PM 5 crashes

[Viking]

Just got a new PM5 it keeps crashing when using Row Pro. I think the flash drive is the cause. When I finish a row and save the workout I get a code message and cant clear the meter without pulling the batteries. Anyone else having this problem or have a solution. I have reloaded firmware 3 times. Thanks SG

[Carl Watts]

Yep use a PM3 or PM4

Said it a while ago, its going to take 2 years for the Firmware on the PM5 to stabilise and its only been a year or so far.

The PM3 and PM4 had the advantage of firmware that had been around for several years, they are both rock solid with RowPro V4.3.

[ChrisPBacon]

They need to change the PM5 instructions.

Instead of press menu to save after completing a workout, it should be press menu and pray it saves the workout.

Right now for me it's about a 1/10 chance the workout is lost using V19.

[Hillclimber]

re RowPro + flash drive

Same issue here. C2 tech says the pm5 does not work well when out-putting to more than one device. and sure enough, rowpro alone is fine; flash drive alone is fine; same time not so much. easy fix - pick one.
Damien

[Hillclimber]

They need to change the PM5 instructions.

Instead of press menu to save after completing a workout, it should be press menu and pray it saves the workout.

Right now for me it's about a 1/10 chance the workout is lost using V19.

try a different flash drive, I tried four before finding one the pm5 got along with. all is good now.
Damien

[Mat]

Hello PM5 Users!

There are a few things I learned while using my PM5 since I bought my Erg in February 2015:

C2 tech says the pm5 does not work well when out-putting to more than one device.

I used the PM5 with Firmware 15, 17 and 19. With Firmware 17 I tried a workout with heartrate belt, inserted original C2 flash drive and ErgData on iOS. After an error while trying to save my workout the whole logbook got unreadable. PM5 tried to repair it and finally all data was lost. This was my first fatal error while using a usb flash. Since then I never tried ErgData again...

try a different flash drive, I tried four before finding one the pm5 got along with.

Yes. With Firmware 17 I tried 5 different USB flash drives. Different size, manufacturer and speed. NONE of them worked with my PM5. I got ALL KINDS of different errors. Only the original flash drive that came with my Erg worked without problems. Then I updated to FW 19 and tried all sticks again. Now 1 out of 5 was working without problems. Here still a big problem is waiting to be solved from C2...

Another thing I learned: I never insert or remove a usb flash drive when the PM5 is awake. I wait till the screen is blank. Then I press 'menu' and wait till the usb flash is recognized before I start a workout.

Beside all problems with my PM5 I would always prefer the PM5 to PM4 or PM3. I still believe the people at C2 will solve this problem.

Mat

[Viking]

Yesterday I rowed with row prow and no flashdrive still crashed I got a code 46-33. I'm going back to a PM4

[Hillclimber]

Yesterday I rowed with row prow and no flashdrive still crashed I got a code 46-33. I'm going back to a PM4

call c2 tech, good helpful people. my pm5 works great on RP. presuming pm5 has latest firmware since purchased in sept.

[Carl Watts]

Yesterday I rowed with row prow and no flashdrive still crashed I got a code 46-33. I'm going back to a PM4

The PM5 will be a good monitor, it just needs time to iron out the bugs.

One of the issues these days is that everything is changing just too fast, think about it. Add RowPro into the mix as well and you have no end of potential problems. You have the PC OS which keeps changing and now is Windows 10, RowPro keeps trying to keep up and the monitor needs updated firmware and your expecting it all to work together flawlessly. Its hard enough to remain connected to the Oarbits race server which is halfway round the world from my location.

If you want to try and stay on the leading edge of technology then expect problems, personally I hang back a version or two, its more reliable and newer is not always better.

PM4 with V318 firmware and a formatted LogCard at the start of each season, Windows 8.1 on a 2006 business quality Hp PC and RowPro V4.3. No trouble here except for the occasional loss of the race server and I can not doing anything about that if you want to row online and it really is a case of....

"Houston we have a problem"

[c2scott]

Hi folks:

A few things I'd like to suggest.

