Amazon Fire Tablet and ErgData

[Euroman]

I struggled to find this information myself, so am posting here for reference.
I'm using a 5th generation Amazon Fire 7inch tablet to run the Concept2 ErgData app, the current 6th gen model is around £50.
There is now a link on the ErgData page to download the app direct to the Amazon Fire: http://www.concept2.com/service/software/ergdata
This Amazon Fire app runs on the standard, out of the box Fire and so provides a cost effective way to run ErgData, as well as sync workouts with other platforms, I use Training Peaks.
I'm using a PM5, so the Amazon Fire connects to the PM5 via Bluetooth, the app states that to connect to the PM3/4, to use the C2 USB cable.
My Garmin ANT+ HR monitor connects to the PM5 as usual and all data is captured by ErgData and synced manually to my C2 Logbook.

The Amazon Fire runs on Android, but as standard does not allow access to the Google Play Store to download apps. It is fairly straightforward to install Google Play on the Fire, which I have done and now can use other Android apps.

[Citroen]

If you want to run Ergdata on an Amazon device you'll need to ask Concept2 to publish the application on the Amazon Online store. Amazon keep their devices inside a walled garden and don't allow side-loading of *.APK files. It may look like Android but it's a very heavily modified version of Android.

You can get a cheapo Android tablet for £50 (in Argos or Currys).

[Euroman]

Thanks Citroen, the ErgData app is currently available from the Amazon App Store. The Amazon link on the C2 ErgData page will also provide the app once signed into your Amazon account and then it can be delivered to the appropriate device. To be honest I'm unable to remember which method I used to download and install the app as it shows up in my Amazon account and on the Fire tablet.

[valgozi]

Beware the £50 Android Tablets from Curry's may not support USB host and so may not be compatible with PM3/4's

Very interesting that the Amazon Fire can run the app, can anyone confirm that the 6th Gen fire works with PM3/4's with a USB host cable?

[Euroman]

My understanding is that internally the 5th & 6th gen fire tablets are very similar, not that I can confirm that the 5th gen works with the PM3/4's.
With Amazon you can easily return products if not satisfied.

The reason I chose the Fire over similarly priced tablets, is that the Fire has a better spec. Amazon hope you will buy more through their platform, so they are prepared to accept lower profit margins initially.

[valgozi]

Cool thanks for confirming that probably the same, I have asked on Amazon if 6th Gen has USB host.

Being able to get a tablet for £50 (sometimes £35) and a £5 cable makes my decision on getting the iConnect cable at £40 (inc UK delivery) plus lightning adaptor £10ish, or $57.99 (inc UK delivery) for the LiveROwing Connect ever harder.
When Autumn comes and I am off of the water it will be very difficult to decide, I must do something as the C2 logbook now has Strava sync

Yes I would love to save rowing workouts on to my iPhone but that does then run down my phone battery a lot especially with a long erg.
If only the Amazon Fire had built in GPS it would make an awesome OTW stroke meter with a 7 inch screen.

[Euroman]

My main motivation for getting the Fire was to sync with Training Peaks. I had been using my Garmin watch as that would sync via Garmin Connect but it would save a session as a single workout so less than ideal.

When the announcement was made that we could now sync with outside services I was delighted, right up to the point when I looked for the first workout on TP. That's when I discovered that the PM5 & C2 Utility doesn't upload stroke data. The stroke data is required to produce the Fit files used by the outside services and ErgData will record stroke data.

I don't know if this is of any use, I see in the feedback that someone is using it with 6th gen: https://www.amazon.co.uk/TECHGEAR-Adapt ... B00P1GCF42