Something I wish I'd known re: Polar FT7

Graciecny

I purchased a Polar HRM last week and finally got it set up and went to the gym, all ready to see how the numbers compared to what I have been using (the equipment numbers where I put in my weight and age). Well, got on the treadmill only to see my heart rate pop up on the display of the treadmill I was on AND the one next to me. The guy on that treadmill was like "WTH?!" I basically got off, removed the HRM sensor/chest strap and did my workout. Total zero for being able to get an accurate read on calories expended.

Apparently the HRM signal is picked up automatically by certain equipment when you are within 3 feet of it. Since the treadmills, ellipticals, EVERYTHING at the gyms I go to are set really close together, the signal will always be showing up on neighboring devices. Makes this thing totally useless in the gym, for me. I know for some people this would be a boon, but not for me.

So be aware that, if you purchase a Polar FT7 (or, apparently, most Polar HRMs with chest strap) that it is entirely possible gym equipment will pick up the signal automatically. I don't know for certain that it would do this if I had started the HRM prior to entering the gym, but I think that was the way I had done it. It is convenient in one way, and annoying as h*ll in another. I want to be able to disable it somehow, but I searched and searched and can't find a solution other than to just not wear it.

Take two: late at night, the gym is really quiet so I WAS able to finally get in with the HRM on and see how things compared. I did 5 minute tests with and without to see where I was. Turned out the walking was pretty much spot-on. I tried 3mph since that was my most frequent pace. The Precor elliptical was spot-on as well, but the Lifestyle (I think that is the name) elliptical was off by about 10% (elliptical readout showed 10% higher than HRM).

Captain_Tightpants

Interesting info. I was just about to buy one. Thanks.

How do the machines pick up the signal? Through the metal handle grips?

MacSkillz

I have an FT4 and noticed the same. What I've also noticed, it only happens to the machine on the left of me. I just let people know if they get on a machine next to me that I have a HRM on and it may pick it up because it has a wireless connection. They usually move to another machine. I don't really care. Is it annoying, a little, but I gotta do what I gotta do.

Graciecny

Interesting info. I was just about to buy one. Thanks.

How do the machines pick up the signal? Through the metal handle grips?

Some kind of wireless signal (5khz or something like that, maybe?). Anyways, you don't touch anything, the machine just picks up the signal and displays it.

And Mac, thank you for that info! I'll try to get the treadmill all the way on the left next to the wall next time and see if the one to my right picks up the signal. If not, that will solve a LOT of issues for me. I just hate having my HR displayed all over the place, since it takes about four paces for me to be up over 100. I'm in bad, bad physical shape and hate it being displayed (any more than it normally is!) for all the world to see.

jenny95662

Same thing happened to me too but no one seems to use machine numbers at my gym so no one got mad lol

meshashesha2012

i dont see how this feature makes the HRM useless for you? it still displays your heart rate right?

and the other person on the machine next to you can delete info by using the hand grips to check their own heart rate.

texastango

On a different but slightly related subject of HRM:

Heart Rate Monitors are a good investment for some. If interested, take your time looking into them. No rush. Make sure you ask lots of questions and that it will meet your needs.

In most cases it will help you work out more efficiently to meet your goals if you use it that way. Example below.

Most people DO NOT KNOW - there are different exercise zones, that you burn calories differently in the different zones, and that these zones and the ranges they represent can change depending on your resting heart rate.

Quick Example:

Zones First:
Fat Burning Zone 60-70 percent of HRmax
Cardio Zone 70-80 percent of HRmax
Extreme Training 80-90 percent of HRmax

Fat Burning Zone - of the calories burned 80 percent are fat burn calories (what most people at this site want), 15 percent Carbs, 5 percent protein.

Cardio Zone - Instead of 80 percent of calories burned being from fat, only 50 percent are from fat, and 50 percent from carbs

So to work out more efficiently, if you want to burn fat weight, you want most of your workout in the fat burning zone and don't get your heart rate too high.

If your HRM figures out how much time you spend in a particular zone...then you can follow your workouts more closely and see how you are doing compared to prior workouts. Some HRMs (Garmin and Timex) keep this kind of data and Garmin even downloads it free to their website to allow you to plot your workouts and improve them. Might be a lot of work for most people, but it's available if that's what you want to do.

Better yet, some monitors calculate the zones based off of the Karvonen Formula which takes into account what your resting heart rate is to start. (ie someone with a resting heart rate of 48 (me) would have lower zones than someone with a resting heart rate of 70). In fact, the lower end of my Fat Burning Zone (FBZ) using this formula would be ((HRmax - HRrest) x 0.6) + HRrest or 119. For someone with a resting heart rate of 70 the lower end of the zone would be 128 (9 bpm higher).

