Row/ski on Zwift

[itzamna]

I know this question comes more than a year ago after these posts, and don't know if addressed elsewhere: I've tried different Windows PCs to connect to my Android phone with both rowed biker and PainSled, either wired or wireless - Makes no difference: After 1-2min of Zwifting, Connection Failure stops the show. I go back and rest connection at both, the phone and Has anyone experience this problem? Thanks!

[fischmeister]

This happens to me from time to time, and it got worse with the latest Zwift updates. More and more cyclists also report this issue on the Zwift forum.

For me the most solid connection is via PainSled on iPhone. Fails about once every six months (with almost everyday use). Using VLC Player with InEars at the same time works fine too. But using Discord instead of VLC Player causes frequent Zwift connection failures (about once every 5 minutes).

When I need Discord (for Zwift TTT events) I use PainSled on my Android tablet (connected via USB to the PM5) and Discord on my iPhone. That works fine. When I connect the Android tablet via BLE instead of USB to the PM5 I get connection failures every now and then.

You seem to have an issue with the connection between your Android device and the PC. Do you run any other app that uses BLE on the Android device? Try to switch it off while using Zwift. Or maybe another BLE device is connected to your PC at the same time. Try to disconnect that. Or maybe the Android device is just too far away from the PC, or there are obstacles in the way. I'm afraid you'll have do do trial and error. Unfortunately there's no bomb-proof setup that works for everyone.

BTW: There's people reporting that they get Zwift connection failures when the microwave is being turned on ...

[Carl Watts]

Used Zwift for a while with RowedBiker on the C2 Erg and a new Android Samsung S20FE phone no real issues apart from the really annoying initial pairing due to the "Name" of my phone being to long so the Bluetooth connection did not come up during the search. Apparently there is a 10 digit maximum and the default name the phone chose to use was too long. Changed the name of my phone to just "S20FE" and it worked straight away after wasting hours with different computers, USB Bluetooth dongles etc. trying to get a Bluetooth connection to be "Seen" during the pairing.

No longer using the setup as I got given a WattBike to use and the Bluetooth connection is solid direct to the PC and also it has an automatic reconnect the second I power on the WattBike monitor.

The problem with the Erg is that the power curve doesn't translate well to Zwift. It needs to be non-linear not just a fixed boost percentage. You simply cannot do the sprints properly with the Erg but it is fun.

Personally I find Bluetooth a bit of a nightmare in general and I only use it as a last resort.

[hobbit]

I've meant to start a thread about the rowedbiker app for a while. I've been using it 5 or 6 days a week since mid-July when a running accident (partially paralyzed foot) brought me back to daily rowing. Motivation for long rows has always been a big problem for me, even with good music.

Being able to join in with all the fun on Zwift changed everything. I row an average 8k/day now.

I race up the legendary Alpe d'Huez (renamed Alpe du Zwift) once a week, which takes me 70min. Between the races, time trials, intermediate sprints and general message swapping, it is a really motivating atmosphere. Oh and you win ever fancier virtual gear as you clock up miles (silly, but fun).

- I have Zwift on my PC with a big screen.
- My Decathlon heart rate belt goes by Bluetooth to the PC/Zwift and by ANT+ to the PM5. To race on Zwift, you've got to have a heart monitor. It decreases cheating.
- The rowedbiker app ($10 is a great price) runs on my iPhone and sends corrected power and cadence to the PC/Zwift.
- I transfer my sessions to the Concept2 logbook every few days by a USB cable to the PC, as my iPhone is needed for rowedbiker and I don't think I can run Ergdata on the same phone simultaneously (right?).

A bit fiddly to get worked out, but it works flawlessly* and I can be ready to go in two minutes.

* Actually, it doesn't, I get a white screen when I fire up rowedbiker about one in two uses, which I solve by rebooting my iPhone. Irritating, but tolerable. All suggestions welcome.

I used my Garmin Venu2's heart rate until recently, but as written by others, it was unreliable. Bizarrely, the biggest problem was it getting stuck at resting heat rate for 5 minutes or so and then suddenly noticing that I was exercising and jumping to around 110bpm.

[Carl Watts]

Its okay on the rower but the power translation is no good if you like sprinting. It needs to be a non linear curve not a fixed percentage.

Overall Zwift is more fun on a trainer because I can nearly hit 1000W for a short sprint, even on a dumb trainer with no gears where as 550W was my limit on the Rower.

For just a bit of fun, RowedBiker is a good interface.

[Claudius]

I know the problem. It's not worth throwing away old smartphones. I do not have this problem with my Galaxy S7. I have more frequent connection problems with my Galaxy S10. I don't know why. The Galaxy S5 is also quite stable. I find Carl's statements about sprinting interesting - because I am also a bad sprinter But I do not sprint in the segments - because it is not me who sits on the beautiful Tron bike. I'm the buddy who supplies my own fantasy figure with wattage from the RowErg. A glitch in the matrix. My last published chapter about our own fantasy story below in the link. Hey Carl there is a picture of my RowPro Avatar included. For the old days. There is no choice if one creates fantasy. It is fantasy that decides to rise within oneself.

https://open.substack.com/pub/clarcarb/ ... medium=web

[Carl Watts]

To be honest the Erg doesn't translate well to Zwift for the sprints so I switched to a WattBike a couple of months ago.

Totally different to the Erg, much easier to put the power out and no timing in the breathing required. Easier for me not shifting my weight up and down the slide and you can have a wider workout range, it was almost impossible to keep my HR below about 130 on the Erg, you can cycle along at 100.

Managed to hit 1025W peak power and qualified for the WattBike kit (Shirt/Shorts) without even getting off the seat.

Zwift is amazing with thousands online 24/7.