Reebok HRM, Comments about - Triathlon Week

03-03-2005, 12:56 PM

Fellow Fitness Folks

Recently bought a Reebok Active Trainer HRM. I've read feedback about
problems but it was on clearance so I thought I give it a try.

First the good news - The transmitter, which has user replaceable battery,
seems to work fine and is Polar compatible. I've worn it to the gym and it
works with all the equipment [treadmills,bikes, elliptical etc] that have
the polar symbol.

The wrist-watch monitor, unfortunately has most of the problems I've heard
about when they first came out a couple of years ago. I would have thought
it would have been fixed by now. Most annoying, cause it's the point I most
want it, it reads erratically and high when I begin to jog fast and will
quickly reset to non-monitor mode. It will occasionally stop reading even
when I'm just resting. This failures happen at the same time a polar
monitor is reading everything just fine so I know it's not the transmitter.

Probably should have bought a Polar but I didn't like the 'no user battery
replacement' policy of Polar. Anyone know what other brands/models have
transmitters that work with gym equipment?

For what it's worth

Bob

03-03-2005, 01:59 PM

Bob Alan wrote:
> Probably should have bought a Polar but I didn't like the
> 'no user battery replacement' policy of Polar.

What "no user battery replacement" are your referring to?
I don't have my user manual handy.

If you are referring to a policy regarding the receiver,
such language is standard practice for many products.

First, it is really just a legal "out". I suspect Polar
would never enforce it unless it truly believes that a
warranty problem is related to the battery.

Second, the warranty is "only" for 2 years (at least,
according to an online statement). My receiver battery
lasted several years -- outside the warranty period.

I replaced my receiver battery through a watch repair
place without giving it a second thought. Of course,
the watch repairment forewarned me that it could break
the waterproof seal. Again, that is standard practice.

Bottom line: IMHO, Polar products are simply "too good"
to pass them by due to a technicality like this.

03-03-2005, 02:11 PM

Bob Alan wrote:

> Fellow Fitness Folks
>
> Recently bought a Reebok Active Trainer HRM. I've read feedback about
> problems but it was on clearance so I thought I give it a try.
>
> First the good news - The transmitter, which has user replaceable battery,
> seems to work fine and is Polar compatible. I've worn it to the gym and it
> works with all the equipment [treadmills,bikes, elliptical etc] that have
> the polar symbol.
>
> The wrist-watch monitor, unfortunately has most of the problems I've heard
> about when they first came out a couple of years ago. I would have thought
> it would have been fixed by now. Most annoying, cause it's the point I most
> want it, it reads erratically and high when I begin to jog fast and will
> quickly reset to non-monitor mode. It will occasionally stop reading even
> when I'm just resting. This failures happen at the same time a polar
> monitor is reading everything just fine so I know it's not the transmitter.
>
> Probably should have bought a Polar but I didn't like the 'no user battery
> replacement' policy of Polar. Anyone know what other brands/models have
> transmitters that work with gym equipment?
>
> For what it's worth
>
> Bob
>
>
>

I have a Polar 720 and love it. The unit works very reliably.

Regarding Polar's no user-replacement policy. The battery in my HRM
started to run low and I mailed Polar customer support. They told me
that it would be ok to simply have a jeweler replace the battery. I did
that and the only problem was that they are using a somewhat exotic
battery that needed to be special-ordered.

pyschosyd · 03-03-2005, 02:51 PM

I used to work at a shop that sold polar, and sometimes they were sticky about honouring warranty issues if the battery has been replaced by an outside source, however if the customers complained about them not honouring the warranty, polar was quick to honour it for them.

I have a Sigma HRM. I bought it because I also have a bike computer made by Sigma that I really like so I figured that I would give the HRM a shot as well. It has worked great, and is compatible with the equipment at the gym. It is also significantly cheaper than the polar with more features offered with the entry level models. I'm happy with it. You may have to ask the bike stores about it. They may not carry it, but any store that uses NORCO or LAMBERT as distributers would be able to get them for you.

Syd

03-03-2005, 03:45 PM

<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1109883561.025885.151500@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...
> Bob Alan wrote:
>> Probably should have bought a Polar but I didn't like the
>> 'no user battery replacement' policy of Polar.
>
> What "no user battery replacement" are your referring to?
> I don't have my user manual handy.
>
> If you are referring to a policy regarding the receiver,
> such language is standard practice for many products.

