HR Monitor with logging capability?

In article <[email hidden]>,

Fanta said:

I have looked at the Polar web site, but find it confusing; also the
manuals don't give much detail. They mention a "Polar WebLink"
application, but everything I need is to be able to transfer a HR log
into my PC (which may not be connected to the Internet) and plot a
graph there, either with a provided application, or exporting the data
to MS Excel.

The Polar monitors that can export data come with a logging
application that's reasonably okay. They also allow
uploading via Polar WebLink to the polarpersonaltrainer.com
logging website, which has more limited reporting
capabilities. Garmin sells monitors that are integrated
with their GPS units, and those also have PC interfaces. I
haven't tried the HR monitor versions but I've got a
Forerunner 201 (no monitor) that I use for training my
dogsled team and I haven't been thrilled with the software
(both limited logging and limited reporting).

Which monitor to choose tends to come down to how much you
want to spend. I've been using an S410 for running and
cycling for a few years and aside from the hinkiness of the
audio upload interface I've been pretty happy with it.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis - [email hidden]

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

In article <[email hidden]>,

Fanta said:

I have looked at the Polar web site, but find it confusing; also the
manuals don't give much detail. They mention a "Polar WebLink"
application, but everything I need is to be able to transfer a HR log
into my PC (which may not be connected to the Internet) and plot a
graph there, either with a provided application, or exporting the
data to MS Excel.

The Garmin 301 and 305 will do that; you also get a GPS system with them
as well.

--
Crossing the starting line is 90%.
Crossing the finish line is the other 90%.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Melinda Shore) said:

Garmin sells monitors that are integrated with their GPS units, and
those also have PC interfaces. I haven't tried the HR monitor
versions but I've got a Forerunner 201 (no monitor) that I use for
training my dogsled team and I haven't been thrilled with the
software (both limited logging and limited reporting).

One thing to watch out for with the Garmin 201: It has a serial port,
not a USB port, so there may be interface problems with some later model
computers that may not have a serial port. Also, the 201 is the only
Forerunner that is not compatible with the Macintosh computer (which is
an issue for some of us). The 205, 301, and 305 have USB ports and are
Mac compatible. (The 301 does not have an HR monitor, though.)

--
Crossing the starting line is 90%.
Crossing the finish line is the other 90%.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Michelle said:

(The 301 does not have an HR monitor, though.)

Whoops; I meant the 204 doesn't have an HR monitor. The 301 has one.

--
Crossing the starting line is 90%.
Crossing the finish line is the other 90%.

Fanta said:

Hi, I am looking for a Heart Rate Monitor able to log my HR during a
workout in its own memory, and then that allows to transfer the log to
a PC to be reviewed and plotted there. With log I mean a recording of
my HR second by second (not just min, max and average figures). Should
be a wrist watch. Can you please advise some brand/model?

I have looked at the Polar web site, but find it confusing; also the
manuals don't give much detail. They mention a "Polar WebLink"
application, but everything I need is to be able to transfer a HR log
into my PC (which may not be connected to the Internet) and plot a
graph there, either with a provided application, or exporting the data
to MS Excel.

Thanks.

I've been using a Polar S625x for going on 3 yrs and really love it. I
usually log by 15-sec intervals, although it can be done by 5-sec
intervals. Even 5 sec is somewhat noisy though. 1-sec intervals are
available on other models. The display is "instantaneous", but what's
saved in the file is just every few seconds. Not sure if you really
meant 1-sec intervals or just something that saved and could download
some sort of reasonably continuous record rather than just averages.

Go to this page
http://tinyurl.com/ccaoj
http://www.polar.fi/polar/channels/eng/comparison/comparison_basic/Running.html

That should bring up a comparison table of their "running" models.
You'll have to expand some of the table portions under there for the
Computer Connectivity and Recording features (after all the Exercise
features).

Look at the RS400/800 (sd or not) models. sd is for speed / distance and
has a footpod (accelerometer) to estimate distance which does
surprisingly well under some circumstances (flat or rolling terrain) and
poorly under other (steep hills, like mountains). Doesn't sound like
you're interested in that. Looks like those 4 models record by 1-sec
intervals. S410 doesn't appear in that table, but you can pull it up
separately.
http://www.polar.fi/polar/channels/eng/segments/products/S410/open.html
It still uses the sonic link, which is ok, but I do prefer the infrared
port (personal preference) since it seems more reliable and faster. I
think it should be able to use the infrared port of your computer, but
sometimes there's compatibility issues (at least there used to be, but
have probably been resolved by now).

The Polar Precision Performance software is far superior to anything
I've seen for the Garmins for heart rate training. But it looks like
they're using Polar ProTrainer 5 for the RS400/800 models, and I have no
idea what that's like. Some of the snapshots look simlar to Precision
Performance, but one (the individual workout) seems to lack some of the
features I like about what I'm using (and didn't like about the gps
software) - but those snapshots are so small, I can't really see the
detail or know if you can change the formatting. Later I was gonna
upload some snapshots from the software I've got to show some of the
logging features (partly in conjunction with another thread where we've
been discussing logging metrics), but if they're not using that software
anymore, it doesn't make any sense to do that.

I started with a 410, but the software with it (PCCoach) was somewhat
limited, but I think Precision Performance now supports it. PCCoach may
have changed also. The 410 was in no-man's land at the time I upgraded
for more features (altimeter, footpod). Melinda may be able to speak
more to the 410.

I suspect the 625 is overkill for what you want since it includes a
barometric altimeter and footpod for distance estimates.

Dot

--
"The goal is training and adaptation, not destruction and injury."
- John Hardy
http://www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au/misc/training.shtml

ooops.

Clarification:

Quoted message said:

I
think it should be able to use the infrared port of your computer, but

^^
"it" = infrared connection, not the sonic link.

Quoted message said:

sometimes there's compatibility issues (at least there used to be, but
have probably been resolved by now).

....

Quoted message said:

The 410 was in no-man's land at the time I upgraded
for more features (altimeter, footpod).

but I think is compatible with more things now since others have changed
their software.

Quoted message said:

Melinda may be able to speak
more to the 410.

Dot

--
"The goal is training and adaptation, not destruction and injury."
- John Hardy
http://www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au/misc/training.shtml

Fanta said:

I have looked at the Polar web site, but find it confusing; also the
manuals don't give much detail. They mention a "Polar WebLink"
application, but everything I need is to be able to transfer a HR log
into my PC (which may not be connected to the Internet) and plot a
graph there, either with a provided application, or exporting the data
to MS Excel.

I should add that the downloaded files (via Precision Performance, and,
I think, PCCoach but there was something weird with PCCoach 3 yr ago) to
your PC are text files that you can do whatever with. They do not
require an internet connection for downloading. Being PC-based rather
than internet-based is a requirement for most of my gadgets

Dot

--
"The goal is training and adaptation, not destruction and injury."
- John Hardy
http://www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au/misc/training.shtml

Thank you all for your replies. Very helpful.

Regards,

Fanta

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