TAXC Smart turbo trainer

[Cogcog]

All set up and have the App on my phone, bluetooth recognised but simply cannot get the app to start recording. Reviews are suggesting that Android phoneds need to download additional software.

Anybody had the same issue?

[anonymous-user]

Yes, couldn't get it to work on my Android phone either but mine is quite old and I'm bad at downloading the updates. Eventually I gave up and resorted to the iPad. You have to download the Tacx utility app too iirc.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 2nd January 09:24

[Shuttle Cock]

I had a similar problem on android, and also on iOS, the device would recognise the trainer, and give data in the utility app, and first time in the trainer app, but when I went back to it after setting it up first time it would not give any data. The trainer was returned to my lbs where I purchased it, they tested it, sent it back to the Tacx dealer, who then replaced the motor unit. It took them 3 and half weeks though!

Best of luck with yours.

[Cogcog]

That's great

[Shuttle Cock]

Just to add, the replacement unit has also developed the same fault, I can feel a refund coming on ☹️

[Jasper3.0]

Daft question....

Does the Tacx unit need a firmware update? There is a Tacx app for diagnostics, possibly worth testing it on that and looking for the firmware update.

[sammyboy]

How do you chaps rate this TT?

I'm in the market for a new one.

[SteveO...]

sammyboy said:

How do you chaps rate this TT?

I'm in the market for a new one.

I have one. It did need a firmware update after purchase to enable Ant+ support. Since then no trouble - works happily with Zwift on PC/Ant+ or iThing/BluTooth.

A couple of caveats; only goes up to about 7% slope so if you're big/powerful it may not give enough resistance, and I find the cadence reading erratic if spinning hard in a low gear.

[Jasper3.0]

As Steve said. The cadence is so low (as it estimates it) that I bought a separate cadence sensor to use instead.

[ED209]

sammyboy said:

How do you chaps rate this TT?

I'm in the market for a new one.

We were until recently, we decided to buy a tacx neo - expensive but bloody excellent. Its getting well used on zwift by both me and the wife.

[smn159]

Jasper3.0 said:

As Steve said. The cadence is so low (as it estimates it) that I bought a separate cadence sensor to use instead.

I think that I'll do the same. Mind me asking which one you bought / does it pair up OK?

[smn159]

sammyboy said:

How do you chaps rate this TT?

I'm in the market for a new one.

Well it makes indoor training vaguely bearable, so that's a plus - I can happily manage 60 mins+ on the Tacx whereas I'd had enough after 30 mins or so on the rollers.

Works fine with my iPhone but I've found it to be a bit erratic when using the Mac. This evening for example I paired the heart rate monitor up OK, but it didn't actually record any data when the ride uploaded to Stava at the end. Probably something to do with the convoluted way that it connects to the Mac (trainer connects to the iPhone, which connects to the Mac; heart rate connects via an ANT+ dongle on the Mac), but that aside it's great for the money.

[df76]

I've used this for the last year..

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/flow-smart-t2240-turbo-...

Connects without fuss to the PC and I've paired it with Bkool without any problems. Makes indoor training bearable.

[Jasper3.0]

smn159 said:

Jasper3.0 said:

As Steve said. The cadence is so low (as it estimates it) that I bought a separate cadence sensor to use instead.

I think that I'll do the same. Mind me asking which one you bought / does it pair up OK?

It is the wahoo cadence. Fits on your shoe, no need for wires etc.

You will need a Ant+ receiver for you Mac / PC, I have a suunto one. Works a treat and doesn't drop out.

A fan is a worthwhile investment as well. Used to be drenched, but I have now bought a Honeywell small fan and it makes it more bearable.

[upsidedownmark]

smn159 said:

Well it makes indoor training vaguely bearable, so that's a plus - I can happily manage 60 mins+ on the Tacx whereas I'd had enough after 30 mins or so on the rollers.

Works fine with my iPhone but I've found it to be a bit erratic when using the Mac. This evening for example I paired the heart rate monitor up OK, but it didn't actually record any data when the ride uploaded to Stava at the end. Probably something to do with the convoluted way that it connects to the Mac (trainer connects to the iPhone, which connects to the Mac; heart rate connects via an ANT+ dongle on the Mac), but that aside it's great for the money.

Any good reason why you do that - I may be wrong (on a PC these days), but pretty sure I had trainerroad on the mac controlling the tacx via ant+ (FEC) directly, without bridging via the phone..

Cadence will be erratic under light load as it needs to be able to differentiate the power 'pulse' in your pedal stroke - if you spin a perfect smooth un-varying power it's screwed. When you're under light load, its going to struggle to find the cadence, and may generate false positives. I find it settles down and agrees with my actual cadence once there's a reasonable load.

The 7% is a bit of a red herring (said this on the other vortex thread). 7% is the max slope it simulates AT A REALISTIC WHEEL SPEED, for a given weight of rider. Step away from that for a moment, and it will hold 950watts at 40kmh wheel speed. It makes bog-all difference really what speed the wheel is doing.. (yes, some inertia effects, but seriously..) If you need more than 950watts, you probably don't need to be posting here.

Edited by upsidedownmark on Friday 6th January 01:08

[smn159]

upsidedownmark said:

Any good reason why you do that - I may be wrong (on a PC these days), but pretty sure I had trainerroad on the mac controlling the tacx via ant+ (FEC) directly, without bridging via the phone..

Edited by upsidedownmark on Friday 6th January 01:08

Thanks - I've only had it a few days and am still experimenting with it. It wouldn't connect to the Mac at all when I got it, although I didn't have the ANT+ dongle at the time. That turned up yesterday and I did manage to get it to connect via the phone without the heart rate thingy working.

Working from home today so will try and see if it will work via ANT+

All works fine on the phone though!

[smn159]

Jasper3.0 said:

It is the wahoo cadence. Fits on your shoe, no need for wires etc.

You will need a Ant+ receiver for you Mac / PC, I have a suunto one. Works a treat and doesn't drop out.

A fan is a worthwhile investment as well. Used to be drenched, but I have now bought a Honeywell small fan and it makes it more bearable.

Thanks - good call on the fan as well

[Jasper3.0]

upsidedownmark said:

Any good reason why you do that - I may be wrong (on a PC these days), but pretty sure I had trainerroad on the mac controlling the tacx via ant+ (FEC) directly, without bridging via the phone..

Cadence will be erratic under light load as it needs to be able to differentiate the power 'pulse' in your pedal stroke - if you spin a perfect smooth un-varying power it's screwed. When you're under light load, its going to struggle to find the cadence, and may generate false positives. I find it settles down and agrees with my actual cadence once there's a reasonable load.

The 7% is a bit of a red herring (said this on the other vortex thread). 7% is the max slope it simulates AT A REALISTIC WHEEL SPEED, for a given weight of rider. Step away from that for a moment, and it will hold 950watts at 40kmh wheel speed. It makes bog-all difference really what speed the wheel is doing.. (yes, some inertia effects, but seriously..) If you need more than 950watts, you probably don't need to be posting here.

Edited by upsidedownmark on Friday 6th January 01:08

Mark, obviously had the wrong. My perception was that if I am on zwift or the Tacx films I.e. In the alps that if the slope goes beyond 7% then the resistance does not increase? Or do I have this wrong, as it feels like it stays at max and then doesn't increase as the slope goes to say 10%.

[SteveO...]

Jasper3.0 said:

It is the wahoo cadence. Fits on your shoe, no need for wires etc.

I have one of these too. Very handy as it transmits on Ant and Bluetooth.

[torqueofthedevil]

I'm about to get one. Are they good? And is zwift good?