Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Maintenance, accessories, operation. Anything to do with making your erg work.
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JN.V
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Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by JN.V » March 21st, 2022, 7:10 am

Hi all
I'm a blind person, looking at buying a RowERG.

I please want to find out from other blind users or anyone who will be able to test for me, whether I would be able to set up and start workouts without needing any sited assistance.
Needing sited assistance to initially set up the machine, setting up everything in the PM5 and ERGData app will be fine, but on a day to day basis I want to be able to do things on my own without any sited assistance.

I use a Apple Watch and iPhone and I already looked at the ERGData app and it seams pretty accessible with Voiceover.
I then plan to get a Polar H10 heart rate strap which I'll pair to my watch and the PM5.

Looking at this Youtube video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjHnqxu4FsE

In the second part of the video it says if you are a ERGData user, your heart rate monitor will be remembered by the PM5. However right at the end of the video it says if you want to start a workout in future you should press "menu" on the PM5, go to "more options" and then turn on "wireless" to connect to the ERGData app.
Will this be accessible, will I be able to do this on my own without any sited assistance, by maybe memorising the button presses?

Then secondly to start workouts I found this page with button sequences for the PM5. https://www.concept2.com/service/softwa ... ng-ergdata

These instructions seams to be quite old since it still mentions iOS 7 etc. So I just want to check if these button layout and button sequences are still valid with the latest PM5 firmware.
For example pressing "menu" then "B,A,A" for a 2000m row or "menu" "B,A,D" for a 30 minute row.

TIA

Nick

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Citroen
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Re: Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by Citroen » March 21st, 2022, 9:59 am

JN.V wrote:
March 21st, 2022, 7:10 am
However right at the end of the video it says if you want to start a workout in future you should press "menu" on the PM5, go to "more options" and then turn on "wireless" to connect to the ERGData app.
That menu option moved to the main menu with the latest firmware.

Third small button on the right is now labelled "Connect" (button C). Pressing that gets the menu with "Connect Heart Rate" on the fourth small button (D) and "More ANT+ Options" on the fifth button (E).

The "More ANT+ Options" menu gives you "ANT+FE-C" (ConnectIQ watches and other apps) on button one (A) and "ANT+FE" (For older Garmin watches) on button three (C).

I hope I've described that well enough for you.

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Re: Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by JN.V » March 21st, 2022, 10:44 am

Citroen wrote:
March 21st, 2022, 9:59 am
JN.V wrote:
March 21st, 2022, 7:10 am
However right at the end of the video it says if you want to start a workout in future you should press "menu" on the PM5, go to "more options" and then turn on "wireless" to connect to the ERGData app.
That menu option moved to the main menu with the latest firmware.

Third small button on the right is now labelled "Connect" (button C). Pressing that gets the menu with "Connect Heart Rate" on the fourth small button (D) and "More ANT+ Options" on the fifth button (E).

The "More ANT+ Options" menu gives you "ANT+FE-C" (ConnectIQ watches and other apps) on button one (A) and "ANT+FE" (For older Garmin watches) on button three (C).

I hope I've described that well enough for you.

Ok so if I understand you correctly, to connect the PM5 to the ERGData app every time before I start a workout I'll have to press menu, C and then D?
After doing this, will the PM5 "beep" or something to indicate successful connection to the app, or will I be able to see on the app whether connection was successful?

Then the second part of my question, the button sequences to start different workouts, are those still the same or similar at least?

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Citroen
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Re: Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by Citroen » March 21st, 2022, 11:04 am

You do have to press C then D.
The phone app should inform you of a successful connection.

Tsnor
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Re: Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by Tsnor » March 21st, 2022, 12:55 pm

You should have no trouble doing workouts on your rower. There are no safety hazards you need to avoid other than tripping over it, it's large, and the machine is impossible to break. All adjusts are set once and forget.

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Re: Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by Autoland » March 21st, 2022, 1:33 pm

JN.V wrote:
March 21st, 2022, 7:10 am
Hi all

Then secondly to start workouts I found this page with button sequences for the PM5. https://www.concept2.com/service/softwa ... ng-ergdata

These instructions seams to be quite old since it still mentions iOS 7 etc. So I just want to check if these button layout and button sequences are still valid with the latest PM5 firmware.
For example pressing "menu" then "B,A,A" for a 2000m row or "menu" "B,A,D" for a 30 minute row.

TIA

Nick
I believe that these button sequences are correct.

BAA = 2000m
BAB = 5000m
BAC = 10000m
BAD = 30 minutes
M/55/6ft/165lbs rowing since August 2020, C2 since January 2021
500 1:54.5; 2k 8:05.5; 5k 20:54.6; 10k 42:20.6; HM 1:34:22.6
30' 7126; 60' 13777

JN.V
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Re: Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by JN.V » March 24th, 2022, 7:25 am

Another question, can the PM5 be configured to make a audible sound when pressing the buttons, a "beep" or something?

mict450
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Re: Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by mict450 » March 24th, 2022, 4:28 pm

Buttons can't be made audible, sorry.
Eric, YOB:1954
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Shasta County, CA, small town USA

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Re: Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by Citroen » March 24th, 2022, 5:56 pm

JN.V wrote:
March 24th, 2022, 7:25 am
Another question, can the PM5 be configured to make a audible sound when pressing the buttons, a "beep" or something?
If your phone runs IOS, then Ergdata on IOS has a voice function.

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Re: Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by JN.V » March 25th, 2022, 3:33 am

It would be nice if they could put some sort of audible indications in the PM5 threw a firmware update, I guess it will only be possible if the supporting hardware is already in there. I'll send them a email and hear what they say.

I found a near brand new Model D with PM5 for a good price online, so will probably pull the trigger over the weekend. The person purchased it last year June and only used it 10 or so times.

JN.V
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Re: Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by JN.V » March 27th, 2022, 7:10 am

I got my Model D earlier today, not set up yet, I'm pretty excited to start with this new journey.

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Ombrax
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Re: Blind user, setting up and starting a workout

Post by Ombrax » March 27th, 2022, 10:56 pm

Congratulations, and have fun!

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