Polar FT4 heart rate monitor issues

rheelizabeth
rheelizabeth Posts: 160 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I got mine for Christmas but the watch keeps not being able to find my heart rate. It only works 75% of the time and then it drops out a few times throughout the workout "Check Heart Rate Monitor" then most of the time 20 seconds later is says "Signal OK" and continues with the workout, sometimes it just wont find it again and I get a reading of 00. I've purchased new batteries for the HRM and the watch, they haven't arrived yet but I hope that's the only problem?
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Replies

  • arogers98
    arogers98 Posts: 38 Member
    Get a Garmin. :-)
  • groomchick
    groomchick Posts: 610 Member
    Try getting your strap wetter or using a gel with it... but honestly, I had the same problem with 2 polars! Switched to a Garmin last year...problem solved!
  • bannedword
    bannedword Posts: 299 Member
    I had the same problem with mine. I returned it, got a new one, and that one seems to work fine.

    I think that particular model is more prone to that issue.

    btw, a Garmin is great, but not for the same thing as a HRM.
  • jwuchef87
    jwuchef87 Posts: 110 Member
    I got one for christmas and mine was doing the same thing and I called Polar and they sent me a new sensor, no questions asked; didn't have a receipt. When it came in, it still was acting a little funky so I think it may be the chest strap but alas, i lost it when i was packing up my house. I would definitely give them a call though, can't hurt!!!
  • bronnyd
    bronnyd Posts: 278 Member
    I have a polar FT4 and have never had issues...have you contacted the company?
  • rheelizabeth
    rheelizabeth Posts: 160 Member
    Try getting your strap wetter or using a gel with it... but honestly, I had the same problem with 2 polars! Switched to a Garmin last year...problem solved!

    I use a little oil based moisturiser with the water since the problem started (about a month ago). Hasn't really helped, I use a lot of water already and sometimes when it gives me a reading of 00, I take it off and re-wet it, but it still has the water on it from the first time :/
  • shelleycolton
    shelleycolton Posts: 400 Member
    I have this HRM, try the batteries, make sure you have the chest strap secured properly (not too loose) and make sure you wet the straps too. If i don't do this right it doesn't work form me, not worth the shortcut in time. Make sure the chest strap is tight enough I have to adjust this each time I use it, and for swimming it needs to be even tighter and not too over to the left.

    Hope this helps.
  • rheelizabeth
    rheelizabeth Posts: 160 Member
    I got one for christmas and mine was doing the same thing and I called Polar and they sent me a new sensor, no questions asked; didn't have a receipt. When it came in, it still was acting a little funky so I think it may be the chest strap but alas, i lost it when i was packing up my house. I would definitely give them a call though, can't hurt!!!

    I'll do that! thanks :)
  • rheelizabeth
    rheelizabeth Posts: 160 Member
    I have this HRM, try the batteries, make sure you have the chest strap secured properly (not too loose) and make sure you wet the straps too. If i don't do this right it doesn't work form me, not worth the shortcut in time. Make sure the chest strap is tight enough I have to adjust this each time I use it, and for swimming it needs to be even tighter and not too over to the left.

    Hope this helps.

    Over to the left, why have I never thought of doing that?! I've always had it bang in the middle. Duh, will also try this next time I wear it.

    I was worried it was through over-use as I have used it pretty much every day since Christmas day!
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    That will be the strap. They are not covered in the warranty either. I had one go on me about 2 days into a new one. Lucky I'd only upgraded from my FT4 to a FT60 so I could still use the strap.


    Also hope you been either cleaning the strap (under running water is usually fine) or throwing it in the washing machine once a week. Sweat will kill it after a while.
  • donnam40
    donnam40 Posts: 246 Member
    Do you have the Wearlink with the clip on sensor to the strap? If you do you need to unclip it when it is not in use as keeping it clipped will drain the batteries. Check the batteries anyway. Any time mine plays up I wash the strap in the washing machine and if that doesn't work, I change the batteries.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    I had the same problem with mine. I returned it, got a new one, and that one seems to work fine.

    I think that particular model is more prone to that issue.

    btw, a Garmin is great, but not for the same thing as a HRM.


    :laugh: Garmin is the brand of HRM.
  • Ke22yB
    Ke22yB Posts: 969 Member
    I now have 3 polars since swapping with my son than buying one and getting one back.I used to have some problems spoke to Polar here on LI and they suggested I gently wash with soap after my runs and put it into the wash with my running gear after a few runs and have had no problems since. I wet it lightly before putting on and it picks up my HR within a few seconds and it gives me readings on some runs over 2 hours with out dropping my HR ever
  • rheelizabeth
    rheelizabeth Posts: 160 Member
    That will be the strap. They are not covered in the warranty either. I had one go on me about 2 days into a new one. Lucky I'd only upgraded from my FT4 to a FT60 so I could still use the strap.


    Also hope you been either cleaning the strap (under running water is usually fine) or throwing it in the washing machine once a week. Sweat will kill it after a while.

    I rinse it before using it, but I've never put it in a washing machine, great advice, thank you :)
  • BlueEyedTXmom
    BlueEyedTXmom Posts: 179 Member
    Make sure your strap is really wet. Or get a polar soft strap as you don't have to wet it, I find it more comfortable as well. Also the oil may be clogging the sensors. I would only use water or a gel. I don't think it should be the battery after 5 months. I've had mine for a year and use it 4-6 days a week and have only had occasional problems recently. Moved it slightly and had to tighten my strap as I've lost weight and it's fine now. Also make sure you disconnect the sensor from the strap when not in use. I've heard it will still be draining battery if not...not sure if that is accurate or not but I heard it somewhere.
  • rheelizabeth
    rheelizabeth Posts: 160 Member
    Do you have the Wearlink with the clip on sensor to the strap? If you do you need to unclip it when it is not in use as keeping it clipped will drain the batteries. Check the batteries anyway. Any time mine plays up I wash the strap in the washing machine and if that doesn't work, I change the batteries.

