Polar FT4 HRM Issues :(

alisha17m

Last week I reached my first mini goal, after losing 5kg. I wanted to reward myself so I bought a Polar FT4 Heart rate monitor to help me get a more accurate picture of what I'm burning and to motivate me. It worked fine when I got it home and the next morning when I went for a walk. That night when I put it on, it told me my HR was 198! Then it wouldn't pick up the signal at all. I tried it on my sis & BF and still no signal. I took it back to the shop and they shipped a replacement watch (they said the problem was with the watch and not the monitor). I got that home and I've got the exact same issue again "Check Heart Rate Monitor".

I'm so disappointed Just thinking what I could do with a HRM has had me so motivated!

It's also making me paranoid - I can't be too fat to pick up a heart rate signal could I? I weigh 114kg and my chest measures about 95-100cm below the bust and there's plenty of room to spare on the chest strap!

Has anyone else had similar issues with their Polar HRM?

kr3851

When mine says 'check HRM' it's either not wet enough or not tight enough. Have you tried both of these?

alisha17m

Yep, tried both of those. I don't think I could get the strap much tighter and I really soaked it to make sure it was wet! The little clip thingy was up the right way and I've done everything the Polar website told me to do.

kr3851

bugger. i'm all out of ideas. maybe you can ring them instead of getting info off their website? they may be able to troubleshoot with you...

jennmoore3

I have the exact one and never had a issue. HMMM. I was thinking like KR3851 did wetness and tightness... hey! maybe your battery is dead from the get go. You are able to change it yourself, you know... Other than that, I am at a loss as well.

alisha17m

Hmm, I hadn't thought about the battery. I'll bring it up when I take back to the store tomorrow

I'm sure it's a great HRM, I've just been hit by rotten luck!

jennmoore3

Just a thought. If not, then I would get a entire new one. Be mean about it. You spent a ton of money, and deserve it!

jennmoore3

It just dawned on me. I can't wear my underwire bra. Something with the wire rubs and kinda lifts up the top of the chest strap. Then it messes up. Just a thought.

alisha17m

Hehe! I did think about the underwire - maybe the metal in it is interfering with the signals, but I did try without the bra and still no.

The guy in the shop is really good, I'm sure he'll understand - I'll be trying for a brand new one!

dad106

I always wear mine with an underwire bra, so I highly doubt its that.

Sounds weird, but did you try washing the strap in the washing machine? Sometimes that helps.

Sometimes they are just duds... so see if you can exchange it for a brand new one.

AshinAms

Did they replace both strap and watch? Mine was behaving weirdly for a while and I thought it was the strap, bought a new one and it turned out to be the watch. Both have batteries that can go iffy.

Also, I don't know your anatomy, but sometimes if you have a fold of skin, the band can dislodge and it won't read. They should just replace the whole thing for you, but try it in the shop!

jennmoore3

Did they replace both strap and watch? Mine was behaving weirdly for a while and I thought it was the strap, bought a new one and it turned out to be the watch. Both have batteries that can go iffy.

Also, I don't know your anatomy, but sometimes if you have a fold of skin, the band can dislodge and it won't read. They should just replace the whole thing for you, but try it in the shop!

Good point, I never thought about skin getting in the way.