SIGMA BC1706HR DTS Wireless Bicycle Speedometer with Heart Rate Monitor

by Sigma

Product Features

• 17 Functions
• Digitally Coded Wireless Speed & Heart Rate
• Easy to program/Tool Free installation
• Waterproof

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The BC 1706 HR DTS with heart rate monitor is the perfect solution for all fitness-oriented cyclists. In addition to the trusted BC 1606L DTS bike and time functions the BC 1706 HR also measures heart rate. The current, maximum and average heart rate are measured as precisely as an EKG for precise training and control. Both the speed and heart rate are coded and transferred to the BC by radio waves (digital and coded). All bike, time and heart rate values are easily and clearly read from the 3-line display.

Digital Transmission explained.

The top model for heart rate measurement.

Digital Transmission System (DTS) Explained
With 2-channel radio transmission (km/h and pedal frequency) and 100% digital encoding without data loss, the DTS system guarantees 100% data security of current speed and pedal frequency values during wireless reception. It does this by calculating all relevant data, encoding it and transmitting it in data packets to the integrated receiver in the bike computer. Disturbances such as power lines or mobile phones are no longer a problem as transmission is carried out over the so-called low frequency. A double security system also ensures that only the data packets from your own transmitter are evaluated by the receiver. This means that group rides are no problem.

A further security measure is redundant data transmission so that no data can be lost. The size and quality of the receiver has also been optimized by a specially developed Sigma chip (ASIC) and integrated into the bike computer which also saves on battery life.

General Functions:

• 7 language settings, Dot matrix LCD readout, watertight design
• LCD backlight
• Low battery indicator
• Backup function/through saving chip
• Two wheel sizes adjustable
• Clock and model name in standby

Heart rate functions:

• Current heart rate
• Average heart rate
• Maximum heart rate

Bike Functions:

• Actual speed
• Average speed
• Comparison of actual and average speed
• Maximum speed
• Trip distance
• Programmable trip section counter
• Total distance bike 1*
• Total distance bike 2*
• Total distance bikes 1+2*
• Actual cadence
• Average cadence

Time Functions:

• Clock
• Stop watch
• Riding time
• Total riding time bike 1
• Total riding time bike 2
• Total riding time bikes 1+2
• Programmable time meter (countdown timer)

What's in the Box?
BC 1706 DTS bicycle computer with built in sensor, DTS speed transmitter, power magnet, elastic band, pulse monitor with transmitter, twist-lock handlebar mount, battery door key, 3-volt CR2032 lithium battery, 42mm O-ring, 32mm O-ring, 32mm O-ring.

Manufacturer's Warranty
Five-year warranty on defective parts or products.

About Sigma Sport
Sigma Sport represents German technology at its highest level, combining innovative design with precision engineering. Sigma tests all their products in their in-house laboratories to withstand the harshest conditions, ensuring quality continually throughout production. All Sigma Sport standard lights conform to the stringent German traffic standard, and all Sigma Sport products are CE-approved.

Product Description

The BC 1706 HR with DTS is the perfect solution for all fitness-oriented cyclists. DTS stands for digital transmission system (Speed and HR), providing zero cross talk with other computers and ensuring that the data on the computer is your own. The current, maximum and average heart rate are measured as precisely as an ECG for precise training control. Both the speed and heart rate are coded and transferred to the bicycle computer by digitally coded radio waves. All bike, time and heart rate values are easily and clearly read from the 3-line display. Handlebar and stem mount. 17 Functions Wireless Speed + Heart Rate: speed, avg speed, max speed, speed comparison, trip distance, total distance bike 1, total distance bike 2, total distance bike 1 + 2, clock, ride time, low battery indicator, two bike programmable, total ride time bike 1, total ride time bike 2, total ride time bike 1+ 2, memory back up function, Heart Rate, Avg Heart Rate, maximum Heart Rate, programmable trip segment, programmable timer.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000PQJSRA
• Item model number: 7160
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,740 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #94 in Sports & Outdoors > Bikes & Accessories > Accessories > Cyclocomputers
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Terrific computer, wireless can be major annoyance, July 9, 2009

By 

K. Kondo (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: SIGMA BC1706HR DTS Wireless Bicycle Speedometer with Heart Rate Monitor (Sports)

This is my 4th bike computer over the years. The dual bike functionality is brilliant. The addition of pulse monitoring is awesome. The layout of stats is excellent -- I especially like the fact that half are triggered by one button, and half by another. That means that rather than stepping through all 20 (or so), you can access a given stat in 1/2 of the number of button presses.

