Row Estimate help guide

What it is: an offline estimate for repeatable personal tracking. It is not a power meter and does not claim to reproduce the native distance of every machine.

Add it to Indoor Rowing

Install Row Estimate from Connect IQ and sync the watch.
On the watch open the Indoor Rowing activity, then Activity Settings → Data Screens.
Add Row Estimate to a data screen. Use a one-field layout for the largest view, or choose the primary metric for a small slot.
Start rowing. A useful estimate normally appears after around 20–30 seconds of activity data.

What each value means

Estimated split /500m: a pace-style estimate derived from the available energy inputs.
Estimated distance: cumulative distance calculated by the app.
Distance per stroke: shown only when Garmin supplies cadence. If cadence is unavailable, the app leaves this value unavailable instead of inventing strokes.
Small field metric: in the app settings choose Split /500m, Distance or Distance per stroke for a compact slot.

How the estimate is produced

The estimator uses the watch's cumulative calorie window first, then FirstBeat live energy when available, and finally a cadence-based fallback. It inverts the familiar Concept2 calorie/power-pace relationship to derive an estimate. If Garmin supplies no usable energy and no cadence, split and distance may remain unavailable.

The data field declares the FitContributor capability and writes estimated distance into developer fields for the record and session. Garmin Connect can show the developer chart/total, while Garmin's separate native Distance line may remain blank when no erg is connected.

Calibrate against a trusted machine

Leave Distance calibration at 100% for the first comparison. This is the documented default, not a promise of universal accuracy.
Row a steady interval and note the machine distance and Row Estimate distance from the same interval.
Adjust the direct percentage in Connect IQ settings, within the allowed 50–300% range, then repeat the same comparison.
Keep the setting that makes sense for your machine and technique. Recalibrate if you change machines or the watch consistently diverges.

Do not treat 202% as a recommended or validated calibration. The setting is a direct personal scale: 200% doubles the estimated distance and halves the estimated split time. Any value, including 202%, is only a user-specific experiment until your paired comparison supports it.

Troubleshooting and limitations

It stays at `--:--` or zero early in a workout

Give Garmin 20–30 seconds of valid activity data. A paused session, missing energy values or unavailable cadence can delay or remove the estimate.

Distance per stroke is unavailable

That is expected when Garmin does not expose current or average cadence. The app deliberately does not fabricate a stroke count.

The native distance is blank in Garmin Connect

Row Estimate records a developer distance field; it cannot fill Garmin's separate native distance field without an erg connection. Look for the developer chart/estimated total.

Known layout limitation: small or rectangular slots, including some Venu Sq layouts, can provide less room for the split and suffix than the full-field preview. Use a one-field screen or the compact primary-metric setting; if text still clips, report the exact model and firmware rather than assuming a calibration issue.

Privacy and support

No account or phone connection is needed during a workout. The app uses activity values on the watch; it does not upload them. The FitContributor developer fields stay in the activity record created by Garmin.

For support, include model, firmware, app version, machine distance, app estimate, interval duration and calibration. Do not send FIT or personal data unless it becomes necessary for a reproducible diagnosis. Contact support.

Row Estimate