PM5 Firmware Updated, Now HR Monitor Drops Oit

[gtn160@hotmail.com]

I purchased my Concept2 Rowerg in December 2024 and Polar H10 HR monitors for me and my wife.

Everything worked great until March 2025 when the firmware updated on the PM5. Now, the HR drops intermittently drops to zero on both the PM5 amd Ergdata app. The online logbook shows the bottomed out dips, but the avg hr looks normal.

I replaced batteries in the PM5, the HR monitors, did a factory reset on the PM5, uninstalled and reinstalled all Apps, and restarted phone, deselected battery optimization on the phone settings. A fitness test on Polar Flow app has no drop outs.

This is so frustrating! It looks like our hearts stops on the rower. Has anyone else experienced this and what would you recommend?

[Citroen]

Write an email to info@concept2.com and they should be able to help (on Tuesday because it's a Memorial Day on Monday).

[StellanNoam]

It sounds like a frustrating issue with the HR monitor dropping out after the firmware update. You might want to try reaching out to Concept2 support to see if there are any known issues or fixes with the latest firmware, as well as making sure that your Polar H10 is fully compatible with the PM5’s new version.

[micc2]

Just wanted to chime in, I'm seeing the exact same issue after the March firmware update on my PM5. I'm also using a Polar H10, and everything was working flawlessly before the update. Now I get random dropouts during sessions, which also show up in the logbook as HR dropping to zero.

Like you, I tried new batteries, factory resets, different apps, and even tried a different strap to rule out skin contact issues, but nothing seems to fix it. My HR monitor works fine with other devices, so it definitely feels like something changed on the PM5 side.

If you haven’t already, I’d suggest sending the logs or screenshots to Concept2 support. I’m planning to do that as well, to hopefully get this on their radar.

[Sandeman]

Could it be an ErgData issue? Or maybe more of a conflict between the PM5 and ErgData?
I am experiencing similar issues, I thought my HRM (Polar H9) was defective until I stepped on my hometrainer and it worked fine.
And I haven't updated my PM5 to the latest version yet so it seems unlikely to be a new PM5 firmware issue.

Ps. In my defense: the rower is all the way up on the attic and I just haven't had the motivation yet to go up there with my laptop and update it haha...

[Sakly]

Based on the info from last post, probably it's worth a try to swap to Ergzone for a workout and see if HR dropouts occur any longer.
I don't think that ergdata causes it, as HRM is directly communicating with PM5, but who knows.

[Tsnor]

I also use H10. No dropouts for me. But different PM5 hardware had different bluetooth hardware.

Suggest you configure your H10 for DUAL bluetooth and connect to both a phone app and the PM5. The polar beat app would work for this, as would any phone app that displays realtime heartrate.

When the dropouts happen see if BOTH phone and PM5 are affected. It will show up differently (pm seems to show drop sooner, polar beat seems to show a phantom HR for a while then show dropped), but you should see something on both if the H10 looses your HR (vs H10 has HR and looses connection to Pm5). At least I did. Problem was H10 not PM5.

Polar H10 is VERY susceptible to worn belts. My first belt went through the laundry every row and died in less than a year. Symptom of failure, dropout late in workout that were not fixed with new battery, resets, etc. A new belt (polar pro, around $30) fixed the problem immediately. That belt lasted 3-4 years with handwashing. I'm on my 3rd or forth belt now, I forget.

H10 is very highly rated, very accurate especially for HRV, but seems more fussy than other belts. I'll probably try Garmin when I get tired of buying new polar belts (and the occasional very short H10 battery life cause by h10 failure to power down).

[Tsnor]

Could it be an ErgData issue? Or maybe more of a conflict between the PM5 and ErgData?
I am experiencing similar issues, I thought my HRM (Polar H9) was defective until I stepped on my hometrainer and it worked fine.
And I haven't updated my PM5 to the latest version yet so it seems unlikely to be a new PM5 firmware issue.

Ps. In my defense: the rower is all the way up on the attic and I just haven't had the motivation yet to go up there with my laptop and update it haha...

PM5 now updates firmware from your phone. The days of printer cable and laptops (and linux emulation of windows to run C2 utility for the hard core) are over. Ergdata will prompt you if new FW is available when you connect.

[Sandeman]

PM5 now updates firmware from your phone. The days of printer cable and laptops (and linux emulation of windows to run C2 utility for the hard core) are over. Ergdata will prompt you if new FW is available when you connect.

Oh really!? I'll check that out this weekend, thnx!

[gtn160@hotmail.com]

You made some good points and I emailed Concept2 before I posted on the forum. They indicated there were no know issues with the March 2025 firmware update and it was logging the hr, albeit the graph drops to zero every few seconds and reconnects throughout the workout. They emailed the previous firmware i can reinstall with a computer, but I haven't tried it. I was hoping if others were having problems after the update Concept2 may take another look at the firmware.

To some of the other suggestions, the h10 and straps are new and it does it on two different monitors. The drop outs occur on both the pm5 display and the Ergdata at the same time.

The only thing I haven't tried is the Polar Beat app or trying different Bluetooth settings, which I'll give a try. Thank you for the input. I'll keep you posted if I get it resolved.

[gvcormac]

I've had a hate on for Polar H9/H10 for a couple of years because of behaviour like this.

I did notice recently that my 2-year old Coospo wasn't connecting at all with Bluetooth, and registereed 0 bpm with ANT+. But a new battery appears to have solved that problem.

[p_b82]

I always use my polar via ant+ to the pm5 (I've not configured mine for multiple BLE connections) - if I get too much sweat/salt in the contacts I get the behaviour you describe - but I can normally get it all cleaned up with a cloth fairly easily.

if the batteries are low on the H10 then it does make it more finicky as well, but normally very reliable for me

[Sakly]

H10 for over 3 years, no issues except low on battery or heavy sweat.