What Would I Gain Using My Polar H9 With My PM3?

[miket-nyc]

I have a Polar H9 heart monitor on a chest strap which I used for years with my old NordicTrack ski machine. I used it with the Polar app on my phone.

Now I finally got my own C2 with a PM3, and I've been using the H9 the same way, resting the phone on the front of the monorail. It works as well as it did before, giving me this graph during use: https://photos.app.goo.gl/gRPdc87kCDyh2tmF9

And this page of data after the workout is over. (On other screens it can show prior workouts, etc.): https://photos.app.goo.gl/z9hxcFN8r1tmxvM57

(The graph in the first picture doesn't have anything on it because I didn't take the screenshot during an actual workout. It normally would have a line showing my changing pulse rate and the pulse itself would appear in large numbers on the right).

I saw in this forum and the C2 instruction manual that I can buy a gizmo that would show the data from the Polar sensor in the PM3 (or a PM 5). My question is, how would this improve the information I'm getting now? The Polar app is giving me pretty much anything I could want to know about my heart, and the PM3 is telling me what I need to know about the workout I'm doing.

I know I have to look at 2 screens instead of one, but is that the only advantage of having heart-rate data displayed on a PM monitor, or is there some way it synthesizes the information that would make it more useful than having two separate devices?

Mike Taglieri

[Citroen]

You may do better with a PM5. That has BlueTooth LE to connect to your phone. That, easily, enables the Concept2 Ergdata app (can be done with a PM3).

You'd then want to upgrade your H9 to a digital H10.

Sell the PM3 on Craigslist or eBay to recover some of the extra cost.

[gvcormac]

You want a PN 1862. $25 from Concept2. Their online store is down at this instant, but here's a description & price.

https://www.concept2.com/skierg/accesso ... -equipment

The advantage is that it automatically stores the HR on your logcard, and you can upload all to online logbook.

[MPx]

I doubt it would be worth your while getting the PM3 adaptor. You would lose some of the detail you currently get on the polar app. But you would be able to see your HR number on the screen as you rowed. Sadly the PM only records the HR value for your last stroke in each interval/split which is pretty meaningless...and the session "average" is just the average of these pretty meaningless numbers.

If you decide to get a PM5 and an HRM to link to that and use Ergdata on your phone linked to your PM5 and online log then you would get much better information and all integrated including an HR graph plus max and avg values - all available on your phone and/or online.

[JaapvanE]

I doubt it would be worth your while getting the PM3 adaptor. You would lose some of the detail you currently get on the polar app. But you would be able to see your HR number on the screen as you rowed. Sadly the PM only records the HR value for your last stroke in each interval/split which is pretty meaningless...and the session "average" is just the average of these pretty meaningless numbers.

Wouldn't the old ErgData app with a USB cable work as well?

[Tsnor]

Do you use the concept2 log, and use ergdata to capture per-stroke data and send to your log? Assume not if you are using your phone to watch polar beat. There is value in the C2 log, so if you are not using it then suggest you look into it.

Adding the PM3 HR receiver gives you nothing more than you have now UNLESS you use your Concept2 log data. Adding the $25 part gives you heart rate on your log graphs and in your per stroke data. With an H9 you'd use bluetooth to your phone and gymlink from the H9 for the PM3 so you'd still get the data you currently have.

Note you'd use a different device (phone/tablet/kindle) for ergdata because ergdata (at least the old version) does not run in the background and you'll want to keep polar beat on screen or you lose compared to today.

If you do get the pm3 receiver make sure your H9 gymlink broadcast is turned on. Its 5ghz so won't interfere with 2.4 signals, but I think it's turn off by default to save battery on your H9. Polar Beat can turn this on/off.

(FWIW I use H10, Polar beat on my phone showing HR zones, (old) ergdata on my kindle showing stroke length and watts and PM5 showing splits and either force curve or summary info. I think the HR display on Beat is much better than the PM5 HR display, but like having HR data in the C2 log. Comparing training session vs last season is much easier with HR data in the log. Polar Flow does not have enough data to compare training session without using the C2 log)

[Tsnor]

You may do better with a PM5. That has BlueTooth LE to connect to your phone. That, easily, enables the Concept2 Ergdata app (can be done with a PM3).

You'd then want to upgrade your H9 to a digital H10.

Sell the PM3 on Craigslist or eBay to recover some of the extra cost.

H9 and H10 are identical silicon. H10 enables onboard storage (really nice for OTW rowing) and a second BTLE signal (not needed for the erg given ANT+ and gymlink and BTLE all run at the same time without the second BTLE radio). Net: no need to upgrade H9 to H10.

The PM3 to PM5 upgrade is worth looking at to see if the extra functions of the PM5 are worth it. Not needed though.

[Tsnor]

I doubt it would be worth your while getting the PM3 adaptor. You would lose some of the detail you currently get on the polar app. But you would be able to see your HR number on the screen as you rowed. Sadly the PM only records the HR value for your last stroke in each interval/split which is pretty meaningless...and the session "average" is just the average of these pretty meaningless numbers.

Wouldn't the old ErgData app with a USB cable work as well?

YES! this is how I run the ergdata. But this will not get HR into the PM3 --> ergdata --> C2 log without the $25 Polar gymlink HR adapter. Then you can see graphs of HR aligned with graphs of stroke rate and splits in your log.

The USB cable needed for android is a standard printer cable with one gottcha. Any USB-C to USB-B printer cable works fine. If you need the older micro USB to USB-B printer cable it must be "OTG" compliant. "OTG" or "on the go" will be in the cable description. These cables are $10 or less on amazon.

The USB cable needed for IOS is a problem. Must be certified, and there are not many of these around. GL finding one. Post if you go this route and someone can help.

[Citroen]

The PM3 to PM5 upgrade is worth looking at to see if the extra functions of the PM5 are worth it. Not needed though.

Except for the wireless radios on the PM5 that aren't there on the old PM3.