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My Polar Vantage watch needs it's annual replacement of the Heart Rate LEDs, only this time Polar have said they won't (or can't) fix it. It's 4 years old, the first two years they replace it under warranty, the last two I paid £50 for a new LED module.
I vaguely recall reading on STW that they'd closed the UK repair office.
I am very reluctant to move to Garmin as a multi-decade loyal Polar customer, but it looks like I no longer have a choice...
Anyone know if they have really stopped servicing products in the UK?
There’s suunto if you want to avoid Garmin.
Forgot them!
I really like Polar's HR stuff, so very sad about having to switch.
I vaguely recall reading on STW that they’d closed the UK repair office.
That would be one of my threads after my few month old V2 failed due to water ingress, and my crash replacement M460 died after 9 months.
After the official support went silent, I took to Facebook and criticised them every time one of their ads appeared in my feed. Not long after that support sprung to life again and sent me vouchers to cover the cost of a new V3 and a new M460. That was about 6 months ago, so not sure what the current status is with UK repairs.
I'm also torn as I do prefer the Polar ecosystem, however the whole support experience means I don't really trust them anymore, and I'm not sure I would buy anymore of their products.
They sent me a 50% off anything voucher, so I could get a new Vantage V3 half price.
However, in a years' time it will need new LEDs and if they can't repair it, that's a very expensive watch which only lasts one year...
I’m also torn as I do prefer the Polar ecosystem, however the whole support experience means I don’t really trust them anymore, and I’m not sure I would buy anymore of their products.
It was superb, sent off my watch to a UK address, returned 2 days later fixed for a pretty low fee...
However, with no UK support, I don't really have a choice but to leave them.
What's this new LED business? Is that the optical HRM? Seems a bit weird if it is. I have an OH1 optical HRM which I'm guessing uses similar tech. I've used it for about 5 years now with no issues.
I agree re. the Polar system, it works very well. I wish they would produce a bike computer with mapping to replace my old V650 which still works perfectly and does a decent job but displays have moved on. Also have an M460 for when I know where I'm going.
My original 4 year old Vantage is still going strong, albeit the battery doesn't last as long as it used to, as I had to use it while waiting for them to do something about repairs/replacements.
The lack of new bike computer is what I think will ultimately push me towards changing to Garmin once my existing Polar kit dies. I do have the bar mount for the watches, but I don't like using it.
What’s this new LED business?
It appears that a small number of users, of their watches, experience the LEDs (for HR sensing) burning out after about a year. Eg It should have 5 bright green LEDs and 5 not so bright red ones. After a year this is all I have.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53496823552_b26efd7b8b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53496823552_b26efd7b8b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pvkcQL ]Polar Vantage LEDs[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
I've had the watch replaced once completely (under warranty) then the LED module changed three times..
My hypothesis is they vary the LED current based on how hard it is to read the user's HR and with me, they're driving them too hard.
They always burn out in the same order as well, eventually you just have the one in the middle working, by which time the HR reading is very noisy.
As for why I still use it, for £50 the annual repair is always cheaper than buying a new watch and I really like Polar...
Once repaired it looks like this:
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53496836167_4772025839.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53496836167_4772025839.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pvkgAg ]Polar Vantage with new LED module[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Hmm those do look quite different to the ones on my OH1. How about using an external HRM like the optical Verity Sense (updated version of OH1) or H10 chest strap.
How about using an external HRM like the optical Verity Sense (updated version of OH1) or H10 chest strap.
I do when training, it's the 24/7 HR monitoring I use esp the sleep stats.
Polar replied, 2 year warranty but no repairs or servicing in the UK.
My vantage m2 is still going strong after 30 months......I don't use the HR monitor 24/7 tho, just at night time. My wife's still dandy after 18 months
my m430 optical hr was still going strong after 5 years
Personally I'd take the 50% and buy a V3. I too have data in the polar ecosystem since 2000 and that's so valuable I wouldn't change.
Imagine the v3 unlikely to have similar issues w optical sensor.
They used to have a service centre and sales in Warwick. Since Jan 21 they've sent any deliveries from Amsterdam - no idea why they would make that change...🤔
They used to have a service centre and sales in Warwick.
I think they've been struggling financially and cut back on service centres.
DC Rainmaker called their Vantage V3 their "Make or break" product...
I do when training, it’s the 24/7 HR monitoring I use esp the sleep stats.
Ah, of course.
I've had a Vantage M since they checked out ( early 2019 I think). Daughter has it now. Still going well. The Polar Flow web/app is moles ahead of Garmin. But... I'm on tje hope with Garmin for the bike GPS, and eventually got 1/3 off a new Garmin watch so that and no UK support Amy longer tipped it to Garmin.
Just be prepared for flakey software updates from Garmin that break as many things as they fix each time.
I do like the V3.
I would say it's the best watch that Polar have produced, as it has improved on the V/V2. Slightly smaller, better screen, better heart rate tracking, better battery life, along with a few nice extra features.
My biggest complaint about it, is it doesn't show your heartrate on the main screen like the original and V2 did. And you need to look at the app to see your lowest sleeping heart rate.
Just read the website, and I see you can configure home screen widgets, so you can have the heartrate on the default screen!
I've not really used the mapping on it, although when I have ridden with it, it has shown all the nearby established trails. Somewhat ironically, just before my V2 failed, I could have had some vouchers to get a few months Komoot free, but as I had no use for them, I never bothered taking any :/
I use their bike computer V650? for rides, just use the watch for 24/7 HR and activity tracking so on my days when I don't ride I try and hit my activity target. On the days when I do ride, I normally get a whole week's activity in one go...
V650 here too. As I said above I wish they would produce a modern version, the screen isn't the best in sunlight but in general I like the way Polar Flow works. Oh and V650 no longer syncs directly with mac so I have to go via my mobile phone app. It works though.