RowPro and Ergdata issues

[jrf1968]

I do hope someone can help me....

Are the folks at RowPro still supporting this software? I have encountered a pile of problems and go no reply from their support. I even tried installing on a macbook pro and a windows laptop but to no avail.
1. Cannot login to my C2 logbook - it just sits there spinning away (i.e. it hangs).
2. Export to TrainingPeaks (which I use) generates a .tcx file that returns an error (cannot parse) when I try to upload it to TrainingPeaks.
3. Under Windows, the program crashed twice with a very unfriendly error.

I went to try RowPro because my Ergdata app occasionally drops the bluetooth connection (once or twice per workout). I have my iPhone 11 on a cradle on top of the PM5 so it isn't far away. I do listen to music played on my iPhone and over bluetooth headphones (iPods). My suspicion is that Ergdata is getting confused but I haven't performed systematic checks.

Finally, I am not sure I understand the NFC feature of my PM5/Ergdata. I **think** I am succesfully connecting Ergdata using it but I'm not sure what to expect. The online help isn't clear on what I ought to expect.

[Carl Watts]

Yes its still supported the latest version came out a couple of months ago.

Have you gone to the Digital Rowing website and created an account ? Can you see your account details on their site with your login and password ?

https://www.digitalrowing.com/support/myaccount.html

Sorry its been so long since I set everything up I cannot remember everything.

In the account are your "Export preference" settings you need to do some linking in there to the C2 logbook and change the Auto/Manual logbook upload setting.

The current version of RowPro is even easier to use then the older versions as you had to backup the database and then import it again into the newer version in V4.3

You just bang in that 25 digit number now to activate it and away you go. You must have to enter in your Concept 2 login somewhere but I don't use the RowPro logbook at all. The ErgData LogBook is the best, it also uploads your total stroke count and your drag factor.

Its a bit tricky but you can run RowPro and Ergdata at the same time using the V168 firmware in the PM5. The latest version V169 was simply not working for me so I had to roll back to V168.

You need a decent graphics card or a modern laptop, trying to use old stuff now doesn't work. Update the graphics card driver. You need to stay on top of all the updates for both Windows 10 and the card drivers. Moving to a newer version of RowPro or PM5 firmware versions is risky, your better off staying on the older versions until it stops working.

Get Online and do some online rows, thats pretty much all you would buy RowPro for, the rest is fluff and I wish they would dump it and just have a direct online rowing only setup.

[jrf1968]

Hi Carl. Thanks....
1. I have created and can see my RowPro account via the website.
2. It's the linking-to-the-C2-logbook stage where RowPro hangs on me. If I type a deliberately incorrect username it spots that and returns an error but when I type the correct username in it hangs.
3. I have top-spec Macbook and Windows machines, kept up to date. The link to C2 fails with both....and with the web interface, which made me think there has been some change to the security/transfer protocol at Concept2 which has spoilt Row Pro's ability to connect. The silence from the Row Pro team (after several emails) was why I suspected it wasn't being maintained.
Jeff.

[Carl Watts]

Unfortunately RowPro doesn't off the level of support where you can pickup the phone and call them and work through the issue, you have to sort it yourself.

The software is cheap and it works but you have to be able to sort it yourself from a technical perspective.

Unfortunately it must loose many people in the trial phase when they cannot get it working and they give up.

[Tsnor]

I went to try RowPro because my Ergdata app occasionally drops the bluetooth connection (once or twice per workout). I have my iPhone 11 on a cradle on top of the PM5 so it isn't far away. I do listen to music played on my iPhone and over bluetooth headphones (iPods).

EDIT: Ignore the post below since you are using an iPhone. You can't get a cable. Sorry, I should have read more closely before I hit submit. Bummer that iPhones do not work with standard cables, and the last maker of certified printer cables for iPhones has gone away.

You can try moving the iPhone so it is more in front of PM5 and see if the problem goes away. The top of PM5 mount in convienient, but may not be the best spot for reception. Worse case, you can buy a dedicated $40 7" display kindle to use with ergdata.

========== Post before edit ======================

I also use bluetooth headphones rowing. They totally saturate the bluetooth bandwidth (bluetooth does not have enough bandwidth for true HD sound, CD quality). So lots of data competing for bandwidth. Music does not care if it loses a packet, Ergdata seems to get very upset vs just retrying.

I ended up using a cable to connect to the PM5. Any OTG printer cable that connects to the device running ergdata will work. I got mine from amazon for $5. Since then no drops.

