Concept2 Forum

I have had a heart monitor receiver for the PM3 around for a couple of weeks and finally got up the nerve to use it over the weekend. It was very erratic however, going on and off randomly. Position didn't seem to matter. Even holding it close to my chest would not start it when it was out and sometimes it would start up in the middle of rowing without my doing anything special. I finally gave up and strapped the wrist watch receiver onto the handle - as I had done before in a boat. How many of you have had similar problems trying to use the PM3 for pulse readings? Have any of you found a cure for this erratic behavior? When it was not showing a number, there were times when it showed a small heart symbol, but even this was not consistent. I can get by with the regular Polar receiver strapped on the handle, but it would be nice to have the results recorded for future reading.<br /><br />On another note, it seems that my apprehensions were justified. While using the Polar receiver, I found my pulse getting up to Max+1 - and that was just during my warmup! Actually it stayed there at a constant 140 for several minutes in the middle of a pyramid warmup, not changed even as I changed rates and paces up and back down. In the regular workout piece, an 8X500/3:30r, it was often over 150 and hit 160 at one point. I wasn't checking it very often, since, at a 2k-4.4 ave., I was pretty well focused on my pace and rate. During the rests, however, I had more opportunity to check it out. I kept up a paddle (12 spm, at about 2:50) during the rests and, in each one, my pulse stayed up close to 140 for about 2 1/2 minutes, then dropped abruptly to about 110.<br /><br />Does anyone know the consequences of going over the formula max (i.e. 220 - age)? I didn't get any squeals out of the pig, but it still seems rather risky. Since my target heart rate is only 122, it would be awfully limiting to go by that.<br /><br />Bob S.

Hi Bob!<br /><br />Hmmm. I've never had any problem with mine. Do you wear it over your shirt or directly on your chest? Is the strap tight enough? Do you have the "Polar" logo in the middle of your chest and not off to one side?<br /><br />You might try placing the receiving electrode thing (forgot what it's called ) in some different spots to see if that makes a difference. It's the little box with the velcro attachment that attaches to the bottom of the slide portion of the erg. <br /><br />Are you around any other electrical devices that might interfere with the signal? (Computer, cordless phone, microwave, etc.)<br /><br />You might try wiping it off with a damp paper towel, in case there's any residue on it. <br /><br />I hope you get yours to work--I really like mine. It's nice to have the HR right there on the PM3 screen.<br /><br />--Jen

<!--QuoteBegin-woolsmith+Jan 24 2006, 08:55 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(woolsmith @ Jan 24 2006, 08:55 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hmmm.  I've never had any problem with mine.  Do you wear it over your shirt or directly on your chest?  Is the strap tight enough?  Do you have the "Polar" logo in the middle of your chest and not off to one side?<br />You might try placing the receiving electrode thing (forgot what it's called  ) in some different spots to see if that makes a difference.  It's the little box with the velcro attachment that attaches to the bottom of the slide portion of the erg.  <br />Are you around any other electrical devices that might interfere with the signal?  (Computer, cordless phone, microwave, etc.)<br />You might try wiping it off with a damp paper towel, in case there's any residue on it.  <br />--Jen <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Thanks for the response, Jen. I am sure that the strap is O.K. - directly on my chest, positioned properly, and strapped tightly enough. It had been working fine on a treadmill at a fitness center that I go to and there was no problem when I used the Polar receiver on the erg handle, which is about 30 inches away at the catch. As I mentioned, the PM3 receiver didn't work even when I brought up close to my chest, even though it sometimes worked much further away (I had it between my feet while rowing). The only electrical interference that might be around could be the fluorescent garage lights, but they did not cause any problem for the Polar receiver. For one period, I had both receivers in operation. The Polar unit kept a continuous reading while the PM3 would go on and off - mostly off. At first, I thought that I had a loose connection, but it did the same thing after a careful check.<br /><br />I have seen at least one other complaint about unreliability of the PM3 receiver, so I posted to see if there were others - especially those who might have solved their problem.<br /><br />regards,<br /><br />Bob S.

Hmmm. That is puzzling. The techno gremlins are definitely at work here, it seems. <br /><br />My receiver square is positioned on the bottom side of the slide unit, just about in the middle of that section. Mine also worked when I had it just placed on the carpet directly beneath the middle of the slide section. Have you tried it there?<br /><br />Gosh, otherwise it sounds like you've covered all the bases. <br /><br />You don't have a Chihuahua, do you? My Chihooey had tried to take off with my receiver when it was just on the floor. Of course it was attached, and she couldn't get very far. The little stinker! So now I make sure it's securely "stuck" to the bottom of the rail. Who knows? Maybe a couple of tooth marks made mine work when otherwise it wouldn't have! <br /><br />Good luck,<br />--Jen

My heart rate monitor is occassionally eratic, but most of the time it is fine.<br />I usually wet the "heart area" of my chest where the chest strap will go, as well<br />as the chest strap itself... I seem to remember the original instructions<br />suggesting this.<br /><br />Steve<br />

I had little success with the receiver under the slide with a probably of less than 5% of the time a value being displayed. I also tried moving the receiver to various positions under the slide. I then moved the receiver between my feet on top of the slide and had a value displayed about 95% of the time. I finally moved the receiver onto the right foot rest between my foot and the center bar and now have a value displayed nearly all of the time.<br /><br />Prior to repositioning the receiver I also had some form of interference that would cause the display to jump between the low 200s to the teens and then back again. With its current placement I no longer have that problem.

