Need rec. re. heart rate monitor

If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere.

Does anybody have a recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?

Also, would you recommend buying on eBay?

Thanks.

Andrew Short Dallas/Ft. Worth area

Andrew Short wrote:
> If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere.
>
> Does anybody have a recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?
>
> Also, would you recommend buying on eBay?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Andrew Short Dallas/Ft. Worth area

What do you want to do with it? Ie do you simply want to monitor you HR or do you also want to
record a training session maybe coupled with your speed, cadence and power output.

http://www.polarusa.com/

Polar has a wide range of HRMs and they are well thought of. Their service is awesome in my
experience, hence I would never buy something like this on ebay due to guarantee issues.

There are also other manufacturers but I have no personal experience with them. I use a Polar S720i
HRM and am very satisfied. The Polar S series is their cyclist range of HRMs.

--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

"Andrew Short" <andrew.short@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:aZQPb.123372$xy6.425849@attbi_s02...
> If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere.
>
> Does anybody have a recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?
>
> Also, would you recommend buying on eBay?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Andrew Short Dallas/Ft. Worth area
>

Polar is the market share leader in HRMs. They also have a very good product, and provide good
service and fair policies. You might check, but I believe Polar might be one of these companies that
will only warranty items purchased from authorized dealers. If the ebay seller is an authorized
dealer, it should be OK.

I went for their mid level M-series units with a coded transmitter. These do not have cycling
functions, but that was OK because I already had a cycle computer and figured putting all the
functions in one device might make the user interface a bit more complex overall. The T-31
transmitter used in the M-series is also slimmer and lighter than the ones used in the S-series.
Polar has come out with new models in the M-series that have "soft" fabric like coded transmitters
with user changable batteries. As a result, I've seen some of the older units selling at pretty good
discounts.

In terms of how they treat customers... I have an ancient HRM (~15-20 years old) that was the CIC
brand name. It turns out Polar made the item for CIC and repair parts are no longer available. Polar
offers a trade up policy for these old units and gives about 20% off their new models. This is
certainly something they don't have to do, but creates a degree of comfort around the brand.

In terms of other things out there, it might also be worth looking at the Cardiosport Optima.
Although not listed on their website, http://www.heartmonitors.com/ was selling this unit for under
$150 including the PC download module. This is a pretty fancy unit that records your heart rate for
download to a PC.

I own a Vett V100HR, which has cycling functions (wireless speed and cadence) as well as a
heartrate.

you can use it as a standalone HRM, but it has no wrist strap (I put it in my pocket)

I bought mine online with all necessary goodies for $135 from Airbomb.com

--

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"rosco" <reverse-the-following"ocsor_g"@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:aGRPb.19121$i4.16893@newsread1.....earthlink.net...
> "Andrew Short" <andrew.short@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:aZQPb.123372$xy6.425849@attbi_s02...
> > If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere.
> >
> > Does anybody have a recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?
> >
> > Also, would you recommend buying on eBay?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Andrew Short Dallas/Ft. Worth area
> >
>
> Polar is the market share leader in HRMs. They also have a very good product, and provide good
> service and fair policies. You might check, but
I
> believe Polar might be one of these companies that will only warranty
items
> purchased from authorized dealers. If the ebay seller is an authorized dealer, it should be OK.
>
> I went for their mid level M-series units with a coded transmitter. These do not have cycling
> functions, but that was OK because I already had a
cycle
> computer and figured putting all the functions in one device might make
the
> user interface a bit more complex overall. The T-31 transmitter used in
the
> M-series is also slimmer and lighter than the ones used in the S-series. Polar has come out with
> new models in the M-series that have "soft" fabric like coded transmitters with user changable
> batteries. As a result, I've seen some of the older units selling at pretty good discounts.
>
>
> In terms of how they treat customers... I have an ancient HRM (~15-20
years
> old) that was the CIC brand name. It turns out Polar made the item for
CIC
> and repair parts are no longer available. Polar offers a trade up policy for these old units and
> gives about 20% off their new models. This is certainly something they don't have to do, but
> creates a degree of comfort around the brand.
>
> In terms of other things out there, it might also be worth looking at the Cardiosport Optima.
> Although not listed on their website, http://www.heartmonitors.com/ was selling this unit for
> under $150
including
> the PC download module. This is a pretty fancy unit that records your
heart
> rate for download to a PC.
>
>

---
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Version: 6.0.560 / Virus Database: 352 - Release Date: 1/9/2004

In article <aZQPb.123372$xy6.425849@attbi_s02>, andrew.short@comcast.net says...
>If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere. Does anybody have a
>recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?

It is hard to go wrong with Polar. Just see which of their products fall into your price range.

