Edge 830 and Tacx NEO 2 - power goes offline for 5+ seconds

It worked? Thanks @Luko79 ! However, let me decode this message in case another Garmin/Tacx novice like myself comes along.

Does it matter if there are a few drops? (every 3:30)

Yes. Before the fix, the planned TSS (Training Stress Score) for my ride was 90, but I only did 85 (so the computer says). After the fix the planned was 84 and I did 84! Spot on.

Now about connections to Garmin

So, all the devices connected to my Garmin Edge 830 will show up under Sensors (menu bottom left of Garmin => Sensors), right? WRONG. That is where all the ANT+ sensors can be found.

If you hit Training => Indoor Trainer, you can find the Trainer Sensor which uses the FE-C (Fitness Equipment Control) signal.

Steps:

1. If your trainer is listed under and of the Sensors, go ahead and remove them.
2. I did find the location Luko79 referenced in my iPhone "Tacx Training" app, but I could not find it on my Tacx Desktop App (Windows). On the phone app I hit bottom right, Settings => Device Manager => (If you don't have a trainer connected under Select a Trainer, do that) under the Trainer it will show "Set Up Tacx Neo 2T" => Trainer Settings => Device Defaults =>  ANT+. Although I turn that off, it doesn't seem to stay off. I suspect the important thing is to connect to the Tacx using FE-C under Trainer Sensor and don't have any connections to the trainer under Sensors.

This can still be confusing, because if your trainer isn't connected under Trainer Sensor, then it asks if you want to pair your ANT+ Trainer. Once you are connected under that, if you click on Trainer Sensor => Sensor Details, it shows the connection type is ANT+ (great - that adds some confusion).

Why have both connection types?

The Tacx is the one sending signals. I have a Garmin Edge 830 that supports FE-C, but if I wanted to use my old Edge 510, it does not. But I could record workouts with it by the ANT+ Power and Speed/Cadence information transmitted from the Tacx.

But if you dropped the money on a Tacx trainer then have a device that supports FE-C.

My Motivation or "But WHY use a Garmin to control the trainer in the first place rather than the app?"

Headline: Because I want to use TrainingPeaks to manage my training plan.

I tried several of the Garmin training plans but even beginning ones sometimes have you on the trainer for 3 hours! About a decade ago I had a trainer, not because I'm that good, but because I was in a rut. One time I told my trainer, "It was hard, but the weather was bad, so I finished the 3-hour ride on the trainer indoors." (trainer = bike on stationary bike stand) His response was, "Don't ever do that! You are not a professional athlete. You enjoy cycling and want to continue enjoying it. If you do that you will learn to hate it. NEVER do more than 90 minutes on an indoor bike."

He was right... 3 hours is just no fun. Even if you have a video.

So, I use TrainingPeaks and use some of the plans I've used in the past from that. Why? Because I cannot get scheduled workouts that show up in Garmin Connect to drive my Tacx using the Tacx Desktop App (or the phone app).

What Works?

1. Have a TrainingPeaks account.
2. Add a training plan to your calendar.
3. Under Settings => Account => Apps and Devices => Add New Connection (or Manage Connections) add Garmin.
4. When you set that up it will send the workouts to the Garmin Connect calendar.
5. If you have Garmin Connect on your phone and have the phone connected to your FE-C capable Garmin device, it will send the workouts to the device.
6. You start your Garmin Edge and it asks you, Do you want to ride your schedule workout? YES!

And now I have a workout that I like, and I don't even have to think about it. I just pedal.

I also find the workout creation/editing in TrainingPeaks much better, and they have great tools for measuring TSS (Training Stress Score), etc.

Here is today's workout. No drops!

Thanks again Luko79