Polar CS600X Heart Rate Monitor

The good side:What make this product great is that it was made for biometrics and training. The recording of your body's information is great and is complimented by it's training software. The auto start/pause feature works w/ any mode of training, especially if you're out on city roads with a light of stop lights. Another plus is how you can plan a training day or days on the computer and send it straight to the device. Finally, although it's very simple idea, but it does help a lot, is that you can program what you want to monitor on your device's screen through your computer.The bad side:If you have a mac, you will need boot camp to use the software. So even programing your screen fields you'll need a pc. Unless you don't mind doing it through the device it's self. It gets a bit pricy when you buy the gps unit and cadence and speed sensor-which is included (speed sensor only)-to get the most out of it. The cadence and the speed sensor does not have the ability for you to change it's batteries when it dies out, and is 2 separate units instead of one (not really a big deal).If possible, I would of given this product a 4 1/2 star. 5 if the batteries on the sensors were replaceable.

I spent an hour hooking it up to my bike, and setting the speed sensor to magnet distance using flashing red light, as per instructions. I took it outside to ride test it, and within 30 seconds it beeped at me and said to check the speed sensor. No matter what I did standing alongisde the road, I couldn't make it work.I took it inside and went through the whole "seek sensor" steps as per instructions, for another hour, but nothing. Nothing I did could make the red light flash again, so the speed sensor either has a dead non-replaceable battery, or is defective. I have asked the seller whether they will take care of it, or if I have to hassle with Polar. It's annoying having a > $300 bike accessory I can't use for at least the next week while I find out what I'm supposed to do.1) Seller sends me a working speed sensor - 4 days minimum2) Polar sends me a RMA, I send them a speed sensor, they analyze it, send me another one, possibly with or without a charge - 2 weeks minimum3) I order a new speed sensor, am out $55 I hadn't planned on, and still risk it working or not - 4 day minimumAlas, I'll see about posting more when I find out.UPDATE: Amazon allowed me to return the item for refund. I did not re-order. Instead I got a $30 wired sensor cycle computer.

This HRM deserves a full review, but for the moment I'll say that after using Garmin Edge 500 and Forerunner for a year (after having nothing but Polar HRMs since 1998), this is by far the best device for heart-centric training analysis. You can get to the data and fix problems that will destroy your data in Garmin's file formats. This model also has GPS addon module if you want, or run them separately as I do. The file format is ASCII and each sample is viewable to the user. This means you can run adhoc reports, which for cycling is crucial. In some sports you can regulate every minute of your workout plan, but cycling requires reactions to events, and if you can't easily go in and run snap shot analysis after you finish, you're missing a lot of crucial data. It's almost impossible on any Garmin device that I used. I even tried third-party software. It's all pretty sad.There is no better tool for under $500, I'll say that hands down. You may not even need a better one. Most people don't even know how to use power data, so the CS600X or the RS800 are awesome. Don't get the CS500 unless you realize you only get recaps. You don't get the full rendering of each datastream, so what I said about adhoc reports is even worse than with Garmin.

All functions work as they should. I like the download capability rather than the on-line only access. I would like the display slighty larger.

It records all cycling data as your requirement, 1s, 2s, 5s, etc, & also R-R interval. Polar Pro 5 is an excellent software through which you can analyse your training, customise display, plan your training.

It was good size, well done and in very good condition. It was what really was shown. It was perfect.