RowPro discovery

[Zuman]

I like RowPro for its ability to easily program and save my workouts with their varied intervals. However, I've never found it very reliable; often, the more complex workouts wouldn't automatically upload to my log, and I've sometimes had it freeze in the middle of a row.
Last week I couldn't get RowPro to connect to my PM5, so I replaced the USB cable with one I borrowed from my stereo and it worked again. But I decided to order a USB-A to USB Type C cable from Amazon.
That cable has transformed RowPro for me. It connects quickly and reliably and syncs without fail. Even the "Keystone Kops" catch-up that the on-screen rower would often exhibit when transitioning from a slow to a hard interval has smoothed out.
I'm not an IT guy, but it seems to me that RowPro and the PM5 love the USB-C connection. If your PC has a USB-C port it may be worth checking out.

[Carl Watts]

Just coincidence really because the RowPro server had major issues for a whole week.

Most of the problems at the users end are down to graphics card issues. Personally I'm always blaming the Windows 10 updates all the time as whenever there is a huge update, there are RowPro issues. You need a really good graphics card that is still getting Windows 10 driver updates. Digital Rowing recommends Nvidia as they have the least amount of reported problems, so I switched to them a couple of years ago now. You also need a Window 10 native PC now, not some old bit of junk like I used to resurrect from the garbage bin and try and use.

I'm really hopeful that Digital Rowing finally get the iOS and Android version working on your phone really soon, even if its only in 2D graphics mode because its the hardware problems that stop people using it. It simply has to work reliably or its a no go.

I just threw some more ideas at Digital Rowing the other day like live streaming the online rows that anyone would be able to watch in 4K on your TV if you want really good graphics but just keep the basics and the data on your phone now.

My new phone doesn't even fit very well into the PM5 phone holder, you need to stretch the plastic way to far so they need a bigger version.

The time lag in the rowing tech is really disappointing from a user standpoint. Concept 2 could do a whole lot more to support that side of the business besides just providing hardware for the "Gym environment". If Digital Rowing got even half the support of Zwift it would be an incredible product by now.

[kati83]

I think they just fixed something.

I was struggling to connect to my PM5 for the last 2 weeks. Tried to update the firmware as per their website. Nothing.
Two days ago miraculously fixed itself and now I can connect with no trouble at all.

[Carl Watts]

RowPro has just released a new version today V5.7.6

Just downloaded and tried it with a 100m test row online, worked no problems.