Training lost on PM5 - battery status reliable?

[Mark rows now]

Hi, I have some strange problems, hope you can help.
Yesterday the PM5 did not connect to my USB supposedly because of low battery status. But Battery status says 83%!
I had this for some trainings before. My way getting over it was: Do not start the PM5 by pressing a button but starting the PM5 with some 10 strokes or so, then connect the USB-stick and everything went fine. This time it didnt, the PM5 would not connect to the USB. So I started rowing without the "registered" (but connected) USB-stick. After my 60 minutes "just rowing" with in no ways remarkable 12700m, lol, I pushed "Menu" and then the PM5 tried to write (to PM5 memory I guess) but failed somehow - the PM5 crashed, no button worked anymore. I had to pull out the batteries. Now there is no data left from this session, not on the PM5 (zero training data) and not on the USB (all data up to the day before). There was an error code 201-98 on the display, too.
I am using a very old (10 yrs) 512MB SanDisk USB, which used to work quite well. I remember having somewhat similar problems a year or two ago. If i remember right, the problem went away by using new batteries.
Can you really rely on the battery status? (How many Km´s do batteries last usually?)
Is there any way to get back the lost data?
I´m on V 30.011&169
Thanks!

[Dangerscouse]

As you've got a PM5 the batteries should last for a long time, assuming you're using quality batteries. I have had my erg for almost two years and I've still not changed my batteries and they are on about 72% left

I'm guessing it's an issue with the USB. Do you leave it plugged in?

[Mark rows now]

besides uploading trainings to my logbook via laptop, I leave the USB-Stick plugged in the PM5.

I`ve played around again with it a few minutes ago, and everything worked fine now Battery status is 84%; the PM5 connects to the USB correctly, no matter if USB was plugged in before or after starting the PM5 by pressing a button.

The only varaible that was different was: I did not use/wear my Polar HR-chest belt while testing it now. Does this make sense? I will check this out and report.

[Carl Watts]

Dont use a USB memory stick in the PM5 it kills the batteries.

Get Ergdata on your mobile phone it's way better at recording info for your logbook.

[Dino]

I use a USB but plug it in just to transfer off the workouts rather than leave it in during the workout. I don't necessarily do this every day.
I have found this to be the most reliable method, as in 100%, of recording sessions.
I don't find ErgData to be 100% reliable - plus my phone is normally acting as my Zwift bridge so dont tend to use ErgData much anyway.
ErgData will of course give you a stroke by stroke recording where as USB or internal only records the intervals... but I can live with that.
When I use other C2 with battery not near the top, I do find it wont always accept the USB and gives a warning.

[Mark rows now]

ah, OK. I always thought its necessary to leave the USB-stick in the PM5. At the end of each session the data was transferred to the USB automatically and immediately. It seems, I shouldnt do this.
Do you have to "manually" connect your heart rate belt via BT every time you start the PM5? No way the PM5 checks BT/HR automatically?

[MPx]

You don't have to if you use ergdata, (or potentially leaving the stick in) but if you start your PM5 from cold without them, then it wont look for your HR belt and you'll have to connect manually each time. (Sequence with ergdata: Switch on PM; once BT active load ergdata ; Once connected to the erg, wait and it will connect to the HR belt auromatically. Once heart symbol appears go ahead and program the session. (This is what happens every time for me, but I can't remember what happens the first time, when you have to go through each connection manually!))

You can connect your stick each time without killing the batteries, its if you leave it in that drains them the quickest.

Just checking you have a model D or E with your PM5? If C or earlier then batteries don't last long on the PM5 as there's no background power from the flywheel and the backlight is a big drain.

[Carl Watts]

Ergdata has never faulted on me, even when using RowPro at the same time.

That said the Bluetooth connection is dedicated to Ergdata and I'm not using Bluetooth to form a bridge, which is the main reason I will not use Zwift until they come out with a native USB connection from the PM5 to the PC.

Ergdata always gets the result, even when RowPro fails to sometimes setup the row and it defaults to a 30 minute.
Also using a very old phone now, a Samsung galaxy A3(2017) so anything newer should eat it.

There is noting more frustrating than a system thats not stable.

[Ripples]

I've been using an old Lexar 128MB stick for the past few years. Inserted in the PM5 after the monitor wakes up. Monitor automatically remembers my Garmin ANT chest strap. When I'm done, I save the workout to the USB then remove the stick. Have had a couple glitches over the years, but never lost a workout.

I save my results to a spreadsheet on my computer.

[Mark rows now]

No problems and no message of low batteries last session. I'll connect the USB-stick afterwards only from now on...

Something strange: as long as there is one or more other sessions on the PM5-memory, too, i can "see" the two "lost sessions" - but rowing duration only. Those sessions show no date. Seem to be corrupt but not completely gone. But you cant open the sessions to see details. After transfer of the new regular sessions to the stick, the corrupt sessions do not show up at all anymore. Doing a new session and they show up again Ghost sessions

[Citroen]

Something strange: as long as there is one or more other sessions on the PM5-memory, too, i can "see" the two "lost sessions" - but rowing duration only. Those sessions show no date. Seem to be corrupt but not completely gone. But you cant open the sessions to see details. After transfer of the new regular sessions to the stick, the corrupt sessions do not show up at all anymore. Doing a new session and they show up again Ghost sessions

1. Upgrade the firmware on your PM5.
2. Do a hard factory reset (after you've offloaded all of your data).
https://www.concept2.com/service/monito ... s-odometer

A hard reset WILL lose the lifetime metres on your PM5.

[Mark rows now]

I dont care about those 2 ghost sessions as long as the dont cause any other problems, so I'll leave it as it is. But made an update from V030.011 to V031.000

[Mark rows now]

I discovered lately: without the USB being connected, there is no way to "REROW" a distance or time because all data was transferred from the PM5 to the USB before - right? At least it seems there is no rowing data left on the PM5...
So how do you rerow without the USB connected to the PM5 (as it is recommended to save battery life)? thx!

[Citroen]

If you insert the USB you can re-row any workout that's stored on the USB stick.

https://www.concept2.com/service/monito ... st-workout

[Mark rows now]

I know, but someone suggested not to leave the USB connected to the PM5...

Dont use a USB memory stick in the PM5 it kills the batteries.