Speed Sensor failing with the polar s series
After about 2 weeks of playing with the new toy the speed function failed, I removed the sensors and remounted but regardless of position I couldn’t get the function to return. As it was failing it would work off and on so on download it appeared I had been stop starting constantly. The cadence monitor has started doing the same thing.
The HRM receiver and transmitter works fine if I ignore the bike features but then I could have spent considerably less on a heart rate monitor without the bike features.
I have contacted polar and they have given me a number of pointers to check out. Read on if you are having the same issues.
Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding Polar Heart Rate Monitors. Please see below for some suggestions that should help when using your speed/cadence sensor kit.
Speed & Cadence Troubleshooting
1. Mount the sensors at the limit of the transmitting distance (furthest distance). To do this position the receiver on the bike mount and take the speed sensor in one hand. In the other hand take the spoke magnet and pass it quickly by the point of the speed sensor to simulate the wheel’s movement and get a speed reading on the display. Slowly move the sensor down the fork until the speed reading disappears (this is the maximum transmitting distance). Move the speed sensor back up the fork one or two centimeters – this is the ideal distance from the receiver.
2. Note that the speed magnet must pass by the pointed tip of the speed sensor and NOT the flat inside part. In order to pass by the point, the speed sensor must point in, towards the wheel spokes. If you find it difficult to point the speed sensor towards the spokes, pass the plastic ties through the holes on the inside part of the speed sensor. Polar Speed must be seen on the outside part of the speed sensor.
3. Do not position the speed sensor behind the fork, it must point forward.
4. Ensure that the speed sensor and the receiver are both on the same side of the bike, for example do not put the speed sensor on the right fork and the receiver on the left side of the handlebar.
5. Make sure that the magnet is no more than 5mm from the point of the speed sensor. Remember with the screw on magnet, it’s the flat side of the magnet that must point toward the sensor, not the screw side.
6. Position the cadence sensor in the same way as the speed sensor, slowly moving it away until it is at the furthest distance. If possible try putting the cadence sensor in a vertical position on the rear chain stay.
7. The heart rate alarm can cause interferences with the speed values, so if necessary deactivate the alarm symbol when cycling.
8. Before starting to cycle, wait until a heart rate appears on the receiver to ensure a heart rate value is displayed.
9. Only use the new S Series type speed and cadence sensors with S510 and S710, and the old style versions with the X-Trainer Plus and ProTrainer XT.
10.If you are only experiencing peaks whilst exercising with other people, ensure that there is no electrical interference (ie radio/mobile phone etc) that could affect the readings.
11.If none of the above is successful, then switch off the autostart function.
so…. what’d you make of this? i got a rather spendy Polar (cs 300 or some crap) about a year ago and it never worked for me. not ever. Polar’s customer service leaves a little to be desired so i more or less had to eat the money.. i’m looking at getting a Garmin this year instead…
A little more than a year ago I had a CS300 installed on my bike and worked fine until this past Spring. I noticed the speed and distance reading wasn’t working. Recently I sent it in to a Polar authorized dealer. They replaced the battery. According to the invoice they also checked and verified that the speed/distance worked. It does NOT. I tried it out and still nothing happened. So I paid for a new battery I probably didn’t need and should have received a new unit since it is a two year warranty.