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Click to view Dutchie42's profile Amateur
Dutchie42
15 posts since
Feb 8, 2004

Dec 26, 2007 7:02 AM

Help, long, but big Polar HRM

ETA: I meant to say big Polar HRM problem in the title

I bought the Polar RS800sd in March from an official Polar dealer with a one year warranty. Right out of the box it worked fine. In April I got an extra footpod as a present. Right out of the package I used the feature teach footpod and the footpod and HRM worked fine. In May, the HRM couldn't find the signal of the 1st footpod anymore. I replaced the battery but the HRM kept saying "check sensor". In June, the same happened to the 2nd footpod. Replaced battery, HRM kept saying check sensor. When using the feature teach sensor, the HRM comes back with "can't find sensor".
Sent the HRM in for repair. Came back with a note that there was nothing wrong with the HRM. Problems were caused cause a lot of memory was used and I should clear memory. I thought that was total **** but I did clear the memory. Still "check sensor" with both (!) footpods. Sent it in for repairs again. This time it came back with electronic fault. It was repaired. HRM worked for 3 runs exactly, totalling about 37KM's. I then used it in my very first 30K race and from the start, it was 'check sensor' again. I have no data at all from that race, except time. I replaced batteries of both footpods. Still 'check sensor'. Took it in for repairs (3rd time). Got it back and I was told that there was nothing wrong with the HRM, but that it always takes a while before the HRM would recognise the footpods when the battery's have been replaced. I tried the feature "teach sensor" again for both footpods, with a room inbetween the footpods when I did. And again it came back with "can't find sensor", for both footpods.
I've been walking around with the HRM and one footpod all day yesterday. Still "check sensor".

Does anyone know what might be the problem? Do any of you think the memory should be cleared? Or that it really takes a while before the HRM recognises the footpod with new battery? Couldn't find anything about this in the manual.

BTW, this is the Netherlands where I live. Demanding a new HRM is not gonna be of much help. Polar service centre also claims they hardly ever get the RS800sd back for repairs.

I'd appreciate any feedback.
Dutchie



http://This message has been edited by Dutchie42 (edited Oct-21-2007).
Click to view AKTrail's profile Legend
AKTrail
360 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
1. Oct 21, 2007 2:04 AM in response to: Dutchie42
I've not used the 800sd, but I've had a 625sx for about 3 yrs and not had those problems. I've replaced the footpod battery several times with no problems. I had to send watch in for battery replacement in the spring (2.5 yrs of use) and it's been fine other than that. I don't use the footpod too often since my winter running may be mostly snowshoe running, and I haven't taken the time to figure out how to attach the sensor to binding (partly since I'm not sure how well it would work). When the watch battery gets low, it starts having problems with reception and communication. But since yours has been into shop several times, that shouldn't be an issue.

I've never used the "teach sensor" mode as it worked reasonably well out of the box for me. I run mostly trails with shorter stride, and I do think when I run with a longer stride on gravel roads (or higher efforts), that it may need to be calibrated for that. Just haven't done it.

I'm assuming when you're turning the footpod on, that you press the button long enough for the green flashing light to come on and stay on. When I've forgotten to do that (or if it turns off in middle of run) is about the only time I can remember the "check sensor" message coming on.

Sorry I can't be of more help.
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Click to view Bigdave10000's profile Pro
Bigdave10000
87 posts since
Oct 22, 2007
2. Dec 26, 2007 7:02 AM in response to: Dutchie42
Are you standing still until the watch picks up the speed sensor? Usually takes about 10 seconds for the blinking runner turns solid on the watch.

Sorry I can't offer more help. I had the S625 for over 3 years before I traded up to the RS800. Over 8000 miles recorded so far with no problems.

http://This message has been edited by bigdave10000 (edited Oct-21-2007).
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Click to view tomjar's profile Rookie
tomjar
7 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
3. Dec 26, 2007 7:02 AM in response to: Dutchie42
quote:<HR>Originally posted by Dutchie42:
ETA: I meant to say big Polar HRM problem in the title

