Question concerning heart rate monitors - What does 'coded' mean?

Draeger

Draeger

Draeger

Soldato
Joined
4 Feb 2004
Posts
13,386
Location
Fife, Scotland
Looking to purchase an inexpensive HRM to use in the gym. I'm recovering from knee surgery and so far have only managed short rides on my beloved mountain and road bikes. The stationary bike is a godsend for those days when the weather is poor and means I can bang out 25-30k a session and then immediately progress to my physio exercises in the same sitting. We have a Lifecycle 9500HR stationary bike in the gym at work which is 'Polar HRM Ready' and instead of placing your hands on the flat part of the bars where the bike has its own heart rate sensors you can wear a chest strap which then gets picked up by the bike. This allows you to use a different position on the bars to place your hands which comes in handy comfort wise when thrashing out those 30k rides. :cool:

Having Googled it a bit it seems that the Polar T31 chest monitor is a popular choice to use in conjunction with bikes in gyms with this feature so I'm looking at buying an inexpensive Polar HRM wristwatch which comes with a T31 monitor strap. However I've noticed that a lot of the T31 monitor straps say 'Coded' on them. Cue silly question time - does that mean its 'coded' to only work with the wristwatch unit it comes with or will it work with the Lifecycle straight out the box?
 
My understanding of coded HR straps is that the coded signal is a digital one and thus doesn't suffer from interference from other nearby HR straps.

I've just dug up this page

T31 NON-CODED, T31 CODED and T61 NON-CODED transmitters
(battery should be replaced by Polar)

Compatibility
CS100, CS200, CS300, CS400, F4, F6, FS1, FS2c, FS3c, FT1, FT2, FT80, FT60, FT40, RS400

Coded vs Non-Coded
Some transmitters are coded and some are non-coded. There are some wrist units that even if you add a coded transmitter to it, it will not make it coded.

When exercising in a group setting (Gym, spinning classes, etc.) a non coded transmitter may get interference from other Heart Rate Monitor Users in your vicinity where a coded transmitter will lock into your frequency and prevent the cross talk interference.

  • Coded transmission will greatly reduce cross talk (interference) from other heart rate monitor users within 3 feet of your monitor.
  • Coded transmitters will work with gym equipment that is heart rate monitor ready, but the transmission will not be coded.
  • Coded frequency will not eliminate (but can reduce) interference from other wireless disruption like high tension wires, computers, wireless cycling systems, etc.

While you can upgrade your transmitter strap for comfort, the Wearlink or T31 transmitter will only offer a non-coded frequency to a non coded wrist receiver.

If your product contains a T31 non-coded Chest Transmitter -
It is a new ergonomic design that is 25% smaller. Smaller means increased comfort. A flexible rubber transmitter with manufacturer changable batteries. A good transmitter for swimmers.

If your product contains the T31 coded Chest Transmitter -
A flexible rubber transmitter with manufacturer changable batteries. A good transmitter for swimmers.
Click to expand...
 
Vonhelmet said:
Yep, coded means it somehow avoids crosstalk from other monitors in the area. No idea how, but that's the idea.
Click to expand...

Each one has a unique* code so once you pair your receiver with your HR strap it will always look for the same one again to auto-pair each time it turns on and wont pair with any straps with a different code.


*not actually unique, just a random 4 digit code, but chances of finding someone else nearby with the same code is small.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom