Polar H9 issues: displaying low heart rate and negative trending rate

[Tsnor]

New (CR2025 coin) battery this session and the same issue. It's almost like it's working in reverse. I choose a set piece that I do regularly (for comparative data) and during the set up, at the time of first connection. The PM5 reads 120BPM (usually around 60-70) as I progress through the piece with "pace increase" at two minute intervals, the BPM trends downward. As I finish the piece (ten minutes) with max effort it's reading 40-50 BPM, where it usually reads 160-175.
All this has been since the firmware update install. I would say that's the point of issue.

Assuming you meant PM5 firmware when you said "All this has been since the firmware update install." ...

Then connect your belt to the polar beat app while rowing and see what it says. If it is a PM5 problem you should see the correct HR in polar beat.

I look at both polar beat (using BTLE) and the PM5--> ergdata (using ANT+) while rowing. When I used to get drops on the old belt the reported number in ergdata, pm5 and beat would drift apart (different smoothing algorithm) then the HR would vanish from PM5 then ergdata. Eventually when the belt got signal again they would come back differently until they were back in sync.

Look at the graphs in your log book for runs where you had Low HR. You should be able to see the HR drops clearly there, and when they came back.

IF polar beat gives you a radically different HR than the PM5 contact C2 and tell them this started with a FW update. If both polar beat and PM5 lose it at roughly the same time then its the belt (or 2.4 ghz interference).

[WayHand]

I’ve had very similar problems with my H9. I have returned it under warranty and a new strap seems to solve the problems. Before sending it back I used a multimeter to measure the resistance of the belt. From memory the resistance between the press stud and the chest pad is around 1500 Ohms. Moisten the pad at the end and apply lead to it.

My H9 was eating batteries, I guess that was because the strap had shorted out and this was evident because of low resistance when wet. If it has a high resistance you get low hr readings.

Always disconnect the pod after use and rinse the strap.

[sayn3ver]

Update:

Meant to update this thread a while ago.

So the new battery didn't do anything. I took concept2's suggestion of not using the usb drive with erg data as they claim it'll cause issues.

No resolve with the polar h9. I was soaking the entire band in warm water before wearing and soaking it in between pieces with my water bottle with no effect.

Then once day it worked randomly for 3 pieces and the following day it went back to the erratic behavior with the inverse heart rates compared to effort. Then it was displaying low rates in the polar beats app away from the erg.

I tried the resets. I tried nothing but the h9 and the pm5. No Bluetooth headphones or erg data.

I tried wearing the h9 in multiple positions.

Finally I had enough and contacted polar for warranty service.

I received the unit back today. The invoice says The strap tested ok. The original h9 had "Bluetooth transmission fails" and they sent a new sensor. I'll test it tomorrow morning for a workout.

And for the others who have commented, if it was an older unit that was used regularly for a year or more I'd would have replaced the strap before posting as that seems to be a common failure as it's a wear item. But the unit was 3-4 weeks old and this is my first time with a heart rate monitor ever.

I also always remove and dry the sensor and rinse the strap after workouts.

Hopefully others do not wait and warranty their units.

In all honesty, it may have been faster for me to request a replacement through Amazon and let the vendor deal with it. However polar did pay for postage both ways in my case so it only took about a week or so since I'm located in nj and polar's service location is in NY.

[Joebasscat]

Glad you got it sorted out. Sounds like you got good service. There will always be problems, it’s how companies handle problems that sets them apart.

[Sakly]

In all honesty, it may have been faster for me to request a replacement through Amazon and let the vendor deal with it. However polar did pay for postage both ways in my case so it only took about a week or so since I'm located in nj and polar's service location is in NY.

That wouldn't work as amazon will forward you to polar. I had an issue with my H10 and contacted amazon - they directed me to polar. Service was well, but took also a week as service center for my location is Netherlands.

[sayn3ver]

In all honesty, it may have been faster for me to request a replacement through Amazon and let the vendor deal with it. However polar did pay for postage both ways in my case so it only took about a week or so since I'm located in nj and polar's service location is in NY.

That wouldn't work as amazon will forward you to polar. I had an issue with my H10 and contacted amazon - they directed me to polar. Service was well, but took also a week as service center for my location is Netherlands.

I was still well within the Amazon return window. I could have asked for a return/refund because the device doesn't work and order a new one the same time.

I don't think that's ethical but certainly could be done and I would have had a replacement before my next workout.

Just saying.

[Sakly]

In all honesty, it may have been faster for me to request a replacement through Amazon and let the vendor deal with it. However polar did pay for postage both ways in my case so it only took about a week or so since I'm located in nj and polar's service location is in NY.

That wouldn't work as amazon will forward you to polar. I had an issue with my H10 and contacted amazon - they directed me to polar. Service was well, but took also a week as service center for my location is Netherlands.

I was still well within the Amazon return window. I could have asked for a return/refund because the device doesn't work and order a new one the same time.