    Yep that's the one. Will be unclipping it from now often, thank you for the advice!
    Will also be washing it in the machine once a week too. No wonder it's being moody with me!
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,607 Member
    Try getting your strap wetter or using a gel with it... but honestly, I had the same problem with 2 polars! Switched to a Garmin last year...problem solved!
    only time mine doesn't register well is when I forget to wet it down first. and sometimes in the pool it fritzes out
  • angieroo2
    angieroo2 Posts: 970 Member
    I got mine for Christmas but the watch keeps not being able to find my heart rate. It only works 75% of the time and then it drops out a few times throughout the workout "Check Heart Rate Monitor" then most of the time 20 seconds later is says "Signal OK" and continues with the workout, sometimes it just wont find it again and I get a reading of 00. I've purchased new batteries for the HRM and the watch, they haven't arrived yet but I hope that's the only problem?

    Changing the batteries should do it. That was my issue (I only had to change them on the HRM, not the watch) and I've had no issues since.
  • Sarahmeridith
    Sarahmeridith Posts: 298 Member
    had the same problem, tightening it up solved it. good luck
  • K_Serz
    K_Serz Posts: 1,299 Member
    Try getting your strap wetter or using a gel with it... but honestly, I had the same problem with 2 polars! Switched to a Garmin last year...problem solved!

    What she said about wetness or gel. The instructions for wearing it say to take water and put it on the strap so it can make a better "connection" between the monitor and your body. Depending on how dry your skin is, or other oils and lotions it could be preventing good connectivity? Ive noticed that when im completely dry it has dropped in and out and then when i put water on it to make it moist or when sweating there are zero issues.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    That will be the strap. They are not covered in the warranty either. I had one go on me about 2 days into a new one. Lucky I'd only upgraded from my FT4 to a FT60 so I could still use the strap.


    Also hope you been either cleaning the strap (under running water is usually fine) or throwing it in the washing machine once a week. Sweat will kill it after a while.

    I rinse it before using it, but I've never put it in a washing machine, great advice, thank you :)

    Rinse it after use as well. Otherwise the sweat just sits in there.
  • bannedword
    bannedword Posts: 299 Member



    :laugh: Garmin is the brand of HRM.

    Garmin makes HRM? I had no idea. I use my Garmin for running, and it tracks my distance and pace, and I know you can get those with HRM included, but I did not know they make just a HRM.
  • JMFresh
    JMFresh Posts: 76 Member
    Same issue with my Polar FT4 - I contacted them and they suggested I send my device in. I can't do my workouts without it, so I've been using it even though it's fautly. Not that this comment helps your situation, just know it's not only your device that does this.
  • Nishi2013
    Nishi2013 Posts: 210 Member
    I have tightened the strap to Max, wetter the electrodes, washed it after use but my FT4 still malfunctions. My husbands works just fine. He never washes the strap (yuck). Go figure!!!!

    At 80bucks it is to expendive to replace with another. I wish there was an easier solution.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    I have tightened the strap to Max, wetter the electrodes, washed it after use but my FT4 still malfunctions. My husbands works just fine. He never washes the strap (yuck). Go figure!!!!

    At 80bucks it is to expendive to replace with another. I wish there was an easier solution.


    Because your strap is gone. They do that & that's why they are not covered. Put your husbands strap on with your wearlink..... bet it works.
  • seena511
    seena511 Posts: 685 Member
    i'm having issues with mine as well. i sent a pretty nasty email to the company and they wrote back saying to pop the battery out of the sensor for 5 minutes and then put it back in, which has helped. still, on my bike ride yesterday, i saw my HR at 225 as well as 0. i'll be getting a different brand in the future.
  • SyntonicGarden
    SyntonicGarden Posts: 944 Member
    Try getting your strap wetter or using a gel with it... but honestly, I had the same problem with 2 polars! Switched to a Garmin last year...problem solved!

    I use a little oil based moisturiser with the water since the problem started (about a month ago). Hasn't really helped, I use a lot of water already and sometimes when it gives me a reading of 00, I take it off and re-wet it, but it still has the water on it from the first time :/

    Apparently things like moisturizer makes the problem worse. The instruction manual is available online and recommends washing the strap frequently making sure to remove the sensor. I find that if I don't wash the strap, I'm guessing that the salts in the sweat causes it to give the 00 HR.
  • Eyesblu
    Eyesblu Posts: 60
    just call polar...I had a problem with mine and they gave me a new one they may replace it.
  • K_Serz
    K_Serz Posts: 1,299 Member
    I have tightened the strap to Max, wetter the electrodes, washed it after use but my FT4 still malfunctions. My husbands works just fine. He never washes the strap (yuck). Go figure!!!!

    At 80bucks it is to expendive to replace with another. I wish there was an easier solution.


    Because your strap is gone. They do that & that's why they are not covered. Put your husbands strap on with your wearlink..... bet it works.

    Thats what I was going to suggest next. Its most likely the strap. I am not sure how much a replacement one is, but the elastic is kinda stretched on mine and I know it wont last forever. I will probably need to get a new one eventually as I assume the Monitor should last longer than the strap.
  • xilka
    xilka Posts: 308 Member
    I had that problem with my FT60, and I live in a country where Amazon doesn't deliver, so can't return.

    The solution I found was to wear it on my sports bra instead of on my wrist.
    It works fine that way.

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