Help with Aldi heart rate monitor

petemadoc
petemadoc Posts: 2,331
edited September 2010 in Road beginners
I might be taking this thing back tomorrow. And before anyone else says it, I know you get what you pay for.

My problem is I can't get it to read my heart rate, how do you do it?

The watch thing is on, I turn it to the heart rate mode and there's a little heart in the corner and a big number which is zero. The thing is wrapped around my chest but it still reads zero.

The instructions explain how to do everything clearly except for the bleeding obvious, how to get a heart rate reading. Anyone else managed it, have I just got a fault one?

Comments

  • Hals1967
    Hals1967 Posts: 231
    You might be a zombie Pete ??? :shock:

    1967 Engine
  • father_jack
    father_jack Posts: 3,509
    Are you sure your heart is working? Switched it on? :wink:
    Say... That's a nice bike..
    Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)
  • orbeaorca
    orbeaorca Posts: 246
    Have you tried moistening the electrodes on the reverse of the chest strap?
    my orca
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/46125850@N03/4434938087/
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Moisten the back of the strap and move it up and down your chest a little, with the cheap ones I found it best just under the nipples. You might have to tighten the strap up a little too. If after all this you still can't find your heart beat then dial 999 :lol:
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • Garz
    Garz Posts: 1,155
    orbeaorca wrote:
    Have you tried moistening the electrodes on the reverse of the chest strap?

    +1 for this and check its making good contact.
  • lanky85
    lanky85 Posts: 82
    I bought one of these today, and it is fecking fiddly! at one point i had a heart rate of 222... i guessed it wasnt right..unless it was the stress this thing was causing me lol. I held down all four buttons at once to reset it. I went straight back into the heart monitor bit and it seemed to be working fine. It was sitting around 60 - 63 when just sitting about. I'm unsure on how accurate it is but for £9 i thought it was worth a look.

    Andy.
  • vroomvroom
    vroomvroom Posts: 72
    i have exactly the same prob - any ideas ??

    i know i am not dead as my legs hurt
  • orbeaorca
    orbeaorca Posts: 246
    vroomvroom wrote:
    i have exactly the same prob - any ideas ??

    buy a Polar one :wink:
    my orca
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/46125850@N03/4434938087/
  • vroomvroom
    vroomvroom Posts: 72
    Got mine working

    Fist mistake I made was assuming the transmitter had to be left adjusted (i.e. on the side of my heart) mine is now bang central in my chest
    2nd thing I did (which may be a complete red hearing) moistened the strap, as there appeared to be some sensors in it – as I said this could be complete twaddle
    a calm 65 bpm
  • orbeaorca
    orbeaorca Posts: 246
    vroomvroom wrote:
    Got mine working


    2nd thing I did (which may be a complete red hearing) moistened the strap, as there appeared to be some sensors in it – as I said this could be complete twaddle
    a calm 65 bpm

    2 or 3 people have already suggested moistening the electrodes in this thread :?
    my orca
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/46125850@N03/4434938087/
  • vroomvroom
    vroomvroom Posts: 72
    orbeaorca wrote:

    2 or 3 people have already suggested moistening the electrodes in this thread :?

    Agree
    What was not clear (to me at least) was whether to moisten the transmitter (i.e. the plastic bit) or as you said the “electrodes” which I assume are the indented marking in the rubber straps
  • orbeaorca
    orbeaorca Posts: 246
    I own a Polar HRM so I am not familiar with the Aldi one, I moisten the back of the plastic section of the chest strap where the electrodes are located.

    I have also known of problems when the user has a hairy chest, admitedly he resembled an orangutan but it did cause problems.
    my orca
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/46125850@N03/4434938087/
  • blackhands
    blackhands Posts: 950
    I use electrode gel instead of moistening the strap - works every time. Get some from Boots - they sell it forTens machines.
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Was thinking of the ECG gel this afternoon as that is the route I went down with mine, still got it in the cupboard so will dig it out for use with my Garmin.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    Thanks for the tips peeps, using gel/water on the contacts works a treat. Here's what happened when I got it to work.

    Put the strap on and looked at the watch thing which gave a read of 95. At this point I'm thinking this thing can't be right so I wonder around the house a bit and it changes between 90 and 110. Now I'm starting to cack my pants, I'm going to be dead before I'm 40 if my heart rate is this high at rest. I'm getting really worried, I don't tell the wife and just say I still haven't got it working properly. I go to the car and get my real watch out and start counting my pulse just using my finger on my neck. 61 Phew

    Aldi you just nearly gave me a fecking heart attack! I'll be asking for a refund tomorrow.

Categories