Connecting mutliple Concept2 rowers to a PC

[TeachGeek1]

Not sure if people here will know but its worth a shot.

 

We are using Concept2 Rowing machines in school (PM4 model), we want to do races within lessons with them and have them display on the board through the PC. I am aware that you can connect multiple Rowers together using RJ45 cables and that you can connect a single rower to the pc via a USB-A - USB-B cable.

 

Rather than having to buy a USB hub to support all of the usbs I would need. Is it possible to connect the rowers together with the RJ45s and then connect the closest one to the PC and have them all feed into the PC using the USB cable? Or is there another way to connect them all to the PC only using one usb port.

 

Thanks

[mavhc]

It's not an ethernet connection, it's rs485 using the same connector as rj45, so don't plug it into a PC

 

https://www.concept2.com/service/monitors/pm4/how-to-use/racing-pm4s and https://www.concept2.com/service/software/venue-race-application/how-to-use suggest it's possible.

 

PC --- usb --- machine 1 --- rs485 ---machine 2 ---- rs485 ---- machine 3 etc

 

Don't forget a terminator https://www.concept2.com/files/pdf/us/venueracing/VenueRacing_DIYTerminator.pdf

[Steve101]

Yes we connect our PM4s using ethernet cables and the end one using a USB to the computer. No terminator is used here.