Concept2 PM5 auto-pause

I tried creating a rowing profile this week, and I’m syncing data from a Concept2 PM5 via Strava. I have identified a critical data quality problem from Concept2, and I’m wondering if there’s anything that can be done from Xert’s end.

The problem is that when the Concept2 auto-pauses during a “Just Row” workout, the log file does not seem to record the length of the pause. If I take a break for 2 or 3 minutes, Xert sees the work after the break as having occurred immediately after the work before the break. In the worst case, I could be completely recovered after the break, but Xert thinks that I am under a huge amount of strain.

I believe that this is primarily a problem with the Concept2 PM5, but is there anything that Xert can do? Is there any data in the file that Xert could use, or could Xert engineers perhaps coordinate with Concept2 on a fix?

Without a fix, I think all of the data in Xert from the Concept2 is unusable.

Thanks!

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I have Concept2 SkiErg (PM5), and I noticed that it logs a data point for each stroke. So if you don’t pull, nothing will be logged. Not even your heart rate. If you just pull slightly during your rest intervals you will get data.

I suggest you contact support and ask if they can use fixed sampling time (1 sec). I did that some time ago, but I guess they need to hear this feature request multiple times to prioritize it.

However, I believe the timestamps were correct at least when I looked at the data using Intervals.ICU.

I think you’re right about what’s wrong with how their logging works.

I emailed Concept2 support about the problem a few days ago, and this was their reply: “Just Row workouts are designed to function this way, and it’s been like this for a while. If you plan on taking breaks or doing intervals, it’s a great idea to set up your workout to include those rest periods. Alternatively, if you’re not doing intervals, you can choose a preset distance or time for your workout.”

As a workaround, I’ve been setting a fixed-time workout that’s much longer than I plan on rowing. It’s not ideal, but I think the answer is to never use Just Row because it’s broken, and they have no intention of fixing it.