Garmin watch recommendation.

[bigsimon123]

Hi all, bought an entry level Forerunber 55, but don't like it as it's too small ( looks like a pea on a barrel ) !

Don't like the 165, or 265, but have my eye on the Epix gen 2 ( £320 ). Also looked at the new instinct 3 (£420 ) but doesn't have touchscreen

Any other models which have large dial, and touchscreen you can recommend?

Thank you so much .

[JaapvanE]

I'm extremely happy with the Epix Gen 2, as it connects well to the PM5. This allows me to record the rowing session including breathing rate etc.

[bigsimon123]

Sweet, how long have you been using it ?

[JaapvanE]

Sweet, how long have you been using it ?

About 2 years now. It works well, as it connects to the PM5 effortlessly, and it tracks recovery data well.

[HornetMaX]

I have an Instinct 2 X Solar, because I wanted something that I don't have to charge every 2 days.

Happy about it, but it depends on the usage / features you value. For example, touchscreen for me is totally not valuable.

[Sakly]

Sweet, how long have you been using it ?

About 2 years now. It works well, as it connects to the PM5 effortlessly, and it tracks recovery data well.

Short question: do you connect via ergzone or ergdata as well, when connected with your EPIX?
I do not get power data from the PM5 on my EPIX, when ergzone is connected the same time (or at least only very few data points, if any).

[JaapvanE]

Short question: do you connect via ergzone or ergdata as well, when connected with your EPIX?
I do not get power data from the PM5 on my EPIX, when ergzone is connected the same time (or at least only very few data points, if any).

I know that the PM5 is limited in its BLE connections to 1, so might that be the cause? I'm normally connected via Ant+ to my Epix and I don't miss any data. Usually EXR is connected via Bluetooth.

See https://www.concept2.com/blog/connectin ... ces-to-pm5

[Sakly]

Short question: do you connect via ergzone or ergdata as well, when connected with your EPIX?
I do not get power data from the PM5 on my EPIX, when ergzone is connected the same time (or at least only very few data points, if any).

I know that the PM5 is limited in its BLE connections to 1, so might that be the cause? I'm normally connected via Ant+ to my Epix and I don't miss any data. Usually EXR is connected via Bluetooth.

See https://www.concept2.com/blog/connectin ... ces-to-pm5

Bluetooth is a 1:1 connection, I know. As soon as any device uses BT, this connection is blocked, but Ant+ sends out data to any device listening, so the EPIX can get this data regardless of BT usage.
The connection to EPIX is done through Sensors menu of the watch and it finds the PM5 as "Trainer - <ID>". I row or ski my piece as usual, track logbook via ergzone, but the watch does not receive (or only very few data points) power data in the training session. If I do not connect via ergzone, power data is available, tried that in a small 1min-session.
It seems that the Ant+ data is skewed by the BT connection or specifically the connection to ergzone, if you don't have that issue with EXR.
Will try with ergdata to see, if it's the same behavior.

[HornetMaX]

Sweet, how long have you been using it ?

About 2 years now. It works well, as it connects to the PM5 effortlessly, and it tracks recovery data well.

Short question: do you connect via ergzone or ergdata as well, when connected with your EPIX?
I do not get power data from the PM5 on my EPIX, when ergzone is connected the same time (or at least only very few data points, if any).

I tested this recently and it works but it seems your HRM must be connected to the PM5 via ANT, not via BT. What I do:

1. Wear HRM and turn it on (if it has on/off button).
2. PM5 turned on, connect your HRM via ANT to the PM5.
3. Go into the activity main screen on the Garmin watch, ready to start the activity. For the Indoor Rowing activity you'll see a small rower icon: if it's not blinking it means the PM5 is connected. Same for the heart icon and the HRM.
4. Connect ErgData (or ErgZone) to the PM5 as usual.
5. Strat the activity on the Garmin and start rowing.

Note: you don't get power data from a SkiErg (no matter what).

[Sakly]

About 2 years now. It works well, as it connects to the PM5 effortlessly, and it tracks recovery data well.

Short question: do you connect via ergzone or ergdata as well, when connected with your EPIX?
I do not get power data from the PM5 on my EPIX, when ergzone is connected the same time (or at least only very few data points, if any).

I tested this recently and it works but it seems your HRM must be connected to the PM5 via ANT, not via BT. What I do:

1. Wear HRM and turn it on (if it has on/off button).
2. PM5 turned on, connect your HRM via ANT to the PM5.
3. Go into the activity main screen on the Garmin watch, ready to start the activity. For the Indoor Rowing activity you'll see a small rower icon: if it's not blinking it means the PM5 is connected. Same for the heart icon and the HRM.
4. Connect ErgData (or ErgZone) to the PM5 as usual.
5. Strat the activity on the Garmin and start rowing.