I bought the Polar RS800sd in March from an official Polar dealer with a one year warranty. Right out of the box it worked fine. In April I got an extra footpod as a present. Right out of the package I used the feature teach footpod and the footpod and HRM worked fine. In May, the HRM couldn't find the signal of the 1st footpod anymore. I replaced the battery but the HRM kept saying "check sensor". In June, the same happened to the 2nd footpod. Replaced battery, HRM kept saying check sensor. When using the feature teach sensor, the HRM comes back with "can't find sensor".
Sent the HRM in for repair. Came back with a note that there was nothing wrong with the HRM. Problems were caused cause a lot of memory was used and I should clear memory. I thought that was total **** but I did clear the memory. Still "check sensor" with both (!) footpods. Sent it in for repairs again. This time it came back with electronic fault. It was repaired. HRM worked for 3 runs exactly, totalling about 37KM's. I then used it in my very first 30K race and from the start, it was 'check sensor' again. I have no data at all from that race, except time. I replaced batteries of both footpods. Still 'check sensor'. Took it in for repairs (3rd time). Got it back and I was told that there was nothing wrong with the HRM, but that it always takes a while before the HRM would recognise the footpods when the battery's have been replaced. I tried the feature "teach sensor" again for both footpods, with a room inbetween the footpods when I did. And again it came back with "can't find sensor", for both footpods.
I've been walking around with the HRM and one footpod all day yesterday. Still "check sensor".

Does anyone know what might be the problem? Do any of you think the memory should be cleared? Or that it really takes a while before the HRM recognises the footpod with new battery? Couldn't find anything about this in the manual.

BTW, this is the Netherlands where I live. Demanding a new HRM is not gonna be of much help. Polar service centre also claims they hardly ever get the RS800sd back for repairs.

I'd appreciate any feedback.
Dutchie

http://This message has been edited by Dutchie42 (edited Oct-21-2007).<HR>


Hi. I am from this side of the pond too (Slovenia). Sounds like one of those nasty faults where you cannot replicate the mulfunction at will. I had such a problem with my old Polar S410 unit and its HR chest strap. After more than 2 years the HRM stopped working reliably. I stopped sending it for servicing because whenever they test it, it is always performing without problems. But when in "real" use (during running) the HR signal occasionally gets beserk (all kinds of values get displayed). And it is not the battery, nor the strap itself (the same happens with the chest strap from the RS800sd sensor) nor the contacts on the sensor nor the powerlines. It is also not the S410 unit itself because it still works perfectly with an "ancient" non-coded Sigma-Sport HR chest strap and sensor.

I have had a new RS800sd for 2 months now myself but so far the footpod-wrist unit communication seems to be working all right. When I activate the wrist unit the BPM signal is picked up within 1-2 seconds but for the footpod signal it takes about 5-10 seconds.
What is a bit strange is that in most cases my wrist unit reports the "check sensor" mesage for a moment at the end of the 10-sec interval and accompanies this with a warning beep (as if there IS a problem in communication) but immediately afterwards the blinking runner always turns solid thus confirming that the footpod has been found. In rare occasions when the interval to pick up the footpod signal is less than 10 seconds, the blinking runner turns solid without a warning (I belive this is how it should be normally).

After about 30 hours of use (I don't run with it all the time) the original footpod battery is still o.k..

And yeah, I do stand more or less still while the communication with footpod is being established (I think it says so in the instructions) but once I also tried it while walking and it worked just as well so I don't know how critical this is.

I wish I could be of more help. Good luck!

Tomaz


http://This message has been edited by tomjar (edited Oct-22-2007).
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Click to view Dutchie42's profile Amateur
Dutchie42
15 posts since
Feb 8, 2004
4. Oct 22, 2007 1:50 PM in response to: Dutchie42
Thanks people, I even sit at the dinner table with the foot pod and the watch and it still doesn't see it. You can even have it "seek the footpod" and it can't find it.
Guess I'll ask the running shop if I can take it to the Polar Service Centre myself and have them test it / repair it in my presence. The Polar service centre is about 10 minutes from my house. And maybe if I explain myself what's happening they understand it better then when I tell the shop owner who then tells the engineer.

Thanks again.
Dutchie
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Click to view Bigdave10000's profile Pro
Bigdave10000
87 posts since
Oct 22, 2007
5. Oct 23, 2007 11:40 AM in response to: Dutchie42
You may also want to join the Yahoo Group

Polar-RS_SD_X

You might have better luck posting your question there.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Polar-RS_SD_X/[/URL" target="_blank">

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