Must one have a Polar F11 to use the Concept 2?

[Shepherd]

On the sales site, I've noticed that they have a HRM for sale that plugs directly into the Concept 2, but also a "receiver kit" that synchronizes with the Polar F11 (but due to a site glitch, you can't actually ORDER the Polar F11, just the Concept 2 receiver kit). As the site says:

If you would like to monitor your heart rate while exercising on your Concept2 Indoor Rower as well as during other exercise (such as jogging, cycling, aerobics, etc.), you should order the Polar™ F11™ Wristwatch and Polar Wearlink Chest Belt Transmitter (PN 1487) and the Heart Rate Receiver & Cable (PN 1761) instead of this item.

I'd link the page, but the sales site seems to use javascript for everything (a pet peeve).

The Concept 2 HRM seems to indicate that you should order the F11 (as stated above, except you can't order it), but the receiver kit description says "a Polar" set-up, which makes me think that maybe it doesn't have to be the F11.

Does it have to be a Polar F11? I'm interested in an HRM, but not in any of the geegaws other than the actual heart rate function. It'd be less expensive to buy a fewer-features heart rate monitor and the rower-only kit than it would be to buy a F11 and the add-on. If the add-on works with HRMs other than the Polar F11, that would be even better.

[Citroen]

Does it have to be a Polar F11? I'm interested in an HRM, but not in any of the geegaws other than the actual heart rate function. It'd be less expensive to buy a fewer-features heart rate monitor and the rower-only kit than it would be to buy a F11 and the add-on. If the add-on works with HRMs other than the Polar F11, that would be even better.

The Polar watch on your wrist doesn't matter. The Polar chest strap and the C2 HR interface receiver are the important things.

The PM4 it supports both the Polar T31 chest strap (with the receiver doohickey that attaches under the rail). And the PM4 supports Suunto with the ANT wireless transceiver on the PM4 circuit board.

PM2, PM2+ and PM3 only supports the Polar HR interface with T31 chest strap.

If you go with Polar, any modern Polar watch will receive the signal from a T31 chest strap.

[nteeman]

My PM2 works fine with my Cardiosport chest strap.