Again, this only becomes important if you really want to use the HRM to efficiently use it to work out more effectively to reach your goal of weight loss or cardio conditioning.

Some watches allow you to track more than one workout without having to upload the information. Helpful for tri-atheletes who want to know the data for their bike, run, and swim. I like to know the data for my dancing, my swimming, my running, or weightlifting. I don't want to have to sync my data between workouts (ie run home to the computer or bring it with me).

Some watches let you display the data as you run..which is nice to see what pace you're keeping.

Some watches - you can't easily read the display in bright (sun) light.

Some watches have batteries you can't replace - not cool because you have to buy a new watch when the battery dies.

Some come with better straps that hold up over time.

Cheap models can work well and be fairly inexpensive, but just make sure if you get one, that it will meet your needs. Ask around like you are doing before you invest.

Amairee

I own the same device and noticed the same issue, although only machines designed to pick up electronic signals from HRMs will be able to do so. The pieces of equipment that can all have an override ability to stop it (at least they do at my gym). I would not consider your purchase a loss at all, just go about using it and people can adjust the machines to read their own hand-grip monitor when needed.

As an aside, for the information posted above about exercise zones, although the FT7 model does give you this information, scientists have pretty much disproved the existence of said zones.

nz_deevaa

Both my husband and I have FT7's and we've found if we are both wearing them and on machines next to each other, it only picks up the heart rate of the person on the machine,

paulwgun

Why are you getting yourself in a spin about others seeing your HR ? This happened with my FT4 when a guy came on the treadmill next to me, he asked me if i had a HRM on and he moved further down the line to be able to get his HR displayed on the machine

MaryEffingPoppins

I have an FT7 and I've never encountered this issue. I also recently had my 2 girlfriends purchase them and we work out side by side and this has never occurred. Maybe you should send it back to the manufacturer. It's a GREAT investment. You should definitely be getting your moneys worth!!

Misiaxcore

i dont see how this feature makes the HRM useless for you? it still displays your heart rate right?

and the other person on the machine next to you can delete info by using the hand grips to check their own heart rate.

^

ETA: Really don't see how this is an issue.

gdr1976

I know at my gym it says right on the equipment that it is compatible with wireless heartrate monitor or wireless HRM receiver. I've noticed a few pieces that even say compatible with Polar HRM. But I've never had a problem with the next machine picking up my signal and the equipment is right on top of each other. I love mine, best investment ever. It is a FT7. Good luck with yours and on your journey

kryptonitekelly

Most of the time people don't even use the hand grips to check their HR...

Misiaxcore

Most of the time people don't even use the hand grips to check their HR...

If they don't use the handgrips and don't have an HRM it says to me they don't care about their HR.

meerkat70

the 'heart rate zone' things is a bit of a myth. One of those 'kind of true, but do we really have to care' things that circulates on weightloss boards.

fittertanme

I dont know if it will be of any help to you but I use sports tracker HRM and its now wireless like most have on here it uses bluetooth so it dont interfer with any of the gym equipment or any other HRM's but have to say they are worth the cost and only wish I had got my one early ut good luch and keep up the good work

Ladyiianae

I knew this actually and it's not such a big deal, if he is wearing a monitor his will over-ride yours and if he's not then why would he care? He obviously doesn't want to know what his HR is and if he DOES then he'll use the built in feature of the machine where you hold those handles and wait, when he does that it will over ride yours (or who ever elses might be showing up)

I have a Polar FT4 and have never had a complaint ever in the gym and i know mine does it. My husband gets a kick out of using the treadmill next to mine to follow my heart rate, he doesn't wear a monitor so mine will display on his machine as well.

Wear and enjoy!!! It's worth it!

PoleBoy

I'm not sure what the problem is - are you concerned that people can see your heart rate?

netchik

I have an old polar, about 10 years old now and the same thing happens,. It's no big deal, as most people around you are probably wearing them as well. My husband's Polar has a stronger signal than mine so if we work out side by side my machine takes his measurement. I don't really care, because I'm interested in the numbers once I've finished my workout. They aren't going to change, they are hard-coded to the strap.

n8na

bump

Graciecny

For those of you in good enough shape to not be self-conscious about broadcasting your stats , bravo (or brava, as appropriate). I AM embarrassed by my total lack of fitness. Thus my reluctance to have all and sundry view my HR. Honestly, had I known about this 'feature', I might have decided on a different device, but it is too late now. I simply wanted to make others aware of something I was ignorant about so that they could make a more informed decision than I did.

