Polar IR Transfer Issues

disgruntledgoat

You were all very helpful with my Polar Pro-Trainer issues so maybe you can help me transfer the data from my CS600 to my computer. Recently invested in a new PC with evil, nasty Vista on it. I bought a new IR dongle last week that simply will not instal on Vista, it doesn't have the drivers. Drivers are available, but require skills beyond mine to install (i don't know where they're supposed to go or which driver files to remove, for a start!)... So, aside from POlars own £40 dongle, does anybody know of one that will work with Vista?

johnnyc71

I've read that this one works with Vista

https://pc-stop.co.uk/product/sitecom-- ... da-adapter

http://sitecom.com/product.php?productn ... bgroupid=2

doyler78

To install drivers in Vista do the following:

1) If the drivers are zipped extract them to a folder where you can easily find them. I use a folder on the desktop. If it's not zipped then just make a note of where the drivers are actually on your computer

2) Go into the Control by clicking the start button look down the right side of the popup and you will see Control Panel

3) From within the Control Panel click into the Hardware and Sound section

4) From within that click into Device Manager

5) Browse down the list to find your irda device (which should have a big exclamation beside it as there are no drivers for it).

6) Right click on the irda device and choose update driver

7) Choose Browse my computer for driver software

Eight) Make sure include subfolers is ticked and go into the browse button and go to the folder where the drivers are and choose Next (note it is important to choose the top level folder and not any particular file in the drivers folder as you will restrict the search to just that file which may or may not be the correct driver).

If there are working drivers in that folder it will find them and move them to appropriate section within the Windows directory and the device should now work.

At least give it a go and save yourself some money.

As regards Vista - well the problem isn't Vista the problem is that Polar are using a largely redundant technology and Windows 7 which is due out next month will not be turning the clock back either.

andyrr

Wonder if the IR transfer under Vista for the CS600 worked ?
Just got a CS600 via the classifieds on here and having installed the driver as per above (also the helpful Polar website) the IR device flashes when I try a transfer in the Protrainer5 s/w but the hrm computer sits there dumb when I put it into Connect / Infrared Communication - anythign else I am missing ?
I got the IR device to work ok with my old S625 watch and it appears that PC / SW and IR are working just the HRM isn't talking/listening !

GavH

From memory when I had a CS600 and a PC running XP, there are some Dongle's that will simply NOT work with Polar - nothing to do with the OS or the drivers but instead the chipset within the dongle (something to do with timing?). I'd advise a thorough google session before you start wasting time with drivers etc. I ended up just binning a dongle and buying a new one that worked straight away without any faffing.

doyler78

You need the newer (there was an older one and then brought a new version when Vista came out) Polar usb IR dongle for it to work. Where did you get the dongle? Did it come with the CS600 that you aquired?

andyrr

Dongle came with s/h S625 I had (that HRM constantly wants to reset itself), I did get the IR + HRM to work, the IR does flash about once/second when I try a transfer but it fails to communicate with the HRM and the HRM shows no sign of getting a connection. I recall it did take a few goes with the S625 but I seemed to get there. Got PC with XP and laptop w/vista but both exhibit the same issue.

Polar dongle is marked as N2965

doyler78

andyrr wrote:

Dongle came with s/h S625 I had (that HRM constantly wants to reset itself), I did get the IR + HRM to work, the IR does flash about once/second when I try a transfer but it fails to communicate with the HRM and the HRM shows no sign of getting a connection. I recall it did take a few goes with the S625 but I seemed to get there. Got PC with XP and laptop w/vista but both exhibit the same issue.

Polar dongle is marked as N2965

Phone Polar technical support. Regular telephone number and they will be able to advise if you have the correct dongle or not. The number I used the last time I phoned them was 0192 631 0330. Can be a little difficult to get through to them at times. If that doesn't work photograph the dongle in hi-res and email that to UK technical support (on polar website). Their tech support is excellent and they will quickly trouble shoot it for you.

andyrr

Cheers - the HRM works fine (used it this AM) and the dongle works so it seems to be an issue between the 2 of them.

doyler78

andyrr wrote:

Cheers - the HRM works fine (used it this AM) and the dongle works so it seems to be an issue between the 2 of them.

Yeah but that confirms my suspicions that I think that the old IR dongles do not work with the new Polar hrms however Polar could confirm if that is the case as no point shelling out for a new IR dongle if the problem is with the hrm.

andyrr

Searching around the Polar website and forum it looks like my Polar IR adaptor (the long white one) is limited to the S-series watches.
That being the case can anyone help with what IR device would work with my CS600 ?

TCR ISP

andyrr wrote:

Searching around the Polar website and forum it looks like my Polar IR adaptor (the long white one) is limited to the S-series watches.
That being the case can anyone help with what IR device would work with my CS600 ?

It's the one that looks like a USB memory stick. Contact these guys - they're sh*t hot on Polar products and offer great service:

http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk/polar_cs600x.html

andyrr

Thought I'd go to Maplin at lunchtime as they were the nearest/quickest source of an IRDA device - if it didn't work it would go back for a redund.
http://tinyurl.com/maplin-irda-adaptor

Tested - works with Vista laptop, not tested with XP yet but it claims it will so I'll try this later tonight. Not a bad deal, £15.99 and includes a USB extension cable. 1/2 the price of the Polar one.

Actual one looks slightly different to the one on their web catalogue but same catalogue number so I guess they switched supplier / supplier has changed it at some point. Probably costs 10p to manufacture.

GavH

andyrr wrote:

Thought I'd go to Maplin at lunchtime as they were the nearest/quickest source of an IRDA device - if it didn't work it would go back for a redund.
http://tinyurl.com/maplin-irda-adaptor

Tested - works with Vista laptop, not tested with XP yet but it claims it will so I'll try this later tonight. Not a bad deal, £15.99 and includes a USB extension cable. 1/2 the price of the Polar one.

and I'll BET it had a different chipset from the other one. :roll:

andyrr

Sometimes, and it's quite rare but the most recent session had this, the HR data from the CS600 doesn't transfer to the PC.
Check the file on the HRM and it has HR details but when the transfer runs it cuts out before it completes and returns the the normal date display. Tried numerous times and it's the same each time. Bit annoying and wierd. The altitude data transfered along with the ride time (don't have speed sensor on this bike yet)