As 2 have the POLAR FT4M now for almost 1 1/2 years and were thrilled from the start. We use it since about 2-3 times a week at the gym, so were able to test adequately him. Before we bought the POLAR, we bought another well-known heart rate monitor, which was a bit cheaper. However, of this, we were extremely disappointed because he could not establish link with the devices in the gym most of the time. This issue we have never had with the Polar. No matter what fitness machine we train, there will always be the pulse displayed on the device, pairing works immediately, for example if you sit on the ergometer. And the pulse is also only shown on the device on which you sit. I had already experienced differently by other gym-goers, as the pulse was displayed on my device from my neighbors. The commissioning went very quickly and the menu is very logical. It needs only the date and time, gender, date of birth, the size and weight are entered, and the POLAR is ready to go. The chest strap can be worn very pleasant and can also be washed. For this, you can easily remove the sensor that is attached by 2 snaps. We wash our chest belt regularly and it works perfectly so far. the pulse is after about 10-15 s displayed after connecting the chest strap and turning the clock. A demolition or wrong pulse we could not find before. It all works very reliable. So far we had on both watches after about 14 months change Battere, the chest strap, this was not necessary. During training, ie with activated clock, you can choose between different displays: - Calories - Time since power + time - Training zone, it is automatically determined based on age (can also be entered manually but) + current pulse - Heart rate The display of the calories and heart rate are very large and easy to read. The other two ads, the data are shown smaller, but also very easy to read even from. If so desired, you can set an alert that warns you when you're located outside the Triningszone. Likewise, you can key sounds on or off, select in the units between metric and imperische and select the language (English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Finnish and Swedish). In short menu, the keys can lock, set a alarm clock and time zones. Also to turn on a backlight, which is useful in the dark. In the menu located next to the item "inputs" another point "data". Here you get to the Triningsdateien. It displays only the last 10 training files, with each new file drops the oldest away. However, you can back up the files in which one before the file is deleted, the files in the hochläd Polar internet service manually. This we have not yet tried, because we do not need statistics. The last 10 training files are displayed in a bar chart and can be selected for closer viewing. To simplify the selection of the date and start time of each file is displayed on the bar graph. Choose a training file, the duration of the workout, the calories burned, average heart rate, maximum heart rate and the duration of the training in the training zone is displayed. Apart from the last 10 training files you can also show the total values since start-up of the heart rate monitor to display. Here, the total duration of the training sessions, the number of units and the total calories consumed will be displayed. Also can be used in the menu item data delete the files and the total values of all training sessions can be reset. We are completely thrilled by the FT4M, however, have to the short test another Pulsuhr no comparison. He works very reliable but we would buy us with a possible defect again the FT4M. Among the data collected, we can make no further details because we use the heart rate monitor only during gym stay and do not care statistics. Positive, we find, however, that you can save over the Internet the data, however, we must not forget that, since the data are cleared. Not so good we like here is that there seems no way are the data easy to store only on their PC, but you can upload on the Internet only through an applied Polar account. Since we may not use the, but see there is something critical to store its data on the Internet, we pull this off 1/2 star. The limited HeartTouch function (see below at point neutral) also leads to a small deduction of 1/4 star. So we rounded deduct 1 star.
Here a pre- / and disadvantages Summary:
Benefits: + Works very reliable (in 1 1/2 years has never failed) + Accurate data + Need to be able to show only 10-15s pulse + Connects directly to the Trainingscompter and is not disturbed (Polar OwnCode 5kHz) + Shows the calorie consumption at (Polar OwnCal, calculated by weight, size, age, gender and intensity of physical activity) + Easy setup + Intuitive menu guidance + Easy to read + During operation 4 different displays can be selected with all important information + Zone automatically, or manually adjustable Visually + training zone during exercise (see here is whether within or outside of the training zone, the current pulse and the training zone) + Akustisches- when leaving the training zone and / or visual signal + Heart rate and training zone can be in S / min, or Display in% (of maximum heart rate) + Adequate settings + The last 10 training data is stored
Neutral: 0 Heart Touch (noncontact change the display during operation, without pressing buttons) works very well, brings to the clock in the vicinity of the sensor changes the current display and time appears. I think that's very good, but only a change between the current display and time is possible. Here I would have liked that you can switch between all 4 possible display during operation. Unfortunately, not thought through.
Disadvantages: - The training data can be stored only on the polar side via the Internet (a Polar account must be opened). Here I would have an offline solution desired not interest me so much statistics, but I would very likely benefit if there were a possibility offline