Polar V800

[Wyatt Earp]

 

I don't know Swiss. Do the update and let us know.

 

^^^^^^

 

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/laughing/crying-laughter-smiley-emoticon.gif

[SwissVan]

 

I don't know Swiss. Do the update and let us know.

 

LOL...i was just going to ask if you had alread done the experiment update

My watch is at home...so will have to wait until tonight.

[SwissVan]

Maybe only the GPX fix....

 

 

[Izak]

Ok guys so here's my dilemma.

 

I currently have a RCX5 GPS version and fairly happy with it.

I would like the fact that the GPS is integrated in my device itself and the few bits of added functionality the V800 might bring. Especially the fact that I don't have to wear 2 straps to be able to use my Polar as well as Endomondo / Strava or the likes due to the fact that the V800 uses Bluetooth.

 

Anybody have the same sort of situation or any views on whether it will be worth the extra dough to buy the V800.

Also how strong / durable is it especially looking at the screen?

Any feedback will be appreciated!!

[SwissVan]

Ok guys so here's my dilemma.

 

I currently have a RCX5 GPS version and fairly happy with it.

I would like the fact that the GPS is integrated in my device itself and the few bits of added functionality the V800 might bring. Especially the fact that I don't have to wear 2 straps to be able to use my Polar as well as Endomondo / Strava or the likes due to the fact that the V800 uses Bluetooth.

 

Anybody have the same sort of situation or any views on whether it will be worth the extra dough to buy the V800.

Also how strong / durable is it especially looking at the screen?

Any feedback will be appreciated!!

 

IMO its pretty durable and strong, build quality is really solid. I've dropped mine a few times onto the floor and the screen still looks like new. Only had it since middle June so its still early days. I do find the strap to be a bit "overboard" in the sense that it is almost to rugged. The new H7 strap is much better than previous polar straps as well, works every time and comfortable (the sensing section in particle is very easy to clean and comfortable).

 

I'm not familar with the RCX5, so cannot compare...i had the RS800 before without gps so the V800 is light years ahead in my experience.

 

Which polar software does the RCX5 use for the training dairy?

If you coming from the polar pro trainer 5 you might not initially like the software version that comes with the V800 (Polar Flow) which is very different and web based.

[Izak]

Which polar software does the RCX5 use for the training dairy?

If you coming from the polar pro trainer 5 you might not initially like the software version that comes with the V800 (Polar Flow) which is very different and web based.

 

Cool thanks!!

 

I had the RS800CX before the RCX5 and must say I preferred having the software locally rather than the websync / website combination I have with the RCX5 now.

 

In your experience, how good is battery life? I know that almost all manufacturers will definitely be over-confident in their claims on this one

 

If you had to give it a score out of ten?

 

And have you ever used anything else such as SUUNTO or Garmin?

[SwissVan]

Cool thanks!!

 

I had the RS800CX before the RCX5 and must say I preferred having the software locally rather than the websync / website combination I have with the RCX5 now.

 

In your experience, how good is battery life? I know that almost all manufacturers will definitely be over-confident in their claims on this one

 

If you had to give it a score out of ten?

 

And have you ever used anything else such as SUUNTO or Garmin?

 

Battery life: I think polar claim something like 13 hrs with the normal recording mode and 50 hrs if you use the battery saving option.

 

Recently (the watch was one month old) with a fully charged battery (i charged it fully one hour before the event started) i got about 11hrs08 ( 6:03 cycling and 5:05 running time) continous use. However at about 10hrs 45 it went into a power saving mode were first the gps function automaticaly went off and then 5 minutes later the HR also turned off. The timing / stop watch function continued working untill i stopped it with a total of 11hrs08 minutes.

It warned me several times that the battery was low and before it powered the gps and Hr off. I had a "Drink" alarm (vibration and sound) set to go off every 18 minutes and a lap alarm set for ever 1km running, not sure how much these alarm functions contributed to the battery flattening process.

 

7.5 / 10 - The swim distance measuring is not accurate, it over reads substantialy when i checked it in an outdoor 50 m pool on numerous occasions, and currently there is no indoor capability for swimming even though the watch apparently has the required accelerometers (software update supposed to be coming soon should fix this). Battery life is a concern if you do events that go over 10.5 hrs continous. If these were working then i would give it 8.5...

 

Have not used any other type of gps watch product. Have compared it to my wife's Nike plus gps watch, while the nike is great if you just want a watch that displays basic data the polar offers much much more such as activity tracking (if you wear it all day every day), recovery tracking / predication....just so much more

Edited September 3, 2014 by SwissVan

[Izak]

Battery life: I think polar claim something like 13 hrs with the normal recording mode and 50 hrs if you use the battery saving option.

