Utility not working with PM5.

[harrietkoorn]

It looks like the latest version of Utility isn't working with the new PM5. The program says it's looking for PM3 of PM4, and dit not see the USB-stick of the PM5. (My computer recognizes the usb-stick)
Hopefully there will be an update of Utility soon.

[Hollywood_Kuma]

Welcome to the forum!

That's disappointing if the utility hasn't been updated and tested to ensure that it works with a USB stick.

You must be one of the very first customers to have received a new PM5 equipped machine. I ordered mine today and C2 told me it was likely to be despatched on October 1st.

When I get my new erg, I'll test out the utility functionality with USB.

[Citroen]

I'd expect V6.56 (or possibly V7.1) to be made available as soon as the PM5s start shipping to customers.

Monitor firmware updates for PM5 are going to be done using the USB stick (loaded with a firmware file using the utility) so there's got to be a new version.

[Carl Watts]

It looks like the latest version of Utility isn't working with the new PM5. The program says it's looking for PM3 of PM4, and dit not see the USB-stick of the PM5. (My computer recognizes the usb-stick)
Hopefully there will be an update of Utility soon.

Do you want to post some information on the PM5 like what the new "LogCard" format looks like now its USB.

Really would like to know what features it has that the PM4 doesn't that are useful.

[Hollywood_Kuma]

@Carl,

In case it's of interest, the PM5 manuals are up on the C2 site:

http://www.concept2.com/service/monitors/pm5/manuals

I took a look at these because I also wanted to know what the new monitor can do. A few things are worth noting:

>> The USB needs to be FAT/FAT32 formatted (i.e. not NTFS), and I think any old USB drive will basically do.
>> The manual says the USB drive can store up to 1,000 workouts, which is much more than the data-constrained log cards.

>> There are two USB ports - one for the USB drive, and one more for general connectivity (in the same way as we have
>> on the PM3/PM4).

>> It seems the PM3 will be discontinued. The US C2 site says that PM3 equipped Model D ergs will only be available
>> while stocks last. Although I'd be surprised if they sell many machines with PM3s, as the PM5 option costs only $50 more.

It doesn't look like much has changed on the new monitor ... I think the PM5 essentially does the same as the PM3/PM4, with the main differences being that it supports Bluetooth, has a backlight, and uses USB sticks in place of the log cards of old. Polar support and the rechargeable batteries are gone. Aside from this, it doesn't look as though there is anything obviously different in terms of the displays, menus and so forth.

I have a new Model D erg with PM5 on order, and I received an email from C2 today telling me that it is shipping early and will be delivered in the next five days. I can hopefully then help to answer specific questions that you may have once it's arrived and I've had chance to play around with it.

I'll let you know when the man from UPS knocks at my door.

[Hollywood_Kuma]

@harrietkoorn

Harriet,

A question, suggestion, and possible workaround for you. Have you tried connecting the PM5 to your PC and seeing if the USB data stick can be read that way?

In other words have you tried:

USB Stick == inserted into ==> PM5 monitor == connected via USB cable to ==> PC

Rather than:

USB Stick == inserted into ==> PC

I see that there are two USB ports on the PM5 - one for the USB stick and one for general connectivity.

My guess is that the C2 utility, which always had the ability to connect to the performance monitors, will talk happily to a PM5 monitor, but not (at least at the moment) to a USB stick directly inserted into your PC. I don't think the C2 utility is looking for anything on a USB stick, and will not do so until the software is updated.

I hope this suggestion is of help, and would like to know if this works for you. It's not ideal (and won't be for me either) but it is a workaround until the software is updated I think.

Concept 2 emailed me today to say that my new Model D erg with PM5 will be with me in the next five days. When it arrives, I will look into this in more depth, and post again.

[Citroen]

I'd expect to find a *.LCB file on the USB stick that can be read by the Utility.

[harrietkoorn]

@Hollywood_Kuma

Thank you for the suggestion.

