I'm an avid runner and have been toying with the idea of getting myself a Polar Heart Rate Monitor (specifically the RS200sd if anyone is interested), I'm not sure, however if they are that compatible with a Mac.

I've had a big read of their website and it doesn't give away alot of details about the platforms the training software works on, but I'm guessing it's going to be PC based.

So, my question is, has anyone got a Polar Heart Rate Monitor and do they use it with OS X at all (or under the vitrual PC environment)? How does it go?

You need a PC to use the Polar Web Link Service.

Also emulator like Virtual PC will not help because of Polar Web communication protocol.

Maybe Boot Camp would be okay/

Refer http://www.polarusa.com/service_repa..._con.asp?ID=49

My brother looked at the Polar range but ended up using the Nike triax elite specifically for its Mac compatability. I suspect he would have preferred the Polar.

I helped a girl in Applecenter Norwood who wanted to use these (or a similar brand) on the intel imacs.

What we figured out:

• They work fine via parallels
• you can use the Apple Logo on the front as the IR receiver to transfer the data back to the computer.
• if for some reason you can't get the IR receiver to work, you can just use the mic and do an audio transfer instead.

In saying that, she understood more about the monitors than i did, I just showed her how to interface it with windows via parallels via iMac.

Rumour warning - I saw a dodgy wrist band supposedly to come out from Apple that monitors heartbeat...So I recommend you wait until Wednesday in case there is some substance to this.

You mean like somethin that's evolved from the nike+ idea perhaps?

Hmm.. that's interesting...

I don't have an intel based mac, so I'll probably have to dig out my old IBM Laptop and use that...but the waiting idea sounds good...

I doubt it's going to have everything I want though if it's just a heart rate monitor, I was looking at getting the model that does distance etc as well... still.. it's not urgent and waiting is a good idea

It is meant to be Nike+ related, providing Hb, time, distance etc.

Try the latest beta of iSMARTtrain (http://www.ismarttrain.com/Beta/)

It supports the RS200 and most of the other Polar HRMs as a native Mac OS X Application.

Hey thanks... that looks like just what I'm after...

Muchas Gracias!!

Just having a good look at the FAQ's, does it really support the RS200? It doesn't list it in it's 'supported models' section and states that if it's not listed it doesn't support it... do you have or know anyone who has it working with a RS200?

I've been using the ismart train software (currently v2.0.3) with an imac and a polar s410 for the past 2 years.

I've found it to be great software.

If you have any queries just email Stuart. They have always responded to my queries really quickly.

jantar

Just incase people are interested.

I got the Polar RS200SD HRM and it works perfectly with the iSmartTrain beta (revision 10 I think it is) that is currently out.

I would have to say it's a great piece of software and it's as good as, if not better than the Polar online stuff they have that you can use with this HRM.

I am trying to download my HRM data to the Polar software via Parallels but the IR receiver will not work (does under boot camp!) Tried the idea of the inbuilt IR on my MBP but have no idea how to do this. Is it the little circle just to the left of the lid latch? If so how do I tell windows(parallels) to use it?

Thanks in advance for any help...
Tim