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I'm trying to be a good boy by bringing along a heart rate strap for watching my rate and getting the maximum benefit from a run.
My rate eventually drops so low, it looks as if the treadmill is broken.

For the first ten or fifteen minutes, all seems to be well. Then my heart rate jumps a little, and if I push past it, the rate dwindles and dwindles down. It'll pick back up but generally it remains very low.
If anyone is curious, I'll track it next time and post the numbers.
From an unrelated accident last year, I had extensive heart testing done, so I think my ticker is just fine.
I've tried several different treadmills at the gym, all with the same results.
What's going on?

Does it need new batteries ? I have noticed I don't always get accurate reads from the machines with mine, but with it linked to the watch, it's good. There could be interference from those around you too.

Do you have a good connection to the chest? A gell might help. had the same issue - very hairy chest - and finally threw the damned thing away in frustration.

In the end, it's better to learn to read your exertion rate by feel - monitors should be a learning aid, not a speedometer.

Nat

tazzari saidDo you have a good connection to the chest? A gell might help. had the same issue - very hairy chest - and finally threw the damned thing away in frustration.

In the end, it's better to learn to read your exertion rate by feel - monitors should be a learning aid, not a speedometer.

Nat

Hmmm...perhaps that is it. A simple conductivity issue. Perhaps sweat interferes.
There are no batteries though. Just the strap which the treadmill reads.

does it work fine with your watch ?
i understand it's more convenient to read the info on the treadmill, but i guess those systems aren't very reliable.

what do you mean, no batteries? your strap must have a battery for transmission.
and sweat has never been a factor for bad transmission . I used to spit on my electrodes to help conductivity , but with my garmin strap i don't even need to do that.

you do wear it right under your pecs right? haha :p

xassantex saiddoes it work fine with your watch ?
i understand it's more convenient to read the info on the treadmill, but i guess those systems aren't very reliable.

what do you mean, no batteries? your strap must have a battery for transmission.
and sweat has never been a factor for bad transmission . I used to spit on my electrodes to help conductivity , but with my garmin strap i don't even need to do that.

you do wear it right under your pecs right? haha :p

I mean it is simply the strap, no watch as the treadmill has a heart rate monitor built into it.

As far a sI can tell there is no battery inside the strap. Doesn't the treadmill simply send out electronic pulses and then determine the rate based upon the response time from a suitable object?

About heart monitor straps.... As long as we are on the topic, and I'm ready to buy one.... Does anyone have any recommendations or warnings? My gym has several brands of treadmills around. Do they all communicate? Inquiring minds need to know!
Thanks

If it is working fine for the first 15 minutes and then your rate seems to drop, maybe the strap is slipping down a little as you move and mvoing back up a litlle when your reading improves. It can't slip too far from under your pecs and still give a good reading. Your OP makes it sound like it is a very significant drop and I do not know if you would still be standing if the reading was accurate. Maybe you should see a specialist to get a stress test on a treadmill if you did not have that done when you had your original heart tests.

swimbikerun said
I mean it is simply the strap, no watch as the treadmill has a heart rate monitor built into it.

As far a sI can tell there is no battery inside the strap. Doesn't the treadmill simply send out electronic pulses and then determine the rate based upon the response time from a suitable object?

i have a garmin forerunner 305 ( best gizmo i ever bought ! ) and my strap has a 3volt lithium battery.
before i had polar hrm's and the straps all had batteries too.

but i remember once using my polar hrm on a treadmill.
the treadmill hrm was picking my strap emissions also but there was a light discrepancy between my own monitor and the treadmill's , but within 5 beats/m, nothing like what you reported.

yours seem to pick the signal ok and then lose it.
so i feel a bit clueless then.

Thanks guys, maybe I'll just pick up a new heartrate strap...

I have a Polar brand one no complaints so far had it for 9+ yrs still works. Has strap for around chest and wrist strap.

Here's my thought. You're 6'2, so you may not be getting an accurate reading on the treadmill simply because you're higher up and you really can't be right up at the front so you may simply be out of range. A wrist monitor is the most accurate way of getting a reading. Also you do know you're supposed to dampen the sensors on the chest strap before using it. Right?

yes, and licking it lasciviously is the best method.

maybe he was using a strap on, thinking it might work ...

but i agree a good hrm on a wristwatch is the best.
And they've become so reasonably priced now.

i thought of using my garmin forerunner on a treadmill ... what's wrong with that picture...

Runninchlt saidHere's my thought. You're 6'2, so you may not be getting an accurate reading on the treadmill simply because you're higher up and you really can't be right up at the front so you may simply be out of range. A wrist monitor is the most accurate way of getting a reading. Also you do know you're supposed to dampen the sensors on the chest strap before using it. Right?

Yes, I actually lick mine to get good connectivity. It sounds like the chest strap cold be questionable, make sure it is snug and just beneath your pecs.

I've used one for many years, now I can guess within a few beats what my heart rate is at any given time. It's a great tool to get better acquainted with your body rhythms.

Bill202 saidAbout heart monitor straps.... As long as we are on the topic, and I'm ready to buy one.... Does anyone have any recommendations or warnings? My gym has several brands of treadmills around. Do they all communicate? Inquiring minds need to know!
Thanks

Polar has a series which all seem to work well with most equipment in the gyms. It was for a while that the machines would actually tell you that they were compatible with Polar specifically. I don't know if the other brands are as compatible, I've only ever had Polar. I've never used the wrist kind though... I'm old school Mexican with the chest strap.