I don't think that's ethical but certainly could be done and I would have had a replacement before my next workout.

Just saying.

Yes, that's right. I was out of the window, but only 5 month from date of purchase.
From environmental point of view you decided right (I think )

[sayn3ver]

That wouldn't work as amazon will forward you to polar. I had an issue with my H10 and contacted amazon - they directed me to polar. Service was well, but took also a week as service center for my location is Netherlands.

I was still well within the Amazon return window. I could have asked for a return/refund because the device doesn't work and order a new one the same time.

I don't think that's ethical but certainly could be done and I would have had a replacement before my next workout.

Just saying.

Yes, that's right. I was out of the window, but only 5 month from date of purchase.
From environmental point of view you decided right (I think )

I just would hate to see Amazon sell it as an open box or something.

[Sakly]

I was still well within the Amazon return window. I could have asked for a return/refund because the device doesn't work and order a new one the same time.

I don't think that's ethical but certainly could be done and I would have had a replacement before my next workout.

Just saying.

Yes, that's right. I was out of the window, but only 5 month from date of purchase.
From environmental point of view you decided right (I think )

I just would hate to see Amazon sell it as an open box or something.

At least if it is not marked as such an item...
I don't like to buy used/refurbished technical stuff, as very often it is not working as intended and was returned due to this reason.

[sayn3ver]

Update: the heart rate issue still persists. It started again a few weeks after the replacement was sent. At this point I'm just tired. Tired of every company that advertises functionality and then fails to deliver.

At this point I still don't know if it's a pm5 problem, a polar h9 monitor issue or a combination with these two and ErgData on my phone.

Some days I'll get all my work outs in with no issues. Some days it's one of the pieces out of several and some days it's every piece.

The problem is always the same.
Regardless of using Bluetooth or any+ with the h9 and the pm5.

I start a piece. The heart rate raises a little then spelt tumbles down to about 100bpm. It sits there for a few minutes then the rate will either creep up slowly to about 115-120 then jump immediately to roughly where my heart rate should be (130-150) for the piece. It'll appear to work for another good chunk of time then slowly decrease back down to the low 100's then repeat.

[Tsnor]

I feel your pain. Assuming you haven't already used a hammer to reconfigure the belt, suggest you

Take the PM5 out of the loop.

Connect your H9 ONLY to the polar beat app on your phone. Watch your phone as you row.

If the HR is garbage (and from your post garbage HR readings are obvious) then contact polar again. Or play with belt placement as described on the polar website (back instead of chest, higher, lower, tighter, looser). Or just buy a $30 polar soft pro belt with the high gain contacts.

If your HR is perfect on the polar beat app please post that. Next step then (if you want to take it) would be using the BT connection to Beat and the ANT+ to PM5 at the same time. They should move roughly together (baring the differences in the smoothing algorithms - there are some). You should not get dropouts on one and not the other.

EDIT: FWIW this is *not* a connection problem "It sits there for a few minutes then the rate will either creep up slowly to about 115-120 then jump immediately to roughly where my heart rate should be (130-150) for the piece. It'll appear to work for another good chunk of time then slowly decrease back down to the low 100's then repeat." If the PM5 loses connection it displays a frozen HR for a short time then it stops displaying HR. Unless you are also seeing a no-heart-rate display on the PM5 I'd guess this is H9 loosing your HR. Since they already replaced the module, if it were mine, I'd ask for a new belt if the problem is there using only Polar Beat (no PM5) connected to the H9.

[HornetMaX]

I had some problems with the H9 too in the past (>2 years age overall).
A couple of times I swapped battery and that fixed it (now I track how many hours a battery has).
Once I swapped the H9 belt for the pro one (H10) and that fixed it (so guess belts can go wrong over time).

Last few days I had the same issue, swapped battery but issue still there.
Today I did a reset of the H9 (as per polar procedure: take the battery out, press 10 secs with your fingers on the metal studs of the H9, then wait 30sec and put battery back in). I'll check next time if it's any better.

[gvcormac]

I had the same recurring problem. I think I have fixed it by washing the belt.

The problem it seems, is that salt from sweat on the strap -- the cloth part not the electrodes -- acts as an antenna that (a) loads the H9 transmitter and (b) tends to pick up EMR from high voltage transmission lines. (a) manifests itself as ridiculously low heart rates; (b) as stuck on 180 bpm (3 phase 60 hz).

Before I washed the belt, I tried my wife's transmitter (also an H9) on the same strap and it didn't work properly either.

I haven't used it that much in the month since I did this, but haven't had any problems, even running directly under 230kv lines.

[mict450]

I have both a CooSpoo chest monitor & a Polar optical. Admittedly, I find the CooSpoo more accurate but also more finicky. Which is why I mostly use the optical monitor.

Hardly ever wash the optical band as my arm doesn't sweat much. The chest band can get really funky if it's not rinsed out after every workout. And being just plumb lazy, well......

[nick rockliff]

I had the same problem with the H9, ended up in the bin.