PM3 vs PM4 - How important is heart rate in work out?

[shevchenko]

i have a polar heart rate watch and belt.
so i can see my heart rate with watch.
does heart rate interface for pm3 bring extra features than my polar ft60 watch?
do i need it? maybe rowpro wants pm3 heart rate,i dont know . or i ve to go with my polar watch only
thank u

[Super Dave Osbourne]

My GF and I bought the Model D with PM4 and rails (a real winner here, they are amazingly fun to use). She didn't want to use my sweety Suunto so she wanted the wireless pickup module (easy to install). My recommendation, of course depending on your needs, is what I we bought.

Model D, PM4, polar module. This expense has changed our lives for the better.

[packrat]

My wife is going to buy me a Model D with either PM that I want. I plan to row at home half the time, and the other half use the Model D with the PM3 at the gym. The PM4 comes with the Suunto, right? I like getting one included at no extra cost, but I wouldn't be able to use it at the gym, correct?

[Carl Watts]

The newer Polar Wearlink or the Wearlink coded (the W.I.N.D version will not work) only work very well with the Plug in Polar Receiver for the PM3 or PM4. The range is about 2 metres or 6 feet so it has no problems when your on the rower. It is so comfortable you don't know your wearing it and I find it vital to use if you want to stay in a particular zone like UT1 or UT2 etc. after using it to get your resting and maximum heartrate.

http://www.freespiritsrowing.com/conten ... e=hr_bands

My only tip is when you first buy the Polar Wearlink coded make sure you remove the battery using a coin and your fingernail and apply a very small amount of rubber grease or silicone oil to the o-ring. You will then find you will only need the coin and the cover just pops up after you turn it. Failure to do this will mean the battery is very difficult to change in 2 years time.

You should be able to use the Sunnito chest strap on any PM4.

Heartrate is great with RowPro as you have a graph function that shows your HR trend as well as a large disgital display of your current heartrate.
Obviously this is also usefull as soon as you start to analyse your rowing by comparing it to previous rows.

[slwiser]

My wife is going to buy me a Model D with either PM that I want. I plan to row at home half the time, and the other half use the Model D with the PM3 at the gym. The PM4 comes with the Suunto, right? I like getting one included at no extra cost, but I wouldn't be able to use it at the gym, correct?

Suunto's new straps come with a dual Heart rate pod. The dual means Suunto signal and a "Polar" signal for cardio equipment at gyms. Check out this link:

http://beta.suunto.com/en/Products/Pods ... Dual-Belt/

I don't know if the newer PM4's come with the latest Dual strap. You can check this out before you buy.