Garmin HR strap

proto

Seriously thinking of buying a Garmin Edge 500.

If I buy the basic unit, does anyone know if any of my existing HR straps (Polar and Ciclosport) will work with the Garmin unit? Both of them work with my Tacx Flow, but the Garmin may be coded in some way.

If by some miracle they should work, would I have to configure the Garmin unit in some way to get it to detect the HR signal.

Cheers

othello

proto wrote:

Seriously thinking of buying a Garmin Edge 500.

If I buy the basic unit, does anyone know if any of my existing HR straps (Polar and Ciclosport) will work with the Garmin unit? Both of them work with my Tacx Flow, but the Garmin may be coded in some way.

If by some miracle they should work, would I have to configure the Garmin unit in some way to get it to detect the HR signal.

Cheers

Garmin devices work with ANT+ accessories only. I any of your existing straps are ANT+ then they will work. Otherwise you are out of luck.

Once you turn the device on it scans for devices and will pick up a HR strap if close enough to the head unit. I was out riding the other day without my HR strap and I passed another cyclist going the other way. He must have been wearing one, as my head unti picked up his device for a few seconds!

ilm_zero7

I hate the HR strap so much i wont wear it - but several people are now making vests and base layers with then sewn in! much more comfy and doesnt feel like a bra for your man boobs

rolf_f

othello wrote:

Once you turn the device on it scans for devices and will pick up a HR strap if close enough to the head unit. I was out riding the other day without my HR strap and I passed another cyclist going the other way. He must have been wearing one, as my head unti picked up his device for a few seconds!

Surely it only scans when you ask it to? My Bryton unit scans manually and picks up the HRM/Cadence sensor but won't see any others unless you scan them in the vicinity. As I have two HR straps, I should probably be careful to ensure that they aren't together when I scan!

If the unit did pick up other sensors at any time, it would go bonkers on a Sportive!

ajb72

Rolf F wrote:

othello wrote:

Once you turn the device on it scans for devices and will pick up a HR strap if close enough to the head unit. I was out riding the other day without my HR strap and I passed another cyclist going the other way. He must have been wearing one, as my head unti picked up his device for a few seconds!

Surely it only scans when you ask it to? My Bryton unit scans manually and picks up the HRM/Cadence sensor but won't see any others unless you scan them in the vicinity. As I have two HR straps, I should probably be careful to ensure that they aren't together when I scan!

If the unit did pick up other sensors at any time, it would go bonkers on a Sportive!

No, the unit seems to detect other sources. When I ride with a chum using an edge 705, he gets data for my cadence sensor! I think you can tell the device that you are not using a heart rate monitor or cadence sensor but I'm not sure that stops it.

proto

Still haven't bought one yet but one last question, Garmin do the standard HR strap and a 'Premium' version. Worth getting the improved (i.e. more expensive) strap?

Ta.

piquet

proto wrote:

Still haven't bought one yet but one last question, Garmin do the standard HR strap and a 'Premium' version. Worth getting the improved (i.e. more expensive) strap?

Ta.

lots of problems reported with the premium (soft) strap eg spikes of over 200bpm or failure to register part way through a ride

dirtymonkey1985

I have the premium strap and it's dropped out midway through a ride once. That was due to it being too loose and sliding down which is easily sorted. Other than that it's all worked perfectly for me

Sammyw23

Premium is much more comfortable to wear as it has a smaller plastic section. I've not had any problems with HR readings since I started using in December

thegreatdivide

Never had a problem with the Premium strap either.