Polar RS800SD

After getting to test out my new toys I'm now not so happy.

Email that I've just sent off to Polar & http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk :

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Hi,

I purchased a Polar RS800SD & a Polar IrDA USB 2.0 Adapter from BHIP Ltd's http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk on the 5th September. They arrived yesterday and I've just tried installed the computer software and setup the Polar IrDA USB 2.0 Adapter but I've had a major problem.

The IrDA adapter was connected to a PC and was flashing, it seemed to be interacting with the RS800SD but wasn't transferring anything to the PC.

Then I started smelling a burning smell but didn't really think anything of it. Then I noticed that the IrDA adapter was no longer flashing or interacting with the RS800SD so I went to remove it from the PC. As I grabbed the adapter I found that it was burning hot and it burnt my hand. Now that's it's cooled down it's obviously not working at all and there is still a strong burnt smell from the device. Please note that I also have many other USB devices that work perfectly well with my PC without incident.

I'm obviously very unhappy as after spending £350 on the equipment I had expected to be able to use it straight away and am very concerned that the Polar IrDA USB 2.0 Adapter failed in such a way as to cause me to burn my hand.

My order transaction ID from www.heartratemonitor.co.uk was ********** I assume that it will be down to BHIP Ltd to rectify this situation but I will also expect a reply from Polar support as to how this failure could have occured.

As it is I'm left with the RS800SD but with no way to upload any training data to the ProTrainer software and am left concerned that there is an inherent fault with the Polar IrDA USB 2.0 Adapter that may result with me being unable to upload data in the future, defeating the whole point of my purchase in the first place.

I'll expect a replacement part sent out from BHIP Ltd early next week.

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Posted: 08/09/2007 at 11:57

Best of luck with your efforts to get a new one from BHIP.

for those planning to buy a new one, one more reason to buy cheaper generic infra red adaptor!

Posted: 08/09/2007 at 22:54

Posted: 09/09/2007 at 11:38

BHIP did warn me that they had never got a NON-POLAR device working with the RS series, but Polar do say that they will work.

So it may be that I just got lucky with the IrDA adapter that I purchased or maybe the Polar watches are getting a little more standards complient.

Just got to wait for the refund to come through now and then I'll be very happy again.

Posted: 10/09/2007 at 11:29

My IrDa device is also non-Polar (MA-620).

Was easy to set-up and works with my RS800 without any problems at all.

Posted: 10/09/2007 at 20:37

For anyone looking to buy a USB IR dongle, you have to make sure it can send as well as receive.

My macbook comes with a built in IR but it's useless for the Polar as it only listens

Posted: 11/09/2007 at 17:17

Posted: 12/09/2007 at 14:42

Beetle,

 Where did you order it from?

I need one.

Posted: 12/09/2007 at 19:50

MA-620

Posted: 12/09/2007 at 20:27

MA-620

Posted: 12/09/2007 at 20:27

I'll also point out that Polar themselves never bothered to contact me at all, they appear to have simply ignored me.

Posted: 17/09/2007 at 10:51

I bought my ir adapter off ebay. It's some kind of Motorola thing designed to be used with phones, but they all do the same thing. And at 3 quid new incl. p+p it was something of a bargain. Here's a link to a similar item.

I have no affiliation with the seller - but this is the same type I bought. And never had any problems with it.

Posted: 20/09/2007 at 23:16

Well I bought one of ebay for £3.99.  The thing wont work.  Have tried it on a Vista laptop and an xp desktop pc at home.  Also had a friend try it out but no good.

Posted: 21/09/2007 at 06:24

Slowdog,

 What brand/breed?

Posted: 21/09/2007 at 07:52