I *think* Bob is referring to the chest transmitter. The path of least
resistance is to mail it to Polar for a battery replacement. I do not have
the faith or patience in most customer service.

Therefore, I have a Timex HRM. The owner can replace the
chest-strap/transmitter or wrist-watch/receiver batteries with standard drug
store stock.

I still own a couple of Polar models and a couple of Timex - - accumulated
over years. The Polars stay in my trunk and my desk at work, in case I
forget to put the Timex in my bag.

rsquared

03-03-2005, 04:25 PM

" Bob Alan" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:OZJVd.7065$2s.584@lakeread06...
> Fellow Fitness Folks
>
> Recently bought a Reebok Active Trainer HRM. I've read feedback about
> problems but it was on clearance so I thought I give it a try.
>

Bob, I went through two of those Reebok HRM's. After I had all the problems
you reported with the first one, I got a second one to see if it made any
difference. It didn't. They're absolute crap. I'm glad you got them at a
discount, because I paid full price for mine.

Throw them in the trash or ebay them right now, and go get yourself a Polar.
You'll be much happier, trust me on that. The Polar's I've bought to
replace that Reebok crap work like a dream in comparison. And, they work
(and work better) with the gym equipment, too. Yes, you have to send your
transmitter in to have them change the battery, but that's only once every
two years, and they're pretty quick about sending it back. It's well worth
the hassle.

Regards,
H.

03-03-2005, 04:57 PM

I've seen messages where users complain abt their Polar transmitters [ the
chest strap ] because they

1- have tabbed [soldered] batteries that had to be sent back.
2- had not been returned from Polar for over a month [may be a fluke]
3- total cost with shipping $30

Most of the non-Polar HRM's use a low cost lithium battery's that sell in
the less then ~ $2 range at discount stores. I realize, if the unit doesn't
work then it's not worth it but it's the reason I'm interested in learning
if there are low cost non-Polar HRM's that work well.

<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1109883561.025885.151500@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...

I replaced my receiver battery through a watch repair place without giving
it a second thought. Of course, the watch repairment forewarned me that it
could break the waterproof seal. Again, that is standard practice.

Bottom line: IMHO, Polar products are simply "too good" to pass them by due
to a technicality like this.

03-03-2005, 05:21 PM

Isn't it obvious? Buy a Polar, and use it with the Reebock transmitter.
You've already spent some money on the Reebock, so why not get some
benefit--by overcoming your only objection to the Polar.

03-03-2005, 06:41 PM

"Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> wrote in message
news:6SNVd.319909$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].worldnet.att.net...
> Isn't it obvious? Buy a Polar, and use it with the Reebock transmitter.
> You've already spent some money on the Reebock, so why not get some
> benefit--by overcoming your only objection to the Polar.

While this may work, I would imagine that part of the reason that Polar's
work so well is because their transmitters are better than the Reeboks.

I can also say that the current Polar chest strap (It think it's the T61)
feels more comfortable to me and is more secure than the Reebok, so that's
another reason not to do that. Also, Polar has a new redesigned strap where
the sensor pads are actually cloth instead of hard plastic, which to me
sounds to be a better deal yet. Soon as I free up some extra money, I'm
going to get myself one and see.

Anyway, the Polar's work so well that it's well worth the relatively small
hassle of having to mail the transmitter in once every two years. You pop
it into a padded envelope, wait a week, and a new one comes in the mail.
Simple.

Besides, if he buys a polar right now, he won't have to do that until 2007.
Heck, by then it'll probably be obsolete and it won't be worth doing anyway.

Regards,
H.

03-03-2005, 07:11 PM

Let me tell you my Polar story. I have a Polar M52 which is easily 10 years
old. It's always worked flawlessly, but last year the watch battery died.
Polar has a "tune up" for $16 or so, in which they change the battery and
clean it up. I sent the watch and transmitter off with payment, and received
it back in a week. However, they didn't just change the watch battery. They
sent a letter explaining that the transmitter wasn't functioning properly,
so they replaced it for free. They also sent me a free T-shirt. Moral of the
story? Buy a Polar. :-)

03-03-2005, 08:02 PM

"HardwareLust" wrote: (clip) Besides, if he buys a polar right now, he won't
have to do that until 2007. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Of course, that crossed my mind also. If he buys a Polar, he will have an
extra chestband. If he takes the battery out of the Reebock, he can use the
Polar until it needs service. He then has the option of sending off the
Polar, or just switching to the Reebock. And, if he does decide to have the
Polar serviced, he has the Reebock to use during the week or two turn
around.