>Also, would you recommend buying on eBay?

Not unless it is substantially cheaper than buying from a reputable dealer.
-------------
Alex

Andrew Short wrote:

> If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere.
>
> Does anybody have a recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?

That's a lot of money. A basic monitor will only cost 30UKP ($50) and is as accurate as an expensive
one. Depends if you want logging and PC download facilities.

The Cardiosport ones have user-replaceable batteries in the chest strap, which makes them a bit
easier to live with than a Polar.

If you don't know what features you want, I'd suggest going with a cheap (USD$30?) one with only
heart rate readout plus average when you stop. I bought a more expensive model lacking average and
found that that was the main thing I was interested in rather than time-in-zone 1 or 2, calories,
etc. I feel a bit silly having downgraded. You can always upgrade.

Steve

"Alex Rodriguez" <adr5@columbia.edu> wrote in message
news:bup2j0$1ec$2@newsmaster.cc.columbia.edu... In article <aZQPb.123372$xy6.425849@attbi_s02>,
andrew.short@comcast.net says...
>If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere. Does anybody have a
>recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?

It is hard to go wrong with Polar. Just see which of their products fall into your price range.

>Also, would you recommend buying on eBay?

Not unless it is substantially cheaper than buying from a reputable dealer.
-------------
Alex

Found this on the Polar site:

Also, any Polar product sold on an open auction site (e.g. e-bay) is considered to be the re-sale of
a previously owned product and will not be covered under the original 2-year warranty extended to
the original purchaser. This is regardless of the condition of the product.

http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/attention.asp

>
> Polar is the market share leader in HRMs. They also have a very good product, and provide good
> service and fair policies. You might check, but I believe Polar might be one of these companies
> that will only warranty items purchased from authorized dealers. If the ebay seller is an
> authorized dealer, it should be OK.

"Andrew Short" <andrew.short@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:aZQPb.123372$xy6.425849@attbi_s02...
> If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere.
>
> Does anybody have a recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?

If $150 is what you wish to spend, no, but you can buy one a Wally World for $40.

Alex Rodriguez <adr5@columbia.edu> wrote in message news:<bup2j0$1ec$2@newsmaster.cc.columbia.edu>...
> In article <aZQPb.123372$xy6.425849@attbi_s02>, andrew.short@comcast.net says...
> >If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere. Does anybody have a
> >recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?
>
> It is hard to go wrong with Polar. Just see which of their products fall into your price range.
>
> >Also, would you recommend buying on eBay?
>
> Not unless it is substantially cheaper than buying from a reputable dealer.
> -------------
> Alex

Dear Alex,

I'm always on the lookout for cheap thrills.

Where do you find the disreputable dealers? Do they advertise as such? Is there a seamy black market
that offers counterfeit Polar Tech heart-rate monitors?

My heart's racing!

Maybe Per or Phil or one of the other cardiac obsessed will sidle up to me in an alley, roll up one
sleeve, and offer me my choice of a dozen different heart-rate monitors that fell off a truck--for
fraction of the reputable cost.

Eagerly,

Carl Fogel

John wrote:
> Found this on the Polar site:
>
> Also, any Polar product sold on an open auction site (e.g. e-bay) is considered to be the re-sale
> of a previously owned product and will not be covered under the original 2-year warranty extended
> to the original purchaser. This is regardless of the condition of the product.
>
> http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/attention.asp
>
>

In my opinion it is good advice to buy from their authorized dealers since their guarantee and
service is awesome. I have a S-720i and I have used theur guarantee twice for things I considered my
fault that they would make me pay for, but no on the contrary.
1. I crashed my bike and busted up the cadence sensor. I mailed it to Polar and told them what I'd
done asking how much it would cost me to either repair or replace it. AdZap they sent me a new
one free of charge.
2. I dropped my HRM on a concrete floor and the top came lose plus the LCD display started acting
strange. I called Polar and they just told me to send it in. I drove by and they switched the LCD
and the steel top at no cost.

