Reebok HRM, Comments about - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

03-03-2005, 11:56 AM

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, 12:59 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, 12:59 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, 01:11 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.

03-03-2005, 01:11 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.

03-03-2005, 02:45 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, 02:45 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, 03:25 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, 03:25 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, 03:57 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.