HR monitor heads up. EU regs driving changes.

[Tsnor]

Garmin has a new replacement for the HRM-Dual Heart Rate Monitor Belt called the HRM-200. The HRM-200 is essentially the same as the Dual HR except it includes optional encryption driven by an EU mandate.

The HRM-200 has an additional button on the front letting you switch from open to encrypted mode. No idea if the chip uses more or less power than the older HRM-DUAL chip (battery life). Extra button is an extra place to leak/fail.

According to DC Rainmaker (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIZUUGQVfLY) there's a $20-30 price difference, you lose ant+ when encrypted but gain an extra BTLE radio for a total of 3 bluetooth smart connections. "... is that it’s the first of likely many Garmin product refreshes that is aimed to comply with upcoming EU regulations on authentication and encryption requirements (the same ones that just started the death of ANT+ on Friday)."

People who don't plan to use encryption (me) and who are looking for a HR monitor belt (not me) may want to buy in the next few months depending on supply, or goto a different brand than Garmin. The EU mandate doesn't block unencrypted, just requires manufacturers give consumers the option of using encryption on the devices they sell.

[Carl Watts]

Garmin is great, I use only ANT+ with it on the red Garmin RUN and an older clip on type prior to the Dual.

Basically its the strap that typically dies first and cheap straps are available from AliExpress.

Chances are I will eventually try the likes of the CooSpo H808S, its a fraction of the Garmin price.