Lifetime meters is 0 on PM5?

[brian_dm]

Hi guys. I am new to this forum. I am trying to sell my Concept 2 D/PM5 rower. People have been asking me about the Lifetime meters on it. I have never checked this before. So I tried to - first challenge was getting the monitor to stay on. It wouldn't and so I put in new D-batteries. It stays on now. I checked the Lifetime meters and it shows as 0. Did changing the batteries have anything to do with this? Any suggestions? Is there a way to get the old value back assuming it was not 0 to ever begin with? Thanks.

[Citroen]

Did you let a set of batteries go completely flat? That could wipe out the lifetime metres.
Some firmware updates can reset the lifetime metres.
Are the lifetime metres counting up again now?

Get it updated to the latest firmware anyway https://www.concept2.com/service/monitors/pm5/firmware

Once the lifetime metres get reset there's no going back (without a lot of rowing/skiing/biking).

[Carl Watts]

The meters are not reliable for a number of reasons.

Updating the firmware can zero the meters.

A full factory default reset zeros the meters

"Just rows" don't log meters.

You judge the condition of the rower from the physical appearance and the maintenance it has had, the meters are a bit irrelevant.

[brian_dm]

Did you let a set of batteries go completely flat? That could wipe out the lifetime metres.
Some firmware updates can reset the lifetime metres.
Are the lifetime metres counting up again now?

Get it updated to the latest firmware anyway https://www.concept2.com/service/monitors/pm5/firmware

Once the lifetime metres get reset there's no going back (without a lot of rowing/skiing/biking).

Thanks. I did indeed let the batteries go completely flat. I will check if they are counting up again.

[brian_dm]

The meters are not reliable for a number of reasons.

Updating the firmware can zero the meters.

A full factory default reset zeros the meters

"Just rows" don't log meters.

You judge the condition of the rower from the physical appearance and the maintenance it has had, the meters are a bit irrelevant.

Thanks. Oh wow - "Just Row" is what I ever used - really surprised to learn that that doesn't log meters!

[johnlvs2run]

"Just Row" is what I ever used - really surprised to learn that that doesn't log meters!

The meters are counted regardless of the setting.
Most of the time I have started with the monitor off, which goes to just row, and the meters always have counted.

[Carl Watts]

The meters are not reliable for a number of reasons.

Updating the firmware can zero the meters.

A full factory default reset zeros the meters

"Just rows" don't log meters.

You judge the condition of the rower from the physical appearance and the maintenance it has had, the meters are a bit irrelevant.

Thanks. Oh wow - "Just Row" is what I ever used - really surprised to learn that that doesn't log meters!

Very common I get 20 year old Gym monitors that have zero meters on them.

The meters are stored in EEPROM, removing the batteries does not zero the meters.

Usually its the firmware updates on the early PM5 versions that zero the meters. Regardless the lifetime meters are simply not accurate. I can even zero the meters on the PM2 if I want to.

Factory default reset on the PM5 of any age resets the meters to zero. You simply hold down the change units and the change display buttons at the same time and while doing so hit the reset button in the back with a paper clip. A message comes up on the display "Resetting to factory defaults" and you take your fingers off the buttons.

[johnlvs2run]

The monitors from 20 years ago were pm3's not pm5's.

The Concept2 website <-- states the following:
Depending on the age of the monitor (PM3 or PM4 Firmware Versions less than 300),
the Lifetime Meters can also be reset by removing the batteries for more than a few minutes.

I have used all of the monitors from pm1 through pm5 and all of them always counted the meters on just row.

[Carl Watts]

The monitors from 20 years ago were pm3's not pm5's.

The Concept2 website <-- states the following:
Depending on the age of the monitor (PM3 or PM4 Firmware Versions less than 300),
the Lifetime Meters can also be reset by removing the batteries for more than a few minutes.

I have used all of the monitors from pm1 through pm5 and all of them always counted the meters on just row.

Well that would be incorrect.

The memory backup capacitor in the first gen PM3 will backup for 20 minutes if its still working, which most aren't now and I replace them with an improved KEMET part. The second Gen PM3 and PM4 will backup for hours as the standby current is much lower due to a complete redesign and different micro when Motorola pulled their Dragonball one out of production.

Sure there were no PM3's 20 years ago but the same applies. If you update a first Gen PM5 thats has never had a firmware update to the latest version, I guarantee it will zero the meters. It updates the Loader and the Firmware and defaults the monitor.

Bottom line is the lifetime meters are hopeless to use as a basis in buying a second hand rower.

Funny thing is people worry about the lifetime meters and don't even know which version of rower it is they are buying.

[johnlvs2run]

PM3 monitors --> Standard on Model D Indoor Rowers from 2003–2014.

Bottom line is the lifetime meters are hopeless to use as a basis in buying a second hand rower.

Perhaps but I would still check the lifetime meters anyway and also get the purchase date.
My first three ergs spanning from pm1 through pm4 still had the original lifetime meters when I sold them.
The PM5 doesn't, because I've reset them at the start of each ranking season but the purchase date still remains.