Concept2 Forum

Hi,<br /><br />Is it possible to use a Bluetooth connection between the PM3 and a PC? This would give me much more versality in where I can put my PC without stumbling over cables. I could even put the PC (with a TV out graphic card) next to my TV...<br />

I believe the answer is no. The PM3 does not support any other device like that on the USB port. You could use a long usb cable, although the maximum length is not clear to me (at least 30 feet). A bluetooth mouse for your computer would work, but you still need to cable the the PM3 to a usb port as far as I know.

[quote=michaelb,Dec 12 2005, 02:55 PM]<br />I believe the answer is no. The PM3 does not support any other device like that on the USB port. <br /><br /><br />Too bad... Maybe an idea for the developers? Would be neat to be able to use a wireless connection to hook the Erg up to a media center. Call me a geek, if you like....

Looks like the technology is coming (essentially wireless USB extenders), but they are prototypes and pricey at this time. See (for some ideas):<br /><br /><a href='http://www.gefen.com/kvm/news/NAB%20200 ... reless.pdf' target='_blank'>http://www.gefen.com/kvm/news/NAB%20200 ... pdf</a><br /><br />Neat idea though ...

We can also hook these guys up with C2:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.icron.com/products/usb/design_licenses.php' target='_blank'>http://www.icron.com/products/usb/desig ... ses.php</a>

My guess is that Bluetooth technology would work great here. The amount of data going through is not excessive and it would make the setup much easier and cleaner. Imagine setting up a race with a bunch of machines if you have a wireless setup. Unpack the machines, log on to the time keeper computer and you're done.<br />It cannot be that hard to create a dongle that plugs into the PM3's current USB port.<br /><br />The next step is to get Digital rowing on your Blackberry.......

Having worked a bit with Bluetooth, I'd say the issues are:<br /><br />1. Power to supply a Bluetooth device acting as a cable replacement<br /><br />and <br /><br />2. whether the PM3 processor and infrastructure can support the code to run Bluetooth.<br /><br />3. Log Card Utility and RowPro, others, would also need a conversion step - either hardware or software.<br /><br />I'd love to see it happen sometime. My PC already runs WiFi to connect to my server from the boathouse where the C2 lives - Bluetooth would eliminate one more wire.

Speed may be an issue as well. I do not know the comparison of data transfer speeds between Bluetooth and USB 2.0, but would guess that USB 2.0 is faster?<br /><br />Anyone out there know?<br /><br />(too lazy to Google and research, sorry!)

Do not know the exact speed, but in my clinic (I am a veterinarian) I use a wireless ECG unit with a Bluetooth connection on a daily basis. If you can send all info of a cat's heart beating at 240 BPM over a Bluetooth link you will not have a problem with the few strokes that we make.<br />A built in wireless connection could also be used for a heart rate monitor at the same time.<br />The amount of power used is pretty small and doesn't the PM3 derive its power from our rowing efforts anyway?

<!--QuoteBegin-Rowrow+Dec 12 2005, 07:48 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Rowrow @ Dec 12 2005, 07:48 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Do not know the exact speed, but in my clinic (I am a veterinarian) I use a wireless ECG unit with a Bluetooth connection on a daily basis. If you can send all info of a cat's heart beating at 240 BPM over a Bluetooth link you will not have a problem with the few strokes that we make.<br />A built in wireless connection could also be used for a heart rate monitor at the same time.<br />The amount of power used is pretty small and doesn't the PM3 derive its power from our rowing efforts anyway? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Actually, that's a really good point about the heart monitor - that's wireless as well, and it's not line of sight, so it's not IR - maybe it's Bluetooth? (at least between the chest unit and the pickup unit under the rail...) <br /><br /><br /><br />

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Dec 12 2005, 06:18 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Dec 12 2005, 06:18 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Speed may be an issue as well.  I do not know the comparison of data transfer speeds between Bluetooth and USB 2.0, but would guess that USB 2.0 is faster?<br /><br />Anyone out there know?<br /><br />(too lazy to Google and research, sorry!) <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />From <a href='http://www.digit-life.com/articles/bluetakeusbdongle/' target='_blank'>Bluetooth site</a><br /><br /> * frequency: 2.4 GHz (ISM range)<br /> * distance range: 10 m (there is also a variant for 100 m)<br /> * data rate:<br /> o asymmetrical mode: 721/57.6 Kbit/s<br /> o symmetrical mode: 432.6 Kbit/s in both directions<br /><br /> * up to three voice channels<br /> * protection: authentication, encryption with a 8..128bit key<br /> * power consumption: approx. 30 mA (in the transmission mode)<br /><br />Even allowing for 50% efficiency, that's plenty fast enough for the data from the erg. That still leaves the question of whether the PM3 can support the BT device at all. <br />

<!--QuoteBegin-tjod+Dec 13 2005, 06:56 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(tjod @ Dec 13 2005, 06:56 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br /><br />Actually, that's a really good point about the heart monitor - that's wireless as well, and it's not line of sight, so it's not IR - maybe it's Bluetooth? (at least between the chest unit and the pickup unit under the rail...) <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Transmission between chest unit an the pickup is by radio but it is not<br />the Bluetooth standard.

<!--QuoteBegin-jfo+Dec 13 2005, 06:01 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(jfo @ Dec 13 2005, 06:01 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-tjod+Dec 13 2005, 06:56 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(tjod @ Dec 13 2005, 06:56 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br /><br />Actually, that's a really good point about the heart monitor - that's wireless as well, and it's not line of sight, so it's not IR - maybe it's Bluetooth? (at least between the chest unit and the pickup unit under the rail...) <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Transmission between chest unit an the pickup is by radio but it is not<br />the Bluetooth standard. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Thanks - good to know.

<!--QuoteBegin-tjod+Dec 13 2005, 04:56 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(tjod @ Dec 13 2005, 04:56 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Actually, that's a really good point about the heart monitor - that's wireless as well, and it's not line of sight, so it's not IR - maybe it's Bluetooth? (at least between the chest unit and the pickup unit under the rail...) <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />All short range FM radio is line of sight. Wireless (802.11x), Bluetooth, HRM, DECT phones, etc. are all crammed into the same increasingly crowded part of the spectrum.<br /><br />One problem with the HRM on the C2 is that it has a wacking great chunk of metal between your chest strap and the sensor under the erg.<br /><br />On the other hand amplitude modulation (AM) at short wave tends to bounce of the ionosphere very nicely.

<!--QuoteBegin-Citroen+Dec 13 2005, 10:00 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Citroen @ Dec 13 2005, 10:00 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->On the other hand amplitude modulation (AM) at short wave tends to bounce of the ionosphere very nicely. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Sounds like a fun amateur radio experiment. See if I can broadcast my erging heart rate on the 80-meter band and see if you can pick it up all the way over there in the UK. If you had a large enough antenna.....<br /><br />I wonder if a polar heart strap sounds anything like morse code.<br /><br />Mike