Need help on my Polar FT4

I bought my Polar FT4 a couple months ago, have read through the manual, several times, and know how to work it. But ...

I have the buttons sound "on" but I don't hear any sound -- ever.
At first, I thought it was me. I have a mild hearing problem and some difficulty hearing low-pitched sounds. But I don't hear a sound even when I hold it to my ear and press a button.

Is it just supposed to beep when I press the buttons? Or is it supposed to beep if I am out of my zone? If it's just when I press a button, it's not a big deal. But if it's supposed to beep when I'm out of my zone, I'd kind of like to have that function.

And speaking of zones ...
I bought the HRM so that I can improve my fitness and cardiovascular health. I know that to do that, I should stay within my zone. But what happens if I go over the "max" heart rate? I already proved that I won't drop dead of a heart attack the minute I go past 100% (phew!).

Today, I was making another attempt at C25k (completed week 1, day 1 ... woo-hoo!!) and was paying attention to the C25k Free program on my phone and not on my HRM watch. When I finished, I noticed that my max heart rate was 116% of my max. (193 beats per minute)

I'm pretty sure that it went up that high because I'm so out of shape, but that also tells me that my "max heart rate" is not my max heart rate. Is there anything about this that I should know and understand?

Replies

  • I have the button sounds turned on on mine, and they are extremely quiet. It's not a beeping noise.. it actually kind of sounds like an extremely quiet pen click. I don't have any hearing problems and could barely hear it when holding it up to my ear.

    As far as the beeping when you change zones, that is an audible beep. It's not super loud, but it is noticeable. I go to the gym in my apartment complex and am usually the only one there so I'm not sure if it would be audible in a crowded gym.
  • fresh_start59
    fresh_start59 Posts: 590 Member
    Thanks. I do my exercise at home, but I'm probably breathing too hard to hear the beep. ;-)

    In addition to a louder beep, I wish the heart rate numbers were bigger. I can't see them without my reading glasses. And things six feet in front of me are blurry with my reading glasses on, which makes it a little dangerous trying to jog with them.

    Oh, the joys of getting old!