PM3 rate display hiccup

[Bill Moore]

Every minute or so, I'll get a displayed rate that's about 15 seconds faster than the rate I'm pulling. This one-off rate also passes through to RowPro.

I think my options are to: upgrade firmware, replace battery, and/or replace monitor wire.

Any other suggestions?

[Citroen]

What model of rower is it?
I get odd numbers on Model Cs with PM3s all the time, I think it's a firmware bug.

[Bill Moore]

It's a model C.

I'll update the firmware. I had a problem with the .exe file not launching, but I'll work through that, and put a new battery in. I think the monitor wire should be good, but haven't thoroughly looked at it. I believe it was new when I upgraded to the PM3 about 8 years ago.

[Carl Watts]

Its a Firmware bug in V108 when used in an older PM3 on a model C with RowPro.

I advised C2 of it shortly after the release of V108 so I had them send me V105 and I rolled back to this without a problem.

What you do is just drag this file from your desktop over the open V6.53 update utility and it asks you if you want to install V105.

It seems to affect some models of the older PM3 and not others. Be aware there were several revisions of the board itself.

During a 30 minute row I had 2 to 6 "Single Strokes" where the pace suddenly dropped to 1:38 pace during a training pace row. I initially thought I was hallucinating due to lack of oxygen to the brain when I saw it !

If you cannot get V105 from C2 then send me a PM with your e-mail and I will send it to you.

[Citroen]

I've seen the same thing with V105 (no RowPro).

[Carl Watts]

I've seen the same thing with V105 (no RowPro).

Sounds like we are chasing a ghost in the machine.

Never seen a glitch until V108 but then I have never done a full 30min row with all the monitors that I repair or own either. Usually if you pull the handle and the display registers your rowing it's enough to confirm your monitor is okay in 99% of the ones I have tested.

I do recall going back to V105 and the problem was no longer there however. Here are some of my observations with the serial numbers of those tested.

300011389 is all okay on V105

300123608 is all okay on V108

200045770 no good on V108

100029970 no good on V108

Testing would seem to point to the earliest revisions of the PM3 having an issue for some unknown reason.


So whats the serial number of your monitor that has the problem ?

[Citroen]

I'll get a note of the serial numbers next time I'm in the gym. There's six model Cs I think they all exhibit the problem. Two of them do it more frequently.

[jsizemore]

I upgraded to the PM3 on my model C Aug 2012. From the start it dropped or increased stroke rate and 500m splits would drop at random 12 to 15 times in a 90 minute piece. Serial # 400144669 on PM3. Is this the latest version?

[Carl Watts]

I upgraded to the PM3 on my model C Aug 2012. From the start it dropped or increased stroke rate and 500m splits would drop at random 12 to 15 times in a 90 minute piece. Serial # 400144669 on PM3. Is this the latest version?

Yes you have the latest version of the PM3 and there should not be a problem with it.

Double check in the product ID screen that it is set to a Model B/C. The Default is D/E and sometimes they can reset themselves back to this and you don't know it.

There has also been a firmware revision since then so update it via the utility on the Concept 2 Website......

http://www.concept2.com/service/monitor ... e/updating

[jsizemore]

I downloaded the firmware last night and made sure the PM had not defalted from use by rower B/C. Rowed my usual 1/2 marathon. In the 33rd minute I was rowing a steady 2:13-2:14 split and it dropped to 2:00 for 1 stroke. In the 76th minute I was at 2:10 and it dropped to 1:57 for ! stroke. Never a glitch in the stroke rate. Those 2 were the only ones I saw so it is a vast improvement over previous function. If there is any change I'll let you know.

[jamesg]

Not so long ago I was seeing the same fault, on an 8 yo C/PM3, in the form of Watt spikes on the bar readout. Same in Rowit. Updated everything, no change. Replaced the sensor with its cable and about 90% of the spikes disappeared. Now see one every 2-3 minutes.

When the force curve looks rough, a Watt spike shows and the W or pace can be seen to change twice in one stroke. A missing impulse from the sensor might lead the PM3 to think that the stroke has ended (i.e. the flywheel is slowing), and at a guess would produce exactly that effect. Which could mean a dodgy connection or something equivalent.

It's quite likely that there can be spurious or missing impulses; perhaps it's just a question of sampling.

NB the sensors are not all the same on all machines.