Product Description

The S720i combines the highest level of personal performance data, training conditions like altitude and temperature, and cycling functions. With the new Infrared technology, you can download directly to your PC without a separate interface.* Get back from your workout and in seconds, the most in-depth performance analysis is right there on your PC. New enhanced Polar Performance software lets you look at your workouts every 5, 15, or 60 seconds. The pause feature allows you to walk away from your bike for up to 30 minutes, without losing the current exercise storage file. The S720i features a new lightweight stainless steel design for added durability. *Please note, your PC or Laptop must have an IR window or you will need a separate Polar IR interface.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #95028 in Sports & Outdoors
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Polar
• Model: 1902990
• Released on: 2005-01-06

Features

• Displays your heart rate as beats per minute and percentage of maximum heart rate, average heart rate, and exercise duration
• Cycling measurement features include speed, distance, and training conditions like altitude and temperature
• Allows you to set five exercise sets for interval training with HR target zones and recovery calculation
• Large easy-to-read display with backlighting and split screen
• Wirelessly sends exercise data to PC via infrared connection

Amazon.com Product Description
The Polar S720i cycling computer combines the highest level of personal performance data, training conditions like altitude and temperature, and cycling functions. With its built-in infrared port, you can download exercise data directly to your PC without a separate interface. The cycling features include wheel size settings for two bicycles, measurement of speed and riding time, an odometer, and an AutoStart function. A wireless sensor measuring cycling speed and distance via a magnet rotating on the front or the rear wheel depending on the sensor.

The Interval Trainer feature automatically guides you through the interval training session with the help of preset exercise phases: warm-up, intervals, and cool-down. The interval phase is divided into interval and recovery calculation sections, which alternate continuously throughout your interval phase. The distance-based recovery measurement ends your recovery as you reach the selected distance.

It comes with the S720i wrist receiver, a transmitter that's worn comfortably around your chest, and an elastic strap to hold the transmitter in place. The wristwatch-like receiver features a large display that includes 12/24-hour time of day, alarm, and stopwatch.

You can also better assess your training data using the included Polar Precision Performance (PPP) 4.0 software when you transfer data from the monitor to the PC via a wireless infrared (IR) connection. This feature requires a PC with an IR window or you will need a separate Polar IR interface.

The OwnCal feature shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session as well as your accumulated kilocalories during several exercise sessions. It also allows you to set daily and weekly exercise goals in terms of calorie expenditure. The OwnIndex feature will determine your fitness level, track your improvements, and provide motivation. Polar's OwnCode technology blocks unwanted signals from other heart rate monitors, ensuring disturbance-free transmission of your heart rate data.

The S720i's visual and audible alarms alert you when you reach your target heart rate zone. The Time in Target Zone feature calculates the amount of total exercise time spent in your personal target zone. You can use this feature together with the Total Exercise Time to determine the effectiveness of your exercise program.

Feature Detail:

• Displays your heart rate as beats per minute and percentage of maximum heart rate, average heart rate, and exercise duration
• Cycling measurement features include speed, distance, and training conditions like altitude and temperature
• Wirelessly sends exercise data to PC via infrared connection
• Allows you to set 5 exercise sets for interval training with HR target zones and recovery calculation
• Records a complete file and five summary files of the exercises
• Predicts your maximal oxygen uptake
• Reduces possible interference from other heart rate monitors
• Target heart rate zones with audible and visual alarm
• UpLink feature enables download of exercise set from Polar web site
• Large easy-to-read display with backlighting and split screen
• 24-hour clock with day/week indicator and stopwatch
• 1.5-year average battery life
• Water resistant to 20 meters

What's in the Box?
S720i heart rate monitor watch unit, wireless transmitter, elastic strap, battery (built-in CR2032 lithium cell), bike mount, wireless cycling sensor, printed instructions

Manufacturer Warranty
2-year limited warranty

Note:
Polar heart rate monitors are precision instruments; consumers are not advised to change their own battery. Polar recommends that all service be done by an authorized Polar Service Center which will include a warranty for 90 days on repairs and 6 months for batteries.

Customer Reviews

Improvement over the venerable 710si
I've had my polar HRM for over a year, and use it primarily for long-distance cycling and, to a lesser degree, running. The primary reasons I chose this model over the S510/520i were the altitude recording feature, connectivity with my laptop, and software.

The software has improved, with functional and bug updates issued approximately once a quarter. Polar's support is knowledgeable and responsive.

The cadence module is moderately useful, however after an extremely rainy ride (Tour de Blast), mine becames water logged and failed.

I have not tried the power module -- it's cost prohibitive -- though it does not appear it would work well on my bike because of my execessively wide gear range. If this were a feature I was genuinely concerned with, I would look at a hub-based alternative like PowerTap.

