Good way to connect HR to PM5

[LeDoC]

Hello,

I'm new here, just jump in the C2 family.
So could be a newbie question, but can't find -with the search option- if this was already ask.

Here my question :
What the best/good way to connect an HR to PM5 with ErgData ?

1. Connect HR to PM5 via ant+, and then connect ErgData to PM5 via Bluetooth :
HR >> PM5 << ErgData

2. Connect HR to ErgData, and PM5 to ErgData, both via Bluetooth
HR >> ErgData << PM5

3. Connect all together, this could be 'dumb', but 'why not'
HR <ant+> ErgData <bt> PM5 <bt> HR

Thanks for your help

[MPx]

Not sure about "the best"...but I can tell you what I do which has been 99.9% reliable over the last 5 years. This is for my home C2 - it may not be the same for a multi use gym machine.

On the first occasion:
First connect Ergdata to the PM5 - this uses Bluetooth
Then connect your HR strap using whatever sees it when you go through Other Options/Connect Heart Rate in the menu.
Then go back and Select Workout...do your thing...Sync with your log afterwards...whatever.

On subsequent sessions:
First make sure you're wearing your HR strap with moistened pads so that its definitely working.
Then switch on your PM5.
Then open Ergdata on your phone.
Wait and you will be prompted on the phone to connect to the PM5.
Once connected, wait again - typically 15 seconds or so - and the HR strap will connect automatically which you will know because the heart symbol appears on the PM and the numbers are displayed.
Only at that point setup your session through Select Workout. (I found if I go to select workout before the heart is displayed it often never comes up and I have to go back to the start and manually connect again).

HTH

[LeDoC]

Hello,

Thanks for your explanation and kind feedback.
This exactly what I've done on first try : )

So the PM5 will be the hub.

I was wondering what could be to put Egrdata as hub, or any other scenario behaviour ?

Your ''99.9%'' success confirm my first though.

Have a good day

[alien878]

I use #1 successfully too. A couple of things to add:

I make sure any pairings on the phone to the HR monitor are deleted. Otherwise the HR monitor sometimes pairs to the phone with erratic results.

If you stick a USB stick in the PM 5, you get an option when pairing the HR monitor to remember it. Select Y and it will pair automatically in the future.

My system is:

Turn on HR monitor.

Turn on PM5.

Exit from startup meters summary (for some reason my phone won’t connect when it is showing).

Connect phone (this used to be automatic before the last FW upgrade… I wish they would fix this).

Wait for HR to show on PM and phone.

[Tsnor]

If you stick a USB stick in the PM 5, you get an option when pairing the HR monitor to remember it. Select Y and it will pair automatically in the future.

Ergdata remembers HR monitor without a USB stick in the PM5.

[LeDoC]

3. Connect all together, this could be 'dumb', but 'why not'
HR <ant+> ErgData <bt> PM5 <bt> HR

Just realized I made a mistake here and inverted ErgData with PM5.
So the right one is :
HR <ant+> PM5 <bt> ErgData <bt> HR

[LeDoC]

I use #1 successfully too. A couple of things to add:
(...)
My system is:
Turn on HR monitor.
Turn on PM5.
Exit from startup meters summary (for some reason my phone won’t connect when it is showing).
Connect phone (this used to be automatic before the last FW upgrade… I wish they would fix this).
Wait for HR to show on PM and phone.

Hello,
I had also noticed some 'weird' things like that and your comment confirmed that it's ''normal''.
I was wondering what did I miss.
So Thanks for your feedback as well.

First I connect the HR to the PM5 with the menu,
only after I connect the phone/ErgData directly to PM5.
Is that correct / what you meant ?

Sometime I have to try more than once to be able to connect the HR to PM5, sometime it's done instantaneity.
Don't known why.

I make sure any pairings on the phone to the HR monitor are deleted. Otherwise the HR monitor sometimes pairs to the phone with erratic results.

Does that mean the #3 scenario is really not ok ?

