New Concept2 Utility and Firmware for PM5

[c2scott]

For owners of PM5 for the Indoor Rower and the SkiErg, Concept2 is pleased to release new firmware with both bug fixes and new features. One big new feature is "Calorie" based workouts. If you have had problems with your monitor (especially "USB Overload" issues), please consider trying the new firmware.

In addition, Concept2 has been working on a new and friendlier Concept2 Utility, version 7.00 and above. It should handle high resolution and touch screens better and should be much more usable with screen readers for the visually impaired. However, not all features in the 'old' Concept2 Utility are currently available but look for updates in the near future. I am very interested in feedback from users -- if possible please use the new "feedback" button inside the app. The new Concept2 Utility can be found here.

Please note that the old Concept2 Utility does not support the PM5 new Calorie workouts. If you use Calorie workouts, please do not use any Concept2 Utility version less than 7. Reason: the old Concept2 Utility version 6 and below will not recognize them as valid workouts and will likely delete them.

- Scott

[Balkan boy]

Thanks for the news, Scott.
Will this update offer same functionality of the ErgData for the USB data logging?

It doesn't work for me, though.
New C2 Utility doesn't recognize anything on the USB stick.
Messages I got are:
'No workouts found on USB flash drive'
'There was a problem writing firmware files to your USB flash drive'
'Would you like to replace UserStatic.bin with a default file?'
'Unable to repair or validate log data'

I would have used the Feedback button, but it only opens an email client I don't use and I can't see the actual email address.

I downgraded to the Utility 6992 and the USB stick works.

[c2scott]

Thanks for the feedback.

The new Concept2 Utility 7.00 and higher does upload split data, but not stroke-by-stroke data.

You can copy/paste the contents from the email client you don't use into whatever email client you do use and send it. The diagnostic file that was already sent may be helpful, but I'll need the number from the email to find your specific report. I also need to know what OS version you are using, and maybe sending a ZIP file with the contents of your USB flash drive may be helpful.

I've not yet seen any of the symptoms you have described, but I will record the problem in our bug database and investigate as best I can.

[Citroen]

It doesn't work for me. I can't change the name of the Logbook.CSV file to 2016-05.csv.
I can't take my daily backup of my logcard to a 2016-05.lcb file.

Haven't tried it with a PM5, yet.

Back to 6.992.

[vepjan]

Great update! I know it is a beta, so some limitations are expected.

Works:
I am able to upload interval/split data when I connect my PM4 directly to the computer.

Does not work:
Unfortunately, I cannot connect any of the readers Omnikey 3121 or 3021 to the utility
(they both work with version 6.992). The utility tells me that there are no devices connected
in the case of 3121. When using 3021 it sees that devices are connected, but it does not read the data
from the card (and therefore cannot upload).

[c2scott]

All: While I don't mind the responses here on the forum, the best way to report is using the 'feedback' button where we will get some additional information about what happened and your computer's environment. If you don't use a Win/Mac email client (ie you use webmail), copy and paste the draft email into your webmail; this gives us the filename of the diagnostic information to match up with your issue.
Vepjan: Yes, I just noted the reader problems. I know we had tested this in an earlier internal alpha copy, not sure what broke. It's logged as an issue for resolution. Thanks for the note.
Remisture: To add stroke data the additional data would need to be written to the flash drive; this would have to be added in a future firmware version but this is not planned at present.
Citroen: The Omnikey & Athena readers seem to be a problem (we're on it), but you should be able to change the file name/location by clicking the green 'browse' button to the left of the filename.
Balkan boy: it would be great to get the contents of your flash drive and more information about your environment, and clicking on the 'feedback' button.

[lcantey]

Remisture: To add stroke data the additional data would need to be written to the flash drive; this would have to be added in a future firmware version but this is not planned at present.

This part is disappointing. Why is that? I had thought that the same data that Ergdata captures and uploads (on iOS and in Android beta last I heard) would be available in the future when using the Concept2 utility.

It also seems like that data would be useful in any data exporting going forward?

[Balkan boy]

Remisture: To add stroke data the additional data would need to be written to the flash drive; this would have to be added in a future firmware version but this is not planned at present.

This part is disappointing. Why is that? I had thought that the same data that Ergdata captures and uploads (on iOS and in Android beta last I heard) would be available in the future when using the Concept2 utility.

It also seems like that data would be useful in any data exporting going forward?

I would also appreciate this functionality if and when it comes.
Using ErgData via Bluetooth drains the battery of the phone and the PM5, and it can get fiddly when wearing gloves.

[KevinConcept2]

Still no ANT+ FE-C support?

[c2scott]

ANT+FE-C is fully implemented in v22.
To use on a per-session basis: More/Turn Wireless On/Or connect with ANT+.
For detailed documentation for developers, or to turn this transmission on automatically when the monitor turns on, please contact me directly for information.
The major new features and bug fixes are listed in two places: 1) on the firmware web pages on our web site; and 2) using the old Concept2 Utility - hover the cursor over the firmware download files and a 'tooltip' should appear with the release notes.

[KevinConcept2]

ANT+FE-C is fully implemented in v22

Beautiful. Now we just need to get the app written.

Since it does appear that Garmin allows devs to save off standard data types into a FIT file, this seems like an easy next step for Concept2. Any status there?

[rosid]

Thanks for the new utility.
If I delete all workouts from the log (even the historical ones from last season), will I be able to reupload the workouts with split data?
Thanks in advance.