Do you have to manually connect to your treadmill with your phone before each workout you do or is it just the initial first time setup? I only want something I can setup once and forget it.
Can the Echo be used as the same time as the Fitness app in the Watch? Like I am tracking my activity time and calories using my watch during a workout and at the same time using the Echo to transmit hear rate to my treadmill.
Sort of. I tested this today. So basically the Apple Fitness App won’t work at the same time as Echo… BUT the workout was recorded afterwords into the Apple Fitness app after it got the workout info from echo. I hope that makes sense
The bummer about the echo app, is you cannot use it and do an Apple Fitness workout at the same time. It comes right up on your watch and tells you you cannot have two fitness apps running at the same time. So I guess I'll choose the apple workout instead, and just glance at my watch for my heart rate. For people who lean more heavily into the iFit world, the echo app will work for you.
How does this technically work, since I didn’t need to allow anything on the machine. It’s looking too much magical for me. I want to understand what goes under the hood! Any tips?
I think they have a free version of the app you can trial. It just converts the HR info from your Apple Watch to a signal that can be read by the machine. Most heart rate monitors do this automatically but apple doesn’t like to have their stuff work with other stuff 🤷♂️
@@ConnectTheWatts The signal part is what I’m trying to guess, as a technologist, it seems weird to me that it works without having to confirm anything on the machine. It magically worked !
I just installed Echo and did a test workout on my Nordic Track Commercial 2450. I was able to pair to the treadmill and get my heartrate showing pretty easily. HOWEVER, the heartrate stopped updating and it read the same rate on my watch, phone, and treadmill. It just sat there frozen. For fun, i popped open the heart rate app on my watch and it was able to come up and detect my heart rate just fine. And, it updated normally. Funny thing is, it jump started the echo app on watch, phone, and treadmill. I had to continue to switch to the built in watch heart rate app and get it to update and that would trigger updates in echo until the built in app timed out. The echo app gave up after its 20 minute max for the trial version. i was able to easily restart it and used it with the same method to finish my workout. once i got off of the treadmill, i left the echo app running and it had the same issue of freezing and i was able to get it to update using the same trick or switching to the built in watch app. when i killed power to the treadmill, the echo app dropped its connection and went back into "waiting for connection". BOTTOM LINE, if the app functioned as advertised, I'd be fine purchasing and using it. As is, its pretty frustrating and frankly I wouldn't reward this buggy behavior with a purchase even if it was a 99cent app. I'll probably take the time to submit a bug report and see if they are able to resolve it. I hope so. I think it could be a simple and cost effective solution to getting heart rate monitoring in my ifit app. Thanks #ConnectTheWatts for video.
Hello @ConnectTheWatts, I am wondering if you can please share if and how one can pair a Garmin Heart Rate Monitor (HRM Pro+) with Nordic Track 2450 Treadmill? Thanks in advance!
I do not have a compatible workout machine which connects to iFIT. I have the app on my iPad. I have been able to mirror the screen to a TV in my workout space via lightening to HDMI cord. Now I would like to have the option to have a heart rate monitor so this app seems to be an option. However, I wonder if this app on the Apple Watch would connect to my iPad which is the device running the workout.
Hmm I’m not sure if it would connect to the app via the iPAD. I unfortunately don’t think it would work because of how Apple usually is set up. But if you had an external device, like an Amazon fire stick, it might be able to connect to the watch via the app. But I really couldn’t say until it’s been tested. If I am able to test it, I will let you know.
Hi…. Just connected my daughters Apple Watch to Echo on her iPhone which broadcasts to iFit on her Ipad. I think the Apple Watch needs iHealth to connect to Echo, and iHealth doesn’t run on the iPad, only the iPhone. (I think it’s called iHealth - but may have got it wrong, I’m a Garmin watch user with an Android phone so a bit useless on apple names). I personally run iFit on my iPad with my Garmin connecting to my iPad, and was surprised when we couldn’t connect the Apple Watch to the iPad like we could the Garmin. But this Echo app on an iPhone work well for my daughter now.
