Tacx Neo 2T and desktop application windows resistance problems zwift ok

I have just migrated from Tacx flux to brand new Neo 2T, same bike, same W10 pc, same BT dongle and same Tacx own brand Ant+ puck thingy, plus CoospoRide HRM dual comms

TDA latest version, Neo is connected via ANT, HRM also

i have a premium account so downloaded videos previously, if I try to ride any of them the resistance is poor even a 6% incline is easy peasy

in frustration I downloaded the zwift app and hey presto Neo is now controlled and resistance appears on inclines

i have removed TDA and installed again, without deleting any folders I might add, and tda remains the same a gentle jaunt

this proves that the trainer responds correctly possibly it is TDA at fault or hidden settings somewhere that zwift ignores or overwrites

just about to try a video in low resolution without downloading to see whether the previous download combines additional data depending on trainer

anybody else had the same experience, please don’t reply with any MAC answers as it probably doesn’t apply in this scenario

0 jimrward269 over 2 years ago

Ok here is an update, low resolution ride with no download, same issue

HOWEVER here is the big kicker, if I disconnect the power supply and run in standalone mode it provides resistance

so it works without power on TDA and with power on ZWIFT Figure that one out

0 Scillonian over 2 years ago

Try using Bluetooth instead of ANT+ to control the trainer with the TDA. I don't have an external ANT+ adaptor but an external Bluetooth adaptor works for me.

Additionally, in the TDA go to Settings > Training and check that the Difficulty setting is at 100%.

0 jimrward269 over 2 years ago

Update #2 I get the same lack of resistance with BT with the ANT Dongle removed when connected to a power supply

i then removed the BT dongle and attached the ANT dongle, followed by stop searching for devices under the chain link icon, I then clicked on search for devices and this time TDA found FEC ANT+ device I clicked on this and immediately TDA changed the name to Tacx Neo 2T same name as before however now I was able to do Bavaria Lechsee ride with resistance

I will try again tomorrow to see if it remembers which one was selected last time with another suitably challenging route with lumps and bumps

TDA is definitely flawed firstly in its selection and usage of BT and ANT and why couldn’t it retain the FEC ANT + name, zwift picks up the device as FEC ANT etc

0 jimrward269 over 2 years ago in reply to jimrward269

Update #3 TDA failed again in not providing a FEC ANT connection or it did and the name change screws it or something else internally

i downloaded Rouvy and Zwift and both of these found a FEC ANT device and controlled the trainer accordingly with no issues

iPad using BT finds the trainer and controls it

Garmin contacted awaiting their response hopefully not a standard scripted one

0 Scillonian over 2 years ago in reply to jimrward269

In your original post you say you have a Bluetooth dongle. Have you tried using that instead of ANT+ with the Tacx Desktop Application on Windows 10?

Windows 10 (and probably Windows 11) appears to have poor support for USB ANT+ dongles when used with Microsoft Store applications. Some work, some don't.

Zwift and Rouvy are traditional Win32 applications that you download from the developers website. Win32 applications can directly access any hardware connected to the PC (Bluetooth dongle, ANT+ dongle, etc.) with minimal interference by Windows.

The Tacx Desktop Application (TDA) for Windows is a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) application that you have to download through the Microsoft Store application. UWP applications run in a sandbox so all connections to peripheral hardware have to be brokered by the Windows 10 (and 11) sandbox the application is running in.

0 jimrward269 over 2 years ago in reply to Scillonian

Neither BT or ANT control the trainer when a power source is connected, if I disconnect the power source mid ride resistance is enabled, if I start a ride with power disconnected then resistance is fine however if you stop pedalling you come to an abrupt stop, so therefore TDA must be interacting somehow with the trainer sandboxed or not

i have enabled all permissions regarding control of radios attached via W10 settings, the fact it has worked once adds another dimension to the problem

0 Scillonian over 2 years ago in reply to jimrward269

What version of the TDA are you using? I am using version 1.30.0.0 which as of 2022-02-07 is the latest release.

Are there any other devices that have been setup to interact with the trainer, such as your iPad, within range when you are using the TDA? I have had my my Tacx Neo 2T loose resistance when a second controlling device became unknowingly activated by accident.

0 jimrward269 over 2 years ago in reply to Scillonian

I am on TDA 1.30.0.0 and firmware 0.38

Just now I have turned off iPad and iPhone and also router WiFi same result no resistance with power connected

LED lights left to right were orange/yellow green and red

Also downloaded GE to install drivers, deleted ant dongle and installed again to refresh drivers

I am awaiting delivery on another ant dongle to see if that makes any difference

0 Scillonian over 2 years ago in reply to jimrward269

Why are you wanting to use ANT+ instead of Bluetooth with the TDA?

jimrward269 said:
LED lights left to right were orange/yellow green and red

The LEDs from left to right should be blue (Bluetooth), Green (ANT+), Red (Power), as detailed in the Garmin support document NEO Series Smart Trainer LED Light and Error Codes.

0 jimrward269 over 2 years ago in reply to Scillonian

I am trying both ant and bt to try and get a result but never the two together and neither work with the neo connected to a power supply