cable no longer works with new ErgData App

[letti001]

The App was recently updated automatically on my android phone and now the cable does not work at all.
Bluetooth works fine and is a little easier to switch Bluetooth from the Bike to the rower with the icon setup (connect/disconnect)
The cable connection will no longer automatically connect and I cannot even find a way to manually connect.
The firmware is up to date on both machines.

As a result of "The Covid", I have the bike and rower in the basement. No room for the skier.

I use Bluetooth for me headset separately and it is a bit cumbersome to do all the switching hence the cable.

Any thoughts?
Sal

[JaapvanE]

Concept2 provides the old app under a different name, for PM3 and PM4. You could download that one and see what happens.

[letti001]

I suppose it is worth a try to revert to the old App. I was not sure why they would do away with the cable connection feature. It seems much simpler.
I have the PM5 on both the bike and rower.

[Tsnor]

Someone else reported no cable support in new app, so it's not just you. (TY for posting and confirming!) Ergzone also has no cable support.

New to PM5 bluetooth? Gottchas...

Your PM5 will not turn off if it is still bluetooth connected, so if your phone stays close enough to stay connected then you must turn off the PM5 manually or disconnect. 4 slow presses of the menu button in home page turns off a PM5. The PM5 backlight will go out when the PM5 turns off. I find this easier / more reliable then using the connect menu. If you skip this then the PM5 batteries get used up in months vs. the years they normally last.

Multiple users also have the fun ("I rowed, but my spouse's phone was still connected. How can I move the workout from them to me?") problem. Turn off or disconnect PM5 before you row if PM5 still powered up because it is still connected to last user and last user wasn't you.

FWIW I also use a usb cable, and am still on the old app. At some point I expect some PM5 update to break the old app and plan to move forward then. I'd guess product planners made the right decision to drop the USB cable, and that few people use it... but.... using the cable is so easy. Plugging in fires up the PM5. Android autolaunches ergdata when it sees the PM5 on the cable, then ergdata tells the PM5 to connect my HR belt. Setup to row is so easy, just plug in, get audio working and row.

[letti001]

Thank you for your response.
The new App makes it easier to connect and disconnect with Bluetooth. So, when I switch from the rower to the bike (same workout regimen) I can click the icon for the rower and disconnect and then connect to the bike.
My hiccup is that I watch a movie or show on my tablet during the workout and use Bluetooth earphones (Shure TW-1 with SE215) and it take a little juggling so that my earphones do not connect to the phone instead of the tablet.
This is the reason I used the cable.
In fact, I take a cable with me to use at the gym (rower) so I have weights added to the workout.

Not a deal breaker by any means, but I wanted to point out the issue just to be sure I was not missing something.

Sal

[Keadiin]

On the phone, you may find if you disconnect the headphones the phone will not automatically reconnect them them next time. This might be helpful.

Personally I'd like to see the cable connection reenabled as cable connections are inherently better than wireless and had the bonus of powering the monitor from the phone extending the monitors battery life.

The new software also has a habit of duplicating my workouts so its worth checking after each upload.

[letti001]

Thank you for your note. I can maneuver the Bluetooth for sure. The cable was just a tad more convenient and also there was not a risk of dropping connection. I have a cradle on the PM%s with a short cable. Simple.
It seems a bit odd that they did not include the cable connection with the new version.
Also, the Erg App would automatically open when I connected the cable rather than manually opening and connection.
I sent this note largely to see if I were missing something or that there is no cable connection.
Sal

[Keadiin]

No problem - I did email them the question about the cable connection and received this as a reply

"The decision was made to no longer support the USB connection in the app for various reasons: cost, complexity of programming, and a very small percentage of our users use it for a PM5. Also, several users use the USB port in conjunction with the Bluetooth interface and this causes problems for the processor to service both interfaces in a timely manner."

Due to the issues with Bluetooth they then suggested buying a new PM5, which wasn't ideal.

[letti001]

No problem - I did email them the question about the cable connection and received this as a reply

"The decision was made to no longer support the USB connection in the app for various reasons: cost, complexity of programming, and a very small percentage of our users use it for a PM5. Also, several users use the USB port in conjunction with the Bluetooth interface and this causes problems for the processor to service both interfaces in a timely manner."

Due to the issues with Bluetooth they then suggested buying a new PM5, which wasn't ideal.

That certainly sums it up.
We will move on and work with the Bluetooth as they have developed it.
As mentioned, I was partly posting this just to be sure I was not missing something.

Cheers to all!
Sal

[jackarabit]

Gresham’s Law: Once the fish bite, they don’t bother baiting the hook.