Heart-Rate Chest Strap User's Guide

We sell a wireless chest strap which should work with most Australian fitness equipment. (As a reminder, if you bought the strap from us, but the machine from someone else, please contact that other company for assistance pairing the device or using your treadmill, bike etc.).

Whilst chest straps can transmit on Bluetooth or ANT+ frequencies, this article is a help-guide on using the standard 5.3khz frequency. This frequency is like the old AM and FM signals - it just transmits out into the air for anything to pick up. There is no need to pair, or sync, your device with a 5.3khz transmitter - it should just pick up the signal and display on a screen like this...

Pulse Reading on a treadmill screen

However, there are some important tips;

  1. Straps use electrical conduction of bioelectric signals, detected via ECG electrodes. Make sure your skin is moist (esp in winter). It's best to wipe a bit of water on your chest where the main electrodes are positioned before you exercise.
  2. Make sure it's tight enough. It shouldnt be uncomfortable, but should not be popping off the skin or moving around.
  3. Be a bit patient. It may not pick up the signal instantly, but it should happen within 15-20 seconds.
  4. Check the battery isnt flat. A replacement battery can be purchased from the supermarket and easily installed yourself.
  5. In some cases, you have to be actually using the machine for pulse to display. So for example, start cycling on the bike, and then soon enough, the BPM should show up.
  6. As these straps all transmit on the same frequency, make sure nobody else nearby is wearing a strap. Your device could feasibly pick up both, and therefore give you crazy readings.
  7. Make absolutely sure that the machine you're using is looking for a 5.3khz signal. If your machine uses bluetooth, connection is done differently (pairing).
  8. If all else fails, you can test the strap by going to a friends' house or a gym where someone knows for sure that the machine picks up the 5.3khz signal. If someone else's strap works on the machine, but yours doesnt, your strap might need help. Similarly, test your machine at home. If a friend has a proven/working 5.3khz strap, get them to test it on your machine. If your machine doesnt pick up their signal, then your machine needs help.

There are heaps of helpful videos online. Here's one we have found helpful for customers...