Apps That Work with the Concept2 PM5

By the Watta Team · Updated

The Concept2 PM5 monitor connects to apps in three ways: Bluetooth, ANT+, and — with Watta — a photo of the screen. ErgData mirrors live data, Kinomap and Regatta turn workouts into games, and Watta analyses every session after you finish. This guide explains how each PM5-compatible app connects and which combination fits your training.

Quick Answer

The main apps that work with the Concept2 PM5 are ErgData (official, live Bluetooth data and Logbook uploads), Watta (photo capture and post-workout analytics with Effort Score), Kinomap and Regatta (interactive workout experiences over Bluetooth), and asensei (connected coaching). Most rowers combine one live app with Watta for analysis. You do not need Bluetooth at all to use Watta — a photo of the PM5 screen is enough.

How the PM5 Connects to Apps

The PM5 has three routes to get workout data into an app. First, Bluetooth Smart: the monitor pairs with phones and tablets so apps like ErgData, Kinomap, and Regatta can stream live pace, stroke rate, and watts. Second, ANT+: the same wireless data for compatible devices and heart rate belts. Third, the screen itself: every PM5 shows a summary at the end of a workout, and Watta reads that summary from a photo using AI OCR. The photo route matters because it works on shared gym ergs, needs no pairing before the session, and cannot fail mid-workout.

ErgData — the Official Companion

ErgData is Concept2's free companion app for iOS and Android. Pair it with the PM5 over Bluetooth and it displays live splits, stroke rate, heart rate, and force curves, then uploads the finished session to the Concept2 Logbook. If you care about official rankings, lifetime metres, and Concept2 challenges, ErgData is the reliable pipeline that feeds them.

Watta — Analytics Without Pairing

Watta takes the opposite approach: no Bluetooth, no pairing, no setup before you row. Finish your workout, photograph the PM5 summary screen, and Watta's AI extracts time, distance, splits, stroke rate, and heart rate. Every session gets a 0-100 Effort Score built from cardiac load, work output, pacing, and economy. Watta also connects to the Concept2 Logbook with a read-only link, so workouts you upload via ErgData import into Watta automatically — you get the official record and the analysis layer from one workflow.

Kinomap, Regatta, and asensei — Interactive Training

A separate family of PM5 apps focuses on the workout experience rather than the record. Kinomap streams real-world video routes that respond to your pace. Regatta turns erg sessions into games and virtual races. asensei layers structured coaching programmes over the live PM5 connection. These apps make the minutes on the erg more engaging; pair them with a tracking app if you also want long-term analysis.

Which Apps Can You Combine?

The PM5 maintains one Bluetooth app connection at a time, so you generally choose one live app per session. The good news is that Watta does not compete for the connection — it reads the screen afterwards. A common stack: ErgData or Kinomap live during the workout, automatic upload to the Concept2 Logbook, and Watta for Effort Score, heart rate zones, and trends. Strava fits at the end of the chain if you want to share the session socially.

Tips

  • +Update your PM5 firmware via the Concept2 Utility for the most reliable Bluetooth pairing.
  • +On shared gym ergs, skip pairing entirely — photograph the summary screen and let Watta do the rest.
  • +Pair your heart rate belt to the PM5 so heart rate appears on the summary screen for every app downstream.
  • +Use one live app per session; the PM5 holds a single Bluetooth connection.
  • +Link Watta to the Concept2 Logbook once, and ErgData uploads flow into Watta automatically.

Further Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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