Firmware update via Bluetooth

[smokersteve]

Got the email about a new update for the pm5.
In the past I would unhook the monitor and plug it into my computer to do the updates.
Not anymore. I did the update from the ErgData app via Bluetooth to the pm5 monitor.
Not a huge deal but it was a little easier through the app

[jsarche]

That method worked for me, too, on the last update. I had been updating with a USB flash drive. This way is more convenient, but also quite a bit slower.

[edward.jamer]

Definitely slower, but much more convenient.!
(My home computer uses Linux, so updating my pm5 was a hassle before.)

I know a few people have been vocal about this method not working as well for them, and how directly linking to a PC with the C2 Utility app is the best way to update - but I'm very thankful we can use ErgData to update over Bluetooth, with no need for extra cables, USB drives, or a specific OS.

[HornetMaX]

I tried all methods and maybe it depends on which firmware update you are doing (from which version to which version), but for me the USB key method was faster than the BT/ErgData one.

At any rate, I prefer the USB key way: I'm always scared something happens on the phone (incoming call, notification, whatever) during the ErgData BT update and something goes wrong.

[MaineDad]

I tried to use the app to update my PM5 and it will not work. What version of firmware accepts the app to do updates?

[stevegaspars]

and something goes wrong

Nothing will go wrong, at least not adversely. The phone BT system is just transferring files, they will be integrity checked before the PM5 starts installing the new firmware. Once the firmware files are transferred, the PM5 doesn't need the phone anymore.

What version of firmware accepts the app to do updates?

If you have a v1 PM5, you'll can't do the BT updates (firmware versions 37 and below). If this isn't you and it's not allowing BT, then you'll just have to update via the traditional methods this time. It should work properly going forward though.

[Joebasscat]

and something goes wrong

Nothing will go wrong, at least not adversely. The phone BT system is just transferring files, they will be integrity checked before the PM5 starts installing the new firmware. Once the firmware files are transferred, the PM5 doesn't need the phone anymore.

It almost sounds like you’re saying it’s safer than the cable and C2 utility method. Not a tech guy here, but watching that update perform always feels like walking on a high wire. Like what if the internet goes out mid update?

[edward.jamer]

... Like what if the internet goes out mid update?

If that happens, then the update won't take effect - the process would fail before any changes are made on the PM5 and you'd just have to try again later.

Update via BT works like this:
* use BT to transfer the update file from your phone to PM5
* PM5 confirms that fully transferred file looks correct before starting anything (at this point, phone is no longer involved)
* PM5 reads the file and performs the update

I guess a concern would be what happens if the PM5 battery dies mid-update in step 3... but that would be a problem no matter which method you are using.

[Carl Watts]

The PM5 gets power via the USB cable so a decent set of batteries in the PM5 with a windows laptop fully charged and also plugged into the mains is about as safe and as fast as it gets to do an update. If you have all the hardware, why be lazy. The PM5 comes off the rower in like 10 seconds if you need to remove it, especially if you have one of the C2 knurled plastic nuts on the bolt its all done by hand. C2 has even put the USB socket on the back of the monitor so its far easier to get to than the older PM3 or PM4.

[Joebasscat]

... Like what if the internet goes out mid update?

If that happens, then the update won't take effect - the process would fail before any changes are made on the PM5 and you'd just have to try again later.

Update via BT works like this:
* use BT to transfer the update file from your phone to PM5
* PM5 confirms that fully transferred file looks correct before starting anything (at this point, phone is no longer involved)
* PM5 reads the file and performs the update

I guess a concern would be what happens if the PM5 battery dies mid-update in step 3... but that would be a problem no matter which method you are using.

I wasn’t very clear. My question was related to doing updates with the laptop and C2 utility. Say a power outage or simple loss of internet during update. I was just trying to compare the pros and cons of the two processes. Always used the utility to this point.

[HornetMaX]

The PM5 gets power via the USB cable so a decent set of batteries in the PM5 with a windows laptop fully charged and also plugged into the mains is about as safe and as fast as it gets to do an update. If you have all the hardware, why be lazy. The PM5 comes off the rower in like 10 seconds if you need to remove it, especially if you have one of the C2 knurled plastic nuts on the bolt its all done by hand. C2 has even put the USB socket on the back of the monitor so its far easier to get to than the older PM3 or PM4.

Doh, I didn't even realize that it's that easy to just take the PM5 off !
Still I guess the USB key is less annoying than that too (the same USB key can update both my RowErg and SkiErg, as apparently c2 downloads all the most recent firmwares on the key in one go), unless you're running on "low" batteries: my RowErg is at ~40% and it says "too low" for a BT or USB-key update (last time I just temporarily swapped the batteries with my SkiErg ones).

... Like what if the internet goes out mid update?

If that happens, then the update won't take effect - the process would fail before any changes are made on the PM5 and you'd just have to try again later.

Right. But once I was updating via my wife's Macbook and I think it went into some low power state (can't remember, may have been just screensaver+lock, or more) and when I noticed that the PM5 was in some sort of frozen state, totally unresponsive. I had like 30secs of panic