The good:
___Altitude recording
___Can record slope of hills (with "lap" feature)
___Built in IR port
___Multiple bikes, zones and exercises
___Variable polling intervals
___You can add cadence or power recording

The bad:
___Not much precision in raw data.
___In earlier versions, if you're away from the receiver for more than 10 minutes, it loses track of the session and you'll end up with two exercise sessions. The software does not join these automatically, though it is possible to do it manually.

Great HRM
Got this heart rate monitor not too long ago and love it. For cycling it has everything I wanted. With the optional cadence sensor (which I recommend getting) you'll be able to track everything you need for personal training. Note that the Speed sensor comes with this monitor, so don't buy it seperately.

The only downfalls of this HRM for me is that the battery on the transmitter strap is not replaceable. It will last awhile, but at some point know that you'll need to replace the strap. The battery on the watch itself is suggested to be changed at an authorized Polar service store (of which none are very close to me). I believe you can change it yourself, they just don't suggest it. There are no instructions for doing so in the manual however.

The software that comes with the HRM is very easy to use. The infrared interface on the watch is nice for transmitting data to your laptop or IrDA port on your PC. (Note that per Polar support, there is an issue with SigmaTel chipset type IrDA interfaces working with the Polar HRMs) The data display on the S720i is very easy to read, the options are very easy to setup, the available data that you can display on the watch during exercise is also very nice. Being able to record data as granular as every 5 seconds is also nice. I chose this HRM based on recommendations from many others (even over the 725 which doesn't seem to have anything over this HRM besides the 'carbon fiber look' to warrant the extra cost) and would readily recommend it to anyone else.

Great HRM with computer interface
This Heart Rate Monitor is aimed at a cyclist, but you don't need to be a cyclist to benefit from some of it's great features, I use it for several outdoor activities.

The feature that attracted me to this unit is the infrared computer interface and software it comes with. If your computer has built in infrared that's all you need to communicate with the device, otherwise you'll need to buy the optional Polar IR unit.

I have used the unit for the following activities, Walking, Running, Cycling and Backpacking.

For walking or running this HRM is overkill IMHO, a cheaper unit would probably suffice. Initially this is all I used the HRM for.

For Cycling I found it very convenient to use, it can be setup to start and stop recoding your HRM data when the bike is stationary. This auto start/stop while handy tended to kick in too early for just a brief stop to look bothways crossing a busy intersection. The built in thermometer and altimeter work well when attached to the handlebars, the HRM comes with a custom bike mount. The altimeter needs calibrating each time you use it, it works using atmospheric presssure, so on a long bike ride or on a stormy day the readings are less reliable than one would like. But on a clear day I was suprised to see it measures in 20 feet increments with reasonable accuracy. The HRM records bike speed, altitude, heart rate constantly and automatically, however temprature is only recorded each 'lap'. On a long bike ride you need to remember to press a button to ensure the temprature is recorded. Not sure why it can't automatically take temprature readings every 5 minutes or so.

Download to a PC via infrared is simple enough and the data is automatically enetered into the right days on the calander. If you have multiple sessions with different exercise activities, it takes a little effort to identify each sesion acuratley. You have to manually mark the beggining and end of warm-up and cool down in order to get data anlysis that makes sense. Shame it can't automatically divy this up for you. The standard reports are fine for analyzing a single session or several months of data.

For backpacking I found the altimeter and themometer of great value, you must be sure not to wear the wrist reciever on your wrist otherwise temprature and altitude readings are wrong. Attaching to a loop on a shoulder strap is a good place, you can still read the watch there. Once again it requires daily calibration, simple if you have a topo map.

The altimeter fuction records cumulative uphill and downhill so you can later analyze the total amount you climbed, not just the net difference in altitude. This you can only analyze on a computer afterwards.

The HRM has the usual audible alerts if you stray outside of your preset activity limits. I use all 5 presets to cater for my different outdoor activities. Most features including the watch and alarm functions can be programmed most easily on a computer, so you need to plan ahead and preprogram the unit to avoid a lot of button pressing when you should be exercising.

I found the unit works fine when using polar compatible equipment, this avoids interference interrupting the wireless communication, which is common on exercise bikes.

I had the wrist reciever battery replaced at a Batteries plus store. I did this to avoid the incovenience and expense of sending back to Polar. It still works fine. I don't use it when swimming (the chest strap slides down constantly) so I can't comment if the water resistance is compromised by replacing the battery at a non authorized store.

It is still is going strong after years of use, the chest strap battery is still good. If this runs down, there is NO WAY to replace yourself, you have to exchange for a new one with Polar.