Pedometer radios measure steps and play music. When purchasing, consider size, accuracy, features, and radio signal quality. Accuracy is important, and the best pedometers use a piezoelectric accelerometer. Additional features include calorie counter, reset button, and GPS chip. Music playback is also important, with some offering an auxiliary port or USB interface.
Pedometers are digital devices that measure how many steps you have taken. Pedometer radios not only measure steps but also play music. The four factors to consider when purchasing such a device are size, accuracy, features, and radio signal quality.
A radio pedometer should not be longer than 4 inches (10.16 cm). However, most people prefer to go with a smaller 2 inch (5.08 cm) or 3 inch (7.62 cm) pedometer, because it is easier to use with a belt or clip to a shirt. A larger digital pedometer is more likely to fall off while jogging. Size also plays a role in accuracy, and a pedometer that is securely attached to an individual’s clothing will provide more accurate results.
Accuracy is important because if a pedometer can’t accurately measure steps, it’s pretty much useless. The best digital pedometers are usually based on a piezoelectric accelerometer, which is much more accurate than a coil-spring mechanism, or hairspring mechanism. Both coil and coil spring mechanisms are more common in cheap and ineffective pedometers.
The types of additional features that a pedometer radio offers can be important. Some users may prefer additional features, while others may find them unnecessary. Regardless, some of the features to look out for include a calorie counter to keep track of the average number of calories burned, a cover to prevent accidental reset, and a reset button to reset the step log to zero, which is uncommon in cheaper models that can automatically rest at midnight. Additional features to consider include whether the pedometer radio offers an alarm clock, memory to keep a 7-day step log, and a pulse reader to monitor heart rate.
The best pedometer radios include an integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) chip. This allows the device to accurately calculate how far the user has traveled and how fast they were moving. Some lower grade pedometers can also provide these calculations based on average stride length and elapsed time, although the results are often much less accurate.
Another, and perhaps the most important, component of a radio pedometer is its music playback functionality. A basic pedometer radio will include a standard AM/FM tuner for listening to local radio stations. More advanced pedometers also provide an auxiliary port to connect a portable MP3 player. The best ones even offer a USB interface, with which users can connect an mp3 player.
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