Garmin watch and PM5

[ericallenboyd]

Wondering if anyone uses a garmin watch with the concept 2? I have seen the list of compatible watches but wanted to see if anyone uses one. I would love to use one to upload data to garmin connect and was hoping someone who has one can give me some advice.

How well does it work?
Do you have to pair each time?
When uploaded to gc do get all data that you see on the pm4 including strokes, watts, speed, distance and calories?
Anything i missed that you all want to let me know?

Thanks in advance.

[Livio Livius]

How well does it work? --> Good
Do you have to pair each time? --> Yes
When uploaded to gc do get all data that you see on the pm4 including strokes, watts, speed, distance and calories? --> I upload to TP, no issues all data are included.
Anything i missed that you all want to let me know? Anoying that C2 does not export FIT files with all data. Only a limited Garmin watches work with C2.

[ericallenboyd]

What one you have?? Thanks for the details.

[Livio Livius]

FR210

[ericallenboyd]

Appreciate it. Wondering if the fr60 works the same as i have a vivoactive and just want something for the rower. Might worth a try as it is around $20-$30 on ebay.

[c2scott]

A lot of the newer watches run the ConnectIQ watch operating system from Garmin which allows 'apps' to be loaded. At the present time none of these watches will connect with the PM4 or PM5 due to several reasons including some technical issues with the protocol and more importantly there are no apps written. I would invite any ConnectIQ developers interested in making a ConnectIQ app to contact me.

Until then, I suggest the older watches such as FR50 60 70 210 310. You can check compatibility on the www.thisisant.com site - just select the Concept2 machine you have for a list of compatible watches.

- Scott

[ericallenboyd]

I will take my chances on a cheap fr60 abd hopefully someone does something with the connect iq down the road since i have a vivoactive.

[jakescheck]

@ericallenboyd: I know it's only been 10 days but did you pick up an fr60 and is it working with your PM5 (are you using a PM5)?

@c2scott: just curious if you can comment on the compatibility between an fr60 and PM5? On http://www.thisisant.com it shows the fr60 as compatible with the PM4, but doesn't list it under the PM5. Did something change in the implementation of ANT on the PM5 that made the fr60 incompatible, or is it just untested and will likely work? I'm looking for a way to get detailed skierg data (heart rate, cadence, pace and power) up to my log on TrainingPeaks. I've been poking around with a demo of RowPro for this purpose and been finding it kind of finnicky, and my Garmin Fenix3 isn't compatible with the PM5 as you've noted.

Thanks!!

[Wundej]

A lot of the newer watches run the ConnectIQ watch operating system from Garmin which allows 'apps' to be loaded. At the present time none of these watches will connect with the PM4 or PM5 due to several reasons including some technical issues with the protocol and more importantly there are no apps written. I would invite any ConnectIQ developers interested in making a ConnectIQ app to contact me.

Until then, I suggest the older watches such as FR50 60 70 210 310. You can check compatibility on the http://www.thisisant.com site - just select the Concept2 machine you have for a list of compatible watches.

- Scott

I'm hoping someone is interested in trying to get this sorted with the newer watches. I really want to buy a FR 620/630 or Fenix3. They do so much for running and biking that if they could grab the data from my C2 it would be a no brainer for me. This is just one of those things that shouldn't be an issue, especially when it worked I'm the old models.

[Livio Livius]

FR235 should be compatible according to the site. I wonder why the FR230 is than not compatible. As the only difference between the two is optical HR by the 235 compared to HR belt for the 230.

[ericallenboyd]

I am using my wifes 910xt for now with a pm4. Working well.

[Wundej]

FR235 should be compatible according to the site. I wonder why the FR230 is than not compatible. As the only difference between the two is optical HR by the 235 compared to HR belt for the 230.

I kind of have a feeling that is mainly for heart rate, but maybe not?

[Wundej]

I'm trying to get a better understanding of what my options are. I have a model D with the pm5.

I want to grab a cheap Garmin watch to capture my rowing workouts for Garmin Connect since I'm going to be getting a FR630 at some point in time for my other training activities. I know that doesn't work at the moment so I just wanted to understand a bit better how the connections will work.

I'm assuming that all of the forerunner models listed in some of the other threads (210,610, etc) will work with the pm5 and all capture the same data? A lot of the discussion is around the pm4 and just wanted to make sure the pm5 still works.

How is heart rate monitored when using the watch? I'm guessing I'll get a 210 or 610. I have a polar h7 that I use for my hrm and connect that to the pm5 and then use the ergdata app on my iPhone to log my workouts for now. Would I still connect the h7 to the pm5 and then the watch to the pm5?
Can you use ergdata at the same time as a watch?

Sorry for all the questions! Just want to make sure I get the right thing and don't waste my $. Really wish there was an easy way to get the 630 to work.

[GrantM]

Wundej

See here, perhaps the answer, just not the one you want to hear.
http://www.c2forum.com/viewtopic.php?p=240277#p240277

9) [edit] Garmin ANT+ Watches are NOT currently enabled in the PM5 firmware; however this is also 'on the list' of things to do.

Perhaps a low priority?

Also here with some more detail of the connections.
http://www.c2forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=79978
I have a Fenix watch and cant pair that to the PM5.
So all I get on Garmin connect is HR data from the strap, with time and calories depending on the profile I have made.
I use the HRM run strap, which pairs seamlessly via ANT connection to the PM5. If using boatcoach was pairing that to my android tab with a (paid extra) Bluetooth connection. All data saved in boatcoach.

Possibly best info here.
https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.ph ... oor-rowing

[Wundej]

@ericallenboyd: I know it's only been 10 days but did you pick up an fr60 and is it working with your PM5 (are you using a PM5)?

@c2scott: just curious if you can comment on the compatibility between an fr60 and PM5? On http://www.thisisant.com it shows the fr60 as compatible with the PM4, but doesn't list it under the PM5. Did something change in the implementation of ANT on the PM5 that made the fr60 incompatible, or is it just untested and will likely work? I'm looking for a way to get detailed skierg data (heart rate, cadence, pace and power) up to my log on TrainingPeaks. I've been poking around with a demo of RowPro for this purpose and been finding it kind of finnicky, and my Garmin Fenix3 isn't compatible with the PM5 as you've noted.

Thanks!!

Going to bump this and see if we can get some feedback from Scott. Based on the link in GrantM's post it looks like PM5 did not have ANT+ enabled yet, but was in the development plan as of last year.

Scott, is it possible to get an idea where this is at the moment? Do you by any chance have a list of features and their targeted firmware releases? I completely understand development life cycles but it would just be great to see if this is something we could expect to see enabled on the PM5 for the older Garmin watches. Ideally a connection to the new watches with the IQ OS would be ideal. There are a lot of posts with interest for that integration. Those using the c2 for a cross training tool are often going to have one of the Garmin watches and this definitely would be a selling point for many.

Any details you could provide would be appreciated. If there isn't a specific plan for support I'll probably just get a FR 630, and hope something gets worked out in the future. If the older watches will be supported soon, I may just get a 210/610.