@@TheDave1205 thanks for the input! I ended up purchasing an ifit arm band for $100 and it connects to my iPad via the ifit app and it displays on my mirrored screen during a work out.
Stumbled across your video as I just ordered an Apple Watch (won’t arrive for a month ☹️) and was doing some research. I’m assuming yes but don’t see this specifically mentioned-you do know if this workaround will work with the tablet that comes with the Fusion CST? Thanks for sharing this!
Hey David, I am unsure about the Fusion CST tablet. It is not listed as an option under the ECHO app so unfortunately there is a chance it may not work.
Echo is good but many people, myself included have trouble with a stable connection. The watch link device is a more stable connection… IMO. It also doesn’t depend on your phone sending the signal
Yes I use the Watch Link for my Peloton (Echo app has a little more trouble with Peloton), but I've had good luck with the Echo app for iFIT devices. Thanks for sharing... good to hear other's experiences!
Connecting to the Peloton OG bike can be unreliable for some users. This is due to the Bluetooth implementation on the Peloton OG bike. Connecting to the NordicTrack (iFIT) is super stable with ECHO.
$23AUD to use Echo... very expensive what what it does. Will check for alternatives now. Correction feb 2022 - now $31 just to do this... I'm guessing that nobody else figured out how to make a solution so why not squeeze as much money out of people as possible.
Is this a substitute for the Active Pulse training for nordictrack?
Will this work when the treadmill is in manual mode?
I was wondering that also.
Does the Echo App pass through all the data required for Apple Fitness to calculate the V02Max?
Do you have to manually connect to your treadmill with your phone before each workout you do or is it just the initial first time setup? I only want something I can setup once and forget it.
Can the Echo be used as the same time as the Fitness app in the Watch? Like I am tracking my activity time and calories using my watch during a workout and at the same time using the Echo to transmit hear rate to my treadmill.
Sort of. I tested this today. So basically the Apple Fitness App won’t work at the same time as Echo… BUT the workout was recorded afterwords into the Apple Fitness app after it got the workout info from echo.
I hope that makes sense
@@ConnectTheWatts ok, I understand. Thank you!
But Apple has the GymKit function for that. Why is this not supported here?
I’ve been trying to find a home treadmill that supports GymKit, but only been able to find commercial ones.
Hey, if I start a workout program on my Apple Watch, will the data be pulled from Nordictrack machine such as calories burnt etc.?
The bummer about the echo app, is you cannot use it and do an Apple Fitness workout at the same time. It comes right up on your watch and tells you you cannot have two fitness apps running at the same time. So I guess I'll choose the apple workout instead, and just glance at my watch for my heart rate. For people who lean more heavily into the iFit world, the echo app will work for you.
How does this technically work, since I didn’t need to allow anything on the machine. It’s looking too much magical for me. I want to understand what goes under the hood! Any tips?
I think they have a free version of the app you can trial. It just converts the HR info from your Apple Watch to a signal that can be read by the machine. Most heart rate monitors do this automatically but apple doesn’t like to have their stuff work with other stuff 🤷♂️
@@ConnectTheWatts The signal part is what I’m trying to guess, as a technologist, it seems weird to me that it works without having to confirm anything on the machine. It magically worked !
I just installed Echo and did a test workout on my Nordic Track Commercial 2450. I was able to pair to the treadmill and get my heartrate showing pretty easily. HOWEVER, the heartrate stopped updating and it read the same rate on my watch, phone, and treadmill. It just sat there frozen. For fun, i popped open the heart rate app on my watch and it was able to come up and detect my heart rate just fine. And, it updated normally. Funny thing is, it jump started the echo app on watch, phone, and treadmill. I had to continue to switch to the built in watch heart rate app and get it to update and that would trigger updates in echo until the built in app timed out. The echo app gave up after its 20 minute max for the trial version. i was able to easily restart it and used it with the same method to finish my workout. once i got off of the treadmill, i left the echo app running and it had the same issue of freezing and i was able to get it to update using the same trick or switching to the built in watch app. when i killed power to the treadmill, the echo app dropped its connection and went back into "waiting for connection". BOTTOM LINE, if the app functioned as advertised, I'd be fine purchasing and using it. As is, its pretty frustrating and frankly I wouldn't reward this buggy behavior with a purchase even if it was a 99cent app. I'll probably take the time to submit a bug report and see if they are able to resolve it. I hope so. I think it could be a simple and cost effective solution to getting heart rate monitoring in my ifit app. Thanks #ConnectTheWatts for video.
