Suunto T6

Michael R · Post by **Michael R** » September 11th, 2006, 8:24 pm

Inspired by the recent discussion of the Suunto T6 I went ahead and ordered one. Unfortunately, it arrived today with the sensor band broken into three pieces (don't buy from Beach Audio: they won't reimburse shipping in either direction). While I look around for another source, I wonder if Mark Pukita or others can tell us more about what the T6 does and why it's better than regular heart rate monitoring. I've read about heart rate variability but I'm not sure how a heart rate monitor is able to calculate "EPOC" and other variables, nor how it is able to tell when you have gotten the maximum benefit from a work out. Is anyone willing to lay it out in layman's terms? The Suunto web site is long on flash but short on straightforward explanation.

Thanks in advance,

Michael

toonraider · Post by **toonraider** » September 12th, 2006, 9:15 am

Hey Michael.

I too recently bought a Suunto T6. Personally I think it's a great tool.
First of all, it records HR with accuracy over the entire session, as oppose to the Polar/PM3 "I'll just divide the split end-HR" - tactics.

But more important, it is the only HRM available (to my knowledge) that actually gives you some kind of indication, on how useful (improving) your efforts (training session) was.

It isn't the HRM that calculates the EPOC value, but the computer software that comes with the Suunto T6. I don't particularly know the formula they are using for converting HR/HRV to EPOC values, but if you read the documentation from Suunto, it appears that they have verified the results measured by the T6, against laboratory testing (blood samples) of athletes, and that the precision of the T6 formula is in the low nineties percentile.

EPOC itself is a measurement of how much extra oxygen your body requires after a given exercise, as oppose to normal, and is somehow correlated directly to the effect the given exercise had on your cardio vascular system.

I am sorry I am not able to answer your questions in more details. I can only congratulate you on having purchased this device, as I find it highly motivating to be able to measure the results of your efforts.

Best regards
Michael

Alissa · Post by **Alissa** » September 12th, 2006, 1:54 pm

Hi Michael.

I agree that the Suunto site is not long on explanations. You might want to check out the FirstBeat web site, since I understand they created the software utilized with the Suunto T6... There's lots of interesting stuff there.

Enjoy!

Alissa

Sean Seamus · Post by **Sean Seamus** » September 12th, 2006, 2:11 pm

I always use an HR monitor, a simple basic Polar, but am considering changing to a more detailed system.

I agree completely with the exasperation at the opaque marketing drivel that the HRM people put out. Several times I have screwed up my courage and patience to read through the literature / web sites, and come away flummoxed. Both Suunto and Polar are dreadful.

So:
1 - has anyone the ability to explain the differences / advantages / products ?

2 - any opinions as to why this product line is presented the way it is ?

mpukita · Post by **mpukita** » September 12th, 2006, 2:49 pm

See (in no real order of significance):

http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... ght=suunto

http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... &start=135

... there should be some good stuff there ...

Michael R · Post by **Michael R** » September 13th, 2006, 2:15 pm

mpukita wrote:See (in no real order of significance):

http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... ght=suunto

http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... &start=135

... there should be some good stuff there ...

Thanks to everyone for the responses.

I looked at the First Beat web site: the software looks beautiful. It seems that only Suunto measures heart rate variability. The other product that uses their software seems to be more about mapping the route with GPS and measuring simple heart rate rather than training effect.

The first link that Mark posted was especially useful. It seems that the T6 really needs to be set up right to be effective. To get the most out of it you have to accurately input your training level, lung capacity, maximum heart rate etc. I guess I should see about getting these things measured.

On that thread Eddie Fletcher said that 2k time correlates well with VO2max. But my 2k time has changed by over 40s since I started using the rower a few months ago. I doubt my VO2max has changed that much! Is there a better way of estimating from, say, a hard 10k effort? Or is this something that the T6 (or the software) can estimate once I've been using it for a while? Is the same true of "training bands"? Will the software show where I am training aerobically and anaerobically etc, or is that something I have to establish in a lab first? Trying not to get obsessed about this...

Thanks again for all the answers, and apologies for all the new questions.

Michael

Eddie Fletcher · Post by **Eddie Fletcher** » September 14th, 2006, 5:15 pm

Hi All

For those of you who have purchased a t6 - good choice - I firmly believe the t6 is a step forward.

10.00 pm here in the UK and I've just got in after a long day working! Will endeavour to put some succinct explanations of how the t6 works, what it measures and what it means tomorrow.

Alissa · Post by **Alissa** » September 14th, 2006, 6:00 pm

Eddie Fletcher wrote:Hi All

For those of you who have purchased a t6 - good choice - I firmly believe the t6 is a step forward.

10.00 pm here in the UK and I've just got in after a long day working! Will endeavour to put some succinct explanations of how the t6 works, what it measures and what it means tomorrow.

Thanks Eddie! I'm looking forward to seeing it!

Alissa

Eddie Fletcher · Post by **Eddie Fletcher** » September 18th, 2006, 12:35 pm

See thread in General section

Bob S. · Post by **Bob S.** » September 18th, 2006, 11:18 pm

Just what does heart rate mean? I'll be 82 this Wednesday, so my "max" is supposedly 138bpm. In the last three weeks, I have been doing a series of UT1 pieces with pace goal of 2:10 or under and have been mostly under the goal. My heart beat was consistently in the 140s for all the pieces. Today, I did my first UT2 piece, 40' with a goal of 2:14 or under. I averaged 2:13.6 with generally negative splits across the board - but - my heart rate was in the 150s from early on in the piece! Why the hell should it be higher at a significantly slower pace?

I think I know the reason. This is a rather arid area and we spent quite a bit of time at a local outdoor music festival over the weekend. I was making an effort to drink plenty of water, but my weight was down this morning and I think that it was because I just didn’t drink enough.

It was just about a month ago when I had my first ambulance ride – getting getting my ass hauled off to the ER for problems derived from not drinking enough water. It didn’t have anything to do with making weight or erging (?), but maybe I’ll report on it in a message to the forum one of these days.

Bob S.