I'm gonna go for the #1 anyway, as you and MPx, had both already confirmed its kind of the best practice.

But I'm curious by the details about the ''erratic results'' you mentioned.

If you stick a USB stick in the PM 5, you get an option when pairing the HR monitor to remember it. Select Y and it will pair automatically in the future.

I planned to do that as well,
but was looking for two things, maybe you or someone here can enlighten me :
(Little out of the original topic : )
1. What the size of the PM5 internal memory (in bytes) ?
The documentation stated it can store around 1000 training, if I recall correctly.

2. Is there a 'sweet spot' or maximum capacity of USB stick to use ?
Like do not need xxGO bytes of storage because we don't have enough lifetime and/or reincarnation to be able to use all that space.
The answer of the first question above will give a hint for the USB optimal size, like how much x1000 workouts I want to be able to record / save.

As I planned to leave the USB connected all time, so going to looking for a 'good one' once for all.
Is it ok to let it connected all time ?
I had some battery powered device before and some of them do not like it.
The motherboard firmware was not correctly design handle this, and the battery was 'draining' little by litlle continuously.

The C2 documentarion also told to not use USB3 stick because it will drain the battery.
But no details about the fact to let it connected or not when powered off ?

So, according to this I need to look for a USB2 model.
Just waiting to target the 'right' capacity.
And will see if could let it connected or not.


All those could also be some newbie questions, like 'this is not relevant, just row and looking for the burn when your practice / technic will be good enough'


Thanks again for your help and feedback.

[LeDoC]

Ergdata remembers HR monitor without a USB stick in the PM5.

Hello,

So that's more for the #2 scénario ?
Is that correct ?
Do you have some feedback and it's better for you to go in that configuration ?

Thanks

[alien878]

I use #1 because that is the first one that worked for me. #2 is probably okay too.

I think the important thing is to only allow the hr monitor to connect to one device. Otherwise it will randomly pick something or even flip flop if the connection is bad. I.e. for #1 it is important it is not allowed to pair to the phone. Since I sometimes use a tablet with ergzone, pairing to the pm5 makes the most sense for me.

As for the usb stick, I store my workouts in the logbook so I only need space for the last few workouts in case ErgData loses connection. If usb wasn’t required to remember the hr monitor, the internal memory would be enough. Workouts don’t take much space. I think it would be hard to fill 1M. Power consumption is the biggest concern, so not too old and not usb3.

I wish there was an option “this is not a gym” to allow automatic connection for ErgData and a hr monitor.

[Tsnor]

Ergdata remembers HR monitor without a USB stick in the PM5.

Hello,

So that's more for the #2 scénario ?
Is that correct ?
Do you have some feedback and it's better for you to go in that configuration ?

Thanks

I don't know the right way. Here's how I do it.

1. I put on my HR belt. (polar H10, love it)
2. I connect my Ergdata to the PM5.
3. I start my music on my bluetooth earbuds and do some other setup.
4. By the time I get my music/podcast going the HR monitor is up and running on the PM5 and on Ergdata (because Ergdata remembers the HR monitor and because Ergdata gets HR information from the PM5.)
5. I start rowing.

Here is the Concept2 documentation on how to connect Ergdata and get it to remember your HR monitor.

Pairing while connected to the ErgData application
Put the chest belt on, and press any button on the Performance Monitor (PM) to power it up.
Connect ErgData to the PM.
Select Connect Heart Rate. Within 5-10 seconds, the PM will list identification information for any chest belt it finds. This information may include brand or model information and/or and ID number.
Choose the ID that corresponds to your chest belt. (If you are unsure, check the chest belt ID, which is typically listed on the back of the belt.)
Select Confirm.
On the ErgData app, select Yes to, "Remember Heart Rate Belt?"
This saves your chest belt’s ID to your ErgData application so that the PM automatically detects your chest belt in the future.
https://www.concept2.com/service/heart- ... pm4-or-pm5

[LeDoC]

I think the important thing is to only allow the hr monitor to connect to one device. Otherwise it will randomly pick something or even flip flop if the connection is bad. I.e. for #1 it is important it is not allowed to pair to the phone. Since I sometimes use a tablet with ergzone, pairing to the pm5 makes the most sense for me.

