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Wrist heart rate and ANT sensors

singletrackmind
over 4 years ago

Question for the experts. When I am connected to an external power/speed/cadence sensor via ANT the wrist heart rate monitor stops working. It seems like the watch is looking for an ANT based heart rate as well. Is there any way to override that and get the wrist based monitor to work in sync with ANT sensors for other metrics?

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to eezytiger

    Replying to self, I can think of a reason to control the trainer from outside Zwift, but that's neither here nor there.

    Could the problem be that you go into the indoor cycling activity, use the watch to set trainer resistance, and then start pedalling but forget to press start? Thus, maybe, WHR is not broadcast and the activity is not recorded. I'm just speculating here as it's not a combination I have used or would ever use. It might explain the two problems reported so far.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to eezytiger
    eezytiger said:
    I can't imagine why people would want trainer control from the watch if they have Zwift etc.

    That's exactly the point DC Rainmaker made.

    eezytiger said:
    Even if Zwift is involved then, sure, there can only be one device in charge of trainer resistance, but there's nothing to say that Zwift shouldn't also receive the same data FROM the trainer and receive the broadcast WHR from the watch at the same time.

    The issue is that Zwift should not be in the loop at all in this case. The power data etc is received from the trainer (being managed/controlled from the watch) and added to the HR data from the wrist. There is no broadcasting of the WHR in this scenario. It is not needed.

    eezytiger said:
    Maybe there is something missing in the descrption of needs and setup.

    Yes.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

    My aim is exactly that - to collect data from the trainer. When the Indoor Trainer function is activated, the sensor on my trainer sends speed/cadence and power to my connected device (in this case my watch).  By at the same time WHR stops reading.  You can see this for yourself if you are able to simulate the process it with a sensor of your own.  

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to singletrackmind

    Adding to previous comment.  I am not trying to control the trainer. I just want to capture the data. To that end I am using the Free Ride workout. As DC says in his review “Free ride: Simply connects to trainer and captures all trainer data without a specific program/course/etc.” At first glance this seems to be exactly what I want. It appears to be a way to connect all sensors in one simple step, giving me the freedom to use a workout from another app. I haven’t attempted to use Follow Workout or Follow Course.  

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Dr Phil
    Dr Phil said:
    The issue is that Zwift should not be in the loop at all in this case. The power data etc is received from the trainer (being managed/controlled from the watch) and added to the HR data from the wrist. There is no broadcasting of the WHR in this scenario. It is not needed.

    Well Zwift isn't "in the loop" as such, it's simply at the end of the line, soaking up data transmitted by the trainer and, if it's working, WHR (in the absence of a chest strap).

    Suppose you are trying to hit a weekly distance target in Zwift, or participating in a monthly challenge. You still want Zwift to be running in order to collect your training data. But, for whatever reason you want the watch to control trainer resistance instead of Zwift.

    Maybe you want to simulate an 8% climb for training, but want the flexibility to vary your effort. You can't do that within a Zwift workout as there is no slope mode. You can fix your power with erg, and create a preplanned workout in Zwift, but you can't dynamically adjust your target (much) on the fly if you change your mind as you ride. Maybe you are a group ride leader and want to lock yourself in at a fixed power level, regardless of terrain, but leave yourself the option to increase/decrease pace as necessary depending on how the ride is going. Zwift doesn't support such a requirement, but third party trainer control can.

    So there are reasons to desire trainer control outside Zwift, even if riding within the Zwift visual environment and wanting to record the ride as a Zwift ride. I myself have used the Tacx Training App to do exactly this, long before Garmin added the feature to the watch, but very infrequently. 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago

    The minute I turn on my trainer my WHR stops showing on my watch and this is without Zwift or Rouvy open. Was not like this until a recently. So, I get no HR data at all doing a workout on either of these two training apps. 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to eezytiger

    I can shed some light, as I am having the same issue.

    I only free ride inside, and for the past year have been connecting to my trainers speed power and cadence sensors.  The WHR worked fine.

    A few days ago I got on my trainer and it connected to a new sensor called trainer and I had the ability to modify resistance on the trainer.  Cool.  

    Problem is, when connected to the trainer sensor I get no WHR.  If I just connect to the speed cadence and power sensors it works fine.

    My watch has a heart rate sensor.  I'm not wearing a chest strap for redundancy. 

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

    I have now tried the following: On my watch I unpaired ANT and paired only to the trainer (Bluetooth). WHR shows in Zwift and on watch. But no power, speed nor distance on my watch, so that data is not recorded on Garmin Connect. I upload my training program to Garmin and that is why I need all data recorded on Garmin Connect. Any other advice on what I should be doing?