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Indoor bike trainer, Trainerroad, ipad, Fenix configuration questions

cwoodffr
over 4 years ago

I use a Wahoo Kicker Snap, Trainerroad and an ipad.  I use the fenix to broadcast heart rate.  As I understand it, I need to use the Fenix to track the workout in order to get my cycling V02 max to update.  But!  I want to have my ipad continue to show the TR workout progress and steps graphic etc.  

What is the best way to do this?  I have chest straps as well should that be in the mix.  I also have an ANT to bluetooth converter dongle.  The combinations and permutations of stuff is confusing me.  Oh, also run a cadence sensor on the bike.

It all works great currently with the ipad running the show, paired to the trainer, the cadence and the fenix for heart rate only.

Suggestions?

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I run a similar configuration except I use a laptop instead of my iPad to run TrainerRoad.  My setup looks like this:

    F6 connects to HR strap, speed sensor on bike and power meter pedals

    TR on laptop connects to HR strap, Kickr SNAP and power meter pedals (for Power Match)

    I record on both, just watch the TR screen and don’t pay attention to my watch.  Save both, then delete the TR activity from Garmin Connect because I don’t need both activities in there.  I would actually kill the connection between TR and Garmin Connect but need it active so I can send outdoor activities to my Garmin from TrainerRoad on nice Sundays when I decide to do the workout outside instead of inside.

    If you you don’t have a power meter on the bike you can connect your Kickr SNAP as a power meter on your watch and accomplish the same thing.

    Also, the speed sensor is not needed on the bike, but I need distance for some challenges with my health insurance through work.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to ericgottlieb

    Interesting, what HR strap are you using?  I have a polar H7 which is not supposed to be able to connect to two devices at once.  I may have just fluked into it working on a test at lunch...put on the HR strap, connected watch to trainer, started a free ride and I was still getting requisite data to the ipad....so while I don't know what I did exactly...I don't really care if it all works.  The watch is seeing what Garmin needs in order to calc vo2.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to cwoodffr

    I use the Polar H10.  Also, I should have probably mentioned that because I am on a laptop I also use an ANT+ dongle so all of my devices are connecting through ANT+ and not Bluetooth to both the F6 and TrainerRoad.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I use Zwift on a PC with a Neo 2 trainer and an ANT+/Bluetooth chest strap. I also record to my 6X to get my VO2max etc, just as you do. For my setup ANT+ meets all my needs. Basically it's....

    Neo + HRM -> Zwift PC via ANT+ -> Strava

    Neo + HRM -> 6X via ANT+ -> Garmin Connect

    I assume your KickR can transmit both ANT+ and Bluetooth, in which case use ANT+ for your watch and Bluetooth for the iPad. If you have a dual band chest strap then the same solution applies - ANT+ to the watch and Bluetooth to the iPad. I would also assume that the KickR takes care of cadence, in which case your cadence sensor is redundant. If not then hopefully your cadence sensor is dual band and can feed ANT+ to the watch and Bluetooth to the iPad.

    FWIW I have several HRMs....

    Polar H7, which is Bluetooth only with one connection at a time;

    Multiple TickR and TickR X dual band HRMs;

    Garmin HRM Pro dual band.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to eezytiger

    Great info!  I also have a cable ant to BT device in the mix.  The Kickr snap does not have a cadence output so that's why I have that in there as well.  I will see if it all hangs together in tonight's ride!

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to cwoodffr

    Welp, here is where I got to.....I think the issue is that my HRM strap is only BT....that can only connect to one device.  ANT seems to just broadcast so multiple devices can feed upon it,  The Kickr goes BT to my ipad, my cadence sensor also BT but I can't get HR to the ipad unless I run BT band...which can only connect to one device....leaving the fenix to only wrist.  But I can wear my second BT HRM strap and get it covered as well.  The Fenix gets ANT from the trainer and BT from the second HRM.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to cwoodffr

    How about if you connect the HRM to the Fenix and enable Broadcast HR During Activity on the F6? I’ve only ever done it with ANT+ HRM straps connected to the Fenix but in theory I think it should work. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to ericgottlieb

    I don't think it will re-broadcast HRM data will it?  If so, my Cable ANT to BT converter would handle taking it into the ipad.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to cwoodffr

    I am 99% sure it will rebroadcast it, and a few versions back it was updated to broadcast in both ANT+ and BT so you shouldn’t even need the converter.  Should be easy to try and verify.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to ericgottlieb

    I believe that the Fenix is re-broadcast the HRM strap data if set, under wrist heart rate, to broadcast during activity.  At least it seems like it is.  I am getting HR at TR over BT when set this way and the Fenix says external strap is connected.