HRM Help!

Spanaval

I have a fairly new HRM, a Polar FT4. I use it about 3 times a week, hand washing the chest strap, drying the watch and the transmitter before storage. The last few times I've used it, it's not been working properly.

1. Not picking up any signal. I've tried wetting more (the entire strap instead of just the area with the contacts), and sometimes it works, sometimes not.

2. The numbers being artificially high. I know I'm working hard, but I'm also sure that my HR is not 218.

3. Numbers staying 'stuck'. For instance, I would do something with higher intensity, then move on to floor work or cool down, and the number will stay high for a while, then jump all the way down to the correct (low) number.

This is driving me crazy, and my workouts are taking longer (and probably less effective) because I'm stopping to constantly fidget with this thing.

How do I get this thing to work properly again? Should I machine wash the chest strap as it says in the instructions (which also says not to spin dry, and I don't know how you do one without the other)?

StarIsMoving

I use soap and water and do my chest strap weekly, the rest of the time I rinse right after a workout too. Make sure when you use the soap to wash, you are that padding part/transmitting part real good too. Insure you are wetting it down enough, though it sounds like you do. If all else fails, it could be a faulty battery. I would hate to see it, and it's rare with a fairly new one... mine is abused to no end though and have not had an issue with it. I do machine wash the strap once a month too - I let it go through whole wash cycle then take it out and let it air dry. Hope that helps!

dad106

I'd throw the strap in the machine and see what happens.. and make sure you use just soap, no fabric softener or anything else. By spin dry, they mean don't throw it in the dryer.. just hang it on a line to dry.

I'd also try a trick my trainer told me: Soak the strap in a combo of baking soda/water and then wash like normal. The baking soda helps break down the salt deposits in the strap.

If those two fail, then replace the battery in the transmitter and see if that helps.

AmyRhubarb

Sounds similar to what my New Balance N4 did when it needed a new battery. New Balance straps don't go in the washer, so replacing the battery was the first thing I tried, and it did the trick.

Spanaval

Thanks, guys! I'll toss it in the washer and see if that fixes it. It's the less expensive/easier to do of the two options anyway.