Point is, buying a Polar with the Reebock as a backup, or buying a Polar
just to use, involve exactly the same steps.

03-04-2005, 12:13 AM

HardwareLust wrote:
> Yes, you have to send your transmitter in to have them
> change the battery, but that's only once every two years

Of course, that depends on how much you use the HRM. Mine
lasted a l-o-t longer -- several years. By the time it died,
Polar had come out with the slimmer transmitter. I simply
bought a new one.

I did not think the transmitter battery policy was a big deal
because I thought (wrongly, I guess) that they all would be
that way. It makes sense to me that the transmitter battery
would not be user-replacement. Frankly, I did not think it was
even factory-replacement. I assumed that it is hermetically
sealed. I assumed that Polar simply sends you a whole new
transmitter, much like PC manufacturers send replacement disk
drive and PCI cards. I guess I'm wrong about that, too.

Anyway, when you amortize the cost of the transmitter over its
lifetime, I don't think it is expensive at all. You are paying
for the receiver features, not for the transmitter.

Sorry. I don't mean to be so gung-ho about Polar. If a cheaper
knock-off works just as well or better, by all means buy it.
It sounds like Reebok's HRM does not fit the bill.

03-04-2005, 07:31 AM

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 01:41:48 GMT, "HardwareLust" <n00ne@n0where.c0m> wrote:

>
>"Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> wrote in message
>news:6SNVd.319909$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].worldnet.att.net...
>> Isn't it obvious? Buy a Polar, and use it with the Reebock transmitter.
>> You've already spent some money on the Reebock, so why not get some
>> benefit--by overcoming your only objection to the Polar.
>
>While this may work, I would imagine that part of the reason that Polar's
>work so well is because their transmitters are better than the Reeboks.

Easy to find out, just were the transmitter band into Walmart and visit the
sporting goods section.

>Besides, if he buys a polar right now, he won't have to do that until 2007.
>Heck, by then it'll probably be obsolete and it won't be worth doing anyway.

Why on earth would it be "obsolete?"

It is terrifying to imagine what changes in the human anatomy could occur in so
short a time as to make it obsolete. Unless hearts controlled by electrical
impulses fall out of favor no HRM you buy this year will ever become "obsolete."

This is how the sports and cycling industry sucker so many people into buying so
much **** they don't need. Absolutely stupid.

Ron

03-04-2005, 07:47 AM

I have found the polar-mail-in battery matter to be one of those areas
that demonstrates differences in people's personalities. It seems
unlikely that any amount of reasoning will win someone over to the
other side. Just know yourself and you prior habits.

* Do you *like* to tinker with electronics? Even if you risk wrecking
it?
* Will you pay 15% more, for 5% better, just to have *the best*?
* Do you need to know the status of your "stuff", to the minute? Will
you go postal if the transmitter is one day late and no one can tell
you where it is?

rsquared

03-04-2005, 12:06 PM

"RonSonic" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Why on earth would it be "obsolete?"

Maybe not 'obsolete' in the sense it no longer functions properly, but
'obsolete' in the sense that the OP has advanced to the point where he
wants/needs to use better or more advanced equipment. Yes, the HRM I bought
two years ago is not "obsolete" as an HRM, but I've bought a better HRM in
the meantime, so the old one is not much use to *me* anymore.

Perhaps 'obsolete' was a poor choice of words.

<snip>

> This is how the sports and cycling industry sucker so many people into
buying so
> much **** they don't need. Absolutely stupid.

Sometimes that is true, but that's certainly not always the case. I'd be
willing to bet that you're not still nailing cleats to your shoes, or
wearing wool shorts, or using metal bottles with cork stoppers anymore. Do
you consider that being 'suckered'? I mean, that old stuff still works,
after a fashion...but personally I'll take synthetic shorts, plastic bottles
and my Look pedals instead.

Regards,
H.