Appendices

Appendix A — Formulas#

These are the calculations Pulse Monitor performs. They are given for transparency; they are estimates, not medical measurements.

Percentage of maximum heart rate#

percentage=heart rateMax HR×100\text{percentage} = \frac{\text{heart rate}}{\text{Max HR}} \times 100

The heart rate used on the live screen is the average of the last three seconds. Without Show values above 100% MaxHR the result is limited to 100.

Estimated maximum heart rate#

Used only to fill an empty Max HR field, from age a in years:

Gender Estimate
male 202 − 0.55 × a
female 216 − 1.09 × a

The result is limited to the range 40–250 bpm. These are the sex-specific formulas of Whyte et al. (2008), derived for trained athletes. Always replace the estimate with a measured value if you have one.

Calories — Keytel option#

With the Keytel (publication) option selected in Settings → Training → Calorie calculation (Calorie calculation), calories are calculated for every ten-second window from the average heart rate HR in that window, the age a in years and the weight w in kilograms (pounds are converted):

Gender Energy per minute (kJ)
male 0.2017 × a + 0.1988 × w + 0.6309 × HR − 55.0969
female 0.074 × a − 0.1263 × w + 0.4472 × HR − 20.4022

kcal=energy per minute×minutes4.184\text{kcal} = \frac{\text{energy per minute} \times \text{minutes}}{4.184}

This is the formula of Keytel et al. (2005), Prediction of energy expenditure from heart rate monitoring during submaximal exercise, Journal of Sports Sciences 23(3). A negative result is counted as zero. The total for a training is the sum of its windows.

Recording windows#

Quantity Value
A record in the database every 10 seconds, per participant
No-signal detection no reading for 6 seconds
“Check the belt” about 15 identical readings in a row (about 8 with two ANT+ receivers); lit for up to 30 seconds, then re-armed
Drop-in: participant disappears after 30 seconds without a reading

Appendix B — Files#

Pulse Monitor saves and reads these files of its own:

Extension Contents Where it comes from
.pmb A complete backup of the database File → Database → Save backup…
.pmp Exported participants File → Data export → Users data export…
.pmd Exported devices File → Data export → Devices data export…
.pms The club’s settings File → Settings file → Save settings…
.pmc A list of participants with straps for one training Save list in the training window

Each file type has its own extension, so the file dialogs offer only the files that fit.

Appendix C — Default settings#

Setting Default
Club name (reports) Fitness Club
Mail port / SSL 587 / on
Cardio zones 5 zones: 0–59, 60–69, 70–79, 80–89, 90–100 % (grey, blue, green, orange, red)
Show values above 100 % off
Main (centre) slot % of max HR
Left slot Pulse
Right slot Calories
Monitor sensor contact on
Show antenna activity on
Allow unpaired ANT+ devices in Drop-in off
Live API (needs a licence that includes it) off
Live API port 8765
Live API encryption (HTTPS/WSS) on
Live API access key made when the Live API is first switched on
Calorie calculation Classic (Pulse Monitor)
Antenna support ANT+ & Bluetooth
ANT+ receivers 1
Max Bluetooth straps 7 (range 1–10)
Block sleep and screen saver during training on
Theme Dark
Accent colour Blue
Participant panel Soft
Units metric

Appendix D — Glossary#

Access key
The eight characters that allow a device to read the Live API. It is shown in Settings → Live API.
ANT+
A low-power wireless standard for sports sensors. Heart-rate straps with the ANT+ logo are received by a USB ANT+ stick.
Bluetooth (Low Energy)
The wireless standard of phones and computers. Straps that implement the Bluetooth Heart Rate service work with Pulse Monitor without pairing in Windows.
Box
The coloured rectangle showing one participant on the live screen.
Calories
The estimated energy burned, in kilocalories, calculated from the heart rate.
Classic training
A session with a list of participants, which is recorded and can be reported on.
Default device
The strap that belongs to a participant. It is selected automatically in a training and identifies the participant in Drop-in.
Device
In the program, a registered heart-rate strap, arm-band etc.
Drop-in session
A live view for whoever comes, with nothing recorded.
Live API
An optional feature that publishes the live screen on your local network, so that a browser on a TV or a tablet can show it. See Live API and the browser live view.
Max HR
The highest heart rate of a participant. The reference for percentages and colours.
Pairing
Adding a strap to the program. Not the Windows pairing.
Participant
A person registered in the program.
Receiver
The device that receives the signal of the straps: the ANT+ USB stick, or the Bluetooth adapter.
Strap
A chest strap with a heart-rate sensor.
TCX
A file format for sports training data, understood by many fitness applications.
Zone
A range of the percentage of maximum heart rate, with a colour.