Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Sensor
Make the most out of every training session with the Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart Heart Rate Sensor. It provides live heart rate to compatible mobile training apps, including Polar Beat, via low energy Bluetooth Smart technology. Also connects with the majority of Polar heart rate monitors on the market and compatible gym equipment. Includes a soft fabric chest strap that seamlessly adapts to your body shape. User replaceable battery. Includes limited two-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Product Features
- Provides live, accurate heart rate to compatible mobile training apps, including Polar Beat
- Uses Bluetooth Smart technology providing ECG-accurate heart rate to any Bluetooth Smart ready device utilizing standard heart rate profile
- Compatible with iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (5th generation), iPad (3rd & 4th generation), iPad mini and iPod Nano (7th generation)
- User replaceable battery. For optimal battery life, detach transmitter from chest strap after every use
- Also uses Gym Link to connect with the majority of Polar heart rate monitors on the market and with compatible gym equipment
LOVE IT after a little trial & error Received the Polar H7 today. I have a Motorola Droid RAZR, running Ice Cream Sandwich. I wanted to use this device with Noom Cardiotrainer app, but it would not recognize the Polar H7, even after pairing the device with my phone in the Bluetooth settings. Thought I was doing something wrong, so I followed the instructions to a T — I wet the section of the strap where the electrodes were located, I applied Buh-Bump electrode conductive cream to the strap… nothing.I searched for some time around the Internet and found other users having the same problem. Tried a few different apps – Endomondo, HRNavi, etc. Nothing worked. I tried searching the forums on Polar’s website (which I have other issues with, by the way) and found nothing. A bunch of other users with the exact-same problem.So, I searched Google Play until I found an app that finally worked – MapMyRun. Its heart rate monitor settings picked up the H7 the first time with no issues. Then, I found that the developer that created MapMyRun had also created a set of apps such as MapMyWalk, MapMyFitness, MapMyHike, etc. They ALL work with the H7. So, I fired up a Shaun T Insanity video, strapped on the H7, launched MapMyFitness, and the app tracked my peak heartrate during my workout, the average heartrate, and even a calculation of calories burned. Worked flawlessly.So, the issue is not my phone. The issue is not the H7. The issue is the apps that are not fully compatible with the H7. If you check the Google Play descriptions for the apps I tried above, they all say to use their apps with the Polar Wearlink+, not the Polar H7. Funny… it would have been nice to find this information BEFORE completing my purchase. But, you know… I searched on Amazon’s website for “polar wearlink+” and every device that came up in my search results was not what I was looking for – either I found the “Coded” model, or the “Nike+” model, but no model that specifically said “Wearlink+”. So, I bought the H7.Well, I’m stuck with the H7 now. So, yes, I will chalk this up to me not doing my research fully. The device works GREAT with my Droid RAZR and the MapMyFitness suite of apps, so I rank it FIVE STARS for that reason. It will not work with the apps I wanted to use it with – specifically, Cardiotrainer – but I will not downgrade my rating just because I did not do my research.For those of you looking to purchase the H7, if you have an iPhone 4, this is the device for you. If you have a Motorola Droid RAZR and want to use this with the MapMyFitness suite of apps, this is the device for you. However, if you have any Android device and want to use any other HRM-compatible app, I highly recommend you search for the Polar Wearlink+.
Works great with iPhone 4s – no dongle needed! (leave battery out few minutes to fully reset if having pairing problems) Once I managed to hack my way into the package (I hate those plastic packages that everything comes in now) I had it synced up and working with Strava on a iPhone 4s in just a few seconds. Also worked fine with Endomondo app. Used it while cycling with iPhone in back jersey pocket – not problem staying connected and supplying the app with heart rate info during the ride. The battery life of the iPhone wasnt impacted – I get about 4hrs while using a GPS tracking app.I’ve got about 150 miles in with this strap – no issues with connectivity, battery life or comfort. The strap connector is a small metal hook that fastens into an elastic loop. I haven’t had any issue with it, but in general its not as nice as some other straps that I have used that had a more robust belt-like plastic buckle.The native support, no dongle or anything else to plug into the phone, makes this really nice.UPDATE: Bluetooth connection remains after you are done with your work-out. After stopping the recording of Strava or Endomondo, the Bluetooth connection remains b/t your phone (iPhone 4s in my case) and the HRM. I burned one battery before I figured out what was going on. When I’m done now I try to remember to actually kill the app.UPDATE2: I have had a lot of trouble getting this thing to sync with my iPhones. I ran across a review that said you need to wear it for a few minutes without the battery in it to fully reset it. That worked wonders. I also think that when its really sweaty/wet after a workout its worth unclipping it to get the unit to shut off sooner and save the batter