Anyone have a Polar HRM? Anyone else have this problem?

sshap21712

Does anyone with a POLAR HRM have this problem?

I have an FT40. While working out, it will work fine for about 30 minutes. Then, as i ramp up my heart rate, it will start skipping around. It will spike up to (for example) 175, then 2 seconds later, up to 185, then 211 then 136 then145 then 180 etc. All of this within 5 seconds of each other. When I calm my heart rate down it will eventually also calm down.

I had an FT 7 for a while, and also had this problem. I thought it was because I swam with it and it had water damage, so I got rid of it and bought this more expensive one. I now know its a problem across all of them.

Anyone else have this problem?

superstarcassie

Maybe its the chest strap? Mine would get all weird and show super high heart rates. I made sure I really scrubbed and washed my strap well and it seemed to help! Maybe even get a new strap (around 20 on amazon).

Amara15

i'm not having exactly the same problem but i am having problems. when my heart rate gets high it with either sometimes stop recieving the signal, or other times it will say my heart is still up in that high zone even though i have stopped running or whatever and began stretching and i know my heart rate has started to go down.

Katiemarie4488

Yes, i have the same one and have the same problem. I took it back to ****sSportingGoods and wanted to exchange it, and they said I had to contact Polar directly. Im lazy when it comes to doing that, so I have just been esitmating, as my results are ususlly in the same general area on my current training schedule. But, I know I need to get it fixed / replaced. Let me know if you have any luck

GreatPNW

Maybe replace the battery in the chest strap.

shoover10

I have a polar HRM and mine will skip around if I do not have it tight enough. I think it loses contact with my skin. I also have a few sports bras that the band will get between the chest strap and my skin, but only just a littl bit and that cause it to jump up and down. Dunno if any of this is the problem for you, though.

MissMaryMac33

I'd be scared to swim with it regardless...

I have had a Polar FT7 and now have a Polar FT60 --- saw this happen only once, and it was during crunches.
I figure its because the chest thingy probably was in a weird spot on the "up" crunch. Never notice this during zumba, kickboxing, weight lifting, walking etc...

jonski1968

Yes, i have the same one and have the same problem. I took it back to ****sSportingGoods and wanted to exchange it, and they said I had to contact Polar directly. Im lazy when it comes to doing that, so I have just been esitmating, as my results are ususlly in the same general area on my current training schedule. But, I know I need to get it fixed / replaced. Let me know if you have any luck

Argue the toss with the store and tell them as you purchased it from them, your contract is with them..It is up to them to sort out the problem..IF its still under warranty..

mightyminerva

I thought it was just me!

Mine was working okay the first few weeks I had it, but recently it's been working the first bit of a workout, then drastically going up or down. I have mine set to beep when I'm not in my target heart rate zone, and the beeps aren't as frequent as they are supposed to be or are nonexistent.

Most times the HR will vanish from the display and the clock will appear again. Sometimes I can hear the beeping continuing, and I can always see the little heart on the front (indicating it's receiving the signal). It's so frustrating, and my HRM is only about a month old!

I don't know if a new strap would help in my case, as the HRM seems to be receiving the signal fine; something in the display or in the watch body is screwy, I think.

Mine is a Polar FT2.

tryinghard71

I had this problem when I first started using it. I think it was because I was not getting it wet enough. I started really getting it wet. Running it under the water right before putting it on. I also wear it as tight as I can without being uncomfortable. Then the problem went away. I also rinse it really well when I am done and hang up to dry. Hope this helps. It did with mine.

beth_816

This is a remote possiblity.

Do you feel palpitations? Does your heart rate (pulse) feel regular or irregular?

You can get those irregular beats per minute with something called atrial fibrillation.
I think when folks with A Fib wear heart rate monitors it won't give you an accurate output because the rate is so irregular.
It will only show trends.

If you feel any kind of palpitation or the sensation that your heart is 'racing' you should go get checked out by a cardiologist.
The risk for clots and subsequent stroke increases with this rhythm.

❤lindsay❤dawn❤

I have a F6 and it does that when I lift, but I'm thinking it's because it may lose skin contact... Make sure Your Strap is snug and if it's stretched out, buy a new one ($17 on the Polar Site) or safety pin it and wet with water or the electrode lube on the electrodes prior to putting it on as Mine seems to stay put better when I do that... Hope this helps...

: ))

mrmanmeat

It's probably the strap. Clean it good, wash it, dry it, make sure it's moist when you put it on.

ktbug1186

yes! make sure you tighten your strap. thats what happened to me! tightened the strap and good as new!

TheGsMama

New strap and batteries for the transmitter should fix it.

Jewel1201

Yep I had same problem. I contacted Polar and they sent me a new strap. I have only had it happen once since they sent me the strap. But it still seems to lose my heart rate every so often. I even make sure the strap is tight. I guess I will try new batteries next to see if it help. I have had it less than 3 months.

jillica

Yes, clean it good. I wash the strap but remove the center clip and wash that using a toothbrush.

skeck

I have an FT4 and have only had problems in 2 situations:

1. My strap wasn't wet enough when I put it on
2. I was running alongside somebody else with a Polar HRM --- maybe some interference?

Good luck!

LuckyAng

I'd be scared to swim with it regardless...

I have had a Polar FT7 and now have a Polar FT60 --- saw this happen only once, and it was during crunches.
I figure its because the chest thingy probably was in a weird spot on the "up" crunch. Never notice this during zumba, kickboxing, weight lifting, walking etc...

I have the FT4 and it gets weird during crunches too.

allisonmrn

Mine used to do that when the battery was about to go. Replace the battery in the chest strap and you will prob see a diff. Also, wash it with warm soapy water. Sometimes when I sweat a lot, it would interfere with the readings, so I would wash it out really well and let it dry completely. Hope this helps.

rmk20togo

I had a similar problem and Polar told me to wash the chest strap in the washing machine and use a mid soap and toothbrush to scrub the back of the transmitter that snaps onto the chest strap. I also tightened up the strap and it work great.

Good luck!