--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

Carl Fogel wrote:
> Alex Rodriguez <adr5@columbia.edu> wrote in message
> news:<bup2j0$1ec$2@newsmaster.cc.columbia.edu>...
>> In article <aZQPb.123372$xy6.425849@attbi_s02>, andrew.short@comcast.net says...
>>> If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere. Does anybody have a
>>> recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?
>>
>> It is hard to go wrong with Polar. Just see which of their products fall into your price range.
>>
>>> Also, would you recommend buying on eBay?
>>
>> Not unless it is substantially cheaper than buying from a reputable dealer. ------------- Alex
>
> Dear Alex,
>
> I'm always on the lookout for cheap thrills.
>
> Where do you find the disreputable dealers? Do they advertise as such? Is there a seamy black
> market that offers counterfeit Polar Tech heart-rate monitors?
>
> My heart's racing!
>
> Maybe Per or Phil or one of the other cardiac obsessed will sidle up to me in an alley, roll up
> one sleeve, and offer me my choice of a dozen different heart-rate monitors that fell off a truck--
> for fraction of the reputable cost.
>
> Eagerly,
>
> Carl Fogel

Niemma problemma Carl. We'll just meet where we always do. And yes there is a list. Somebody else
posted a URL in this thread. I'll repost it for your benefit only ( Notice how I've already started
to soften you up in order to get the best possible price out f you)

http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/attention.asp
--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

Andrew Short wrote:
> If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere.
>
> Does anybody have a recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?
>
> Also, would you recommend buying on eBay?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Andrew Short Dallas/Ft. Worth area
>
>

The wireless Vetta V100HR has a HR monitor (obviously by the name) plus all the other functions
you'll need for training. I bought mine on eBay for U$135.

-chris

"Per Elmsäter" <perDOTelmsater@telia.com> wrote in message news:<i%7Qb.45965$mU6.172980@newsb.telia.net>...
> Carl Fogel wrote:
> > Alex Rodriguez <adr5@columbia.edu> wrote in message
> > news:<bup2j0$1ec$2@newsmaster.cc.columbia.edu>...
> >> In article <aZQPb.123372$xy6.425849@attbi_s02>, andrew.short@comcast.net says...
> >>> If this is the wrong forum for this request, please direct me elsewhere. Does anybody have a
> >>> recommendation for a heart rate monitor, preferably around $150 or so?
> >>
> >> It is hard to go wrong with Polar. Just see which of their products fall into your price range.
> >>
> >>> Also, would you recommend buying on eBay?
> >>
> >> Not unless it is substantially cheaper than buying from a reputable dealer. ------------- Alex
> >
> > Dear Alex,
> >
> > I'm always on the lookout for cheap thrills.
> >
> > Where do you find the disreputable dealers? Do they advertise as such? Is there a seamy black
> > market that offers counterfeit Polar Tech heart-rate monitors?
> >
> > My heart's racing!
> >
> > Maybe Per or Phil or one of the other cardiac obsessed will sidle up to me in an alley, roll up
> > one sleeve, and offer me my choice of a dozen different heart-rate monitors that fell off a truck--
> > for fraction of the reputable cost.
> >
> > Eagerly,
> >
> > Carl Fogel
>
> Niemma problemma Carl. We'll just meet where we always do. And yes there is a list. Somebody else
> posted a URL in this thread. I'll repost it for your benefit only ( Notice how I've already
> started to soften you up in order to get the best possible price out f you)
>
> http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/attention.asp

Dear Per,

It is well-known that high-quality, reliable items sold by reputable dealers are in danger of
turning into shoddy junk and breaking in half if purchased elsewhere or previously used by other
consumers.

(Merely borrowing someone else's stuff to try it and see if you want to buy it does not have this
dangerous effect--indeed, the quality usually increases 3-7% during the short period when the
product is not being used by its owner, in order to encourage new sales.)

I myself never purchase, much less read, any book or magazine except from authorized dealers, lest
mis-prints confuse me or damage my eyes. Beware of cheap, gray-market Shakespeare--accept only
original editions of the First Folio of 1623! They cost a bit more, but are well worth the added
financial security and peace of mind.

(But please let me know if you happen to have a used copy at an attractive price, say half a
million, cash. I promise not to read it at full speed.)

Carl Fogel

"Steve Juniper" <snijuniper@comcast.net> wrote in message news:<yEZPb.124917$I06.977209@attbi_s01>...
> If you don't know what features you want, I'd suggest going with a cheap (USD$30?) one with only
> heart rate readout plus average when you stop. I bought a more expensive model lacking average and
> found that that was the main thing I was interested in rather than time-in-zone 1 or 2, calories,
> etc. I feel a bit silly having downgraded. You can always upgrade.
>
> Steve

Dear Steve,

A bicyclist bought something expensive with numerous obscure features that he didn't want and not
the obvious feature that he needed?

No!

Somewhere a marketing employee is hanging his head in shame!

Now let me see, there are forty options on my screen at a quick count--which one do I click on to
send this message?

Oh, that's right, I have to scroll down with the second slider option on the right and choose
between "preview message" and "post message--no preview."

But I might get that Error 500 from the server, so I'd better highlight everything and copy it to
the clipboard first with ctrl-a and ctrl-c, just in case my post gets lost . . .

There!

Carl Fogel