No FE-C or ANT+ FE support to connect training equipment (rowing machine)

I have an F3 that i have hand for 1,5 years now. I like it and it has served me well, except for the fact that it does not have FE-C or ANT+ FE support to connect it to my Concept Model D rowing machine.
There are threads at the F3 forum for people that have high wishes that it should be implemented, but no such luck.

Sad to see that none of the F5 models have FE-C or FE support either.


What are your thoughts about it, should they implement it? I would like so as the F5 will be my future replacement for my current F3 model (unless it survives until F6 is released).
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Check out the ERG IQ app -- not completely a replacement (no power, doesn't map to existing fields), but is pretty cool in specific circumstances.

    https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?366510-Erg-IQ
  • It could be nice to have native FE/FE-C connectivity. Now I must use edge with hometrainer, forerunner 610 with Concept2 and Fenix for other sport. And so, recovery time,Training load, calories, distance, intensity minutes are all incorrect
  • I agree, it's annoying that the Concept and Garmin people still can't get together on this one, it's something that's been asked for for years. And unlike other pieces of fitness equipment (e.g. treadmills or exercise bikes), in Concept you've got one single manufacturer with a massive market share. Garmin provide an 'Indoor Rowing' activity as standard, and also support the metrics on Garmin Connect, so why not go the next step and communicate with the PM5? From what I've seen in conversations on other forums, neither Concept nor Garmin have any real inclination to do anything and are happy just to leave it to the other to take the lead. For my money, it's going to need to be Garmin who take the lead here; let's face it, the technology side of the PM5 and Concept's online logbook don't exactly paint a picture of a company eager to be at the cutting edge of technology, do they?

    My workflow is to record my rowing on my f5 using the standard 'Indoor Row' activity, then manually enter the distance afterwards (from the Concept2 logbook if I forget to note it at the time) - that way my fenix5 has a record of it and I get all the associated physiological metrics.
  • Same, i wish garmin/concept2 would figure something out. Do you think you'd pay for a syncing service in the meantime? I'm thinking about spending a few days to build one.