1. I would not recommend using a flash drive when using RowPro until the problem is determined. Do you need data on your flash drive AND in RowPro's database and also on their servers? This seems like a bit of overkill with multiple copies of your workouts in different places. I suspect that RowPro is interrupting the process of writing data to the flash drive causing some of these issues.

2. Please make sure your firmware is up to date. V19 is the current release version. V19.030 is the current beta firmware.

3. If you are getting 46 errors, this may indicate corruption in the internal memory of the PM5, possibly due to (1) above, or possibly due to memory corruption from an earlier firmware version that was previously on your monitor. Just updating the firmware does NOT fix a recurring 46 error. Once it occurs, it may continue to happen every time. I would suggest using the Concept2 Utility (not RowPro) to read the internal memory of the PM5 and let it 'repair' any problems it finds. You can choose the "Transfer to Spreadsheet" or "Transfer to Online Logbook". All reports indicate that this should solve the issue.

4. I would also use the Concept2 Utility to read the USB flash drive and see if it fixes any issues there as well.

5. USB flash drives can consume 2x - 5x the amount of energy as the monitor itself. This may be too much for some batteries, especially if they are somewhat low or one is damaged or has a lower capacity the other. When using flash drives, good batteries are important part of the equation. Also, check this notice:
http://www.concept2.com/service/monitor ... uct-notice

6. If you have tried all of the above and still have issues with multiple USB flash drives, the USB port in the PM5 may have been damaged. Contact Concept2 for further troubleshooting.

7. Concept2 desires to provide individual support one-on-one via phone and email, which may be more expedient for you, and will also assist Concept2 in solving the problem faster for all customers.

- Scott

[bisqeet]

i have the odd usb flash drive problems without rowpro, which may be usb flash dependent but the one thing that iritates me at the moment is on a interval session with rowpro (no usb , i removed it).


after finishing either the training or the rest phase an error will come up on the pm5 - row pro timer stops - i have to press [continue] for it to reset the message - everything is ok until the next phase.

Its not too tragic as the session itself is stored and the error isn't fatal - just ...weird.
FW is V19 -

[ChrisPBacon]

3rd workout with v20 and it failed to save. Pressed menu to save and it just flashed to the main screen. Workout did not save to usb or memory.

I have the new battery cover in place.

[frejac]

I also have an issue with my PM5 and using an USB thumbdrive as well as Rowpro.
PM5 is upgraded.
I use a Garmin 310XT and a chestbelt.

Symptom:
All seems good if I dont use the USB cable to my computer. (short analysis - probably need to test more to be 100% sure)
If I connect a computer, and use rowpro, one of two things might happen:
* HRM stops updating (only - but seems ok otherwise)
* the PM5 crashes and displays a various number of codes. Here I need to cut power to restart.

If I disconnect my USB drive, all is good and I see no issues.
I've checked the USB drive using the utility and had an issue that was repaired. (probably from when it crashed).
I've also checked the internal PM5 and it was repaired as well.
My batteries is at 92%.

I have no problem not using the USB drive, but it's nice that it remembers to connect to the HRM
tip for future dev: please do the same "remember" for my garmin 310XT

[Crazy]

I am thinking of buying pm5 but am concerned with all these issues. I have Mac attached to my concept2 with rowpro. I also have garmin 610 with ANT+ heart rate monitor which is the main real I need to upgrade from pm3.

1. Should I buy pm4 or pm5? Or should i wait till pm5 stabilizes.
2. Looks like most issues with pm5 are related to use drive. Do I even need use drive to use rowpro, heart rate and concept2 log update?
3. if I connect FR 610 with heart rate monitor, does it show heart rate on pm5 screen and also record on garmin watch?

Ty much

[Livio Livius]

Using PM5 with Painsled and Tickr. Before that PM4 and 5 with Garmin FR210. Both with PM4 and 5 no issues. Uploading all the workouts to TrainingPeaks. Only waiting for Painsled for auto option to upload to Logbook.