I’m interested in buying a Polar HRM. One feature I’m looking for is the ability to get my total distance climbed. I know both the S720 & S725 have the altimeter function my question is what is the difference between these two units?
On a side note, I’m also considering the S625 because I do some running and it would be nice to have the foot pod. My hesitation on the S625 is the additional cost to get both the speed & cadence sensors.
[font='Times New Roman'][font=Verdana]Thanks, Greg…[/font][/font]
I’m interested in buying a Polar HRM. One feature I’m looking for is the ability to get my total distance climbed. I know both the S720 & S725 have the altimeter function my question is what is the difference between these two units?
On a side note, I’m also considering the S625 because I do some running and it would be nice to have the foot pod. My hesitation on the S625 is the additional cost to get both the speed & cadence sensors.
[font='Times New Roman'][font=Verdana]Thanks, Greg…[/font][/font]
I originally had a 720i with power, but had the watch stolen from my checked bag between São Paulo and Miami. I replaced it with the S625 and it has every feature the 720 did, plus I can log my running which is really cool as I used to have to ride the route I ran to get my mileage. No experience with the 725 but I would go for the 625 no question if you run at all.
My hesitation on the S625 is the additional cost to get both the speed & cadence sensors.
[font='Times New Roman'][font=Verdana]Thanks, Greg…[/font][/font]
Oh and I forgot to mention that since I already had the power sensor I didn't need to buy cadence or speed sensors, so it was actually cheaper. Just get the power sensor, it is a much better training tool than the HRM anyway.
[font=Times New Roman]I have a 725 and the power unit.[/font]
[font=Times New Roman]Would I order the power unit now, after using my 725 for 6 months? I give it a probably… Too many damn wires with the power unit. And from time to time (not too often, but often enough to be irritating) during a ride the data stops displaying and recording. [/font]
[font=Times New Roman]If you are considering the power unit you don’t need the wireless speed or cadence sensor, since the power unit comes with wired speed and cadence. [/font]
[font=Times New Roman]I’d suggest the 625x and the wireless speed and wireless cadence. And don’t forget the IR unit if you computer doesn’t have an IR interface. And I don’t think the 625x comes with the bike mount either, and it is nice to mount the HRM to the bar on the bike.[/font]
I have the 625 and it appears to work good for running, however where I live in San Francisco, I get a lot of interference from electrical power lines. Cadence and speed readings are way out of range - 67+mph and 180+ cadence readings. Heart rate is usually ok but has also false readings every so often. I notice this mostly when I am directly under trolley or overhead power lines. Just FYI.
gregcasa said:
Wilmar & Bike Guy,
Thanks for your input. Bike Guy thanks for that link, I think I will get the 625 and the speed & cadence sensors.🙂
I have the 625 and it appears to work good for running, however where I live in San Francisco, I get a lot of interference from electrical power lines. Cadence and speed readings are way out of range - 67+mph and 180+ cadence readings. Heart rate is usually ok but has also false readings every so often. I notice this mostly when I am directly under trolley or overhead power lines. Just FYI.
Very true... but I had this with my 720 as well, so I'll bet all three are even in this respect.
I have the 625 and it appears to work good for running, however where I live in San Francisco, I get a lot of interference from electrical power lines. Cadence and speed readings are way out of range - 67+mph and 180+ cadence readings. Heart rate is usually ok but has also false readings every so often. I notice this mostly when I am directly under trolley or overhead power lines. Just FYI.
I have seen other postings regarding the interference issue. I have decided if I’m going this way I would keep my wired cycle computer and add the 625. Right now I currently place my HRM on the handlebars so no difference there. This would allow me to have the true distance & speed incase of interference. The only negative would be that I need to add two more sensors to get the full affect of the 625 bike recording capabilities.
Just thought of this, how does the Polar watches control stop and go? Other words when you stop for a red light does the timer keep going, to affect and lower your average speed? Ride time VS total time.
I have seen other postings regarding the interference issue. I have decided if I’m going this way I would keep my wired cycle computer and add the 625. Right now I currently place my HRM on the handlebars so no difference there. This would allow me to have the true distance & speed incase of interference. The only negative would be that I need to add two more sensors to get the full affect of the 625 bike recording capabilities.
I wouldn't worry about it, it is for very brief times that this occurs, nothing of consequence at all. The only thing it does is throws off the max's but you can see from your charted data, what your real max was.
Just thought of this, how does the Polar watches control stop and go? Other words when you stop for a red light does the timer keep going, to affect and lower your average speed? Ride time VS total time.
Thanks
Your stop watch will run whether you are moving or not. You can pause it though if you wish. Regarding avg speed, it throws out all non positive values, so in effect your avg. speed, avg cadence, etc. is only while in use. Using the polar interface on your PC you can slice and dice the data however you want though.