I've tried it, but this also doesn't work.
The PM5 also has internal memory in the monitor itself, so I've also tried that. I rowed without the USB-stick inserted, so the PM5 itself saved the training. Then I've connected the PM5 with my laptop, but that doesn't work either.

(Sorry for my bad English. It's not my native language.)

[Citroen]

What files have been written to F:\Concept2 on your USB stick?

[harrietkoorn]

After emailing a lot with the (dutch) service centre of Concept2, (first asking me why I want to use the Utility...) I received the link to an updated version of the Utility software.
It's version 6.73 and it's now working with the USB-stick of the PM5.

It's not on the website yet, but here's the link: Software.concept2.com/p5/Concept2UtilitySetup.exe

[harrietkoorn]

It's not an official version yet.

"There are some issues (bugs) that we are working through with the Concept2 Utility before we release it to the general public as a recommended update.
Please note that if you connect your PM5, it may prompt you to update the monitor to a new version of firmware which has not been released yet. This includes additional features, bug fixes, and corrections to several translation issues. This firmware is also “In testing”."

I did not try to connect the PM5 directly to my computer, so I don't know what will happen If you do.

[C2Trevor]

Version 6.55 of the Concept2 Utility is not compatible with the PM5. We are currently working on the new release of the software which will work for PM3, PM4 and PM5 monitors. We expect to have the software released in the coming weeks and will update our website as soon as it is available. In the meantime, please feel free to contact us directly with any concerns or questions you may have about your PM5.

Trevor

[Hollywood_Kuma]

@HarrietKoorn

Hi Harriet,

It seems you tried all the things that I would have tried first, before the C2 people gave you the 6.73 beta.

I also received the 6.73 beta, which I played around with, but which I haven't tried with a PM5 as my new machine won't arrive until September 29th.

It's good to hear the 6.73 beta is working for you. I tried it with my logcard reader, and they refused to work together. I need to be able to upload workouts from both logcards and USB sticks as my rowing club uses PM3 (logcard) monitors, while my home machine will use a PM5 (USB stick) monitor. Until there is a stable release that can cope with both media, I'll put the 6.73 beta on my laptop, and use that for USB stick workouts, and keep the existing utility on my desktop, so that I can upload from logcards as before.

It's good to hear that the 6.73 beta is working with the logcards. It seems the C2 guys are working hard and making progress.

One final point - I definitely wouldn't connect the PM5 to your computer with any earlier version of the utility (as C2 say such versions are incompatible) or with the beta software (which we know is "buggy"). You don't want to "brick" your new monitor, and have a machine that you can't use.

[Carl Watts]

My hope is that Concept 2 have not released a monitor that can be "Bricked".

I had a few PM3's over the years stuck in the loader screen due to people pulling out the USB cable before the update was complete. I have to say however that the first update utility to V101 was not good and sometimes threw error dialogue boxes that said to restart your PC that you had to ignore and USB buffer errors etc that would just confuse people. The monitors were a write off, could not recover them.

One would hope that with the external USB you could now run some sort of "Recovery" mode from software on this saved from your PC that if all else fails could be used to get the PM5 back if it lost its marbles. Essentially get the PM5 to boot from the USB, the same way you can use it to boot your PC.

[raotor]

Probably not going to be a popular opinion here but I have to say how shocked I am that Concept 2 can release to the public as evidenced in this thread a new PM that has no official Concept 2 Utility support. I know if I had received such a new PM that I would be very disappointed to find that I could not off load my workouts right away and upload them to the C2 log book.

I would have thought that the development of the support software for the new PM should have at least reached a functional release state and general availability BEFORE shipping of PM5 equipped machines began. I would also imagine that the development of the PM5 has been in progress for quite some time prior to general announcement of the new product and in that time that parallel software development and intensive bug testing would have been underway for several months in advance of general release. So, to hear that C2 are currently working on the C2 utility software is rather disappointing from a professionalism perspective.