Note: you don't get power data from a SkiErg (no matter what).

Will try that. I assume HRM is always connected via ant+, otherwise BT connection with an app wouldn't work? Or does PM5 provide separate BT connections for HRM and any app?

Don't get why a SkiErg doesn't provide power data. In the end it's the same 'profile' than a rowErg. Really confusion this data stuff

[HornetMaX]

Will try that. I assume HRM is always connected via ant+, otherwise BT connection with an app wouldn't work? Or does PM5 provide separate BT connections for HRM and any app?

You can connect an HRM to PM5 via BT at the same time as ErgData/ErgZone.
I even tried switching ANT off on my HRM and I didn't have any problem in connecting both the HRM and the app to the PM5.

Don't get why a SkiErg doesn't provide power data. In the end it's the same 'profile' than a rowErg. Really confusion this data stuff

Yeah, it's frustrating, there's no difference essentially between the two activities (indoor rowing vs indoor skiing) or between the two devices (RowErg PM5 vs SkiErg PM5). I understand SkiErg is not big in terms of users, but ...

In any case, even when it works (i.e. on a RowErg) there are a few issues, especially when doing intervals.

I tried to contact support multiple times but it's a nightmare: Garmin tells you to see with c2, c2 says "Hey you're using ErgZone, try ErgData", ErgZone says it's not their fault, ErgData does the same.

My latest issue was not even related to intervals (simple 30min session, wrong total work when activity comes from c2 logbook): I didn't manage to go past garmin 1st level support that just said "You're right, but if you connect your watch to the PM5 and you get the right number, we're good".
I'm 99% sure it's just a silly error: total work is just total time x avg power, and these two numbers are correctly received by Garmin.
I just gave up (wasn't a big deal anyway, the total work number is probably not used in any relevant metric).

[Sakly]

You can connect an HRM to PM5 via BT at the same time as ErgData/ErgZone.
I even tried switching ANT off on my HRM and I didn't have any problem in connecting both the HRM and the app to the PM5.

OK, will give that a try explicitly.

Yeah, it's frustrating, there's no difference essentially between the two activities (indoor rowing vs indoor skiing) or between the two devices (RowErg PM5 vs SkiErg PM5). I understand SkiErg is not big in terms of users, but ...

One would assume both devices push the same data out on their Ant+, but probably they are not.

In any case, even when it works (i.e. on a RowErg) there are a few issues, especially when doing intervals.

I tried to contact support multiple times but it's a nightmare: Garmin tells you to see with c2, c2 says "Hey you're using ErgZone, try ErgData", ErgZone says it's not their fault, ErgData does the same.

My latest issue was not even related to intervals (simple 30min session, wrong total work when activity comes from c2 logbook): I didn't manage to go past garmin 1st level support that just said "You're right, but if you connect your watch to the PM5 and you get the right number, we're good".
I'm 99% sure it's just a silly error: total work is just total time x avg power, and these two numbers are correctly received by Garmin.
I just gave up (wasn't a big deal anyway, the total work number is probably not used in any relevant metric).

When you are talking about logbook pushing the session into Garmin, this is not what I want, as the watch won't recognize the session in the same way.
Best case: watch receives Ant+ trainer info from PM5 and logs it as own session. PM5 connects to ergdata, ergzone, EXR, whatever app and this pushes the session into logbook. No connection from logbook to Garmin.

I don't know what data is pushed by Ant+ at all, but the Garmin rowing activity "calculates" different stroke number, average pace and meters at the end of the session.

[HornetMaX]

One would assume both devices push the same data out on their Ant+, but probably they are not.

Yes, the PM5 of a SkiErg can surely push the same data. Just Garmin being unmotivated to do what it takes.

When you are talking about logbook pushing the session into Garmin, this is not what I want, as the watch won't recognize the session in the same way.
Best case: watch receives Ant+ trainer info from PM5 and logs it as own session. PM5 connects to ergdata, ergzone, EXR, whatever app and this pushes the session into logbook. No connection from logbook to Garmin.

Yes, I know. The rant about the issues of 3rd party activities was just to highlight that even a trivial issue is a pain to report to Garmin support.

I don't know what data is pushed by Ant+ at all, but the Garmin rowing activity "calculates" different stroke number, average pace and meters at the end of the session.

That's why I said that even when it works, it has issues: it does not start/stop automatically (minor, but impractical), it doesn't handle rest intervals properly (that's big, it screws all the averages like pace or SPM), ... There are other things that are computed differently but usually they are less of an issue (e.g. Calories/Hr).