More Polar CS600 Advice

The CS600 is the follow on for the old 720/725 units. I think they still make 725s, perhaps for the running market. The coded wireless parts represent a big step forward, making the installation easier and performance almost seamless. Now for my BIG gripe. They still use an IR interface, and the one they make sucks horribly. Here's roughly the sequence of events:

11/17/07: I ride the PAA/John's Bike group ride, Burbank-Acton-Burbank (90 miles, 5h9min - my teammates like going fast and I don't like being dropped). John's had a one-day 20% off sale for PAA members and I score the complete CS600. My next easy day is Monday so...

11/19/07: I read all the instructions and find the part where Polar says something like "Oh, you wanted to USE the software, you'll need a Polar USB/IR interface!" I get one at Helen's in Arcadia, which was the closest shop to Pasadena which had one on hand. Prior to this, I hand recorded some data on the CS600 under "No Bike" to check the WIND WearLink (which worked much better than the older, non-WIND unit) so I could make sure data upload functioned. The installation of ProTrainer5 was easy, as was the transfer of my old data. There's a little weirdness: if you have old PPP data in that you create a fake "Team Member" (ProTrainer appears to be geared to use by a coach, you have a team which will be one person in most cases) add yourself, then delete the fake one.
I installed the driver for the USB/IR unit, hooked it up and....NOTHING. What followed was a classic case of modern living. We have scads of really awsome techno-gizmos which are, in a real way, dirt cheap. The problem is that the installation and use of these devices can be complicated and confusing. Here's the thing, I make my living as a computer system administrator. I deal with Windows and Linux on multiple platforms every day and what followed was difficult for me. Good luck to the typical user. In any case, after waiting more than 30 minutes for tech support we conclude that the problem MUST be in the CS600, and not the IR unit.

11/20/07: As luck would have it, my job brought me out to Burbank during the day so I stopped by John's with the idea of trading my CS600 for a good one. Just to be sure, I brought my work laptop and tested the unit John's had on hand. STILL NO DICE! So, the problem is not the CS600 unit, but the IR.

11/21/07: Just to be sure, I go into Best Buy with the CS600 and locate a demo laptop with a built in IRda device. It recognizes the CS600 as a valid device right away. During my lunchtime at work I try the Polar IRda on several computers and still nothing. Thanksgiving is coming up so I put the problem away for a while.

12/5/07: Turns out Helen's has another Polar IR device on hand. They trade me and send back the first one. The new one works, but let me make note of something: I thought I had de-installed the driver, so I went through a re-install. After I was all done with my test and went to close and detach the USB device I noticed that it was labelled "IRda #2"!

12/6/07: Normally, the install of the Polar WIND Power unit would be considered somewhat cumbersome, but compared to the crap I went through it seemed easy and wrapped up in about 30 minutes. The task was made much easier than it might have been because I've switched to the Wippermann Connex type chain which is really easy to remove and install. Compared to the wired unit that came with the 720, this was a breeze. A few notes:

• There is a typo somewhere that suggests that the IRda will work within 10cm. I think this should be 10mm!
• The CS600 mount looks flimsy to me. I've met at least one guy who had broken his, so be gentle. Careful positioning makes things go more easily.
• My previous Polar power unit didn't work properly with my original chain and that problem went away when I added 1" to it. I don't know if the new one has the same problem yet, but I'll be checking.
• At this writing the USB/IR interface doesn't have a driver for Vista. I expect this will have to change.
• I recommend installing the drivers and then rebooting your computer prior to connecting the USB/IRda interface the first time.
  
• Here's Polar's page on uploading.
  
• Check this out.