HR Strap Frequency compatibility
1125
Member
899 days
UFTriGator posted 26 weeks ago.
You have 4 straps? Can I buy one or two? I lost my Nike strap last week.
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-Matt
Not fast enough.
4212
Member
1558 days
kylie posted 26 weeks ago.
I don't think so -- my understanding is that they use different encodings. If no one knows for sure, send me a message and I can test it out to be sure.
Miles of Life --- Powered by MarkyV
185
Member
264 days
GGehrke posted 26 weeks ago.
I want to say that Polar and Garmin ARE compatible. I had a cheap polar watch based HRM and I am pretty sure it would pick up my Garmin strap and vice versa, but it's been a while since I used that. I know my Garmin and PowerTap straps are not compatible, though (boo!)
39
Member
229 days
gshuldes posted 26 weeks ago.
They are not compatible. Garmin uses ANT protocol, which operates at 2.4Ghz. Polar's system operates at 5khz. I have a Garmin 305 that I use for everything outdoors, and a basic Polar unit that I use with the "Polar compatible" machines at the Gym. I have tried interchanging the straps, and it does not work.
81
Member
238 days
M posted 26 weeks ago.
Our gym has machines that do not work with Polar but do seem to work with Garmin (at least until I had to send my 301 in for warranty work--btw they were willing to honor it even though it was about a month over time).
Anyway, I'm just curious about what you'd be looking to do with the compatibility. As far as I know, buying the 305 = buying the computer + chest strap (+USB cord, wall charger, etc), so it wouldn't save you money. Also, I think my 301 strap wouldn't work with a 305 anyway, so they wouldn't have a 'customer loyalty' reason to sell the unit separately. If you're just looking to not have 4 unused straps around, I can totally understand that motivation, too.
--M
Does any know if a Polar HR transmitter will work with the Garmin and visa-versa? I have 4 polar compatible straps and I'm considering switching to a Garmin 305.