Fit Solutions CW-701 Yamax Digiwalker Pedometer
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 at
6:09 am
- Digiwalker Pedometer Engine~
- FIT SOLUTIONS INC CW-701 Yamax Digiwalker Pedometer (EA)
Product Description
FIT SOLUTIONS INC 1267266 CW-701 Yamax Digiwalker Pedometer (EA)
Fit Solutions CW-701 Yamax Digiwalker Pedometer
Tagged with: CW701 • Digiwalker • Pedometer • Solutions • Yamax
Filed under: Pedometers
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The CW 701 Yamax Digiwalker Pedometer was defective right out of the box. I would not recommend this product to anyone.
Rating: 1 / 6
Yamax is considered by many to be the “Gold Standard” of pedometers. It is, in fact, the pedometer against which all others are tested.
I tested this pedometer against the following:
Yamax Digi-Walker SW-701
Omron HJ-112
Yamax Power Walker Series PZ-271 Lite
In summary, it was a great improvement over the SW-701 and more accurate than the Omron HJ-112. It was far less accurate than the PZ-271 Lite. It is, however, highly accurate for dedicated walks — when you strap it on, go for a walk and take it off. Worn all day, however, it over counts steps.
If you want a pedometer for in-place walking, this would be a good one to use as it counts all movement. So, if you do something like Leslie Sansone’s videos, you might want to use this. For that it would be fairly accurate where the accelerometer would under count in this case. But you would want a more accurate pedometer to wear the rest of the day.
It should be noted that in tests I’ve done with the Omron HJ-112, I’ve found the Omron very inaccurate — it under counts by up to 15% and possibly more with more scientific testing.
My tests are unscientific. They’re done at slow and normal speed — also at aerobic speed of up to 105 steps per minute. They’re done inside, outside, up and down stairs and worn all day. They are also worn correctly and positions changed daily. Strides are all set correctly and the same on each unit.
I have used a Yamax Digi-Walker SW-701 for three years. I recently tested that unit against the upgrade, CW-701 and also the Yamax PZ-271 Lite of the Power Walker series.
The CW-701 uses a coil spring. So when you shake it, it makes a noise, which is normal. That also means it makes a slight noise as you walk. And it means it records many movements other than actual steps. (More on that later.)
It has a different feel than its predecessor. The clip is metal, which is better. But on the other hand, it is difficult to attach it to your belt or clothing as it’s an extremely tight clasp. Also, it’s a bit harder to open at first. But you quickly adapt to it. Like all Yamax pedometers, it’s made well, very durable. The time, for some reason, is 24-hour military time. And, like all Yamax pedometers, you set the stride in quarters rather than tenths, which would be better in my opinion.
In testing the CW-701 against the SW-701, I noticed a considerable difference in results. The SW-701 under counted while the other two were within one step of each other. It should be noted that all the units are set at the same stride and placed correctly. They’re worn at the same time, under the same conditions.
Here are some of the things that can make a pedometer over count according to new-[...], which sells the Digi-Walker.
“Things that will cause pedometers and accelerometers to over count, i.e., meet the required vertical acceleration g force threshold:
* Any shaking or jostling of the device in a vertical direction that meets the g force threshold of the device. That includes taking the device off and putting the device on your waistband, taking your pants down to go to the bathroom, picking the device up and off of your dresser, etc.
* Any movement in a vertical direction while driving or riding in or on a car, tractor, lawn mower, bicycle or horse, etc. You and whatever you are in or on become one. Therefore, whatever your means of transportation does in terms of movement you and your device do it too.
* A flimsy waistband. Something firm works best–a firm waistband, a belt, an elastic waistband if it has a drawstring”
I notice the Yamax SW-701 and CW-701 both count from 4 to 7 steps when I pull my pants down and back up. Just opening and closing the case of the CW-701 causes it to count 1 step. Almost any movement will cause it to count steps. Taking it off and putting it on will cause it to count, for example. Unfortunately, I discovered that it too counts junk steps. For example, just putting on my pants to which the unit is attached put 13 steps on the counter. With an accelerometer, that shouldn’t happen.
Battery life in all Yamax pedometers is astounding. Comparing them to Omron, you’ll notice a big difference. The Omron battery will need to be changed about every six months or more. The Yamax can go years without being changed. Yamax says battery life is two years. I’m sure that’s quite true as I can’t recall needing one in the three years I’ve had mine.
