How does Rowerg work in conjunction to ergdata, logbook and PM5

[Lllmsg]

Hi everyone - newbie here - long story short a recent medical diagnosis forced me to drop my prior hobbies of running and biking - doctor recommended indoor rowing, so here I am.

Yesterday my Rowerg arrived from C2 with a PM5 monitor. I installed ergdata on my phone and I did a few 'just row' sessions to acclimate myself.

Then I went to youtube (Shane, Dark Horse Rowing) and did two workouts following the videos. The instructor had guided me to push buttons on the PM5 (NEW WORKOUT, SINGLE Time, etc etc) so I know these workouts were saved on the PM5 itself.

So basically I had my iphone (with ergdata installed, but may not have been running) mounted on the Rowerg running youtube and when I was done I 'finished' the workout.

The PM5 shows all my sessions on the device itself, but when I launch Rowerg I don't see anything logged on the app, and also blank when I log in to C2's logbook page (https://log.concept2.com/history).

Is there a SYNC button (or steps?) on the PM5 or ergdata app that I need to run so the data is synchronized?

Or do I need to run the ergdata app 'live' while I row, for the data to be captured correctly? In that case if I start the workout using ergdata will it also transfer the workout parameters (like time, split length, etc) to PM5 accordingly? Or should I just start the workout on the PM5 panel, and ergdata just automatically records and also log to C2 logbook?

The video instructor mentioned in his video that he recommends I watch his video from a laptop and run the ergdata on a phone/pad mounted on the rower itself, so that's why I am asking if it is required for ergdata to be running on my main screen (instead of youtube)?

Again sorry for what may be a basic question, and thank you in advance.

Lou

[ahooton]

You need to make sure your phone is connected to pm5. Open the app and tap ‘ connect to erg’. To ensure you’ve hit the right erg (in case your in a gym’ you can press connect on the pm5 , and it will display the number.
Once your phone and pm5 are tethered, all metres get logged. You can set up workouts from your phone.

Enjoy

[MPx]

Or do I need to run the ergdata app 'live' while I row, for the data to be captured correctly?

Welcome Lou - well done on getting the erg and starting - a lifetime of fun (!) ahead.

I'm not sure I could answer all of your Questions individually and keep it cohesive so, yes to the above question, and suggest this:
If you use a Heart Rate (Chest belt is best) put that on first!
When you want to start press the menu button on the PM to wake up the monitor.
Then open the Ergdata app on your phone and make sure it connects to the monitor - the first time you may need to select it, but after that it should connect automatically next time.
If you have an HR belt then connect that with the connect menu option on the PM. If you say to remember it you wont need this step next time.
Programme your workout in Ergdata - it has all the same options as the PM: distance; time; regular intervals; variable intervals; etc.
Once programmed in Ergdata press "ready" in the app and the workout (or first interval) will appear on the PM
When you finish the workout (or last interval) press the menu key on the PM and wait a few seconds.
You'll see the screen go a bit dark and that is while everything gets uploaded to your online C2 log. It will also be sync'd with your Ergdata log. You get lots of data/graphs to obsess over in your online log.

Enjoy...
(edit: Ha! Anthony beat me to it rather more elegantly!)

[gvcormac]

^^^ what MPx said, with a couple of extra points:

1. It doesn't really matter whether you turn the PM5 on or start ergdata first
2. If you are doing a "just row" or an unspecified number of intervals, you need to signal the end of the workout before it will be saved. I do this by hitting MENU on the PM5 -- then wait until the PM5 stores in memory, followed by ErgData storing it. Another way is to hit the yellow button on the top left of ErgData, and select one of the "save and ..." options. (I find the PM5 approach simpler and easier to remember. If you forget and turn off your PM5 or ErgData, you lose the workout.) If you do a set time or distance, or variable intervals, the PM5 saves automatically when you're done. But no harm in hitting MENU just to be sure.
3. Then you can turn the PM5 off by hitting MENU four times. If you don't turn it off or disconnect ErgData, the PM5 will stay on indefinitely, draining your battery.
4. When you first run ErgData, you need to put in your log.concept2.com credentials. You don't need to do that ever again.
5. If you want your workout to appear in another log, such as Garmin Connect or Strava, log in to your log.concept2.com account, choose "edit profile" and "apps" and select the ones you want.
6. There's new privacy legislation that requires you to give permission for your heart rate to be stored and transmitted. The various apps will ask for this permission, but I've forgotten the precise mechanism. I had to do it for log.concept2.com, Garmin, and Strava.

