Defective Polar FT4 HRMs =|

ndm9one
ndm9one Posts: 62 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
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Had to get a new Polar FT4 for INSANITY | only had my last one for about 1 month before it became defective!
Ive ready plenty of reviews on this thing and pretty much EVERYONE said says they break within a few months
BUT they're very accurate while they last. I was only able to exchange mine so im stuck with it :noway:

Replies

  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    I have one that I had for over a year and only replaced because first I took a fall while skating and scratched up the watch really badly and then I left the transmitter in the hotel I stayed in for my first half marathon, so I decided to just get a whole new one. And I've been using that one since April with no issues.

    What is it that's breaking on yours?
  • Chipmaniac
    Chipmaniac Posts: 642 Member
    Look on Amazon. The FT4 has an overall rating of 4.5 stars. You don't get that good a rating if you break after a month. I've bought several FT4's from REI that were returned as "defective" and it turns out that there was nothing wrong with them. Most of the time it was user error or the battery just needed changed in the transmitter. I then resold them on eBay for a profit.

    A lot of people don't follow the instructions which clearly say to clean the strap after every use and recommend throwing it into your washing machine after every fifth use. They are actually highly reliable when used properly.
  • birdieaz
    birdieaz Posts: 448 Member
    I returned one to Amazon..Worked great at first then it started acting erratic after a few weeks. I did all the suggestions, always washed my strap, etc. It just kept giving me heart rate readings of over 200 or would not detect it at all. Got my new one and it's working great so far..we shall see if it stays that way.
  • firedupfriend
    firedupfriend Posts: 140 Member
    I keep questioning my readings on my FT4. I have a friends on MFP who burn over 1000 calories, cycling or light aerobics. I work my nuni off and only burn about 250. (comparing apples and apples in terms of excercise)

    I do rinse my strap in fresh water but I havent popped it into the washing machine yet.

    Going to do that as soon as I get home from work today
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    I keep questioning my readings on my FT4. I have a friends on MFP who burn over 1000 calories, cycling or light aerobics. I work my nuni off and only burn about 250. (comparing apples and apples in terms of excercise)

    I do rinse my strap in fresh water but I havent popped it into the washing machine yet.

    Going to do that as soon as I get home from work today

    You both have your HRM's setup incorrectly.

    HRmax stat is wrong, your's is probably lower than it really is defaulting to, their's is opposite.
  • birdieaz
    birdieaz Posts: 448 Member
    I keep questioning my readings on my FT4. I have a friends on MFP who burn over 1000 calories, cycling or light aerobics. I work my nuni off and only burn about 250. (comparing apples and apples in terms of excercise)

    I do rinse my strap in fresh water but I havent popped it into the washing machine yet.

    Going to do that as soon as I get home from work today

    Sounds more like one or both of you have their stats entered incorrectly.
  • ndm9one
    ndm9one Posts: 62 Member
    Thats where I got my first FT4 from ( AMAZON )
    I was looking through the reviews & people were saying they purchased this same HRM
    multiple times after it had either broken or they batteries had died.
    They said they sent them in & had to pay a crazy fee for battery replacement service
    for a battery that only cost $1 -__-
    MINE on the other hand had probelms reading my HR
    I would have a CRAZY insanity workout & the watch wouldnt read past 145.
    On some occasions it would randomly just read [00] & start over.
    I never put it in the washing machine but I rinsed & wiped it off after every workout.
  • Chipmaniac
    Chipmaniac Posts: 642 Member
    Thats where I got my first FT4 from ( AMAZON )
    I was looking through the reviews & people were saying they purchased this same HRM
    multiple times after it had either broken or they batteries had died.
    They said they sent them in & had to pay a crazy fee for battery replacement service
    for a battery that only cost $1 -__-
    MINE on the other hand had probelms reading my HR
    I would have a CRAZY insanity workout & the watch wouldnt read past 145.
    On some occasions it would randomly just read [00] & start over.
    I never put it in the washing machine but I rinsed & wiped it off after every workout.
    Please don't spread misinformation. The older Polar monitors had batteries that were difficult for users to replace. In fact, Polar did not support users replacing the batteries at all. The older straps also were completely sealed and you had to throw them away when the battery died. I know this because I've been using Polar monitors since the early 90's, long before the majority of people even knew the technology existed.

    That was then, this is now. The FT4 model that you specifically mention was designed to allow the user to replace the battery in both the watch and the strap. The batteries are available on Amazon for less than a dollar a piece.

    Once again, you can find negative reviews for any product. However, it is relatively rare to find a 4.5 star rating on Amazon over 200+ reviews. The aggregate of users are extremely happy with the device.
  • stufie
    stufie Posts: 142 Member
    Worked great at first then it started acting erratic after a few weeks. I did all the suggestions, always washed my strap, etc. It just kept giving me heart rate readings of over 200 or would not detect it at all.

    Th exact same thing happens to me...and this is my SECOND Polar FT4 in 6 months. When my first one started doing this, I returned it to the store. I am extremely frustrated, and disappointed in Polar. I've read about this HRM and it says the battery should be lasting much longer than this so I can't figure out what the problem could possibly be.

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