Concept2: Heart Rate Monitoring Information for New Users

You generally need two pieces of equipment to monitor your heart rate: 1) a transmitter to detect your heart rate and send or transmit your heart rate to a receiver and 2) the receiver, which allows you to see the heart rate number.

Transmitters are often sold with chest straps and are worn around the torso near the heart so the heart beat can be detected.
Wristwatch style receivers, such as Polar's F11 and Suunto's t3, are worn on the wrist and display the heart rate to the wearer. Transmitters and wristwatch style receivers can be used while rowing on Concept 2 Indoor Rowers; however, it can be difficult or uncomfortable to look at your wrist while rowing.

Heart rate monitoring capabilities are available with PM2, PM2+, PM3, and PM4 monitors for those who would like to view their heart rate in the monitor on the Concept 2 Indoor Rower.

Heart Rate Monitoring on a PM2, PM2+ or PM3 Monitor

To enable heart rate monitoring on a PM2, PM2+, or PM3 monitor, you must use Concept 2's heart rate cable with receiver (PN 1761) along with your chest belt and transmitter. In this scenario, the cable with receiver allows the PM2/PM2+/PM3 to receive the heart rate and display the heart rate on the face of the monitor. The cable is plugged into the monitor on the rower, travels down the monitor arm, and ends up under the Indoor Rower monorail (where the seat slides). The receiver is located at the end of this cable to put it in closer range to you as you are sitting on the rower. You are not physically connected to the cable/receiver; you simply wear the chest belt and transmitter, and your heart rate is transmitted from your chest to the receiver under the rower and is displayed on the face of the Indoor Rower monitor.

Concept 2's heart rate cable and receiver is available only from Concept 2. It is designed to work with Polar brand chest belts and transmitters, which you can purchase from Concept 2 or from any Polar distributor. Other brands of chest belts may work, but are not guaranteed to do so.

Heart Rate Monitoring on a PM4

The PM4 offers two methods for monitoring your heart rate: Polar and Suunto. To use Polar, you need the equipment as described above for monitoring heart rate with PM2, PM2+, and PM3 monitors (Concept 2's cable with receiver along with a Polar transmitter and chest belt). The other method for monitoring heart rate on a PM4 is to use the complimentary Suunto chest belt supplied with the PM4. The Suunto chest belt uses ANT technology and sends the heart rate to a receiver that is built in to the PM4 circuit board. Using the Suunto method, no additional accessories are required to see your heart rate in the PM4.

What is ANT technology?

Note: Suunto equipment is compatible only with the PM4.