[Sakly]

3. Then you can turn the PM5 off by hitting MENU four times. If you don't turn it off or disconnect ErgData, the PM5 will stay on indefinitely, draining your battery.

That is not the case. Current ergdata version will disconnect automatically from PM5 after 15min, if no workout is running. After that, PM5 will timeout after few mins and shutdown, too.

[JaapvanE]

2. If you are doing a "just row" or an unspecified number of intervals, you need to signal the end of the workout before it will be saved. I do this by hitting MENU on the PM5 -- then wait until the PM5 stores in memory, followed by ErgData storing it. Another way is to hit the yellow button on the top left of ErgData, and select one of the "save and ..." options. (I find the PM5 approach simpler and easier to remember. If you forget and turn off your PM5 or ErgData, you lose the workout.) If you do a set time or distance, or variable intervals, the PM5 saves automatically when you're done. But no harm in hitting MENU just to be sure.

AFAIK, this should this should be the other way around. You tell ErgData to disconnect from the PM5, making it request all data and send it to the logbook. If you disconnect from the PM5, it tends to mess up ErgData

[gvcormac]

2. If you are doing a "just row" or an unspecified number of intervals, you need to signal the end of the workout before it will be saved. I do this by hitting MENU on the PM5 -- then wait until the PM5 stores in memory, followed by ErgData storing it. Another way is to hit the yellow button on the top left of ErgData, and select one of the "save and ..." options. (I find the PM5 approach simpler and easier to remember. If you forget and turn off your PM5 or ErgData, you lose the workout.) If you do a set time or distance, or variable intervals, the PM5 saves automatically when you're done. But no harm in hitting MENU just to be sure.

AFAIK, this should this should be the other way around. You tell ErgData to disconnect from the PM5, making it request all data and send it to the logbook. If you disconnect from the PM5, it tends to mess up ErgData

Hit MENU once. That saves the workout and puts you back at the main menu. If you hit MENU four more times (i.e. from the main menu) it shuts off the PM5. Don't do that until ErgData has had a chance to capture the data.

Or you can initiate the save from ErgData. I find the PM5 more convenient.

[gvcormac]

3. Then you can turn the PM5 off by hitting MENU four times. If you don't turn it off or disconnect ErgData, the PM5 will stay on indefinitely, draining your battery.

That is not the case. Current ergdata version will disconnect automatically from PM5 after 15min, if no workout is running. After that, PM5 will timeout after few mins and shutdown, too.

Hmmm. I'll have to investigate further. It certainly used to stay on indefinitely if you were in a Just Row or any sort of open-ended session. Maybe it is different if the PM5 is on the main menu.

I'll test both on my erg.

I agree that if you disconnect ErgData the PM5 will power down after just a minute or two.

[Sakly]

3. Then you can turn the PM5 off by hitting MENU four times. If you don't turn it off or disconnect ErgData, the PM5 will stay on indefinitely, draining your battery.

That is not the case. Current ergdata version will disconnect automatically from PM5 after 15min, if no workout is running. After that, PM5 will timeout after few mins and shutdown, too.

Hmmm. I'll have to investigate further. It certainly used to stay on indefinitely if you were in a Just Row or any sort of open-ended session. Maybe it is different if the PM5 is on the main menu.

I'll test both on my erg.

I agree that if you disconnect ErgData the PM5 will power down after just a minute or two.

That's why I wrote "if no workout is active". When you are in an active workout, ergdata will not disconnect, wouldn't make sense.
But you listed step 3. after step 2., which included the end of a workout.
Ergdata informs about auto-disconnect after 15min, when you ended a workout (not sure if under all conditions, but I got this message several times, when I did short stuff in the gym, but did not close ergdata immediately afterwards).

[gvcormac]

That is not the case. Current ergdata version will disconnect automatically from PM5 after 15min, if no workout is running. After that, PM5 will timeout after few mins and shutdown, too.

