oh what to buy

[eleanorsbee]

Hello Everyone

Right, I have 2 browsers open one poised to buy either a

concept2 model D with pm3 + heart rate pickup and polar h1 belt at £930

or

Concept2 model D with pm4 that comes with a garmin stap at £1000


I have never used HR stuff before, is the PM4 and Garmin worth it over the PM3 + pickup + h1 belt .. it works out £70 more .... OR .... is the whole HRE thing just a waste of money and I would be better getting a basic model d with pm3 and no HR stuff for £860

any advice greatly appreciated

[RoidbotPR]

It really comes down to preference and where you will be spending the most time using the HR monitor, either on the PM or your wrist. If rowing is just one facet of your cardio, you will be better served just getting a watch, so you can use it elsewhere.

Monitoring HR while exercising is great. You can tell when your brain is saying one thing, and your heart another. Some days I think I am not working hard enough, and it is a relief to see that I really am...not so much when I think I am pushing myself, and my HR is 130, so I pick up the pace.

Other days I shut everything off and just exercise until I am tired.

All this said, I wished I splurged when I bought my Model D with a PM3. Now that I am logging rowing data, it would have been great to have HR thrown into the mix.

Good luck on your purchase!

[Citroen]

PM4 with Garmin.

[ArmandoChavezUNC]

I would go with the PM4 with garmin

[lcantey]

I'd also say go with PM4 + Garmin. I already had a Polar belt (purchased many years before) when I started rowing and I bought the pickup which I used for quite some time but I found the range was fairly short and I'd get dropouts at times. For me I was using a gym machine so also had to readjust it every time so although it worked overall it was frustrating. My receiver died awhile back and I ended up picking up the dual Polar/BT H7 so that it would work with the rower, my old watch, and my phone. Since then I switched over to using just the phone for tracking since I never have any issues with it. I'll certainly get the PM4 when I finally find a spot for a rower.

Whew, that was too long and rambling. My point is that the newer digital protocols (BT & Ant) have better range, less interference, and work with more current devices.

[lindsayh]

PM4 with Garmin.

What he said.
Well worth the extra for the HR stuff

[jcl]

When I started I was using a family members Model C with PM3 and Garmin FR70. This configuration allowed me to record my rows with the logcard and view my HR on my wrist. After acquiring a Model D with PM4 and USB cable for ErgData I was able to directly view HR strap data on PM4 monitor and could also see better in the dark using ErgData. As someone mentioned previously, having the watch was nice for me to use during cross-training or other times I wanted to record or monitor HR away from the erg. I personally would go with the PM4 because the ability to use ANT+ based devices provides the greatest flexibility should you need to replace the belt or want to upgrade, you will have many choices and the HR strap would most likely be compatible with any other ANT+ systems you might have. If you have a compatible watch and it is supported, you can also connect that to the PM4 which you can't do in any configuration on the PM3.

[eleanorsbee]

Thanks for the advice everyone ..... sounds like the pm4 is the way to go

[Drivetofast]

You might want to wait. There might be a wireless pm in the near future. Ski erg has it

[jackarabit]

You may not have long to wait for a machine with PM5, backlit screen, data storage to USB stick and . . . ? From what I gather talking to C2 sales, this is more than a faint promise of vapor ware. Jack

[Citroen]

You may not have long to wait for a machine with PM5, backlit screen, data storage to USB stick and . . . ? From what I gather talking to C2 sales, this is more than a faint promise of vapor ware. Jack

Remember that the original poster is from the United Kingdom and may not be purchasing her rower from Concept2.

[jackarabit]

I apologize for the oversight. I know nothing of availability in the UK now or in future. I only know what I was told by Mark in Vermont (not Vermont House). However, with regard to stateside custom, I assume by the time I heard about it, more than the cat's tail was out of the bag. Jack

[Tallahassee]

You may not have long to wait for a machine with PM5, backlit screen, data storage to USB stick and . . . ? From what I gather talking to C2 sales, this is more than a faint promise of vapor ware. Jack

I would greatly appreciate hearing some details about what new stuff might be coming, and when... Particularly regarding performance monitors or interfaces.

[Citroen]

I'd suspect Concept2, Inc's product plans are "confidential until announced". That's to avoid the Osborne Effect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osborne_effect

[jackarabit]

I have no information beyond what I was told. Perhaps I shouldn't have employed the enticing ellipsis [. . .] which does suggest that I have additional details. I called C2 to enquire if the PM3 trade in against price of PM4 was in effect and was told that it was not and that a "PM5" with "backlighting and USB thumb drive replacing log card" would be available "soon." The above details were volunteered with no additional preamble or special pleading on my part. No request for confidentiality was stated or implied by the disembodied voice calling himself Mark.

The number for C2 phone sales is on their site for the curious erging horde in NA. The British cousins know, as Doug pointed out in an earlier post, that their source of info and product is much closer home and will not call. Mark may be sacked after C2 googles Osborne effect in which case I have done them a favor as an unwitting defender of corporate secrecy. Around these parts, we notice how the chickens take a dust bath and everybody gets choked up and caint see strait. Is that what's going on here? I think I'll google tight hat band effect and see what I get. Jack