The PZ-271 has an alligator clip, which I really like. It easily snaps onto any fabric and hangs on. It’s the best clip I’ve found on a pedometer to date.
Here’s what Yamax has to say about the PZ-271, which is an accelerometer and makes no noise when you walk with it.
“1D accelerometer sensor has Electronic Walking-Cognitive (EWC sensor) function that improve measurement walking data more precisely. If you walk one step, display does not show number 1. Because EWC Sensor distinguish just vibrations occurred by non-walking action like sitting and standing from actual walking activity. If you walk continuously more than 5 steps, the steps you took will be added to the number of steps totally you have taken and display total data at once because of EWC sensor.”
All the above pedometers count steps and distance. They track calories and have a clock (24-hour) and they all have memory. Surprisingly, however, the PZ-271, which is in the Power Walker series, does not track speed. Moreover, unlike many other accelerometers, it can’t be dropped into a pocket.
In summary, I found the Yamax Digi-Walker CW-701 pedometer to be inaccurate because it adds steps for nearly every movement of the body or the unit itself. If I was rating it for merely walking or jogging, it would be accurate. But one can’t rate it like that when it’s worn all day like many people wear a pedometer. If you just use it to walk or run from point A to point B, I recommend it. Otherwise, I do not. You would be better off with an accelerometer and even then, there are differences in the pedometers.
- Susanna K. Hutcheson
Rating: 3 / 6
So inaccurate, I returned this pedometer. Although I called and got a return authorization and promptly mailed the pedometer back, it took three weeks and a call to them as well as a complaint to my credit card company to get my credit issued. I did tell esportsonline by phone and in writing that the pedometer did not work very well and that’s why I was returning it and since it was so inaccurate and quite overpriced, I should be credited my shipping and handling. Not only did that not happen, no response was given to that request(not by phone, mail, or email). (I thought the shipping costs excessive — about $7 –also for a small pedometer.)
I currently have a very accurate Omron pedometer and the only reason I wanted to try another kind was for the shape and style. The Yamax looked like it would fit on my waistband better and appeared to be smaller. The Yamax digital display for steps could easily be shaken and steps were erroneously added. I previously had abopt a $7.00 pedometer that did the same. I did not want to spend $35.00 plus shipping and handling on a poor quality one that did the same as the cheapest one I had years ago.
Rating: 2 / 6
I am displeased.
I very deliberately chose this pedometer because it had great reviews and because I was tired of buying cheap pedometers, only to find them highly inaccurate. So I did a lot of research to find the best possible choice, sucked it up and paid the $40 for one I thought would work.
I set it and have tried numerous times to set the stride length properly so that it would provide me with the most accurate account of my steps. When I thought I had it set right, I clipped it to the front/middle of my bra, as recommended, and tried 5 steps on the treadmill. It showed 6. Good enough. I got back on and started walking and walking. I walked for 5 or 10 minutes and got back off to take a phone call. I checked the pedometer. It showed…
6! WTF?! It didn’t count a single step during those 5-10 minutes?! I don’t get it!
I kept trying different stride lengths with no better luck.
I put it in my pocket and walked for 20 steps and checked it. It said 35. I cleared it, I lowered the stride length by a quarter and walked another 20 steps. It showed 35. I cleared it, raised it by a half (now a quarter more than I started with) and walked another 20 steps. It showed 35! So it makes no difference what my stride length is?
I have tried to troubleshoot, tried to tweak it, put it in different spots, change stride lengths. I don’t know what else I could do differently to make this expensive piece of garbage do the ONE THING it was made for!
I am mad. I don’t have a job or a lot of money. I really stretched to buy this in the first place. I didn’t try it out in time to return it, so now I’m SOL.
I do not recommend this item.
Rating: 1 / 6
Yamax is considered by many to be the “Gold Standard” of pedometers. It is, in fact, the pedometer against which all others are tested.
I tested this pedometer against the following:
Yamax Digi-Walker SW-701
Omron HJ-112
Yamax Power Walker Series PZ-271 Lite
In summary, it was a great improvement over the SW-701 and more accurate than the Omron HJ-112. It was far less accurate than the PZ-271 Lite. It is, however, highly accurate for dedicated walks — when you strap it on, go for a walk and take it off. Worn all day, however, it over counts steps.
