Proteus PAR-5500 Commercial Club Series Rowing Machine

EDIT: I'm editing my original review up to 5 stars. The machine is great, and I found my error on how to get customer service. Looking again at the product page, I saw an "other products from HCI Fitness" link. HCI Fitness is in Seattle, and looks like who I'd contact to resolve any further service problems. It certainly isn't obvious from what's inside the box, but now I know and feel much more confident about the machine. Below is my original review: There is only one reason I'm not giving this product five stars. On my first workout on this machine, I got about 2/3 through when suddenly the computer displayed an "E-2" error. I tried power cycling the machine, but "E-2" came back. That's when I went to the manual to look for customer service. The only contact info of any kind that I found was the company website. The website URL is shared with "Zeta & Co" auto parts, and clicking through to Proteus Fitness revealed a pretty basic and Taiwan-based website. I could either call or email Taiwan. I chose email. To the company's credit, I received a response in 24 hours, with a Word doc with pictures on what I might look for to troubleshoot the E-2 error. As it turns out, in that time my husband unplugged and plugged the machine back in several times and the error cleared itself. We think it isn't a computer problem, but rather perhaps something with the magnetic resistance getting stuck that aborted the workout program. But what if it hadn't worked out? What if it's flawed in some way still? How would I get this machine fixed? They really need a U.S. customer service line or something that instills a little more confidence. We've had a couple error-free workouts on the machine since. The machine itself is fantastic... smooth mechanical operation, well-constructed. The workout programs are great. We especially like that they aren't fixed length... you can choose the workout profile and separately the workout time and one will scale to the other. So far, we're keeping the machine, but I'm checking Amazon's return policy so I know what I'm dealing with. If it remains error free before a return period is up, we'll probably roll the dice and keep it. We love it that much. If it craps out again, sadly it will have to go back to Amazon rather than have some reasonable repair path available.

Very low quality, broke within a couples of weeks. I would not recommend this item to either a commercial or residential user.

We really want this rower, have only heard good things about it, but through Amazon.com we received a defective unit. We opted to exchange it for another one in hopes that it was just a fluke. The second rower had the exact same defect problem. The slide rail was not manufactured to fit properly making it impossible to safely or easily use the vertical storage when the rower is not in use. Both of the units were refunded to us and a call tag for shipping was provided. That said, it took us hours to put these together and then take them apart and figure out how to get them back into the boxes just right for shipment. After all those hours and our effort, we *still* don't have a rower. NOT happy! But maybe someone else that has unlimited space and never has to put the slide rail upright will be.

UPS delivered this a few hours ago and my son and I have been assembling it. The instructions are a 3 out of 10 - missing a lot of detail but doable. We got two left foot-peddles (this matters because of the foot tensioner). The big problem is that I can not find out where to put the computer wall-power adapter into the computer!! I have looked all through the instructions and it doesn't say it and doesn't show it. It does mention 3 times that there is a 9-volt adapter; just doesn't tell you where to plug into the machine at. I thought that maybe it was behind the mounting bracket, and I disassembled it to find out; but no. What a pain - I can't work out until I figure this out. Can't say if I would recommend it because it won't work without power. Also, a key reason that I purchased this unit was that the computer included a heart-rate or pulse meter. But deep in the instructions it says that you have to "wear the chest belt correctly". What chest belt?? It says "NOTE: Chest belt is required in order to use this function". It wasn't in the box. It wasn't a listed accessory. That misrepresents the product. UPDATE: I went on the [...] website and found a support email and asked them about my 2 problems - where to plug power in, and how to get the pulse-monitoring strap. They replied with the power location only. I remailed about the pulse/heartrate monitoring strap. The power-connector is underneath the power-wheel (on the front-bottom). After plugging in - it powered right up and my 14-y/o jock-son took test ride using a beginner program. He came upstairs about 30-mins later all sweaty and pumped saying it was an awesome workout. I am upping my stars to three, but that is as far as I go until I get the heartrate monitor working. UPDATE: I contacted the manufacturer again about the heart-rate monitoring strap. They replied "Dear Joe,The chest belt is the optional product for PAR-5500. Please let us know the country you live. I will have our distributor to contact you. Thank you!" To me, that is deceptive marketing. Even if they send me the strap free, it is a core feature of the product description, and their was no option to purchase this accessory. That being said, we are enjoying using the product and it provides a great workout. My 14-y/o son has been doing a 20-minute run on it after his lacrosse practice to round out his conditioning. UPDATE: I hear back from Proteus: "We are regret that we have no distributor in USA now, so please provide the following information for us, then I will let you know the cost of chest belt and air freight asap. Thank you and have a nice day！". I thought that Amazon was the distributor.

