RowPro Replacement

Topics relating to online racing and training with 3rd party software.
underwater
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RowPro Replacement

Post by underwater » March 31st, 2021, 1:26 pm

Can anyone suggest a great replacement for RowPro? It has become too much trouble to continue using. I tried the latest version of RowPro and didn't care for it so I am looking for options. I looked at Row Forge and it seems to offer the features I want but there aren't many reviews and I would have to upgrade to a PM 5 so the first-year cost would be $250 which is fine if Row Forge is a great product. I have searched this forum for "forge" but didn't get any relevant matches Thanks.

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Carl Watts
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by Carl Watts » March 31st, 2021, 4:06 pm

There is nothing if you like to row online and get a true picture of your Rowing performance translated to the screen.

RowPro works just fine but you need to keep up with technology for best results so that means a PM5 and a decent modern Win 10 PC with a decent mid to high end graphics card.
Carl Watts.
Age:56 Weight: 108kg Height:183cm
Concept 2 Monitor Service Technician & indoor rower.
http://log.concept2.com/profile/863525/log

underwater
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by underwater » March 31st, 2021, 7:37 pm

I don't row online. I used RowPro for the semi-individualized workouts being added to the PM, to benchmark against myself and to upload my data to C2. My issues with the 5.7 version of RowPro were that I wasn't wild about the GUI but, more importantly, I didn't see an option for setting my MHR. Therefore, I reverted to v4.7. Then, I had to start adding my license number before every rowing session and, today, RowPro didn't save my data for upload to C2. I am done with RowPro and hope that someone will suggest a viable alternative that meets my criteria.

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Carl Watts
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by Carl Watts » March 31st, 2021, 7:48 pm

I find that people want some pretty bizarre capabilities in the software.

If RowPro didn't have the online rowing I wouldn't have bought it. Totally pointless. Just get on the PM5 and setup a row and go for it while listening to music or watch TV.

Continually amazed that 90% of the people with RowPro never use it to row Online. Clearly our small group of rowers is in a very small personality type subset.
Carl Watts.
Age:56 Weight: 108kg Height:183cm
Concept 2 Monitor Service Technician & indoor rower.
http://log.concept2.com/profile/863525/log

underwater
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by underwater » March 31st, 2021, 8:15 pm

I like the variety of the rowing sessions while building toward a goal. To each...

Rayving
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by Rayving » April 3rd, 2021, 8:57 am

Underwater try RowAlong.com. John Steventon created it along with his Facebook and YouTube channel.
It’s completely free and you don’t need a PM5. I’ve been doing the 500m plan for a couple of upcoming online events. So far so good. You basically row along to YouTube training sessions.
It’s usually my sort of thing, but to be honest it’s actually very good.

underwater
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by underwater » April 3rd, 2021, 4:17 pm

Rayving, thanks for the suggestion. I'll give it a look.

jobster
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by jobster » April 3rd, 2021, 4:39 pm

for online rowing RowPro suits my needs. More issues though lately, online and offline. Offline rowing with past rows is impossible with softer crash at the start of the row. Nice, and have it for over 16 years but if something else shows up that works beter I might change. Not EXR in any case.
85kg, 1.80, 57yo

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Carl Watts
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by Carl Watts » April 3rd, 2021, 5:16 pm

jobster wrote:
April 3rd, 2021, 4:39 pm
for online rowing RowPro suits my needs. More issues though lately, online and offline. Offline rowing with past rows is impossible with softer crash at the start of the row. Nice, and have it for over 16 years but if something else shows up that works beter I might change. Not EXR in any case.
I don't know how any 3rd party software developers can keep up with all the Windows 10 updates these days. You get huge updates now almost monthly and the entire OS replaces itself now and again. How can you possibly expect a stable bit of software with constant change ?

It can be hard not to resist the constant updates but once your system is working just leave it alone for as long as possible.

Did a series of four 2000m rows the other day and a 2000m CD back to back with no faults whatsoever and that also using an ANT+ HR strap and ErgData connected to the PM5.

Zwift looked to be the go to package for a while there for the rowing, right up to the point we were told it would be released in 2 weeks time. Something very strange went on there behind the scenes but then it collapsed.
Carl Watts.
Age:56 Weight: 108kg Height:183cm
Concept 2 Monitor Service Technician & indoor rower.
http://log.concept2.com/profile/863525/log

jobster
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by jobster » April 3rd, 2021, 5:33 pm

Carl Watts wrote:
April 3rd, 2021, 5:16 pm
jobster wrote:
April 3rd, 2021, 4:39 pm
for online rowing RowPro suits my needs. More issues though lately, online and offline. Offline rowing with past rows is impossible with softer crash at the start of the row. Nice, and have it for over 16 years but if something else shows up that works beter I might change. Not EXR in any case.
I don't know how any 3rd party software developers can keep up with all the Windows 10 updates these days. You get huge updates now almost monthly and the entire OS replaces itself now and again. How can you possibly expect a stable bit of software with constant change ?

It can be hard not to resist the constant updates but once your system is working just leave it alone for as long as possible.

Did a series of four 2000m rows the other day and a 2000m CD back to back with no faults whatsoever and that also using an ANT+ HR strap and ErgData connected to the PM5.

Zwift looked to be the go to package for a while there for the rowing, right up to the point we were told it would be released in 2 weeks time. Something very strange went on there behind the scenes but then it collapsed.
I'm using Rowpro on my Mac.
85kg, 1.80, 57yo

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Carl Watts
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by Carl Watts » April 3rd, 2021, 5:41 pm

Mac is going to be even worse. Every time I use apple products I want to hit them with a large hammer.

Android would be a better platform on your phone. It takes years to jump to the next OS and by then you probably have a new phone anyway. I notice the newer phones are allowing you to jump from 10 to 11 and some of the later phones now have it possible to 14. Chances are less changes in the OS overall.

Your phone or TV must be the way to go in the future, I can then cutdown on all the hardware needed because at present its just crazy.

RowPro would loose at least half of those who trial it simply because they cannot get it working and they give up.
Carl Watts.
Age:56 Weight: 108kg Height:183cm
Concept 2 Monitor Service Technician & indoor rower.
http://log.concept2.com/profile/863525/log

jobster
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by jobster » April 4th, 2021, 2:17 pm

Carl Watts wrote:
April 3rd, 2021, 5:41 pm
Mac is going to be even worse. Every time I use apple products I want to hit them with a large hammer.

Android would be a better platform on your phone. It takes years to jump to the next OS and by then you probably have a new phone anyway. I notice the newer phones are allowing you to jump from 10 to 11 and some of the later phones now have it possible to 14. Chances are less changes in the OS overall.

Your phone or TV must be the way to go in the future, I can then cutdown on all the hardware needed because at present its just crazy.

RowPro would loose at least half of those who trial it simply because they cannot get it working and they give up.
Carl, I'm sorry but you're really misinformed, Android is really really bad, both at supporting older phones and their security.
85kg, 1.80, 57yo

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Carl Watts
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by Carl Watts » April 4th, 2021, 4:40 pm

You mean Android is worse than iOS that was hacked with Pegasus ? Sure its really bad :lol:
Carl Watts.
Age:56 Weight: 108kg Height:183cm
Concept 2 Monitor Service Technician & indoor rower.
http://log.concept2.com/profile/863525/log

PawsyBear
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by PawsyBear » April 5th, 2021, 3:56 pm

https://exrgame.com/ racing when it’s full release soon I think

underwater
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Re: RowPro Replacement

Post by underwater » April 5th, 2021, 5:12 pm

PawsyBear, it looks interesting but they don't provide much info on their site.

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