If you want a pedometer for in-place walking, this would be a good one to use as it counts all movement. So, if you do something like Leslie Sansone’s videos, you might want to use this. For that it would be fairly accurate where the accelerometer would under count in this case. But you would want a more accurate pedometer to wear the rest of the day.
It should be noted that in tests I’ve done with the Omron HJ-112, I’ve found the Omron very inaccurate — it under counts by up to 15% and possibly more with more scientific testing.
My tests are unscientific. They’re done at slow and normal speed — also at aerobic speed of up to 105 steps per minute. They’re done inside, outside, up and down stairs and worn all day. They are also worn correctly and positions changed daily. Strides are all set correctly and the same on each unit.
I have used a Yamax Digi-Walker SW-701 for three years. I recently tested that unit against the upgrade, CW-701 and also the Yamax PZ-271 Lite of the Power Walker series.
The CW-701 uses a coil spring. So when you shake it, it makes a noise, which is normal. That also means it makes a slight noise as you walk. And it means it records many movements other than actual steps. (More on that later.)
It has a different feel than its predecessor. The clip is metal, which is better. But on the other hand, it is difficult to attach it to your belt or clothing as it’s an extremely tight clasp. Also, it’s a bit harder to open at first. But you quickly adapt to it. Like all Yamax pedometers, it’s made well, very durable. The time, for some reason, is 24-hour military time. And, like all Yamax pedometers, you set the stride in quarters rather than tenths, which would be better in my opinion.
In testing the CW-701 against the SW-701, I noticed a considerable difference in results. The SW-701 under counted while the other two were within one step of each other. It should be noted that all the units are set at the same stride and placed correctly. They’re worn at the same time, under the same conditions.
Here are some of the things that can make a pedometer over count according to [...], which sells the Digi-Walker.
“Things that will cause pedometers and accelerometers to over count, i.e., meet the required vertical acceleration g force threshold:
* Any shaking or jostling of the device in a vertical direction that meets the g force threshold of the device. That includes taking the device off and putting the device on your waistband, taking your pants down to go to the bathroom, picking the device up and off of your dresser, etc.
* Any movement in a vertical direction while driving or riding in or on a car, tractor, lawn mower, bicycle or horse, etc. You and whatever you are in or on become one. Therefore, whatever your means of transportation does in terms of movement you and your device do it too.
* A flimsy waistband. Something firm works best–a firm waistband, a belt, an elastic waistband if it has a drawstring”
I notice the Yamax SW-701 and CW-701 both count from 4 to 7 steps when I pull my pants down and back up. Just opening and closing the case of the CW-701 causes it to count 1 step. Almost any movement will cause it to count steps. Taking it off and putting it on will cause it to count, for example.
Battery life in all Yamax pedometers is astounding. Comparing them to Omron, you’ll notice a big difference. The Omron battery will need to be changed about every six months or more. The Yamax can go years without being changed. Yamax says battery life is two years. I’m sure that’s quite true as I can’t recall needing one in the three years I’ve had mine.
The PZ-271 has an alligator clip, which I really like. It easily snaps onto any fabric and hangs on. It’s the best clip I’ve found on a pedometer to date.
Here’s what Yamax has to say about the PZ-271, which is an accelerometer and makes no noise when you walk with it.
“1D accelerometer sensor has Electronic Walking-Cognitive (EWC sensor) function that improve measurement walking data more precisely. If you walk one step, display does not show number 1. Because EWC Sensor distinguish just vibrations occurred by non-walking action like sitting and standing from actual walking activity. If you walk continuously more than 5 steps, the steps you took will be added to the number of steps totally you have taken and display total data at once because of EWC sensor.”
All the above pedometers count steps and distance. They track calories and have a clock (24-hour) and they all have memory. Surprisingly, however, the PZ-271, which is in the Power Walker series, does not track speed. Moreover, unlike many other accelerometers, it can’t be dropped into a pocket.
In summary, I found the Yamax Digi-Walker CW-701 pedometer to be inaccurate because it adds steps for nearly every movement of the body or the unit itself. If I was rating it for merely walking or jogging, it would be accurate. But one can’t rate it like that when it’s worn all day like many people wear a pedometer. If you just use it to walk or run from point A to point B, I recommend it. Otherwise, I do not. You would be better off with an accelerometer and even then, there are differences in the pedometers.
- Susanna K. Hutcheson
Rating: 3 / 6