Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 02:17:19 -0400 (EDT) From: Marty Goodman MD KC6YKC Subject: Sports Instruments "Circuit 5" HRM Today I happened, browsing in Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) (Berkeley CA store) to look at the Sports Instruments "Circuit 5" model Heart Rate Monitor. This unit consists of a wristwatch receiver, and a chest strap that communicates by radio to that receiver, as is the case with most HRMs currently on the market. The "Circuit 5" features a stop watch, a count down timer, an ordinary watch, and a heart rate monitor that allows you to set an upper and lower limit for a "target zone" and then is able to record during exercise and display after an exercise period the time you spent in, below, and above the target heart rate zone, as well as your average heart rate. It has an alarm, both visual and auible, to tell you whether or not you're in your target zone. And the ability to easily shut off the audible alarm. I was EXTREMELY impressed with how simply and sensibly Sports Instruments implimented all its features, AND with the features they chose to provide. I was able within 30 seconds to figure out how to use all the important features (set target zone, start and stop watch, reset watch, and display heart rate parameters after exercise), without reference to the manual. This implies that the system is easy to learn, and easy to remember how to use, without constant reference to the manual. The heart rate display was quite large and readable at a distance. The ability to remember and display time in, above, and below target zone is critically important in serious training, and is avialable only on a few, usually high end HRMs. The Circuit 5 model retails for $150. The Polar model that offers these features costs about $200. The best buy on a HRM that offers most of these features (minus the count down timer, stop-watch, and average heart rate feature, but with memory of time spent in three zones) is the Nashbar HRM, retailing for $56 at this time. This is SUCH a good buy that it's hard to consider anything else. But if you get a good deal on a used, or remaindered Circuit 5, I think you'll appreciate it's clear, large display and well-thought-out, easy-to-remember user interface. Note that Sports Instruments also makes the Circuit 3 (not worth getting because it doesn't offer memory of time spent in, below, and above target zones, in my opinion) and the Circuit 7, a higher end model that addes a "recovery time" calculation feature to the features of the Circuit 5. Note that the transmitting strap of the Sports Instruments is compatible with most other HRM receivers, such as the CatEye, Polar, Cardio-Sport, Vetta, Nashbar, and Trek units. ---marty