Why can't I connect my PM5 via Bluetooth?

Normally it is straightforward to connect the asensei app to your Bluetooth enabled PM5 monitor - you simply start your workout and when asensei asks you to turn on Wireless on your PM5 you follow the instructions by turning it on and enabling the wireless (if required).  Sometimes issues do occur, this guide will try and walk you through some potential problems.

Check that you have the latest version of the App/PM5 Firmware

It's important to be on the latest version of the asensei app, to ensure that the latest fixes and improvements are picked up.  You can check this in the iOS appstore.

Please also check that the PM5 has the latest firmware, older versions are more prone to connection problems.  

Turn Your iDevice Bluetooth Off and On Again

Yes, we know that's the advice the office IT guy normally gives, but sometimes it can help because it clears the phone cache and so can help clear any errors.  This is particularly advised after a PM5 firmware update.  We suggest that you kill the asensei app then turn off your phone/tablet's bluetooth, then turn on again and relaunch the app.

If this doesn't work it is worth trying a power cycle of your phone/tablet too - turn it off and then back on again.

Connect within the asensei app not through your phone's Bluetooth settings

If you have at any time paired or connected your PM5 via the Bluetooth settings on your phone this will cause a problem.  To check this go into your iPhone/iPad's settings app, choose Bluetooth and look to see if you see a PM5 Monitor listed on the My Devices list.  If you see it on that list tap on the text to the right of it saying Connected/Not Connected and then choose Forget This Device.

Close any other apps/disconnect other devices that may be connecting to the PM5.

If the PM5 is connecting to another app, such as Ergdata then it won't be able to connect to asensei.  You can't run two apps at the same time reliably.  Some other apps may connect automatically in the background, so please make sure that you close them before you try to perform a workout in asensei.

You should kill any other app connected to the PM5, even if it is running in the background.   To check they are not running in the background, either double-tap the home button on your iPhone, or swipe up from the bottom of the screen on newer iPhones. You can then swipe left and right through all of the apps running in the background on your phone. If you see another rowing app like ErgData, you can close/kill it by swiping it up to the top of the screen.

You should also check that another device isn't connecting to the PM5 automatically (e.g. a different iPad that is in the vicinity).  If the PM5 establishes a connection to another device asensei may not be able to connect.

You can check whether your PM5 is connected to a device by looking at the top right corner of the screen.  If the Bluetooth symbol has a little bracket to the right of it as shown below then it is NOT connected, if there is no bracket then the PM5 is connected.

Bluetooth Heart Rate monitors connected to the PM5 should not normally prevent the PM5 from connecting to your phone/tablet, but it may be worth checking by disconnecting the HRM from the PM5.

I don't even need to press turn wireless on and my PM5 connects to asensei

More recent versions of the PM5 firmware start to advertise that they are available via Bluetooth whenever you are on the home screen on the monitor (e.g. if you simply turn it on).  If this is happening when asensei attempts to connect then you should be connected automatically.  Pressing Turn Wireless on will still work, it's just not always necessary.  

Check you have given asensei permission to use Bluetooth

asensei will check this for you if you are on the latest version of the app (1.13 or above) so you can skip this section. 

When you first run a workout asensei asks for permission to use Bluetooth, if you don't grant it then you can't progress to start a workout and you'll be stuck on the PM5 connection video.

To check that you have granted permissions correctly go to the iOS settings app, then scroll down until you find asensei, tap on it and check that you have allowed asensei to access Bluetooth.  When correctly enabled the toggle switch should be showing as green and to the right hand side like this:

Check Bluetooth is Enabled on your Device

asensei will check this for you if you are on the latest version of the app (1.13 or above) so you can skip this section.   

It may seem obvious but please check that your phone or tablet has Bluetooth enabled.  If it isn't enabled you won't be able to connect and asensei doesn't currently warn you of this, so you will get stuck on the PM5 connection video in a workout.

To turn on Bluetooth, go to control Center by swiping down from the top right of the screen and make sure the Bluetooth icon is blue as shown below.  If it's grey then tap on it to enable.

The PM5 appears to connect but the screen goes black and the workout doesn't progress

Exact circumstances are:

- you go through the connection steps and the PM5 appears to connect

- the screen goes black

- music (if you have it switched on) continues to play

The PM5 is actually connected. This is a bug in iOS where the Voice Over that asensei uses doesn't start up correctly. It is believed that this is due to setting up the iPhone from an old back up over the air. 

In order to try to fix it could you try the following: 
1 Kill the asensei app by double tapping the home button and then swiping the asensei up off the top of the screen.
2. Go into settings -> accessibility -> speech
3. Tap on voice. You should see a long list of names (voices). 
4. Download one or two voices and select one of them and then go back out of speech.
5. Come back into speech and select Samantha.
6. Open the asensei app, run a workout and connect to the PM5. 

This should get you past the connection and blank screen and into the workout. If this is not successful please contact [e-mail]

When I try to connect I can't see the turn Wireless on option

On most PM5s when you press Menu, More Options on the PM5 you will normally see the Turn Wireless On option. 

Very recent versions of firmware have changed the PM5 menu structure  and there is now an option called Connect on the home screen when you turn it on (3rd button down on the right) or press Menu. 

If the Connect menu option isn't present either and you are definitely using a PM5, then you need to update your monitor's firmware.  See this article for more details: Can't see "Turn Wireless ON" option on my PM5

I still can't connect

In very rare cases, after upgrading the PM5 firmware to the latest version, if you have tried everything above, you may need to uninstall the asensei app and re-install.  Note, If you are running version 1.16 of the app or older then upon logout asensei will reset the targets that it sets you, so this would normally be a last resort only.  You can upgrade your app to a newer version before logging out to avoid this issue.

If you are still having problems after following the above suggestions please contact us at [e-mail] and we will do our very best to help.