Which heart rate monitor

[HornetMaX]

Got an H9 for more than 3 years: only "issue" is strap durability, at some point you'll need to replace it and Polar official ones are expensive (some non-Polar ones are compatible, I'll try one next time, maybe). Battery life is good, just remember to take the pod off the strap when not in use.

The H10 is only needed if you want onboard memory (e.g. if you swim, row OTW or anything else that does not allow you to carry your smartphone): anything else is identical to the H9 (e.g. HR sensor).

That said, probably Garmin & Coospo chest straps are equally good (some Coospo cost less/about than the polar replacement strap alone).

I'd advise against wrist HR sensors (optical) typically on smartwatches (I have one): very inaccurate (for rowing and for many other activities).
Arm bands do a bit better in general, but still worse than any chest strap.

FWIW, the H9 & H10 are used by most as the reference to compare to (and I've seen them considered as practically medical grade).

[Cujo]

I’ve been using the Polar H10 since January 7, 2019. I have 772 workouts logged logged on the RowErg with it and it has functioned flawlessly. I change out the battery every 6 months and I throw the strap in the washing machine every so often. I purchased another strap to keep as a spare just in case. Hopefully, I don’t run into any of the problems previous posters have mentioned. For me it was money well spent and I couldn’t imagine getting on the Erg without a HRM.

[Carl Watts]

I always put the strap in a sink full of hot water and swirl it around before and after use, I NEVER put the strap in a washing machine.

To dry I get a clean towel and squeeze the strap along the length between the towel.

Even the cheap AliExpress replacement straps last years.

[HornetMaX]

I always put the strap in a sink full of hot water and swirl it around before and after use, I NEVER put the strap in a washing machine.

To dry I get a clean towel and squeeze the strap along the length between the towel.

Even the cheap AliExpress replacement straps last years.

I tried everything across 4 polar straps (one regular, 3 pro): handwash with at each session (4/week), with sopa, then with water only, then with gel soap ...I burn one in less than 1 year, then I start to see some unexpected drops in HR, some plateaux etc. New strap, problem gone. Now I'm trying the "never wash" tactic.

[Sakly]

Using my polar strap and sensor (H10) for 3 years now. Never washed the strap, only squeezing with a towel after sweaty sessions. Works fine.
The sensor has some unexpected pass-outs from time to time, don't know the reason. Apart from this sensor works fine as well.

[IStream]

FWIW, I ordered a Coospo H808S and it was DOA. I changed the battery, put it on and gave it plenty of time to "wake up", etc but there were no signs of life. Disappointed, I exchanged it for another. Exact same story. I guess you get what you pay for, or less.

[gvcormac]

FWIW, I ordered a Coospo H808S and it was DOA. I changed the battery, put it on and gave it plenty of time to "wake up", etc but there were no signs of life. Disappointed, I exchanged it for another. Exact same story. I guess you get what you pay for, or less.

That's disappointing. Amazon? That's where I got mine, and it worked. One nice feature is that it beeps twice when activated and once when deactivated. So you don't need a receiver to verify that it is operational.

[IStream]

FWIW, I ordered a Coospo H808S and it was DOA. I changed the battery, put it on and gave it plenty of time to "wake up", etc but there were no signs of life. Disappointed, I exchanged it for another. Exact same story. I guess you get what you pay for, or less.

That's disappointing. Amazon? That's where I got mine, and it worked. One nice feature is that it beeps twice when activated and once when deactivated. So you don't need a receiver to verify that it is operational.

Yeah, Amazon. They didn't make it easy to return, either. Usually, they'll send me a QR code that I can present at the UPS store and they'll take it without a box or label and I'll get a refund that same day. With the Coospos, they required boxes and labels and there's no credit given until physical receipt at the Amazon returns facility.

[Dangerscouse]

FWIW, I ordered a Coospo H808S and it was DOA. I changed the battery, put it on and gave it plenty of time to "wake up", etc but there were no signs of life. Disappointed, I exchanged it for another. Exact same story. I guess you get what you pay for, or less.

I've also had two CooSpo H808s, and they've been great with no issues, apart from the first one eventually dying, which I assume was due to too much sweat

[IStream]

Just an update...I bit the bullet and bought a Polar H10. I pulled it out of the box, put it on, connected it to the PM5, and did my workout with everything working beautifully.

[IStream]

Now that I've got a reliable heart rate monitor, I've got a question about using it. My understanding, possibly incorrect, is that the current gen PM5 won't remember and automatically connect to the HRM and that you need to manually connect it every time. However, my earlier gen PM5 with a USB port will remember the HRM and automatically connect as long as the data are saved to a USB stick.

Is there any way to get the PM5 to remember the HRM and automatically connect without the USB stick?

Thanks.

[Tsnor]

Now that I've got a reliable heart rate monitor, I've got a question about using it. My understanding, possibly incorrect, is that the current gen PM5 won't remember and automatically connect to the HRM and that you need to manually connect it every time. However, my earlier gen PM5 with a USB port will remember the HRM and automatically connect as long as the data are saved to a USB stick.

Is there any way to get the PM5 to remember the HRM and automatically connect without the USB stick?

Thanks.

Ergdata remembers your HR monitor.

Connect Ergdata first, Ergdata will (silently) tell the PM5 to connect your HR monitor. Works really well when I row at the boathouse, any PM5 I connect to Ergdata immediately connects to my HR without me needing to remember which of the dozen HR monitors visible is mine.

[gvcormac]

I put on my HRM transmitter, then turn on the PM5 and Ergdata (in either order). HRM almost always connects automatically. Every few weeks it "forgets" and I have to "connect" on the HRM and then click "remember HRM" on the ErgData popup that ensues.

If you plug a USB stick into the PM5 instead of using ErgData, it will also remember your HRM.

[HornetMaX]

I'm old school: HRM on, turn PM5 on, connect HRM to PM5, then fire up ErgData/ErgZone and connect it to PM5.
Not even sure it takes more time as I do this while gearing up. But I see Tsnor point: when there are plenty of HRMs around (gym, boathouse), manual connect may be annoying.

Connect Ergdata first, Ergdata will (silently) tell the PM5 to connect your HR monitor.

Just curious: is this 100.000% equivalent to connecting the HRM "directly" to the PM5 (and fire up ErgData after) ?
I mean even in corner cases, e.g. ErgData crashes mid-session: can i still see the HR on the PM5 no matter if I connected the HRM to the PM5 directly or "via ErgData" ?

[gvcormac]

Connect Ergdata first, Ergdata will (silently) tell the PM5 to connect your HR monitor.

Just curious: is this 100.000% equivalent to connecting the HRM "directly" to the PM5 (and fire up ErgData after) ?
I mean even in corner cases, e.g. ErgData crashes mid-session: can i still see the HR on the PM5 no matter if I connected the HRM to the PM5 directly or "via ErgData" ?

Yes, it is 100% equivalent. It shows and behaves exactly the same, both on the PM5 and ErgData. ErgData literally tells the PM5 to connect, which it does.