As for the device being useless, anything that makes me feel like more of a tool in the gym than I already do isn't helping me, it's hindering me. The good thing is that I bought the men's version, so my hubby is now the proud owner of a slightly used FT7.

ETA: I did do a considerable amount of reading before purchasing the FT7. I'm not one for impulse purchases, but none of my research mentioned how this feature would relate to the equipment brands found at some gyms, nor did the gym equipment at my gym display any mention of compatibility. I posted this so if/when others search the forums for info on this model they WILL be aware of what I had missed.

dad106

I owned an FT7 for months and never had this issue.. Own the FT60 now and it's the same thing.

I think it's kind of silly that you gave it to your husband just because of that one "feature"(if you can even really call it that). Polar is one of the best brands out there for a reason and it's because they work, don't have issues, and give a pretty accurate calorie estimation. I urge you to try again... because honestly, it's not that big of a deal and if someone moves away from you then who cares.. it's their problem not yours.

determinedbutlazy

Don't be embarrassed about your heart rate.
Think about all the people at your gym. A lot of them have BEEN where you are. No-one springs from the womb with perfect cardiovascular fitness and maintains it their entire life.
If there IS anyone in the gym that is fit enough to be in the position to judge your heartrate/you, they probably wouldn't because they're too busy getting on with it.
No-one cares about your heartrate, they're all there to get on with it.
YOU care about your heartrate because YOU are the one that needs to see it improving.
Put the heart rate monitor back on.

jassyjan1

I have Polar FT4 and I've never encountered this issue also. I love my HRM it very accurate. I have tested against the Nike GPS on iPhone app and there is 5% difference. It's a great investment and I agree who cares if the person next to sees your reading. They can move.

shadowkitty22

What brand of machines were you using that caused your heart rate to appear on neighboring machines?

nz_deevaa

For those of you in good enough shape to not be self-conscious about broadcasting your stats , bravo (or brava, as appropriate). I AM embarrassed by my total lack of fitness. Thus my reluctance to have all and sundry view my HR. Honestly, had I known about this 'feature', I might have decided on a different device, but it is too late now. I simply wanted to make others aware of something I was ignorant about so that they could make a more informed decision than I did.

If you are working out, then your heart rate SHOULD be high. I'm still A long way from being in good shape, but when my HR gets up high my PT gets excited for me because I'm pushing myself. He doesn't think less of me. He thinks MORE of me!

I think my red, sweaty face and gasping breath is MORE embarrassing than my HR!

toadiejones

This was one of the reasons I bought a Polar. I love that it is compatible with all the machines at my gym. And if anyone sees my heart rate, I guess I figure they wouldn't really care? And I agree with determinedbut...every one at the gym is to work on their fitness and probably has been in your shoes at some point in time. If anything, I bet they would be silently cheering for you. Give strangers some credit...we can be nice, supportive people. Give the Polar another try. It is really motivating to see the improvement with it.

DL121004

the 'heart rate zone' things is a bit of a myth. One of those 'kind of true, but do we really have to care' things that circulates on weightloss boards.

Not quite sure why you say that.

kammy92

Most of the time people don't even use the hand grips to check their HR...

I just bought a NordicTrack 5.5 elliptical in Dec and compared the HR on both, the HR displayed on my elliptical is wayyyy off compared to my HRM ..............so those reading on the machines can tend to be incorrect!

kristarablue

Well it sounds like there are a couple issues actually. First of all, it was kind of you to educate people about the Polar FT7 and what can happen with the machines at the gym. Actually that is the reason I bought mine because it was hooked up to the equipment, the fact that it messed with other peoples equipment just entertains me really and honestly only one person has noticed it and he is a frequent flyer at the gym and were cool so its all good. Anyway I digress...I have to say..YOU and NOT a tool. OMG..you are amazing, do you have any idea how much guts it takes to go to the gym when you are not in the shape you want to be in??? I do!! It is so hard and no one is judging you and if they are they have serious issues. So don't be so hard on yourself, you are taking steps to make yourself better and if that means to not use the HRM until you are comfortable with it fine, but no one cares about your STATS actually most people don't use them at the gym I am at, the only reason I am is to look at calories burned and to push myself harder. Just keep going to the gym and please I beg of you, never discount how amazing you are doing. I started out 150 pounds overweight, I get it, but give yourself the credit that is due. Sorry I know you only posted to educate people, but I just wanted to let you know you are doing great.