PowerTap PowerCal Connection

Hi there,

I got my powertap some hours ago and I have the same issue. Did you find any solution?

Thanks

Well, given the problems with the connectivity with the F5 group, I decided to wait for an update, as I know (or have heard, rather) that Garmin is working on the connectivity issues. It's for that reason that I've gone back to my Suunto Spartan Ultra for the time being, the Powertap works fine, even with a stationary bike, and there aren't any drop outs like there are if I use the Suunto HRM with the F5, I've tried the HRM-Run (both, old and the new "red" one), a Wahoo Tickr-X, and the Suunto Smart Sensor, along with the Powercal. All will either not connect, or drop out on the F5, but all connect and work flawlessly on the Suunto. That pretty much narrows it down for me. Sorry I can't be more help, but I'd say unless you have a Suunto, it's not going to work until Garmin addresses the problem. *sigh*

Update: I just read my original post, and the newest info is that the belt won't pair at all with the F5, either as Power, or HRM. It pairs as HRM on the Suunto, and the power picks up automagically, and I've tried many times to simply pair as an HRM. Sometimes it does, but mostly it won't, and once stop the activity, it's difficult to pair it again. On another note, I complained to Saris (Parent of Powercal), and they sent me a new PowerCal belt, but I don't think that's the problem, I think the problem is with the connectivity on the Garmin F5's.

Thanks a lot for the answer. It's interesting since I can pair as power sensor OR as Hr monitor but lacking the information of the sensor I can't pair.

Let's hope they give some solution.

That was my initial finding, but eventually, it simply wouldn't pair. I wonder if it is a limitation of the BTLE specification, one device can only pair with one other BTLE device. The F5 sees either the HRM, or the Power, but they're both showing on the same "channel", (or the Suunto wouldn't be able to get the info from the Power side), and the Garmin won't acknowledge the 2nd channel, it sees it as the same device, therefore, it doesn't exist.
I'll wait for an update to see if it's resolved, but to be honest, I don't think Garmin will do much about it, because I think you and I are the only ones with the BTLE powerCal.. :-)

I've written in to Garmin's support and the answer, to me is not hopeful. They say everything out of the "Standard pairing" they can not help. Believe me, if it works with Android and IOS, which was my case, it is fairly standard. The standard BLE stack is implemented in IOS as it is in Android and it works. What is not standard is the implementation of the BLE stack in the Fenix 5, otherwise it would work as it does in Android and IOS. To me the point is they prefer us to spend hundreds in power sensors, even better in the Vectors XD

And also talked to Saris and they said Fenix 5 doesn't work with BLE power sensors XD

Both throwing the ball to other's field. Next answer will be it is my fault LOL

I still haven't heard anything back from Garmin, but I did get an answer from Saris. Well, sort of. I told them in my initial E-mail that the Fenix 5 series would connect both as BTLE and/or ANT+, when they originally said that the Garmin wouldn't connect to BTLE. Now, I got an answer back yesterday that asked how I was connecting to the Fenix, either as power, or as HR. We'll see if it goes any further, but I think Saris wasn't aware that the new Fenix 5 series devices would connect as either/or ANT+, or BTLE, (Something I'm extremely grateful for)