ErgData: scan NFC tag instead of (new) PM5?

[wivku]

PM5's running hardware 620 or higher have NFC support.
https://www.concept2.com/service/softwa ... munication

Was wondering if there is a way for people with an older PM5 to get close to that experience.

Would it be possible to simulate the effect using a regular NFC tag (e.g. NTAG213 sticker)?
So: write the right data (PM5 serial number?) to the tag once, and then use the phone to scan that tag instead of the PM5.

Does anyone have the output when scanning NFC on a (hardware 620 or higher) PM5?
Interested in the NFC type and data.

[Citroen]

What are you trying to achieve?
If the PM5 doesn't have the hardware anything you attempt is 100% guaranteed to fail.

[Carl Watts]

What are you trying to achieve?
If the PM5 doesn't have the hardware anything you attempt is 100% guaranteed to fail.

I cannot work it out either, perhaps more info is required.

Perhaps he is trying to speed up making the Bluetooth connection between the PM5 and his phone ?

The RowedBiker App is automatic like ErgData used to be but that is obviously a problem in the gym environment where you have more than one PM5 within range so C2 changed ErgData. When I'm setting up for Zwift I have to make sure only one of the PM5's is turned on to start with.

NFC is very short range so swiping the phone past the PM5 makes the Bluetooth connection and eliminates the button press in ErgData in selecting the right phone ?

Even just putting the phone in the cradle on top of the monitor may be close enough to make the connection instant again ?

The hardware and software doesn't exist for the function.

[wivku]

What I am trying to achieve is the same as the NFC in newer models of PM5. From the link in original post:

to assist in connection. NFC can be used to connect your smart phone to the PM5 while using ErgData.

I am hoping I can avoid pressing Connect button in PM5 and selecting my PM5 in ergdata,
by scanning my own NFC tag (instead of scanning the NFC logo on the newer PM5).

[Carl Watts]

Just press the connect button, its hardly worth investing hours into trying to solve a "Problem" that takes an extra 2 seconds.

Certainly the least of your problems when your trying to get RowPro or Zwift working 100% reliably as well as ErgData.

I have seen what must be the NFC in the PM5, its a large plastic mounding that designed to hold a what is presumably a coil of wire. I guess if you really want that feature then buy a new PM5.

[wivku]

Of course fine if you think it is not worth it To each their own.
I was just wondering if there’s anyone who knows if it is possible, and/or what the scan output is on a newer PM5.

[Carl Watts]

Buying a new PM5 is likely to be your only option.

[Citroen]

Of course fine if you think it is not worth it To each their own.
I was just wondering if there’s anyone who knows if it is possible, and/or what the scan output is on a newer PM5.

How would you possibly retrofit that to an ancient PM5? The protocol is a closely guarded secret of Concept2 Inc.
You're wasting your time. Sell the your PM5 on Craigslist or eBay and upgrade to a factory fresh one.

[wivku]

"How to retrofit an ancient PM5"? Not planning to.
"Access protocol"? Not planning to.
"Buying a new PM is likely to be my only option"? I don't want to jump to conclusions.

Trying to find out (from people that have access to a newer PM5) if my assumption is right:
- the NFC functionality in the newer PM5 is nothing more than an NFC coil in the PM5 that has some data (PM5 ID?) stored to identify itself
- the Ergdata app could scan that NFC tag, or for that matter any NFC tag (of the same type) that has the same data stored

If that is the case, I want to see if I can write the expected data to my NFC sticker and scan that one with Ergdata app.

BTW. At the moment it seems Ergdata is not able to scan NFC at all?
The Ergdata app (iOS v1.4.4) does not show the NFC icon in the bottom right (as opposed to what is mentioned in the documentation), only Bluetooth.
https://www.concept2.com/service/softwa ... munication

Tap the N)) icon near the gear icon in the lower right corner.

[Carl Watts]

Don't want to be rude but there is no chance of implementing it in the older versions of PM5.

The PM5 is now onto its third hardware generation and each version has its own Firmware.

There is zero chance of turning an earlier gen into a later gen, just buy a new monitor if its that much of a problem.

