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The following
text is courtesy of Polar OY Finland - please do not reproduce
without their permission. Thank you.
Q: Why
didn't Polar use GPS for SD for the S625X / RS200SD / Polar RS400 / Polar RS800SD
We (Polar OY) considered both GPS and inertial technologies carefully
before choosing to go with
inertial technologies. GPS has some positive elements but we chose
the best overall
technology for running anywhere and in any conditions.
We recognized that existing GPS was too heavy and consumed too
much power for an
application that was meant for runners who are demanding and relatively
heavy users
and train frequently. Existing GPS applications are simply not
as practical for someone
who is running frequently because of the need to constantly recharge/replace
batteries
and because of the discomfort of hauling abound a large GPS unit
on the upper body.
When used in a real life running scenario- GPS is no more accurate
that inertial sensor
technology. With inertial technology we saw that we could provide
the best solution for
runners who want accurate and reliable speed and distance measurement
that performs
in all conditions (indoors and outside), in urban city settings
with tall buildings, even in
very heavily wooded trails and twisting turning trails and tight
turning paths.
Q: GPS
technology is considered advanced by many. What about the Polar
inertial
sensor technology that Polar uses?
The inertial technology that Polar uses is very advanced, inertial
technology is used in
aerospace positioning and guidance systems, industrial robotics
and in advanced
automotive applications such as active suspensions and emergency
airbag deployment
to name a few.
The inertial sensors measure the acceleration
of the S1 - S3 foot pod more than 1000 times
per second and use this data with advanced algorithms to calculate
foot angles and gait
velocity the Polar S1 - S3 running speed and distance sensor is NOT
A PEDOMETER.
Instead, it is very advanced running speed sensor.
Q: GPS
provides speed and distance while running, cycling and even during
X-C
skiing. What about the Polar S625X?
The Polar S625X was designed primarily for runners and tri-athletes.
So we have
ensured that the running functions are optimized for running and
cycling. The S625X is
fully compatible with all Polar cycling sensors. Combining cycling
speed and cadence
and power options provides many more dimensions to the cycling
cross-sports
experience than that offered by GPS speed and distance unit.
Q: Some
GPS units provide directional features to help navigation. Why
has Polar
opted to leave this out in the S625X / RS200SD / Polar RS400SD / Polar RS800SD?
The S625X / RS200SD were designed with the knowledge that 80%
of runners generally run the
same 3-5 routes. The speed and distance element of the S625X /
RS200SD will support people who
want to track speed and distance on these routes and also lets
them find more new
routes with no need for external mile markers. Navigation features
are
best suited for outdoor and adventure products, while the S625X
/ RS200SD is focused on providing
runners the most relevant features for building performance and
enhancing their every
running experience.
Q: Is the
S1 - S3 footpod heavy?
You can't feel it when once its attached to your shoe. Infact,
you will struggle to figure
out (by feel) which shoe has the footpod on it once you put it
on. The Polar S1 - S3 footpod is
built to last with robust water resistance, shock resistance and
easy battery change while
still not reducing shoe comfort or running performance.
Q: How
accurate is the S625X / RS200SD / Polar RS400SD / Polar RS800SD?
Generally the S625X / RS200SD is at minimum 97% accurate even
without calibration. The
accuracy increases to 99% with calibration. In relative terms,
this accuracy is as good or
better than the accuracy provided by GPS. Interestingly, this
degree of accuracy is
generally far better than what is seen on running treadmills.
Have you ever heard of a
runner complain that a treadmill was not accurate enough for their
training purposes?
Q: Do I
need to re-calibrate my footpod everytime my foot pod or wrist
unit battery
is changed?
If you choose to calibrate your Polar S1 - S3 foot pod, the calibration
factor will be stored in
the permanent memory of the S625X / RS200SD / Polar RS400 / Polar RS800 Running Computer.
This calibration will be stored
permanently, unless you decide to change it....so if you calibrate,
you only need to do it
once.
Q: Will
the Polar S1 - S3 foot pod leak water?
Robust water-resistance and durability are key elements in the
design of the Polar S1 - S3
foot-pod. It will survive immersion, wet running environments
and continue to perform
reliably. However, the S1 - S3 was not designed for swimming or aqua-running
so please do
not going swimming with it.
Q: What
is the foot pod battery lifetime?
The battery lifetime is 20 hours of use in average.
Q: How
do I know that the foot pod battery needs to be replaced?
When the green light on the foot pod turns red, you need to replace
the battery.
Replace the battery in case the foot pod does not start or the
running speed shows 00
constantly.
Q: Can
I replace the battery myself if so, what is the battery type?
The foot pod is designed so that the user can replace the battery
him/herself without
tools.The battery type is AAA.
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