PM5 Feature Request - Wireless default on

[hand]

Home user here with what I suspect is a pretty common use case - I connect my (SkiErg) PM5 to my phone (iOS) wirelessly to track and record my workouts with ErgData.

Frustratingly, this connection requires multiple steps to setup every single time I workout:

1) Turn on PM5
2) Select More Options
3) Select Turn Wireless On
4) Open Erg Data on Phone
5) Set up Workout

While I understand that defaulting wireless on carries a battery life penalty and likely not appropriate for gym environments, It sure would be nice for home users with their own machines to have either a) the option to default wireless on, or b) a "home use" specific firmware version that defaults wireless on.

Desired experience as follows:

1) Open ErgData
2) Turn on PM5 (wireless defaults on)
3) Set up Workout

[sander]

My routine is

0) Switch on Painsled
1) Turn on PM5
2) Select More Options
3) Select Connect Heart Rate
4) Select HR belt from a list of 1
5) Confirm HR belt
6) Select Turn Wireless ON
7) Just Row or set up workout

I agree that it could be faster for a home user.

Sander

[mickyduck]

I have a USB memory stick in mine and anoyingly by default it picks up Susans HR belt when she is rowing next to me.. I use an old polar analogue, so I have to turn hers off in my PM5 everytine we row together.... even if ahe starts after me

[FRiC]

You can save / memorize the heart rate belt to the USB stick, just select save, and it'll be automatically recognized next time. Only connecting to ErgData needs to be done each time.

[sh3rl]

+1 for the feature request

One option would be to have the "Wireless Turned On" option saved on the USB Stick

The other option would be a key shortcut like pressing one of the keys for 3 secs.

[Citroen]

If you want features like this send an email to info@concept2.com - they don't usually follow this part of the forum.

[Mat]

Hi!

C2 recommends to not use a stick and ErgData together: https://www.concept2.com/service/softwa ... quirements

My Polar H7 HRB ist recognized automatically after a few seconds when I turn on my PM5 and connect ErgData. I don't need a stick.

Feature request 'Wireless Default on': No and -1. My wife rows without ErgData...

Mat

[David Hart]

If you update to the latest version of firmware (163/27) then the monitor will automatically search for any previously connected wireless devices for a brief period after it has been turned on.

[Carl Watts]

I have also heard from a friend that the PM5 dumps your heartrate monitor when you connect to RowPro V5.

Not sure if thats been fixed or not, worth a test. I'm still on the PM4 & RP V4.3, because well.....it just works.

[hand]

If you update to the latest version of firmware (163/27) then the monitor will automatically search for any previously connected wireless devices for a brief period after it has been turned on.

Thank you for calling this out!
I'm on a SkiErg, so relevant version number is slightly different, but assuming similar functionality across all versions.

For the record, updates in this version are detailed as follows:

June 2018—PM5 Firmware Version 863 released. Version 863 is the current production version of PM5 Firmware for PM5s installed on SkiErgs that have hardware version 600 or higher. This version contains:
Wireless improvements
Improvements for certain non-standard techniques
Limited automatic searching for wireless devices after a prior connection has been made
Many other bug fixes and improvements for racing
Changes necessary for production with alternative memory chips

[hand]

Brilliant! Update works for me!

I'm unclear whether change was based on my feature request, or simply a matter of great minds thinking alike , but the update has streamlined and optimized my workout setup. Thank you to the development team (or developer).

My workflow has gone from:

1) Turn on PM5
2) Select More Options
3) Select Turn Wireless On
4) Open Erg Data on Phone
5) Set up Workout

to

1) Open Erg Data on Phone
2) Turn on PM5
3) Set up Workout

Only oddness was a need to restart my iPhone as reccomended by ErgData before the autoconnect would work for the first time.

Thank you again!

[silver]

Hi!
C2 recommends to not use a stick and ErgData together: https://www.concept2.com/service/softwa ... quirements
Mat

Hello, is this still their recommendation as yesterday I did my first row with my new PM5 monitor: I had a USB stick plugged in to the PM5, a USB battery pack connected with a printer USB cable to give extra power to the PM5, and connected a Polar H7 and Ergdata (Android version) wireless to the PM5. I had Ergdata showing live data (viewing its second screen), and at the end of the row the session was shown in the Ergdata logs. The log file was also saved ok to the USB stick as I was able to plug that into a PC and use the Concept 2 utility program to upload it to my logbook.

So it seemed to all work together but am I risking damaging anything using Ergdata with a USB stick in the PM5, or is it a case that it is not guaranteed to save the log file to both devices, or display (accurate) information on both devices?

Cheers, John

[Citroen]

If it works for you, fill your boots.

The reason they don't recommend it is that some USB sticks can be a significant battery drain. Running BTLE is also a battery drain.

[silver]

If it works for you, fill your boots.

The reason they don't recommend it is that some USB sticks can be a significant battery drain. Running BTLE is also a battery drain.

Thank you for the answer, I have followed the advice from others of connecting a separate power source to the PM5 via a printer USB cable so hopefully it won't eat through batteries too quickly. Good to know there are no other concerns