Unfortunately, the Polar will not account for actual ride time. The time will continue to run until you stop or pause it. One of the things you will find out as you use it. Also, if you have two bikes, it will not keep separate odometer readings for each bike just total miles. It just has settings so that for each bike can have different wheels sizes, ie 700x23c vs 700x25c. Wished they would have a different odometer setting so I can see how many miles I rode on each bike at the end of the year.
gregcasa said:
Just thought of this, how does the Polar watches control stop and go? Other words when you stop for a red light does the timer keep going, to affect and lower your average speed? Ride time VS total time.
Wished they would have a different odometer setting so I can see how many miles I rode on each bike at the end of the year.
You can't track this with the software? Well I guess at least you can leave notes in each training entry which bike it was... I agree though that would be a PITA.
I also used a lower end Polar in the past that did not have cycling features. Just HR measurements and had it mounted on the handle bar next to my wired computer. Since I run and bike, I thought it would be nice to have 1 computer record and monitor everything. Unfortunately, it does have a few issues which bothers me but being able to record my workouts outweighs the other problems. There is a way that you can auto correct the erroneous settings in the software so that your averages reflect a more accurate reading. I need to do this everytime I record my cycling workouts.
gregcasa said:
I have seen other postings regarding the interference issue. I have decided if I’m going this way I would keep my wired cycle computer and add the 625. Right now I currently place my HRM on the handlebars so no difference there. This would allow me to have the true distance & speed incase of interference. The only negative would be that I need to add two more sensors to get the full affect of the 625 bike recording capabilities.
The 725 stops recording when you stop moving, and starts recording when you start moving again (on a bike). It will pick up with the same exercise as long as you're not outside of the heart monitor range for more than 30 minutes or so.
The 725 stops recording when you stop moving, and starts recording when you start moving again (on a bike). It will pick up with the same exercise as long as you're not outside of the heart monitor range for more than 30 minutes or so.
I'm not sure if the other models do this or not.
John
Not true, it keeps recording until you pause or stop it (or it runs out of memory) but the averages for power, speed etc don't include the zero values.
Not true, it keeps recording until you pause or stop it (or it runs out of memory) but the averages for power, speed etc don't include the zero values.
Well, I've got one, and I can assure you that I know how it works. Read the manual.
Incidentally... look at the data it records sometime, all the zero's (such as when you're coasting) are there. What you won't find however, are zero speed values....that's because it's not recording when you're stopped.
I'm not sure about the 725 but the 625 continues to record stopwatch and laptimes even when you are stopped ie... waiting for a light or chatting with buddies at a rest stop. Max speed and cadence will not be affected but I guess HR would be affected since that is factored into the average since you are stopped? When I look at each time sample in the software, it records the 0 values when I am stopped and when I am not pedalling from the cadence readings but the time continues to run. I don't know if it factors the 0 values into the averages.
I think the all Polar units that record workouts use the Polar Precision Peformance software? I'm on 4.02.037.
Mansmind said:
Well, I've got one, and I can assure you that I know how it works. Read the manual.
Incidentally... look at the data it records sometime, all the zero's (such as when you're coasting) are there. What you won't find however, are zero speed values....that's because it's not recording when you're stopped.
I'm not sure about the 725 but the 625 continues to record stopwatch and laptimes even when you are stopped ie... waiting for a light or chatting with buddies at a rest stop. So if you are stopped for a period of time and the unit is still reading your HR, anything that uses time to calculate an average ie... actual ride time will be skewed. Max speed and cadence will not be affected but I guess HR would be affected since that is factored into the average since you are stopped. When I look at each time sample in the software, it records the 0 values when I am stopped and when I am not pedalling from the cadence readings but the time continues to run.
I think the all Polar units that record workouts use the Polar Precision Peformance software? I'm on 4.02.037.
Yes, from what I understand, the 625 does do that. I just can't say for sure because I don't have one (apparently you do?). The 725 has an auto-start feature. It will automatically start recording when the bike starts moving (at the beginning of the ride), it "auto-pauses" when it senses no bike motion, and then restarts when it sees motion again. It will also automatically stop the current exercise if the hr monitor is out of range for ~30 minutes. That part really doesn't bother me, I never stop for that long... but I'd rather it didn't stop the exercise until I told it.
As with other models, you can also manually pause it. I've yet to do that. In fact, I've used the auto-start feature since I owned the unit. This IS an option you have to turn on for it to work.
Sounds like you're running the same computer software I am.
Looked through my manual and watch settings. Looks like it is not a feature for the 625. Where is this feature enabled on the 725s?
Mansmind said:
Yes, from what I understand, the 625 does do that. I just can't say for sure because I don't have one (apparently you do?). The 725 has an auto-start feature. It will automatically start recording when the bike starts moving (at the beginning of the ride), it "auto-pauses" when it senses no bike motion, and then restarts when it sees motion again. It will also automatically stop the current exercise if the hr monitor is out of range for ~30 minutes. That part really doesn't bother me, I never stop for that long... but I'd rather it didn't stop the exercise until I told it.
As with other models, you can also manually pause it. I've yet to do that. In fact, I've used the auto-start feature since I owned the unit. This IS an option you have to turn on for it to work.
Sounds like you're running the same computer software I am.
