Long Workouts - Reliable Data Capture

[djastv]

Hi,

I'm training for a 100km row in July, and want to capture the workout in its entirety, including power and heart rate data for upload to my C2 logbook. Usually, I don't have any issues with capturing workouts via my phone (hard wired to the PM5 using a USB-C to B cable running ERG data), but for a 100km row lasting several hours, I think capturing the data reliably as a single workout might be a challenge.

1. Heart rate monitor connectivity - My HRM (Polar H7) is normally pretty good, but once in a while it does drop out (on both the ERG data app and the PM5.) Walking away from the rower (toilet breaks) will obviously also cause the Bluetooth connection to drop. My phone is normally more reliable than the PM5 for Bluetooth connectivity. Neither the PM5 nor the ERG data app seem to try and reconnect upon dropout though? If you hit the menu button on the PM5 and try to re-connect then it stops the workout. Has anybody found a way of managing this?

2. Is it possible to stitch workouts together? I.e. If I did 10x 10k rows, could I stitch them together later to make it as though it was a single workout? I know you can download the CSV's from the C2 log site, so theoretically I could just join these together in Excel, but can't see any way of manually uploading a CSV file on the C2 log website afterwards? (This way if the HRM dropped out during one of the 10k's, I could re-connect it for the next 10k.)

3. When you connect a phone to the PM5 - does the PM5 take it's power from the phone, or the other way around, or neither? My other concern is battery life on my phone running ERG data. If I need to charge the phone, when I disconnect the USB cable from the PM5, ERG data will think I've finished the workout.

Has anybody else had any experience with this? Any advice or tips would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Citroen]

3. When you connect a phone to the PM5 - does the PM5 take it's power from the phone, or the other way around, or neither? My other concern is battery life on my phone running ERG data. If I need to charge the phone, when I disconnect the USB cable from the PM5, ERG data will think I've finished the workout.

Only if you tether it with a USB OTG cable.

The batteries in a PM5 will last for months (or years) with normal use. So install a new pair of good quality, top price Duracell or Energizers stop worrying.

Connect your phone to a wall charger.

[Citroen]

2. Is it possible to stitch workouts together? I.e. If I did 10x 10k rows, could I stitch them together later to make it as though it was a single workout? I know you can download the CSV's from the C2 log site, so theoretically I could just join these together in Excel, but can't see any way of manually uploading a CSV file on the C2 log website afterwards? (This way if the HRM dropped out during one of the 10k's, I could re-connect it for the next 10k.)

Concept2 won't accept that if you're trying to submit it as a record.
https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/ ... quirements

[djastv]

3. When you connect a phone to the PM5 - does the PM5 take it's power from the phone, or the other way around, or neither? My other concern is battery life on my phone running ERG data. If I need to charge the phone, when I disconnect the USB cable from the PM5, ERG data will think I've finished the workout.

Only if you tether it with a USB OTG cable.

The batteries in a PM5 will last for months (or years) with normal use. So install a new pair of good quality, top price Duracell or Energizers stop worrying.

Connect your phone to a wall charger.

2. Is it possible to stitch workouts together? I.e. If I did 10x 10k rows, could I stitch them together later to make it as though it was a single workout? I know you can download the CSV's from the C2 log site, so theoretically I could just join these together in Excel, but can't see any way of manually uploading a CSV file on the C2 log website afterwards? (This way if the HRM dropped out during one of the 10k's, I could re-connect it for the next 10k.)

Concept2 won't accept that if you're trying to submit it as a record.
https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/ ... quirements

Thanks for the responses. I use a USB cable between the PM5 and phone because I've found the Bluetooth connection to be somewhat unreliable. Hence I can't connect my phone to a wall charger as it only has one USB port. Sometimes the Bluetooth works fine, but sometimes it cuts out (and doesn't re-connect.) I've found the USB connection to be 100% reliable, and it reduces Bluetooth interference for the HRM, so that also works better for longer. I did wonder whether it was worth upgrading from the Polar H7 to the H10, but not sure if that would really offer any benefits in terms of reliability. What I could really do with is a hard wired heart rate monitor haha

One idea that just occurred to me was connecting the phone and PM5 together via a powered USB hub. If it worked, it would keep the phone charged whilst keeping the phone connected to the PM5. Along with the added benefit of the PM5 not automatically turning off after a given time. I'll see if I can get hold of one to test.

I completely understand why C2 don't allow you manually upload edited workouts, it gives the online results a lot more credibility (something you don't see much on Strava or Zwift for example.)

[Dangerscouse]

Is it possible to stitch workouts together? I.e. If I did 10x 10k rows, could I stitch them together later to make it as though it was a single workout? I know you can download the CSV's from the C2 log site, so theoretically I could just join these together in Excel, but can't see any way of manually uploading a CSV file on the C2 log website afterwards? (This way if the HRM dropped out during one of the 10k's, I could re-connect it for the next 10k.)

The closest you can get to this is to use Ergzone app instead of Ergdata, and then you can programme in 10 x 10k splits rather than it just being one 100k result.

I haven't changed my Duracell batteries since I got my erg circa 3.5 years ago, and I've almost done 10 million metres, so batteries aren't a concern at all.

[Citroen]

One idea that just occurred to me was connecting the phone and PM5 together via a powered USB hub. If it worked, it would keep the phone charged whilst keeping the phone connected to the PM5. Along with the added benefit of the PM5 not automatically turning off after a given time. I'll see if I can get hold of one to test.

I completely understand why C2 don't allow you manually upload edited workouts, it gives the online results a lot more credibility (something you don't see much on Strava or Zwift for example.)

USB shares the 5V power rail between devices. Power flows from the higher amperage source to the lower amperage sink. Knowing whether that will charge your phone depends on the on-board charger circuit on the phone. D-Cells are not a good supply for phones - available charging time lasts in minutes rather than hours. Get a Y-cable and you can connect one leg to a wall charger.

C2 don't allow edited results because they're trying to avoid the cowboys from spamming their system with fake record breaking rows. There are ways to fake a row with a multi-function signal generator.

[sizzlefuzz]

Is it possible to stitch workouts together? I.e. If I did 10x 10k rows, could I stitch them together later to make it as though it was a single workout? I know you can download the CSV's from the C2 log site, so theoretically I could just join these together in Excel, but can't see any way of manually uploading a CSV file on the C2 log website afterwards? (This way if the HRM dropped out during one of the 10k's, I could re-connect it for the next 10k.)

The closest you can get to this is to use Ergzone app instead of Ergdata, and then you can programme in 10 x 10k splits rather than it just being one 100k result.

I haven't changed my Duracell batteries since I got my erg circa 3.5 years ago, and I've almost done 10 million metres, so batteries aren't a concern at all.

ErgZone is the way, it allows you to configured exactly 100k distance.

[StevenWayne]

I saw a video which I will link here that might help with your long row effort. I have no idea if this method works, I haven’t tested it, I simply add this to the discussion for your perusal. Keep rowing!

How to Keep PM5 Turned On. Awesome rowing channel, btw.

https://youtu.be/pF_J-Sp-XC8