The only issue is that on my trail bike with the giant, shock-forks there is a lot of metal between the wheel sensor transmitter and the receiver on the handlebars. I do lose the signal on occasion. I suspect that if I spend the time to move the receiver and transmitter around, I can improve reliability. As pointed out by others, the manual sucks. I'm not particularly pleased that all parts are held on by rubber o-rings -- not sure what UV and weather will do to those over time. The o-rings are certainly more adaptive to different diameter mounting situations, but I would much rather screw them down with clamps. Would love a temperature function, but suspect that it is not possible since device is always in direct sunlight.

Negatives aside, bottom-line is this is the best bike comp I've ever owned and would buy again/recommend to friends.

EDIT - 7/2011 followup: it has been two years now. I purchased a 2nd cradle for my street bike. The unit works flawlessly on that bike. I am pretty disappointed with its reliability on the trail bike though. It is basically unusable. I'm also kind of unhappy with the entire wireless concept -- one of my riding buddies' wireless comps clobbers my signal when we get within 5 feet of each other. I'm knocking off 2 stars for these two issues. If you have a street bike and no conflicts I still recommend though.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice little device for a novice user., March 9, 2009

By 

Gregory Nonaka (Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SIGMA BC1706HR DTS Wireless Bicycle Speedometer with Heart Rate Monitor (Sports)

This is the first bike computer I ever bought or used. The instructions are not the best. There are a lot of illustrations (pictures), but no worded instructions on the physical installation. It lacked specific details, but the pictures were pretty much self explanatory, so it wasn't too bad. Then I followed the setup instructions, which were much better (worded instructions w/pictures). I noticed the display was acting a little "whacky", and the backlight didn't work. The characters would be jumbled up when switching modes. After a while of this, I found it to be a weak battery. I changed the battery and everything worked like a charm! It has a lot of functions, and so far they all seem very accurate. Nice little device!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, April 14, 2010

By 

E. Tom (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: SIGMA BC1706HR DTS Wireless Bicycle Speedometer with Heart Rate Monitor (Sports)

I got this unit at an unbelievable price on eBay. It was a brand new open box item. Yes, the owner's manual and installation instructions are a bit lame as it's mostly pictures, but after awhile you figure everything out and it works great. I had to play around with it to find a good location where it would get accurate readings and ended up buying a Topeak Bar Extender which allowed me to mount it a little lower and closer to the transmitter on the front fork on my Specialized hybrid bike. To get a good heart rate monitor reading, make sure you get your skin nice and wet where the monitor belt goes around your chest. The directions show you sticking the belt under the faucet, but I found it better to put the belt on first, then wet a towel, pull the belt away from your chest slightly and then wet your skin with the towel. If you wet the belt under the faucet then try to put it on, it would dry out before you got the belt in place.

Customer service experience was very good. As I said, it was an open box item and I found the one I got was missing a little "key" that is used to open the battery compartment on the transmitter. I emailed customer service and they sent me a new one free of charge right away.

It's a little confusing at first learning how to navigate through the various functions, but once you've used it for a week or so, it's pretty intuitive. It's got a lot of different functions for both the bike (speed, average speed, maximum speed, odometer, trip time, stopwatch, counter up or down) and the heart rate monitor (heart rate, average heart rate, maximum heart rate). It has a backlight if you ride after dark.

Some readings that it doesn't have is cadence (although some advertising mistakenly says it does), temperature and heart rate zones. Sigma has a newer model the HR1906 that I believe includes these features at a slightly higher price. The HR1706 is actually a product first released in 2007.

I've had it for about 3 weeks now and I love it. It gives me incentive to get off the couch and get out and get some exercise and allows me to track what kind of progress I'm making. The readings all seem to be very accurate now that I found where to mount it and how to moisten the heart rate monitor belt. I'm very pleased with my purchase and the value is excellent versus others I compared it with. I'm thinking now of possibly purchasing a Sigma PC15 heart rate monitor watch.