Polar HRM Incorporates GPS Capability

Well not for  you and me it doesn’t. Maybe.

Polar’s team solution (March 2017, here) includes a shirt-based HRM which we mentioned here some time ago. this is the Polar HRM which includes a motion sensor and GPS for use in team sports. The first of those links is an interestingish read on the Polar site if you like all things HR-based (like me 😉 )

Here are the tech specs for it:

• Integrated GPS, 10Hz
• MEMS motion sensor, 200Hz (Accelerometer, gyroscope, digital compass)
• Memory up to 65 hours
• Rechargeable 390 mAh lithium polymer battery
• Battery duration up to 10 hours
• Recharging (from empty to full) 3 hours
• Sensor dimensions: 36 mm (1.42 in) x 68 mm (2.68 in) x 13 mm (0.51 in)
• Weight: 39 grams (1.38 oz)
• Water resistant: up to 30 m
• Operating temperature: -10 °C to +45 °C (14 °F to 113 °F)
• Sensor materials: ABS, ABS + 30% GF, PC, stainless steel
• LED display with information of player number, data sync and battery
• Bluetooth Smart
• Range Up to 200 meters

The point of briefly mentioning it on this blog is that we know that a motion sensor IS in the H10. We just don’t quite know what Polar are going to do with it. It COULD simply be there because of the shared components with the team sports OR it could be for Polar running dynamics as we have already suspected.

Compare this to the H10, below, and you can see it is a different size. So although they almost certainly share a lot of componentry I would doubt if the H10 will ever have GPS. then you might not buy a sports watch 😉 Of course every other vendor can be equally guilty of wanting to increase sales. HOWEVER it raises the spectre of someone like WAHOO or 4iiii making a HRM that could in some way record GPS. With the increasing move towards optical HRMs and a probably limited market I wouldn’t hold your breath.