Four-step setup sequence
There are four main steps to prepare your equipment for Online Crew Rowing, and these are best done in the following sequence:
| 1. | Get RowPro installed and activated |
| 2. | Connect and configure your Concept2 Performance Monitors |
| 3. | Connect to Oarbits and the Online Rowing Server |
| 4. | Test Online Crew Rowing |
Step 1: Get RowPro installed and activated
For this step you will need:
| • | The latest version of RowPro downloaded from www.digitalrowing.com/downloads. Note: It's very important to use the latest version of RowPro when you set up for Online Crew Rowing. |
| • | Your RowPro License Number if you have one already. If you don't have one, you can either buy one at www.digitalrowing.com/store or use the 20 day free trial. |
| • | Some technical information about and settings related to the Internet connection (you may need to ask your IT staff for assistance here), in particular: |
| • | If there is a Proxy Server (likely), you will need to know its name, port number, and if it requires authentication you will need to know the corresponding login and password. |
Procedure:
To install or upgrade to the latest version of RowPro, download and run RowProSetup.exe from www.digitalrowing.com/downloads.
Once RowPro is installed, double-click the RowPro icon on your desktop to start RowPro. The Activation Manager will appear and you should do the following:
| • | If you have a RowPro License already, click the Activate tab, click Activate Online and enter your RowPro License Number to activate RowPro. Note: If there is a Proxy Server, when you activate online, RowPro will be unable to connect at first. When this happens, look for a world icon in the Windows Task Tray at the bottom right of your PC screen, right-click it, click Proxy settings and enter your Proxy settings. Then try activating online again and this time it should work. |
| • | If you just want to use the 20-day free tryout, click the Tryout tab, enter the required details and click Get a free tryout key online. Note: If there is a Proxy Server, follow the procedure in the note above. |
Once that's done, RowPro is ready to use and you can go on to Step 2. If you strike any problems installing or activating RowPro, please check RowPro Help and www.digitalrowing.com/support and then contact assist@digitalrowing.com.
Step 2: Connect and configure your Concept2 Performance Monitors
For this step you will need:
| • | Between 1 and 16 Concept2 Indoor Rowers ("ergs") equipped with either a PM5, PM4 or a PM3 Performance Monitor (PM). Note: It's very important to use the latest version of PM firmware when you set up for Online Crew Rowing. |
| • | A USB cable for each Concept2 PM you plan to connect. The maximum is 16 but the number you can connect is set by your RowPro license. To check how many you can connect, look at the number of ergs listed on the left of the Title Bar at the very top of the RowPro screen. |
| • | One or more USB Hubs with enough ports in total to connect all your Concept2 Performance Monitors. Note: Any USB Hubs you use must be of the mains-powered variety and must be powered from a wall outlet at all times when used with RowPro. |
| • | A USB cable from the USB Hub(s) to your RowPro PC. |
Procedure:
With RowPro closed, start by connecting the first USB Hub to the RowPro PC. Wait patiently for the USB doh-dah sound to confirm Windows has recognized the USB hub.
Now plug each Concept2 PM into the USB Hub. After plugging in each one, wait patiently for the USB doh-dah sound to confirm Windows has recognized that PM, then wait while Windows installs drivers etc. Take plenty of time and make sure each one is completed before moving on.
Once all the PMs are connected, start RowPro, click the down arrow next to Control Center on the RowPro main menu, and click Indoor Rower Layout. The Indoor Rower Layout utility will appear and you should do the following:
| • | Check the PM Limit number shown on the right of the Indoor Rower Layout utility. This must be large enough to cover all the PMs you plan to connect. If it's not, you will need to get a bigger RowPro License from www.digitalrowing.com/store. |
| • | Click Start. RowPro will take control of the connected PMs and will put them into a special mapping mode, where they all display a large question mark (?) on their display screen. If any of the connected PMs do not show the large question mark on their display screen, this indicates they are not properly connected to RowPro and you will need to trouble-shoot this and resolve any issues before you continue setting up the Indoor Rower Layout. To do this, follow the steps in the Troubleshooting Guide. |
| • | Go to the erg you want to make Erg #1 and press the button on that PM. The question mark on its screen will be replaced with Erg #1. Press the button again to confirm. Go down the line of ergs repeating this at each PM until they are all done. As you confirm each erg number, that PM is listed in the Indoor Rower Layout utility with a green light. If any of the ergs appear with an orange or red light, follow the steps in the Troubleshooting Guide. |
Once all the ergs are listed, RowPro is ready to run with multiple ergs and you can go on to Step 3. If you strike any problems connecting or configuring your PMs, please check RowPro Help and www.digitalrowing.com/support and then contact assist@digitalrowing.com.
Step 3: Connect to Oarbits and the Online Rowing Server
For this step you will need:
| • | Some technical information about and settings related to the Internet connection (you may need to ask your IT staff for assistance here), in particular: |
| • | If there is a Proxy Server (likely), you will need to know its name, port number, and if it requires authentication you will need to know the corresponding login and password. |
| • | If there is a Firewall (almost certain) you will need to get UDP Port 9300 opened to enable RowPro to connect for Online Crew Rowing. |
| • | Note: If you are unable to get the Proxy Server and/or Firewall Port organized in time for an Online Crew Rowing event, as an alternative you might consider connecting via a Mobile (cellular) network direct to the Internet if that option is open to you. If you do that, you won't need to concern yourself with Proxy Server or Firewall settings at all. |
Procedure:
Start by confirming your RowPro PC is connected to the Internet. To do this, just open your web browser and confirm you can browse to common websites.
Now start RowPro and click Control Center | Oarbits. This will immediately connect RowPro to the Oarbits Server via TCP Port 80. Note: If there is a Proxy Server and you haven't already configured RowPro to use it, follow the procedure in the note in Step 1 above.
The first time you connect to oarbits you will be asked to register. Give your Digital Rowing account Login and Password, and make up any Computer name. Note: The Computer name you enter must be unique in the Online Rowing system, so make sure you create an unusual name.
Once you have registered for Oarbits you can click Session List to see the Session List. Once you can see this list you are successfully connected to Oarbits.
Next close the Control Center and open Session Setup. Click Online. This will immediately connect RowPro to the Online Rowing Server via UDP Port 9300. Note: If there is a Firewall between your PC and the Internet (i.e. separate from the firewall within your PC) and your technical staff haven't already opened UDP Port 9300, you will need to get this port opened or RowPro will not be able to participate in Online Crew Rowing.
Once you have successfully connected to the Online Rowing Server, RowPro is ready for Online Crew Rowing and you can go on to Step 4. If you strike any problems connecting to Oarbits or the Online Rowing Server, please ask your IT staff for assistance and show them this information, plus check RowPro Help and www.digitalrowing.com/support and then contact assist@digitalrowing.com.
Step 4: Test Online Crew Rowing
For this step you will need:
All the steps 1-3 completed successfully so that:
| • | All your Concept2 PMs are connected and configured. |
| • | Your PC can be connected to Oarbits and the Online Rowing Server. |
Procedure:
Start RowPro, click Session Setup | Online, click Create Quick Row, enter a Row Name, Duration and Crew and click Row. This will take you to the Check-In screen.
Click Ready, then Prepare to Start. You will see the Duration set up on your PMs. Click Start, and after Row, row the session.
After the session is rowed, you will see the Finish screen.
Once you have successfully completed this test row you are ready to participate with others in Online Crew Rowing.
