ErgData vs LogCard/Utility

[patsully98]

Hi folks, I'm a brand new rower so I may be getting a little ahead of myself, but I'm trying to decide between using the LogCard and using ErgData to track my workouts. Thing is, between having a tablet and a smartphone, I rarely turn my laptop on anymore, so I'm thinking that ErgData might be a better bet, but I'd love to get your take on it: what are some of the major differences, what do or don't you like about one or both approaches? Thanks so much!

[Hollywood_Kuma]

You can use either, or both, there aren't really issues with either.

If you use Ergdata, you have to plug your phone into the C2 with a special cable. If you have a new iPhone, you need an adapter cable as well, so you'll be out by about $70. The phone holder solution on top of the performance monitor is not brilliant, as phones in large cases don't fit at all, and phones without cases or in small cases aren't held securely at all. iPads also don't fit well, but you can fix this by padding the holder with thick card.

Ergdata works in dim lighting if you are rowing outside at night.

The logcard solution is cheaper and works nicely. I use this, even though I have Ergdata set up. I have my own rower, but I also row at the gym. It isn't a problem to put a card in your pocket and take it to the gym, but I wouldn't want to wander around the gym with my iPhone/iPad, the phone holder, cable and a 30 pin to lightning iPhone adapter. That's just too much effort and grief.

If you use the logcard solution, it's worth buying an external card reader, otherwise you have to rig your PC up to your performance monitor. You can buy the Omnikey CM 3121 card reader for less than twenty bucks, and it is worth having this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BG ... UTF8&psc=1

The C2 utility to upload data from the card to the C2 online logbook is simple and reliable. I use this under Windows 7 and it works well.

Personally, I think the logcard solution works best, and it's cheaper (i.e. either free, or <$20 even if you buy the card reader).

[OarConsequences]

I would at least get a log card since they are so cheap. You don't have to get a reader though it makes it more convenient to get the data downloaded. The log card allows you to easily get at your detailed data as well. The ErgData app only transfers the aggregate information, no splits. The best feature of the ErgData app is the ability to show extra information like stroke length that you don't normally have access to although that information isn't logged.

[rowbike]

I explored the idea of Ergdata but didn't want to spend the money or deal with the hassles of my iphone case not fitting the holder, etc. One other potential issue with Ergdata is that the cable needs to be plugged into the PM USB port. It seems the USB port has a tendency to break easily, and if this happens you are out of luck with the Ergdata setup without buying a new PM.

I have two logcards now, one that I leave in my rower at home, and a second I take to the gym in case I row there. Like others mentioned, there is no effort to carry the logcard since it is the size of a credit card.

I bought a card reader off of ebay so I don't need to connect my PM to the laptop to read the cards. I only upload my workouts every month or so since the logcard holds something like 300. Its much easier with the dedicated reader, plug an play, no setup needed. I got the Athena card reader that C2 sells on their website brand new but for only $17 on ebay. I see some are being sold on ebay right now for only $15 new.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Athena-USB-Card ... 1c3c89b999

The logcard only costs about $8.50 shipped. Give it a try and if you still want Ergdata you can then make the upgrade later.

[Citroen]

Why would anyone need a card reader if they have a PM3 or PM4 at home?

[Bob S.]

Why would anyone need a card reader if they have a PM3 or PM4 at home?

If the computer and the erg are in different rooms, it is a pain in the a$$ to remove the monitor to connect to the computer. It is not like the reader is all that expensive nowadays. 15 bucks? I paid a lot more for mine many years ago and never regretted it.

Bob S;

[Hollywood_Kuma]

You don't need a reader, but it is probably worth buying one. I paid $17 for an Omnikey 3121 reader from Amazon, and it works seamlessly.

If you sit on your erg, plug your PC into the PM3/PM4 USB slot and then the card into the monitor, you can do exactly the same thing as with a reader. But I prefer to lounge on my sofa after my 5k, and the reader is small and weighs no more than a cellphone.

So, while you don't need a reader, I think it is a worthwhile purchase that you won't regret.

I've given up on Ergdata. In its case my iPhone doesn't fit into the C2 phone holder, and if I take it out of its case, it's too lose and will likely fall onto the floor. It's a pain to deal with the holder, phone and cable. Also, my eyesight is not brilliant, and the Ergdata numerals are actually smaller than those on the C2 display. I became interested in Ergdata as a solution for night rowing (please C2, add a backlight to your monitors), but I am now using a Mighty Bright HammerHead music light ($17 on Amazon) which works really well, and fortuitously fits perfectly into the C2 phone holder (which my phone does not).

For me to really find Ergdata useful, I think (i) Ergdata would need to be wireless (in the way that Ergbuddy is), (ii) the display would need bigger numerals, (iii) "projected time" would need to be available as one of the displayed fields and (iv) there would need to be a phone-holder solution that works.

Although the log-card solution is now very dated, it still works well, and really is the better solution.

[Bob S.]

You don't need a reader, but it is probably worth buying one. I paid $17 for an Omnikey 3121 reader from Amazon, and it works seamlessly.

If you sit on your erg, plug your PC into the PM3/PM4 USB slot and then the card into the monitor, you can do exactly the same thing as with a reader. But I prefer to lounge on my sofa after my 5k, and the reader is small and weighs no more than a cellphone.

That's fine if you store your data on a PC that is near enough to your monitor for the cable to reach. You certainly need one if the computer that you use for the erg data is a very heavy desktop 3 rooms (and scores of feet of distance) away from the monitor. As I said, I could unbolt the monitor and take it to the computer, but that would be much more trouble than I would be willing to go to. I have a friend that is in that situation and she did that a couple of times, but just went back to writing down the data and entering it by hand because she didn't want to spring for a reader. I may tell her about the $17 deal from Amazon, but she already had the habit of writing and hand entering data from long years of having only a PM2, so I doubt that I should bring it up.

Bob S.

[patsully98]

Hi folks, thanks for the replies, very good stuff. I actually decided to go with ErgData because I felt I'd rarely upload the LogCard info since I don't use my computer all that often. I like it but don't love it, but I think that stems from the Logbook itself. It just doesn't track all that much info. I use the notes section to describe the interval workout, and the average strokes and heart rate during the work period. Seems to be working okay so far. Thanks again for the replies!

[raotor]

That's fine if you store your data on a PC that is near enough to your monitor for the cable to reach. You certainly need one if the computer that you use for the erg data is a very heavy desktop 3 rooms (and scores of feet of distance) away from the monitor. As I said, I could unbolt the monitor and take it to the computer, but that would be much more trouble than I would be willing to go to. I have a friend that is in that situation and she did that a couple of times, but just went back to writing down the data and entering it by hand because she didn't want to spring for a reader. I may tell her about the $17 deal from Amazon, but she already had the habit of writing and hand entering data from long years of having only a PM2, so I doubt that I should bring it up.

Bob S.

I've always found it baffling how some folks will balk at paying a few dollars for the convenience of a card reader after they've spent several hundred or a thousand Dollars plus on their own Erg?

[rowbike]

Why would anyone need a card reader if they have a PM3 or PM4 at home?

Other than the computer being in a different room, the best reason would be to save wear and tear on the USB jack on the PM. Repeated plugging and unplugging the USB cable for the computer runs the risk of breaking the USB jack on the PM, and my understanding is that once they are broken they are virtually impossible to fix. $15 for a card reader is better than potentially paying for an entire new PM.

[Citroen]

Leave the USB-A to USB-B wire connected to the PM3 unplug the USB-A end from the laptop, zero wear & tear on the PM3 that way.
Or simply leave everything permanently connected.