 

Recently (the watch was one month old) with a fully charged battery (i charged it fully one hour before the event started) i got about 11hrs08 ( 6:03 cycling and 5:05 running time) continous use. However at about 10hrs 45 it went into a power saving mode were first the gps function automaticaly went off and then 5 minutes later the HR also turned off. The timing / stop watch function continued working untill i stopped it with a total of 11hrs08 minutes.

It warned me several times that the battery was low and before it powered the gps and Hr off. I had a "Drink" alarm (vibration and sound) set to go off every 18 minutes and a lap alarm set for ever 1km running, not sure how much these alarm functions contributed to the battery flattening process.

 

7.5 / 10 - The swim distance measuring is not accurate, it over reads substantialy when i checked it in an outdoor 50 m pool on numerous occasions, and currently there is no indoor capability for swimming even though the watch apparently has the required accelerometers (software update supposed to be coming soon should fix this). Battery life is a concern if you do events that go over 10.5 hrs continous. If these were working then i would give it 8.5...

 

Have not used any other type of gps watch product. Have compared it to my wife's Nike plus gps watch, while the nike is great if you just want a watch that displays basic data the polar offers much much more such as activity tracking (if you wear it all day every day), recovery tracking / predication....just so much more

Great reply, all I needed to know.

 

Thanks a lot.

 

from the German Van

[Mats]

Here is an update from DC Rainmaker.

It also got a list of planned firmware updates and what will be in the update.

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/09/behind-scenes-polar.html

 

I also came across this page.

Will go and play with it later tonight

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/tools

 

Miss Swiss You can rest now as they will fix your swimming distance soon.

[SwissVan]

Here is an update from DC Rainmaker.

It also got a list of planned firmware updates and what will be in the update.

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/09/behind-scenes-polar.html

 

I also came across this page.

Will go and play with it later tonight

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/tools

 

Miss Swiss You can rest now as they will fix your swimming distance soon.

 

Thanks for the info Madam

Play nicely :-)

Hopefully I don't have to worry about counting lengths in the pool for much longer, it's difficult swimming and having to use my fingers and toes to count.

[SwissVan]

 

 

I also came across this page.

Will go and play with it later tonight

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/tools

 

 

 

I did not get a chance to go look last night, did u find anything interesting?

 

 

[Izak]

http://flowexport.ca....pl/flowexport/ works well. Pity that Polar could not give a rat's to develop this type of thing to go with their flow web service.

 

So far here are my comments on the V800, this might change as I use it more and Polar start delivering on promised software updates etc. But for now I'm not selling my RCX5 just yet.

 

CONS:

1. Can’t pair with Android Flow app – only IOs

78% Android market share vs. 18% IOS

2. H7 strap isn’t working for me underwater, heart rate signal immediately gets cut as soon as I submerge. It eventually comes back after a while.

3. Small Screen - Bad utilisation of available real estate

4. No OWN INDEX test for heart rate zones

5. Can’t use multisport unless you decide beforehand

6. No export of exercise data from either the watch or Polar Flow for use with other services such as Endomondo, Strava etc. (partly solved by 3rd party apps)

7. Feels heavy on the arm in comparison to RCX5 (understand this is because GPS is integrated)

 

 

PROS:

1. Integrated GPS.

2. Nice looking day to day watch

3. Metal body

4. Good battery power ... so far

Edited September 11, 2014 by Izak

[SwissVan]

 

http://flowexport.ca....pl/flowexport/ works well. Pity that Polar could not give a rat's to develop this type of thing to go with their flow web service.

 

So far here are my comments on the V800, this might change as I use it more and Polar start delivering on promised software updates etc. But for now I'm not selling my RCX5 just yet.

 

 

Thanks for the post, keep us updated as you progress.

Ja those Finnish fellows seem to be their own worst enemy, must be something to do with the lack of sunslight...

 

Have you tried any of the 3rd party applications to use the polar gps files on other services? I'm looking to use some of my polar gps files on the cyclops virtual trainer this winter.

[Izak]

Thanks for the post, keep us updated as you progress.

Ja those Finnish fellows seem to be their own worst enemy, must be something to do with the lack of sunslight...

 

Have you tried any of the 3rd party applications to use the polar gps files on other services? I'm looking to use some of my polar gps files on the cyclops virtual trainer this winter.

 

I've only used the one / website I mentioned in my post to export and then I manually import the tcx files into Strava and Endomondo.

[Izak]

I've actually just stripped my proverbial "moer". How the hell can Polar be so blind for what is going on in the market. IOS 18% Market share Android 78% (May 2014) and I have to now wait for 6 months (if they deliver on time) to be able to utilise the Polar Flow app!!

This watch is feeling more and more to me like a "lets get it out there and we'll fix it later" type of scenario.

Let's see what Polar have to say about this....watch this space.

[SwissVan]

 

Let's see what Polar have to say about this....watch this space.

 

 

good luck with that