The Polar S-Series heart rate monitors designated with the "i" prefix are IrDA compatable.
ie. Polar models:
S610i
S710i
S720i
S810i
and the
S625X
S725
S725X
AXN500
AXN700
F55
RS400
RS800
CS600
These models will now communicate with an IrDA compatable infrared port such as those built-in to many laptop computers. They are also backwards compatable with the Polar serial and USB infrared interfaces.
Exception: The Polar AXN700, AXN500, F55, RS400, RS800, CS600 will not communicate with the original Polar Serial / USB infrared interface. These models are strictly IrDA compliant where as the original Polar Serial / USB infrared interface was proprietory. Steps to establish an Infrared communications session
Press the bottom right hand button once from the "time of day" display to put the s-series "i" model into CONNECT mode.
Face the top of the receiver's infrared window towards the infrared port window on the laptop or an externally connected IrDA device.
Microsoft Windows will recognise the Polar "i-series" hrm and display an icon in the bottom task bar (as in the below diagram).
Note. If you don't see this icon accompanied by a sound, then Windows has not recognised the Polar receiver and the Polar software will not be able to communicate with it.
If the mouse is placed over the infrared symbol, it will indicate the device it has recognised (ie.S810i is in range"). Note. This will happen irrespective of whether the Polar PPP software is installed or running on the PC. Also an IrDA port can connect to several infrared devices at the same time but will only communicated with the first device on the list (so if you are having problems communicating and the symbol is displayed, ensure that there are no other devices in range ie. mobile phone, PDA.
Configure the Polar PPP software (version 3.03.011 and above), to IrDA in the Options/Preferences/Hardware/ settings - as below. Make sure USB AutoCheck and Use internal IR (win95) are both unchecked.
Make a connection with the receiver - ensure that the infrared icon is still displayed on the task bar. If the icon disappears, then the connection has been lost. Note. The following steps also apply when communicating with the Polar Infrared Interface.
The settings will be read from the receiver and the below tabs will be displayed.
The number of exercise files and memory free in the receiver is displayed on the "General" tab. Click on the "Exercise Files" button to download these files.
When the exercise files are downloaded to the PC, an "Excercise Files" tab will be displayed (as below). You can then choose to save these exercise onto the computer or delete them from the receiver.
Once saved, they can be retrieved from the calendar view screen - they will be saved to the date they were recorded on the receiver.
Windows/PC does does not recognise the Polar S-series (i) model or the AXN700/500
If your hardware does not recognise the Polar s-series "i" model or the AXN700/500 by displaying the infrared symbol next to the time of day on the task bar, then the Polar software will not be able to establish a connection with the Polar receiver.
If using a laptop, this maybe due to the IrDA connection being disabled in the BIOS.
If using a non-Polar USB IrDA device, check if the device contains a SIGMATEL chipset (info can be found in the windows device manager). There is an incompatability with the S-series S610i, S710i, S720i, S810i models and the Sigmatel chipset. Brands that we have found with this chipset are the BAFO, Spirit, Sitecom CN-100 V2 and Belkin F5U235au. As at December 2003.
Note: The new S725, S725X, S625X, AXN500 and AXN700 communicate with the "SIGMATEL chipset" IRDA devices.
USB IrDA devices that have been tested by Pursuit are the BELKIN USB IR smartbeam F5U230 (purchased from Harvey Norman - MAY HAVE BEEN SUPERSEDED) and a similar KC Technology Inc. device XC4831 (purchased from Jaycar Electronics) - both have same shape. As at December 2003.
NOTE:
Polar have released the USB 2.0 IrDA IRwave Infrared Adapter (model IR-721)
The USB 2.0 IrDA IRwave Infrared Adapter is compatible with the Polar:
S610i, S710i, S720i, S810i, S625X, S725X, RS400, RS800, CS600, XN500 and AXN700 using the Polar Protrainer 5 software and the Polar F55 using WebLink running under Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP on IBM compatible hardware. If installing on Microsoft Vista, DO NOT install the drivers supplied on the CD - Vista uses its own drivers.
(not compatible with the earlier Polar S610, S710 and S810 models)
NOTE:
Note. If you don't see this icon accompanied by a sound, then Windows has not recognised the Polar receiver and the Polar software will not be able to communicate with it.
