Deleted workouts on USB after C2 Program 'Repairs' the data

[IMHester]

Hello:

Just bought a Model E a couple of months ago and I love it, EXCEPT for one frustrating issue:

When I move my workouts to the USB drive (from a PM5) and insert said USB into my computer, the C2 Utility states that it needs to repair the data and that nothing will get lost. I agreed to do this and all workouts previously uploaded and logged weren't deleted except for the two that I just completed and haven't uploaded them yet! Extremely frustrating as a beginner especially when I'm trying to get the results logged and verified for the Mud Season Challenge.

The two workouts just disappeared! I had this problem previously with a USB I purchased at the local computer store and C2 sent me one of their USB drives right away. Do I just deal with it or try another option such as using the app on my phone? I just emailed their tech support and reluctantly logged my 'unverified' results but I'm afraid their answer will be to try another method. I like to have all of my workouts verified of course for validity.

This hasn't happened in a couple of weeks until tonight, but since I'm using the C2 USB I was in a false sense of security that it wouldn't happen again.

Has anyone experienced this and what was your workaround or solution, any info appreciated - thank you!

[IMHester]

Didn't get a response from C2 but I'm assuming there isn't much that they can do until they address the issue with a firmware update or figure out how to fix their data/usb drive compatibilty. I'm just going to upload via the app on my smartphone or tablet. Didn't want to use this method because you need the wireless turned on on the PM5 as well as bluetooth on on your smartphone will you are rowing since it drains the batteries.

Not much choice though and the app is much easier to use, hopefully the battery doesn't get drained too terribly fast! I'll report back on this thread with my findings.

Cheers,

[IMHester]

Well after 2 weeks I am now used to using the ErgData app on my smartphone and the battery usage isn't too terribly bad (for the smartphone or PM5), and I've been rowing most every day since I started using it (currently doing the Mud Challenge). It's also much easier to sync the data rather than transfer from PM to USB to computer then the Internet; only a couple of steps! I'll just use the USB drive as a backup option now. It's worth noting that you must be connected to the PM via bluetooth during your workout so have your phone/device plugged into an external power outlet if you think that there is any chance the battery could be completely drained before you are finished with your workout.

I will say this about the USB - if you are planning on using a USB drive, call C2 and have them send you one of theirs as it is the recommended one to use since it's not the newest USB technology. It's true that it had issues too but anything that mitigates the chances you might as well use it. Hopefully this data method will be more reliable in the future. The drive looks pretty neat too!

Have a Good One,

[jackarabit]

Chris, I have a C2-issue USB 1-gig stick. It functions with reasonable reliability with only occasional bouts of electonic narcolepsy whch typically involve failure to store to drive or no user found errors. As you have a smart phone, the free ErgData app is absolutely the best alternative. I run ED on an ipod with NO storage or upload problems so long as the c2 stick is out of the picture. ED wifi upload to the logbook is about as fast and effortless as it gets.

Welcome to Forum Flyers and the CTC challenge by the way.

[IMHester]

Jack:

You are absolutely 100% correct. I only use the ErgData app now from my iphone and ipad (which ever happens to be closest to the erg) and use the USB as a backup (I forgot to set the app a couple of times so I used the USB and luckily it worked). I have the C2-issued stick as well. I'll use the app all of the time now and yes I do like the ease of use and there's definitely less steps in the ErgData upload process.

When I posted this thread initially, I had just completed some of the longest workouts I had ever done at that point so to lose them was frustrating. After some deep breaths I was fine, realizing that this is a long-term journey with the erg so things happen

Thank you for the welcome message - you folks on the Flyers have been very nice and supportive since I joined! Looking forward to getting on the FF CTC rankings board in the next year or two!

[jackarabit]

The manual entry option is there when needed. The logs supply the info for the rankings but are first and foremost a personal record-keepng system.

[tvcrider]

Well after 2 weeks I am now used to using the ErgData app on my smartphone and the battery usage isn't too terribly bad (for the smartphone or PM5), and I've been rowing most every day since I started using it (currently doing the Mud Challenge). It's also much easier to sync the data rather than transfer from PM to USB to computer then the Internet; only a couple of steps! I'll just use the USB drive as a backup option now. It's worth noting that you must be connected to the PM via bluetooth during your workout so have your phone/device plugged into an external power outlet if you think that there is any chance the battery could be completely drained before you are finished with your workout.

I will say this about the USB - if you are planning on using a USB drive, call C2 and have them send you one of theirs as it is the recommended one to use since it's not the newest USB technology. It's true that it had issues too but anything that mitigates the chances you might as well use it. Hopefully this data method will be more reliable in the future. The drive looks pretty neat too!

Fwiw, a C2 provided USB drives (I tried two of them) did not fix my issues with the PM5 and it's precisely is why i recently migrated to using only the ErgData app.

I was a longtime user of C2 memory cards on my older rowers (PM3/PM4). When I purchased my new Model D with PM5 early last year (1/2016) the "upgraded" USB storage had a certain 'coolness' factor.
Using the PM5 with the C2 provided USB drive rapidly became a millstone for me. Repeated error messages, crashes, loss of data, duplicate workouts, deleted workouts, random increases in my life-time meters and problems with uploading workouts to my on-line log have finally forced me to forgo using the C2 USB thumb drive entirely. Using a USB drive with the PM5 also results in a rather significant drain on you PM5's batteries.

So far ErgData has been far simpler and totally trouble free.

Of course YMMV.

[IMHester]

@tcvrider: I'm in the same boat as you now - strictly the erg data app! I've forgot to initiate the Bluetooth a couple of times so I did use the USB and it worked. I also know now to just say 'no' to repairing the usb if it asks and the data gets uploaded successfully. Just one of the glitches