In Ergdata's defence, I think the bluetooth antenna on the PM5 is somewhat directional and points forward towards the heart rate belt. I had the Ergdata device (a kindle) stuck on a music stand alongside the PM5 -- likely the worse spot for reception.

[jrf1968]

Thanks everyone. One final comment on this: my Row Pro account appears to have been deleted now. No reply to any emails and then the account and access to my online logbook is removed. I think I can take a hint.

[Carl Watts]

So obviously you didn't actually BUY a licensed copy ?

[GlennUk]

i am not sure the level of support is dependent on whether one buys a license or not, ive stopped using RowPoro a) because the level of support is appalling and b) frankly its so full of bugs its close to useless (i would point out that i bought an earlier versions which worked fine and the support was also fine too).

Noting Carl suggested one has to sort out the problems oneself, that is ok if you have the time fiddle about and try to work out why it wont do what its supposed to do.

Re the cost, US$179 s not a huge sum for many, but its not free and at that price it should work out of the box IMHO.

[Carl Watts]

The software only costs like USD$75 when its on special so you simply cannot expect support. I have sold software that is NZD$10,000 for a license, you EXPECT support.

Clearly the OP did not buy a license and possibly even tried to hack a copy or his account would not have been deleted. He clearly pissed off Digital Rowing somehow.

The software works, you need to be tech savvy and have decent hardware. Even the brand of graphics card makes a difference, for example there are less issues with NVidia compared to Sapphire.

I admit its not as easy as it should be to get it running but its way better than it used to be. Its unfortunate really and leads to considerably less users.

Its been a bit frustrating over the years to get changes implemented in it and by now (probably 5 years ago actually) it should have a cut down online rowing only version for Android and iOS for your phone but they wasted a huge amount of time getting a Mac version running for an OS that has a very low market share on a worldwide scale.

[mitchel674]

Perhaps there is something wrong with the PM5 for the OP. Very strange to have issues with ergdata and then rowpro.

Anecdotally, I've used rowpro for 3 years without a glitch. Worked out of the box on two different laptops. Uploads to my C2 logbook automatically. When we see a few folks struggle, there's no need to disparage the product that is likely working well for the vast majority of users.

Same with the ergdata connection. My iphone sits on a cradle on my pm5. It never drops signal by BT. Plus I use a BT HR monitor and listen to music connected to my iphone with BT ear buds. Also able to use rowpro with a USB cord. A lot going on there without an issue. Just have to connect everything in the right order.

[Carl Watts]

RowPro and EgData is okay for a one off row, you have problems the second you try and do a second row like a Cool Down without a complete restart.

Mine was a complete failure with V169 firmware, the whole setup became unusable so I had to roll back to V168.

Even with V168 the 2000m cool down doesn't load properly into the PM5 and it defaults to a 30 minute probably 20% of the time.

The PM5 USB connection to the PC is also what I would call "Fragile" when you try and run everything and sometimes it gets dropped and the connection box turns red.

It doesn't pay to check-in to online rows early as it just gives more time for something to go wrong, I just check-in with a few minutes to go to the start.

I guess you need to be prepared to persevere with it to get it working to a level your happy with it.

Clearly the Online rowing is hard to implement as only RowPro has managed to do it.

[jrf1968]

Hi. Following up to previous comments.....

- Concept2 confirmed that the Ergdata issue I had was just bluetooth interference, I can eliminate it if I do not connect too many other devices. I'm currently checking if the NFC tagging (which my PM5 and ErgData support) improves things and so far I had no problems at all using that.

- I certainly did not try a ripped off version of Row Pro! I downloaded the trial copy and was just a couple of days into it. I was prepared to pay for a license and could see the potential. But I just couldn't get it to work. I was only ever extremely polite so I'm not sure why is happened.

- the Row Pro problem was independent of the PM5 in any case (online logbook issues).

[PawsyBear]

Rowpro like DoS based software, gave up moved on to https://exrgame

[Carl Watts]

Rowpro like DoS based software, gave up moved on to https://exrgame

No live online rowing so its useless.

RowPro is currently the only option for decent software, Zwift was right in there for a while but then they dropped the ball.

[Rayving]

A while back now I gave up with RowPro after I bought a new Windows 10 pc, installed RowPro and it failed to load. However very recently I noted that it has been updated to 5.7 and decided to try again. Surprisingly it works and works very well, even online. I have to agree that other than the online facility it’s dated and has been superseded by other software more suited for seamlessly creating your own sessions. I’m beta testing EXR. It works well but at this time no online functionality...yet.
Absolutely no issues whatsoever with Ergdata or ErgZone paired with my iPhone or iPad.