Bob,<br /><br />I have a unique model C in that there is both a PM2+ and PM3 installed. I also have 2 Polar HRM chest belts. One is old (over 5 years) and the other is one of the new soft chest belts. I actually bought the new one because the old one stopped working with the PM3 even though it still works with the PM2+. My conclusion is that the PM3 is much more sensitive to signal strength than the PM2+ and therefore is a little harder to use. I notice that if I don't have the chest belt quite snug enough it will lose the signal during a row and then start again. I am certain my heart is not stopping for that long. <br /><br />As for the 220 - age HR formula, I have found it to be useless in my case. I have always been able to exceed the predicted value in fact in my mid-40's while cross country skiing I had my HR into the low 190's without feeling overly stressed. Currently on the erg I have seen my HR top out at about 170 at the end of a race. <br /><br />Frank

I had a different sort of trouble and I am posting it here incase others have the same problem. I had trouble with the watch and the PM 3 picking up the signal. So I was pretty sure it was a problem with me and the transmitter.<br /><br />I have a large chest and would not get a consistant signal. I was finally advised to wear the chest strap slightly off center to the left and I bought electrode gel for better connectivity. I know this is different from the original post, but other women with similar situation might read the thread.<br /><br />Susan

Thanks to all who responded to my questions. My guess at this point is that the fault lies in the transmitter signal and that I need a more secure conductivity link between the belt and my chest. The signal is strong enough for reception by the Polar pickup, but evidently not always strong enough for the PM3 detector, even though I tried holding it near my chest, while I pressed the belt tight with the other hand. Next time I will try moistening the belt with an aqueous (conductive) gel instead of just moistening it.<br /><br />regards,<br /><br />Bob S.

I have the pick up receiver mounted on the side of the rail, that seems to work better than the bottom for some reason. But that was when I was picking up interference from a TV maybe (so the other side of the raid helped).<br /><br />I also started having problems about 6 months with drop outs. It got worst over time. I think it was the battery in the chest belt fading. Instead of replacing that, I got one of the new soft belts (love it). So how old are the batteries in your belt, since that could be it too (even if the wrist watch can pick it up).

<!--QuoteBegin-michaelb+Jan 25 2006, 12:09 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(michaelb @ Jan 25 2006, 12:09 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I also started having problems about 6 months with drop outs.  It got worst over time.  I think it was the battery in the chest belt fading.  Instead of replacing that, I got one of the new soft belts (love it).  So how old are the batteries in your belt, since that could be it too (even if the wrist watch can pick it up). <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Thanks Michael. That sounds like a good possibility. I have had this belt for longer than I can remember. <br /><br />regards,<br /><br />Bob S.<br />

My reciever doesn't work when snapped to the underside of the rail. It soes work if I have it on the floor and off to one side or the other so the rail isn't 'in the way'. I also move the Polar thing on the chest belt to left of center. I have the belt pretty tight too.<br /><br />The formula is useless for me too. I did the erg test to find my max. Basically start erging and increase the speed etc every 500 meters till you can't maintain it any more. You need to start off a bit slowly to allow your pulse and breathing to adjust slowly to your rate for that split. The highest heart rate you can maintain for 10 seconds but not much longer is your max. Remember, don't do this unsupervised if you have a known heart problem.<br /><br />I have been doing 8000m sessions at approx 20spm. It takes me about 40 minutes to do one. My heart rate goes from resting (65) to exercising easily (130) in the first 2000m. Then it increases about 10bpminute every 1000 meters until it gets to 150-160 bpm even if I don't increase my pace. <br /><br />When I started the 8000m training my max was 170bpm. After the Holiday Challenge and a month's worth of long sessions it had increased to 174. That is my limit I believe. At that point I can't breathe fast enough to keep going.<br /><br />I'm 63 years old and a relatively small female. If I used the formula numbers I would never get a real workout.<br /><br />grams

Just on the topic, i don't know why but on a two km erg the other day I managed to pick up my heart rate for the first 1500 then the last five hundred it just disappeared! Its almost as if as i tapped the rating up the PM3 lost my heart somewhere!<br /><br />Just found it interesting (annoying as well as i was hoping to get a max heart rate reading).