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(More customer reviews)I'm a Polar S725x Heart Rate Monitor user and I've been using the Polar S1 Foot Pod diligently for my runs and walks. I like the light weight feel of the Footpod. After having seen the buzz here about the G1 GPS, I had to give it a shot. Prior to using the s725x, I was actually a Timex Bodylink user. The Bodylink system is a heart rate monitor, speed, distance, and altitude system. I switched over to Polar because heart rate data is more important to me than anything else. Here's my review of the G1:
What you get: G1 GPS Unit, Armband, AA battery, and a nice little storage pouch.
First off, the weight initially feels a little heavy. Compared to the Timex GPS unit, the G1 is just a tad heavier. After having it strapped to my upper arm for a few minutes though, I forgot that it was there. So it's just a matter of getting used to it being there.
Set-up: When I first powered up the unit, the G1 took about three minutes to find a signal.
Now on to accuracy...
TEST #1: I decided to head out to Fort Funston here in San Francisco and take a walk along a path where I know the precise distance. Not only that, but I decided to bring along my Magellan Explorist 210 GPS. This GPS uses the highly accurate WAAS system. The roundtrip distance for the walk is 1.11 miles. There isn't that much tree cover, and when I did pass under a tree canopy, it was only for a distance of 100 feet or so. I didn't experience any loss in signal. At 0.7 miles on my GPS, the Polar G1 started to deviate a little bit. The G1 was reading 0.75. The deviation of 0.05 miles remained at the One Mile mark. But at the end of the walk, my GPS read 1.1 miles while the Polar G1 registered 1.2 miles. Of course, this is without calibration. (I've done this path before to test the S1 Footpod and found the deviation to only be 0.025 miles, so out of the box the S1 was more accurate without calibration.)
One thing I did notice about the G1 is that it seems to sample speed at a rate of about 3 seconds or so. Sometimes it was bang-on with the speed on my GPS, and sometimes it was catching up to it.
TEST #2: Now with the Running Feature calibrated for the deviation, I decided to walk the same path again. The GPS was powered off, then powered on again. It took about 45 seconds to find a signal. This time the measurement came out to just shy of 1.1 miles, so it's pretty close. With a little more calibration, it should be okay.Comparisons to the Timex Bodylink: I've never used a Garmin HRM before, so I can't comment on those, but in comparing this G1 to the Timex GPS sensor, the Timex wins hands down. With the Timex, you get speed, distance, elevation, and logging features. Also, the battery lasts 20+ hours. I figured Polar could have done some forward-thinking with this unit and added some of those features. Perhaps they will when the new rs800cx comes out, or with the new FT series watches. So this is why I only give it 4/5 stars, because it doesn't have as many features as the Timex GPS.
Final Thoughts: I bought the Polar s725x because Polar is the absolute best when it comes to EKG accurate heart rate monitors. For me, my heart and its health is more important than anything else. Every other perk of the technology is just an added bonus. Sure, I do like to log distance and mileage, but when it comes to miles, I'm more interested in 10ths of a mile than anything more accurate than that.
I plan to alternate using the G1 and my S1 Footpod, depending on where I decide to walk or run. I'll use the G1 when I know I'll be in an area with a lot of open space, and the S1 when I know I'll be in an area with a lot of tree-cover.
One more thing about the G1. Now that it's out there, the Polar s625x and the s725x have become true multisport computers. I can now do some crosstraining, like kayaking and inline skating, and have a multitude of data that I can now analyze. For that alone, I think it's worth it.
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Polar G1 GPS Speed and Distance SensorTrack your speed and distance while wearing a Polar training computer with the Polar G1 GPS sensor. A terrific alternative to the Polar S1 foot pod, the G1 is compatible with the Polar RS200, RS400, S625X, and S725X wrist-top training computers. Once you're wearing the G1, the sensor employs SIRF StarIII GPS technology to measure speed and distance for sports that don't exceed 18.3 miles per hour, such as running, kayaking, cross-country skiing, or recreational inline skating. As the G1 compiles the data, your training computer will do the rest, putting you through the paces on your workout routine.
The easy-to-use, water-resistant sensor calculates its position by measuring the distance between itself and three or more GPS satellites. Note that GPS positioning requires satellite visibility to work, thus it will only work reliably outdoors, and not in valleys between tall trees and buildings. GPS signals also rely on radio frequencies (RF), and therefore won't go through metal or water. The G1, which works with AA batteries, offers a battery life of up to 10 hours in warm conditions or up to 15 hours in low-power mode. The sensor also weighs a lightweight 2.82 ounces.
About Polar The first EKG accurate wireless heart rate monitor was invented by Polar back in 1977 as a training tool for the Finnish National Cross Country Ski Team. The concept of "intensity training" by heart rate swept the athletic world in the '80s. By the 1990s, individuals were looking to heart rate monitors not only for performance training needs, but also for achieving everyday fitness goals. Today, the same concept of heart rate training is being used by world-class athletes as well as everyday people trying to lose weight. Polar is the leading brand among consumers, coaches, and personal trainers worldwide, and the company is committed to not only producing the best products, but also being the leading educator on the benefits of heart-rate-based exercise.
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