What would it take for Indoor Rowing to give VO2max? (Concept2, ErgIQ, Firstbeat?)

So, obviously right now Indoor Rowing doesn't give a VO2max, nor does it link to any rowers for data support. But for those of us who already have a Concept2 rower in their garage, and would like to see Firstbeat data from the activity....

What would it take (asking Garmin in particular here) to get the Indoor Rowing activity to cough up VO2max updates?

I'm assuming...

HRM or R-R compatible chest strap
FE-C support from the Indoor Rowing activity
Indoor Rowing would need to pull stroke, power, distance data from the ANT frame from the rower
Activity would need to write out whatever data Firstbeat is using (FB already supports rowing in their analytics, does Garmin's license cover rowing ergometers?)
Might need a separate VO2max metric in F5, GCM? Currently shows a split of general and cycling VO2max, would this need to be a third?

Garmin already supports behavior like this for the foot pod analytics and sensor precedence, so aside from developer time what are we missing to add this in?

Top Replies

HermanB over 5 years ago +8

Hi guys,

I asked about this internally a while back and in theory it is entirely possible to extend VO2max and by extension updates to Training Status and anything else that benefits from routine VO2max…
9262751 over 4 years ago in reply to rdugarmin +3 suggested

Hand shown. I’m here because Im looking for this. All the pieces are there - Garmin just has to do the work to connect the PM5 data (sent via ANT+) into the VO2Max calculations.
rdugarmin over 3 years ago +3

Time to resurrect this thread! : )

HermanB and lcj2 it's great to see you guys still active on the boards - has anybody heard from Garmin about the possibilities here to get this working?

Garmin, name…

All Replies

0 8369131 over 4 years ago in reply to j2d2

j2d2 said:
Also, where did you find that Garmin requires a speed data-field for biking w/ V02 Max?

Please send me a private message.

About the speed sensor issue, I found that at least for my Fenix, it's mandatory to have one. The ride session will not start without a speed sensor, not else if I fire up an FE-C profile that, of course, contains speed, power and cadence data.

Paolo

0 9262751 over 4 years ago in reply to AllanOlesen67

The PM3 (sold 20 years ago) doesnt native.y support ANT+. You can upgrade to a PM5. As i recall, C2 used to sell a external adapter for newer HRMs. Not sure what tech the adapt supported, or if they still sell it.

+1 9262751 over 4 years ago in reply to rdugarmin

Hand shown. I’m here because Im looking for this. All the pieces are there - Garmin just has to do the work to connect the PM5 data (sent via ANT+) into the VO2Max calculations.

0 rdugarmin over 3 years ago

Time to resurrect this thread! : )

HermanB and lcj2 it's great to see you guys still active on the boards - has anybody heard from Garmin about the possibilities here to get this working?

Garmin, name your price to get this onto Indoor Rowing and let's see if the community will kickstarter it?

0 KatRow over 3 years ago in reply to 9262751

Hi everybody,

Our competitive master rowing team would - all garmin users - would love this. With or without chestbelts. Any news on this since the conversation started 2+ years ago? HermanB - so curious!

0 KatRow over 3 years ago

I am so curious if this has meanwhile been resolved? Would be awesome! I love the training status of the Garmin but am required to run to get an update, while I typically row.

0 SAHO over 3 years ago in reply to KatRow

It's not solved, but Garmin has made a major step forward by allowing C2 rowers to pair as power meters in the latest Fenix 6 firmware.

I highly doubt that it will trickle down to the Fenix 5 Plus or other legacy devices though.

0 KatRow over 3 years ago in reply to SAHO

Oh - that works for me - I have a Garmin Fenix 6S. Do you know how this works and how I can make this work?

And - is there any hope for the VO2 Max connection - that is the cool thing?

0 kvskaugvoll over 3 years ago in reply to SAHO

How is Garmin’s history of providing more value for older models? Hope that this happens (bought my 5x plus three months ago)

0 philipshambrook over 3 years ago in reply to kvskaugvoll

Garmin is pretty good at adding features to older watches. However, you’ve bought a watch that has probably had as many new features added that are going to be added. It is a mature product that has already been superseded by the F6. So, while the watch might be new to you, it is ‘old’ in the scheme of things.