Thanks for feedbacks.

I wish there was an option “this is not a gym” to allow automatic connection for ErgData and a hr monitor.

That's would be a really cool option.

Maybe for next firmware !..isn't it C2 ninja team : )

[LeDoC]

I don't know the right way. Here's how I do it.

1. I put on my HR belt. (polar H10, love it)
2. I connect my Ergdata to the PM5.
3. I start my music on my bluetooth earbuds and do some other setup.
4. By the time I get my music/podcast going the HR monitor is up and running on the PM5 and on Ergdata (because Ergdata remembers the HR monitor and because Ergdata gets HR information from the PM5.)
5. I start rowing.

Hello,

I though that when ErgData 'could remember' the HR device will only be possible when pairing them together directly.

So the 'ideal' scénario could be something like :
Step1. PM5 >> ErgData
Step2. PM5 >> HR
Step3. 'Software paired-ish' with the PM5 as the hub
HT <PM5> ErgData

I'll try this for sure.
If this could avoid the 'need' of usb stick and also the ''flip flop'' headache when connected to both simultaneously, it's a win : ]

Thanks for this relevant insights reminder of the documentation !

[Tony Cook]

Not sure about "the best"...but I can tell you what I do which has been 99.9% reliable over the last 5 years. This is for my home C2 - it may not be the same for a multi use gym machine.

On the first occasion:
First connect Ergdata to the PM5 - this uses Bluetooth
Then connect your HR strap using whatever sees it when you go through Other Options/Connect Heart Rate in the menu.
Then go back and Select Workout...do your thing...Sync with your log afterwards...whatever.

On subsequent sessions:
First make sure you're wearing your HR strap with moistened pads so that its definitely working.
Then switch on your PM5.
Then open Ergdata on your phone.
Wait and you will be prompted on the phone to connect to the PM5.
Once connected, wait again - typically 15 seconds or so - and the HR strap will connect automatically which you will know because the heart symbol appears on the PM and the numbers are displayed.
Only at that point setup your session through Select Workout. (I found if I go to select workout before the heart is displayed it often never comes up and I have to go back to the start and manually connect again).

HTH

I wish I’d known this. I’ve wasted so much time connecting HRM to PM5 and then PM5 to ErgData with the various missed connections.
Thanks

[Cujo]

Not sure about "the best"...but I can tell you what I do which has been 99.9% reliable over the last 5 years. This is for my home C2 - it may not be the same for a multi use gym machine.

On the first occasion:
First connect Ergdata to the PM5 - this uses Bluetooth
Then connect your HR strap using whatever sees it when you go through Other Options/Connect Heart Rate in the menu.
Then go back and Select Workout...do your thing...Sync with your log afterwards...whatever.

On subsequent sessions:
First make sure you're wearing your HR strap with moistened pads so that its definitely working.
Then switch on your PM5.
Then open Ergdata on your phone.
Wait and you will be prompted on the phone to connect to the PM5.
Once connected, wait again - typically 15 seconds or so - and the HR strap will connect automatically which you will know because the heart symbol appears on the PM and the numbers are displayed.
Only at that point setup your session through Select Workout. (I found if I go to select workout before the heart is displayed it often never comes up and I have to go back to the start and manually connect again).

HTH

I wish I’d known this. I’ve wasted so much time connecting HRM to PM5 and then PM5 to ErgData with the various missed connections.
Thanks

Thanks for posting this! I just tried it this way this morning and it worked great. So simple. In the past, sometimes it would connect quickly, other times it would take me 5 minutes or more. I had even called C2 about this and they said that I had to connect the HR monitor manually every time.

[MPx]

I'm glad its working for you guys...thanks for the feedback.