Hmmm. I'll have to investigate further. It certainly used to stay on indefinitely if you were in a Just Row or any sort of open-ended session. Maybe it is different if the PM5 is on the main menu.

I'll test both on my erg.

I agree that if you disconnect ErgData the PM5 will power down after just a minute or two.

That's why I wrote "if no workout is active". When you are in an active workout, ergdata will not disconnect, wouldn't make sense.
But you listed step 3. after step 2., which included the end of a workout.
Ergdata informs about auto-disconnect after 15min, when you ended a workout (not sure if under all conditions, but I got this message several times, when I did short stuff in the gym, but did not close ergdata immediately afterwards).

Just tried it on my BikeErg: Just Ride for 70 seconds, paused for 20 minutes, PM5 still on and Connected, workout not saved. Hit MENU to save workout, waited another 20 minutes. PM5 still on and connected to ErgData, waiting for "Just Ride" or another workout.

[Sakly]

Hmmm. I'll have to investigate further. It certainly used to stay on indefinitely if you were in a Just Row or any sort of open-ended session. Maybe it is different if the PM5 is on the main menu.

I'll test both on my erg.

I agree that if you disconnect ErgData the PM5 will power down after just a minute or two.

That's why I wrote "if no workout is active". When you are in an active workout, ergdata will not disconnect, wouldn't make sense.
But you listed step 3. after step 2., which included the end of a workout.
Ergdata informs about auto-disconnect after 15min, when you ended a workout (not sure if under all conditions, but I got this message several times, when I did short stuff in the gym, but did not close ergdata immediately afterwards).

Just tried it on my BikeErg: Just Ride for 70 seconds, paused for 20 minutes, PM5 still on and Connected, workout not saved. Hit MENU to save workout, waited another 20 minutes. PM5 still on and connected to ErgData, waiting for "Just Ride" or another workout.

First case is running workout, nothing is happen there.
In the other case, probably ergdata will only throw this message/disconnect, when the app is put into background or phone display goes off. I understand, you did nothing else than leaving the stuff - PM5 and the ErgData device - alone without touching it (which is not a typical use case anyway).
Did the ErgData device screen went to off?
Next time I will focus on this to try to find out, when this message is thrown.

[gvcormac]

Did the ErgData device screen went to off?
Next time I will focus on this to try to find out, when this message is thrown.

No. When you first use ErgData it asks you to disable power saving for it. Presumably, that disables screen off/sleep.

Though on other occasions I have observed that if you start a new app, ErgData continues to track the PM5. I believe there was a screen off involved on that occasion. I thought: "Damn. I lost my ErgData session." But it saved the workout as usual.

[gvcormac]

Though on other occasions I have observed that if you start a new app, ErgData continues to track the PM5. I believe there was a screen off involved on that occasion. I thought: "Damn. I lost my ErgData session." But it saved the workout as usual.

Followup: I just turned on the PM5 and let it connect to ErgData and sit there waiting for Just Ride or enter workout. Still didn't disconnect after 15 minutes. No screen off either.

[Sakly]

Though on other occasions I have observed that if you start a new app, ErgData continues to track the PM5. I believe there was a screen off involved on that occasion. I thought: "Damn. I lost my ErgData session." But it saved the workout as usual.

Followup: I just turned on the PM5 and let it connect to ErgData and sit there waiting for Just Ride or enter workout. Still didn't disconnect after 15 minutes. No screen off either.

Typical scenario would be: you workout, press save (or don't for whatever reason), let the PM5 on in the main menu, put your phone to home screen, display off and take it with you. Probably this should be the first use case to test and I'm pretty sure that this is what I typically did in the gym when I saw the auto-disconnect message.

[p_b82]

There's new settings that do indeed keep the session alive now with ergdata.

so you do need to "stop" your session one way or another to disconnect - or turn off BTE on the device.

I always go: put on HRM, BTE on phone, wake up PM5, open ergdata, (both HRM and ergdata are saved & auto connect) choose session on ergdata, row session, then hit the "middle option" (I've forgotten what it says I don't look at it anymore) on ergdata top left menu at the end of the row, quick look at the row info in ergdata, close ergdata, turn off BTE - wander away.