There is no secret that heart rate chest straps are much more accurate than wrist-based heart rate monitors; hence why health professionals use chest straps when doing an electrocardiogram (ECG) test to measure the electrical activity of the heart.
Heart rate monitors such as the Polar H9 work similarly to hospitals ECG machines but instead of, sending ECG data to a tethered ECG machine, it gets sent to a smartphone via wireless connection, which is very convenient.
The Polar H9 sensor can send heart rate signals via both Bluetooth, ANT+ and GymLink 5kHz so, the Polar H9 can work with sports devices, gym cardio equipment and mobile apps, including Polar Beat, which is available to download on Google Play Store and the App Store.
The Polar Beat app doesn't require having an account but, by signing up with an account you get full access to the app features, including over 100 sport profiles that you can train with.
Polar H9 sensor can be connected to the Polar Beat app two ways. The easiest way is by tapping the sport profile you want to train with. The second way to connect the H9 sensor to the Polar Beat app is by searching for the H9 sensor via the settings and manually pairing to it.
With Polar Beat, you can let the app guide you through the exercise via real-time voice guidance, which can be manually disabled. You can also set specific training targets, including calories, distance, duration and set goals via ready-made workouts via the option "benefit target".
After the workout is complete, you get a written overview of your training workout, including feedback on how to can improve future training. You can then save or share the training feedback on social media.
As far as the bluetooth transmission range, it varies and depends on how the Polar H9 sensor is positioned on your body and how far it is from the device is connected to. You can get a good bluetooth transmission range indoors or outdoors via direct line of sight. If there are thick walls in between and/or the bluetooth signal cannot bounce off, the bluetooth transmission range will decrease drastically down to 5-10 meters.
For the Polar H9 sensor to work properly, it has to be clipped to the strap and attached properly to the chest so, the sensor can pick up a heart rate.
You will also have to slightly wet the conductive rubber electrode that is located on the underside of the strap. This is to help conductivity between the skin and the rubber electrode.
You only have to moisten the strap initially since sweat during the workout will then facilitate conductivity. The strap doesn't have to be extremely tight or tight at all on the chest.
As long as the strap is fitted on your chest securely, the strap's rubber electrode will pick up consistent heart rate. When the H9 heart rate is removed from the chest, the connection does not shut off automatically. It remains active until the H9 sensor is disconnected from the app or device it's connected to.
The Polar H9 sensor is powered by a coin cell CR2025 battery, which is accessed by prying open the circular panel (battery cover) on the back of the sensor. The battery cover has a ring rubber gasket around it to prevent water/dust ingress, making the Polar H9 heart rate sensor water resistant.
You can can get 400+ hours of battery life from the coin cell CR2025 battery so, if you were to use the Polar H9 an hour every day, the coin cell CR2025 battery would last longer than a year before you have to replace it. You won't have to access the battery compartment during normal use, unless you need to reset the Polar H9 sensor, which is done by removing the battery for 30 seconds.
You can use the Polar H9 sensor in water but not standalone like you can with the H10 heart rate strap and OH1 arm band sensor, both of which have on-board memory storage. The H9 sensor does not have built-in memory for storing training sessions and, the H9 sensor will not connect to the Polar Beat app via Bluetooth while in water so, you cannot take the H9 sensor for a swim and a start a training session with the Polar Beat app.
The only way to use the H9 sensor in water is with an ANT+ or GymLink-compatible wrist unit during the swim. ANT+ and GymLink can be manually disabled from the Polar Beat app.
The H9 sensor cannot be used simultaneously with two bluetooth devices, the same way you can with the H10 sensor, which can be connected to gym equipment and a Polar device at the same time.
As far as the Polar H9 chest strap construction, it is made of 38% polyamide (nylon fabric), 29% polyurethane (flexible plastic), 20% elastane fabric and 13% polyester fabric, which makes the Polar H9 chest strap have a soft and elastic construction.
Being made mostly of nylon fabric, the Polar H9 strap is durable, as well as breathable. That said, the strap is prone to sweaty smell build up unless it is rinsed as suggested, after each workout.
The Polar H9 strap should last you a long time and it's very comfortable to wear on the chest than the hard chest straps that have the heart rate monitor built-in. The Polar H9 strap is lighter, weighing just 61 grams (including the sensor) and, because the strap is made of soft materials, the Polar H9 strap conforms to your body shape so, after a few minutes you don't notice you are wearing it.
The Polar H9 strap measures 3cm wide and 61cm (2ft) long, while the rubber electrode measures 30cm long (roughly the distance from nipple to nipple). The actual Polar H9 sensor weighs just 20 grams and measures 6.5cm long, 3.5cm wide and 0.5cm thick.
The Polar H9 heart rate sensor chest strap can be paired with Polar sport watches that allow a sensor to be paired. These include the A300, M400, M430, M450, M460, V800, A360, A370, M200, M600, Ignite, Vantage M and Vantage V.