I bought this used and have to admit it's a great piece of equipment. I noticed one person stating the heart monitor was not available to them. When I searched I found heart rate monitors transmitting at 5KHZ would work (Polar T31 is one of them). I currently have a Polar H7 and while it does pick up the signal it picks it up inaccurately. The H7 transmits via BT as well and I imagine it interferes with it. Either way, not as much of a big deal to me since my heart rate is sent to my phone. Now about the machine: 1) Its big, Its going to take a bigger area than expected since the rail is pretty "beefy" along with the rest of the machine. Make sure you have a serious area of space for it. It takes up less space folded up obviously. 2) The machine is considered to be loud. In my opinion it somewhat is, BUT you are NOT going to find any air resistance rower (this goes for Concept 2 also) that is silent or quiet. If noise is an issue, you would have to opt for the water rower, but do not expect it to have the features this one has. 3) The features are pretty awesome. Since this machine also uses magnetic resistance that means you can adjust the resistance with the push of a button. You have programs as well which can vary things up for you and you don't get bored. The race feature motivates you when racing against the PC. 4) Its heavy. Its not something you can just pick up easily. The rail is maybe 20 lbs. The other end is about 70 lbs. This might deter you if you want something you can have that is easy to lug around. 5) The heart rate feature doesn't fully work for me. One feature is supposed to me that there is a heart rate program that will adjust to increase/decrease resistance according to your heart rate. I have not been able to use it so far because it doesn't measure my heart rate accurately with a Polar H7 (it says my heart rate is like 250+ beats per minute). I will eventually try the Polar T31 non coded as advised by Proteus sales rep, but not in any rush to do it. 6) It's discontinued. You kind of have to be careful now since parts are not made for it anymore. Once it break, it breaks unless you can fix it somehow. Overall, its a great machine. Very solid build. Very high quality and it was a lot more affordable to me than a Concept 2.

If yu are serious about your health and fitness, then you should consider one of these. I have back and knee problems but am able to get a great IMPACT-FREE workout with this machine. it has an excellent seat design that moves like you are sitting on a cushion of air-- very smooth-- The set up was very simple and easy to understand. The item arrived 4 days earlier than Amazon said the estimated date of delivery, and i used the super saver shipping. (Oh yeah, it also arrived within a week of Christmas) Overall I an very happy with the machine. Would recommend to anyone

What a great machine! It's incredibly smooth, the screen / "computer" is excellent and every time I've been on it for any amount of time I'm left breathless... ha The service that I received from HealthCare International (HCI) is really the reason for this review. Roughly 5 years ago I broke my right leg in two places. The result is that I still have hardware in my ankle area and I was concerned about my limited range of motion. After e-mailing the company and requesting further information they took the time to provide an explanation and a photograph. This still wasn't enough information to make me feel comfortable about shelling out 1k for a rowing machine. I e-mailed them back and asked for even more information. This time they went above and beyond and took a video of the pedals range of motion. It was clear that this product would work great for me. Thus far I've tried several of the pre-programmed routines and have been happy with them. In time I will create my own routine and modify it as I like... all in all an excellent purchase and one that I wish I had made years ago.

Got this for $700 during a lightning deal, thiking it was a good price. As usual, got it on time and everything was OK with Amazon. However, after spending a few hours putting it all together and finally starting to use it, the handle/cable would not fully retract, and at times, not retract at all. I called the company for the rower, and they were shocked that this model would have any problems, and said there's nothing I could do to fix it, but rather that I needed to contact AMZ to get a replacement. So AMZ immediately sent me a replacement, but I had to pack up the first one in the box for the new one and ship it back. Although they attempted to send a USPS label, I told them the USPS would never pick that up, and that it had to go back UPS. they said that I had to go ship it myself, and that they would reimburse for shipping. However, after the UPS driver delivered the 2nd one, he said not to do that, but rather have AMZ issue a "call tag." They did, and the defective one has now been picked up. the new one seems to be retracting OK so far - but I wonder if I'm going to have this problem in the future, and what will happen if I do... I did not notice that this has any kind of manufacturer's warranty.... Anyway, I got good service, but for $700, I would have expected a good machine and not to have to worry about it breaking down...

Smooth rower, large amazing display panel

worst machine ever

Excellent rowing machine, easy assembly, high quality components, easy to understand manuals, well spent money: club quality for mid priced home rower.