Which HRM works okay next to TV?

Netta

Netta

Cathlete
I have an M32 that doesn't work right near the TV, goes to "0" or just sticks on one number for a while. The company (Polar) says this is normal. Trouble is, I have my step located about 3' or so from the TV (fairly small living room). It messes up even as far as 5' from the TV. I also get the same interference when I ride my bike under power lines.

Okay, what kind of HRM's don't have a problem with the TV? I'd love to use my HRM with an indoor workout. Currently, if I use a Spinerval DVD, I have to have my bike trainer almost out the door to be far enough away from the TV for the HRM to work.

HELP?

Jeanette
 
I have a Polar F4, I workout within a few feet of the television and the DVD player and I have never had a problem. I've never tried it under power lines!

Stephanie
 
I also workout in a small space with a HRM. My first was a A4 (I think?) and I now own a F11. With the A4 I would get zeros only when I was standing directly in front of the TV, at approx 2 feet or less. I haven't noticed it all with the F11. However, I don't think your issue could be completely due to your HRM model. I'm no expert by any means but another factor could be how much interference your TV is throwing out as well. Just a thought, have you experimented how close you can get to other TVs in your house without losing your signal?

The only place where I get zeros really bad is when I'm running down by the railroad tracks near the high tension wires.
 
I have a Polar f6 and have had no problems near the TV. I actually sit directly in front of the TV and put the band on and activate the wrist module while putting my chosen DVD into the player.
 
I also have the Polar F6, and it's coded so it doesn't react to other signals than its own. I use it in front of my TV and on a treadmill that has its own HRM with no problem. It's reasonably priced, too :) HTH!

Carol
 
Thanks for the feedback. I'll check in to these other models. I don't have another TV here to be able to check but I could go over to my mom's with the HRM and check the M32 against her TVs. I just might do that today.

Jeanette
 
My M61(or 62 I can never remember) does the exact same thing. I have trouble with it at the gym when I am near a tv too.
 
I went to the Polar website. They don't have the "M" series anymore. Maybe the "M" stood for malfunction or Major PITA.

Jeanette
 
I have a Polar F5 and it doesn't work near the tv either. So you don't want that one!! My husband bought it for me 2 years ago, but I don't think it's even available anymore. I'm thinking about buying a Polar F11 (around $150).
Does anyone try to keep their HR at 60-70% of their max? That would be 103-121 for me. I don't think I am ever that low when working out. Should I try to keep it lower for greater benefit??

Gin
 
I also have an F11. Previously, I had an M32. The F11 has given me no problems. I had lots of trouble with me M32 zeroing out and yelding very low calorie burns. The F11 has lots of bells and whistles on it, some of which I never use, but it works wonderfully!

Good Luck!
Phyllis :)

http://www.picturetrail.com/pwmatt
 
Thanks, this is all good info. Glad to hear others had trouble with the M32 also.

Jeanette
 
I also have a Polar F4 and it works great with the TV. I do get some interference when I run--my heartrate reading jumps into the 200's. It doesn't always happen, but when it does it is in the same area--so someone's house must be emitting something that interferes with my monitor. This is just a slight problem as it is only for a few seconds.

I've really liked the F4, especially for the price. I don't know that I would use the additional features of the other Polars. I do wish, however, that they would have a "pause" button for slight interruptions.

Carol F

P.S. Gin, I always work out higher than the "formula" rate. I use a formula of 211-Age/2 adjusted for a resting heart rate of 55. That puts my 60% at 136 and my 90% at 178. This feels just perfect for me. Steady cardio for me feels good in the 150's, blasts range from the 160's to the 170's. The really tough ones get me up around 177-178. I did the Mix & Max premix from cardio fusion yesterday and it pushed me over 180 for a second. Wow! that hasn't ever happened before, not even with Imax3.
 
I have the Polar F11 which I like and I don't have trouble with the TV interfering. I'm not that close to our TV's though when I work out. I posted this in another thread but I'm speculating that monitors with cross talk feature (ie prevents monitor from picking up other heart rate monitor users) would also prevent interference from TV's etc. I believe the Polar F6 and up have the cross talk included but the F4 doesn't. It's been about 6 months though since I researched monitors. When I was researching monitors it seemed the most popular monitor was Polar F6. Some people who bought the F4 wished they'd gotten the F6 others were happy with the F4. Polar F11 is for gadget queens like me I like the extras and use them but most others didn't.

Diana
 
I also have the Polar F4 and don't have any problems near the TV. I've been very happy with it and have no complaints.

Marcy
 
I have a Mio Shape and it works fine by a TV. No chest band - you just have to make sure you keep taking your HR on the finger pads.
 
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