Updating firmware on PM5 at the gym via bluetooth?

[rowmania]

I've just returned to my grad school campus and now have access to several indoor rowers, two of which are PM5s (woohooo!!), but when I connected to ErgData for the first couple times on each I was prompted to update the firmware to Version 171. Both are currently on Version 163.

Upon looking more closely at my workouts from the weekend I am seeing erratic data and some random extreme spikes in stroke rate and pace that don't make sense and after reading the firmware update logs I presume they're probably due to bugs fixed in later releases. I've been researching a bit about how to update it but most of the stuff I've found is people having issues updating it via cable, so I'm a bit nervous to do this without more guidance.

So my questions right now are:

1. Is the update likely to be successful so that I could do this myself via my iPhone or should I just ask the staff about it? –– they're mostly students too so I'm not sure they'd know much more than I do right now or even care, but at the same time, I don't want to mess up the machine because it'll be out of order for months if that happens

2. If I were to do it, is it quick enough that I'd be able to use the machine within 30 minutes or does it take several hours? Does my phone need to be by the machine for the whole time or does it download the data first to the PM5 and then update itself?

I'm not sure if I'm being silly and just overthinking it but I'd be grateful for whatever advice you guys can provide. Thanks!

[JaapvanE]

I would kindly ask the staff to upgrade, and point them to the issues you experienced.

Sometimes upgrades go wrong, and you don't want to be the guy who broke the rowing machine, especially since a gym will probably call an official repairmen with associated costs. Gyms have to learn that besides keeping the hardware oiled/clean, software needs some attention too....

[rowmania]

Thanks, I'll mention it to them today then. Yeah I'd rather not risk it, but I just know in the past we've had a couple of older machines stay out of order for months (long before covid even, they tended to get neglected...)

[Dangerscouse]

I've just returned to my grad school campus and now have access to several indoor rowers, two of which are PM5s (woohooo!!), but when I connected to ErgData for the first couple times on each I was prompted to update the firmware to Version 171. Both are currently on Version 163.

Upon looking more closely at my workouts from the weekend I am seeing erratic data and some random extreme spikes in stroke rate and pace that don't make sense and after reading the firmware update logs I presume they're probably due to bugs fixed in later releases. I've been researching a bit about how to update it but most of the stuff I've found is people having issues updating it via cable, so I'm a bit nervous to do this without more guidance.

So my questions right now are:

1. Is the update likely to be successful so that I could do this myself via my iPhone or should I just ask the staff about it? –– they're mostly students too so I'm not sure they'd know much more than I do right now or even care, but at the same time, I don't want to mess up the machine because it'll be out of order for months if that happens

2. If I were to do it, is it quick enough that I'd be able to use the machine within 30 minutes or does it take several hours? Does my phone need to be by the machine for the whole time or does it download the data first to the PM5 and then update itself?

I'm not sure if I'm being silly and just overthinking it but I'd be grateful for whatever advice you guys can provide. Thanks!

I think the best option is to do it via a USB stick, after downloading it from the C2 website. When I've done it, it takes no more than 10 minutes from start to finish.

I'm not certain, but I think you may be able to install a slightly older firmware if it doesn't work, but it should be fine, although there are no guarantees

[rowmania]

Hmm. I didn't bother searching for someone to ask earlier today.

I just successfully loaded the firmware onto a USB stick. Thinking I'll go early tomorrow morning and ask them if I can try updating them or else if they have someone who manages this stuff. Seeing as they're running the version from June 2018 I'm not so sure they do, so maybe they'd be fine with me attempting...

[Carl Watts]

You want a Windows laptop with a fully charged battery and preferably plugged into the mains as well.

Use the latest update utility with your laptop connected to Wi-Fi, I personally wouldn't use a USB stick to try and do it.

A laptop is the safest option.

[rowmania]

You want a Windows laptop with a fully charged battery and preferably plugged into the mains as well.

Use the latest update utility with your laptop connected to Wi-Fi, I personally wouldn't use a USB stick to try and do it.

A laptop is the safest option.

Ah...I am a Mac user so that's not an option for me, unfortunately. Well I guess I'll just let the staff know tomorrow and see if they'll arrange for it to get updated. Thanks everyone for your guidance!

In the meantime, I am wondering if I plugged my USB drive into the PM5 instead of connecting to ErgData, might this potentially gather the data more reliably than what's being sent to my iPhone? From looking at the C2 Firmware Timeline it seems like a solid number of fixes listed are bluetooth/wireless/ErgData related. Might try that tomorrow! (I'm studying data science and am a little nitpicky when it comes to collecting quality data when I can )

[Carl Watts]

No problems at all with the PM5, Bluetooth and a new Android phone with ErgData, never misses a beat .I avoid Apple products at all costs.

[mitchel674]

I just did this at a health resort I visited last month in Utah. Three modelE machines with PM5s and the original firmware from 2014.

I did speak with the manager and all three were updated easily with a USB stick. Took 10 minutes per machine.