If the latest PM5 and the latest version of ErgData do not do what you want then your screwed. I waited 10 years for someone to FINALLY implement something as simple as a total stroke counter and it finally arrived in ErgData.

Huge wasted power in both the PM5 and the phone, it could easily do a fitness test now if you enter the basics and wear a HR strap.

Personally I find it pays to have a second monitor anyway, you never know when you will need one, I have about 6 monitors now.

[wivku]

Also not trying to be rude here, but I have not seen an answer to my question.
(Instead: many assumptions and opinions. Nothing wrong with those, but not what I am looking for.)

For me too early to tell if it depends on specific PM5 firmware. Maybe yes, maybe no.
Firmware 168 mentions "NFC compatibility improvements", so it could be Ergdata NFC can only talk to specific firmware.
But could also be that Ergdata reads the NFC tag, which triggers Ergdata Bluetooth request to connect to that PM5, just like pressing the Connect button in Ergdata app.

Let's keep this topic open to see if anyone with access to newer PM5 can hold a NFC scanner app next to that PM5 and share result.
(and find out if it is just me where Ergdata app does not show NFC icon)

[Citroen]

Can you learn to use that "QUOTE" ["] button -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- up there ^^^^^^

Firmware 168 mentions "NFC compatibility improvements", so it could be Ergdata NFC can only talk to specific firmware.

You've finally got it. The latest PM5 has ANT, BTLE and NFC radio tranceivers.

Older ones do NOT have that.

[Tsnor]

What I am trying to achieve is the same as the NFC in newer models of PM5. From the link in original post:

to assist in connection. NFC can be used to connect your smart phone to the PM5 while using ErgData.

I am hoping I can avoid pressing Connect button in PM5 and selecting my PM5 in ergdata,
by scanning my own NFC tag (instead of scanning the NFC logo on the newer PM5).

I use a wire (OTG USB cable) instead of bluetooth. When I plug in the wire my kindle (standard android) automatically launches the Ergdata App, Pm5 auto connects to Ergdata and Ergdata tells the PM5 about my HR belt so that gets automatically connected. Takes a few seconds, but is all working by the time I have Polar Beat on my phone connected and my Spotify playlist running. So all I do is plug in the wire.

Older Pm5 does not have NFC hardware so you are not apt to succeed in making NFC work with it. Something has to tell the PM5 to connect, and that is the connect button.

[a669]

Does anyone have the output when scanning NFC on a (hardware 620 or higher) PM5?
Interested in the NFC type and data.

First, thanks for letting me know my new PM5 has NFC!

For your question; I just waved my Android running 'NFC Tools' app in front of my PM5 (serial number 431XXXXXX) and I got 3 Records:

Record 1
Format: NFC External (0x04)
Type: concept2.com:bleconnectinfo
Payload (40 bytes):
0x18 0xB6 0xCA 0x5C 0xEF 0xDC 0x01
PM5 431XXXXXX Row
0x00 0x00... (16 0's to make 40 bytes total (and the new lines are just for clarity, not in the data))

Record 2
Format: NFC External (0x04)
Type: android.com:pkg
Payload (20 bytes):
com.concept2.ergdata

Record 3
NFC Well Known (0x01)
Type: U
Payload (25 bytes):
0x00 https://www.concept2.com

(I did it twice to make sure the data was static)

ErgData does not need to be running so presumably Android reads this rather than ErgData and Record 2 tells Android which app wants it (it also implies that my phone told the PM5 it was an Android)

It's worth noting that even without NFC my ErgData will detect my PM5 when it's on the Main Menu so I only need to 'Connect' from ErgData -- this may be because I always have my PM5's wireless on.
So while a PM5 without NFC could not automatically switch on... you'd only need to switch it on and then an external NFC tag may be able to do the rest.

[wivku]

Excellent, thanks @a669!

Yes, any NFC scanner can read the data, including the NFC scanner functionality inside the Ergdata app. And the Ergdata app can then decide what to do with that data. E.g. connect to the PM5 with the serial ID in the first record.

According to the instructions the app should show the "N))" in the lower right, but on my (iPhone) that is no longer the case so testing will be difficult.
https://www.concept2.com/service/softwa ... munication