machine generally estimates me a little over 300 calories for the same 35 minute workout that the HRM read me at 582 for. I do normally use the elliptical. My heart rate is actually a little wacky. Normally at resting I am somewhere about 90 which can shoot over 100 with slight movement. Typically when exercising it stays around 112 - 130 for a moderate feeling exercise. It used to shoot up to like 170, but I was in worse shape then. If I do intervals and work harder it can shoot up to about 160. Sorry I'm rambling ha, but generally I would say in the 120's or 130's. I'm 23 if that helps any.