Thanks for sharing. I haven’t personally seen this issue yet… maybe it was a recent update. I’ll try and test if I get some time.
Hello @ConnectTheWatts, I am wondering if you can please share if and how one can pair a Garmin Heart Rate Monitor (HRM Pro+) with Nordic Track 2450 Treadmill? Thanks in advance!
I do not have a compatible workout machine which connects to iFIT. I have the app on my iPad. I have been able to mirror the screen to a TV in my workout space via lightening to HDMI cord. Now I would like to have the option to have a heart rate monitor so this app seems to be an option. However, I wonder if this app on the Apple Watch would connect to my iPad which is the device running the workout.
Hmm I’m not sure if it would connect to the app via the iPAD. I unfortunately don’t think it would work because of how Apple usually is set up. But if you had an external device, like an Amazon fire stick, it might be able to connect to the watch via the app. But I really couldn’t say until it’s been tested. If I am able to test it, I will let you know.
@@ConnectTheWatts I agree. I feel that the iPad would not pick this up. If it does get tested, let me know! Thank you very much
Hi…. Just connected my daughters Apple Watch to Echo on her iPhone which broadcasts to iFit on her Ipad. I think the Apple Watch needs iHealth to connect to Echo, and iHealth doesn’t run on the iPad, only the iPhone. (I think it’s called iHealth - but may have got it wrong, I’m a Garmin watch user with an Android phone so a bit useless on apple names). I personally run iFit on my iPad with my Garmin connecting to my iPad, and was surprised when we couldn’t connect the Apple Watch to the iPad like we could the Garmin. But this Echo app on an iPhone work well for my daughter now.
@@TheDave1205 thanks for the input! I ended up purchasing an ifit arm band for $100 and it connects to my iPad via the ifit app and it displays on my mirrored screen during a work out.
Stumbled across your video as I just ordered an Apple Watch (won’t arrive for a month ☹️) and was doing some research. I’m assuming yes but don’t see this specifically mentioned-you do know if this workaround will work with the tablet that comes with the Fusion CST?
Thanks for sharing this!
Hey David, I am unsure about the Fusion CST tablet. It is not listed as an option under the ECHO app so unfortunately there is a chance it may not work.
Any noticeable delay in heart rate update/refresh on the device?
nope, I haven't noticed any delays. The apple watch and ifit screen seem pretty much exactly in synch
Hello,
Do you know if your able to connect a samsung watch?
Sorry, I'm not quite sure about that one.
Echo is good but many people, myself included have trouble with a stable connection. The watch link device is a more stable connection… IMO. It also doesn’t depend on your phone sending the signal
Yes I use the Watch Link for my Peloton (Echo app has a little more trouble with Peloton), but I've had good luck with the Echo app for iFIT devices. Thanks for sharing... good to hear other's experiences!
Connecting to the Peloton OG bike can be unreliable for some users. This is due to the Bluetooth implementation on the Peloton OG bike. Connecting to the NordicTrack (iFIT) is super stable with ECHO.
The iftt app is daylight robery
The price is only going up just get a chest monitor.
It worked!!
Can seniors get a free Fitbit?
For the Connect The Watts Community, The Pro Version of ECHO has been reduced in the App Store to $9.99 for the next 48 hours!!!
Just to up the price to 20 $ in 2023. To much money the this feature...
Price is 19.99😢
LOL, I noticed MATRIX is not on there. Seems to be in a lot of gyms but of course it is not on the list.
$23AUD to use Echo... very expensive what what it does. Will check for alternatives now.
Correction feb 2022 - now $31 just to do this... I'm guessing that nobody else figured out how to make a solution so why not squeeze as much money out of people as possible.
To much work, just get the iFIT Smartbeat. In the long run you will pay less.