HRM Help!

ezramedic
ezramedic Posts: 119 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I wore my HRM yesterday at the gym, for the first time.

The gym equipment picked it up, continuously - where as there were times when I looked at my watch and it wasn't picking it up, or it had a number that was way wrong. (Like it would say mid-work out I was at 68bpm or 220bpm)

I understand that HRM are not fool proof - but should I listen to the equipment for my calories burned, or my HRM watch??

Replies

  • GinnieC100
    GinnieC100 Posts: 48 Member
    I have had my Polar for about 18 years and it is just starting to act up. I guess I'll have to get a new one. Are you wearing a chest strap? I think there is something wrong with the monitor. The machines tend to overestimate how many calories you burn.
  • ezramedic
    ezramedic Posts: 119 Member
    Yes, it has a chest strap and then a watch you wear that tells you BPM, Calories burned, etc.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Did you wet the strap before hand/was it tight enough on your chest? If not, then I would try one of those two options before wearing it again.

    Mine has been acting batty, but thats because I've had it awhile and had too much salt in the strap... so I soaked it in baking soda/water, washed it like normal, and now its fine.
  • theNurseNancy
    theNurseNancy Posts: 149 Member
    Make sure the strap was thoroughly wet on the connectors and was positioned correctly and tight enough. Any rubbing can cause static and an incorrect reading. If that doesn't fix the problem, try replacing the batteries. Remember to disconnect the monitor from the strap after every use and rinse the strap. Wash the strap in warm washing machine water without detergent once a week.
  • baxgilter
    baxgilter Posts: 246 Member
    If nothing works, call the manufacturer.
  • WarmDontBurn
    WarmDontBurn Posts: 1,258 Member
    When I had this problem it was the battery. I would be walking/jogging and would look down and it would flash like it was directing my HR then my HR would pop up at 60 go away come back as 100 then go away. It was really intermittent so I ended up getting a new one...I had the older polar that you can change the battery in!
  • TubbsMcGee
    TubbsMcGee Posts: 1,058 Member
    Mine does this with my elliptical machine at home...the watch readings are normal, but the machine numbers will jump all over the place for some reason (the elliptical's power cord is in rough shape).
    At the gym though, I will get funny readings if my sports bra rubs up against my transmitter on my chest strap, or if I didn't moisten the sensors well enough.
  • skalten
    skalten Posts: 3 Member
    As mentioned, it could be improper contact with the chest strap, or it could also be someone else nearby has a HRM and you are picking up a rogue signal which tends to confuse the HRM. I've had that issue in Spinning classes where everyone around me had a HRM and mid workout mine would start acting like I was in the Bermuda Triangle.

    So, verify contacts on chest strap are properly wetted or use a gel, and make sure no one around you is using an HRM. If that still doesn't solve the problem, may be a weak battery in watch or chest strap.

    Good luck!
  • ezramedic
    ezramedic Posts: 119 Member
    ...it could also be someone else nearby has a HRM and you are picking up a rogue signal which tends to confuse the HRM. I've had that issue in Spinning classes where everyone around me had a HRM and mid workout mine would start acting like I was in the Bermuda Triangle.

    Thanks so much - that is actually possible, which could explain why the equipment was picking it up properly, but my watch wasn't.

    Thanks everyone - I had wet the strap, and had made sure it was in the correct position, so I will check the watch's battery and make sure I'm not too close to anyone else wearing a HRM next time I go to the gym :)
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