ErgData or PM5 for HR strap.

[RDL]

Hi all,

Due to receive our RowErg on Saturday and trying to figure things out in anticipation so we can get off to the best start from the off.

Both my partner and me will be using the rower and have both downloaded ErgData ready to keep our respective training logged.

My question for now is regarding heart rate chest straps and which is best for connecting.

I will be using my Garmin HRM Pro and my partner will be using her Polar H10. Both are capable of Ant+ or BT connection.

I notice that the PM5 can have the HR strap connected directly and also that ErgData has the ability to have the HR strap connected.

What’s the best way forward?

Should we just both connect or respective straps to our ErgData apps and will this also transmit to the PM5 or should we connect to the PM5 and equally will this then transmit to ErgData?

Can the PM5 remember more than one HR strap?

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

[Dangerscouse]

Welcome to the forum. I don't know if it can remember more than one strap, but it's really easy to connect anyway so if it doesn't remember both, or either of them, it's not an issue.

I always connect it every time I row and I use ANT+ as I use Bluetooth headphones, mp3 player and Ergzone on my phone

[wpuk]

Connect your HR strap to the PM5, then start up the Erg app and connect it to your PM5, then select your rowing session.

Any other sequence of order seems to upset the Erg app.

I think the general advice is to never connect your HR strap/monitor straight to the Erg app.

I'm using the H10 and have only 1 Bluetooth channel switch on and the Ant switched off.

I also use the Polar flow app and set it to save to the belt for each session.

[RDL]

Cheers both.

I was going to ask if there was a ‘best’ routine to connecting everything up.

I’ll go with HR to PM5 then for both straps and then connect ErgData last before starting any session.

[Ernits]

When you connect your HR strap to PM5, it sends the HR data to ErgData. No need to pair the strap to ErgData itself.

[Carl Watts]

As already stated above you connect the HR strap to the PM5 first.

I then turn the Bluetooth on on the phone and then open ErgData and if Ergdata has been setup correctly it automatically prompts you to connect to the PM5 with the right wireless ID.

The Bluetooth connection is solid, especially if you then put the phone in a cradle that sits on top of the PM5.

ANT+ HR is great, you can go for a last second bathroom stop before a row somewhere else in the house without having lost the connection on your return.

[Tsnor]

for Polar H10 Only, download polar BEAT, connect H10 to BOTH pm5 and Beat. Beat gives you a different HR view that is nicer than ergdata or PM5 -- history graphs with HR zones. And it does this without effecting PM5/Ergdata because it has multiple bluetooth connections.

Also get Polar Flow. It does aggregation and analysis of the data captured by polar beat.

polar beat/flow are free. They unlock extra function when you sync a polar belt like the h10.

[RDL]

Thanks for the continued and extra input.

My partner who uses the Polar H10 already has Flow/Beat for her other training/logging needs. TBH she isn’t really a data geek like me(!) so for her it’s more a case of logging which the c2logbook should be fine for.