great stuff Shane, you make the technical stuff easy to understand and without the gobbly gock. love your channel. Fantastic video the other day on short hill repeats. I have incorporated this into my commuting once or twice a week.

This is a good beginner explanation. Would have been helpful for me a long time ago but for sure helps others getting into it.

I needed a simple explanation like that. Thanks Shane 👍

Hi Shane, thx for your clear explaination about BT and ANT+. It helps me to understand this part of technique.

Awesome detail explanation presented in a concise understandable manner. Thanks!

All i took from this mate is you can do decimal to hex conversions on the fly. Nice one haha

Thanks Shane, that explains a lot of our issues at home, with 5 people all using Bluetooth!!

Very well explained, thankyou! Now I can connect to my Garmin watch at the same time as controlling Zwift by using Ant+... This will give me better training metrics on my Garmin than Zwift uploading to Garmin Connect post workout.

Just exactly what I have been wondering about! Thank you very much for answering to all my questions!

really interesting stuff, I have definitely learnt something today 😊 thanks for the great vlog 👍🚲

Wow, just what I needed. Thanks.

Cheers Shane, my Neo is due to land any day now, I think this video will ease any worries in the connection department. Top stuff as always.... 👍from Wigan.

Thank you for this explanation!

Is your day job as an IT professional? You were spot-on with all of the technology and wireless connectivity. I'm a racer, and my day job is IT networking. Excellent video. Oh wait, your profile says internetwork technology, you're a CCIE I bet... 🤘.

It's like the fog has just cleared, Shane. Thank you!

Great explanation, well done.

Omg, I finally found a video which explains the difference between the 2 types of connections, & I understood it all.

Thanks 🙏 for this amazing video.. It explains so good the differences between the two types of connections..👍🏻 And this type of information is not that easy to find 🔝👍🏻🙏

Thank man👍👍👍, you resolved my confusion

Thank you Shane

Wow!, thanks, that explains a lot!, good work.

Outstanding explanation

Awesome video. Thanks very much!!

Excellent info, thanks'!

Nice one Shane! Understood! 😊

Great explanation Shane. If someone could create an updated ant+dongle for phones and tablets it would be nice.

great video Shane!!

You just got another sub. Now to find a video explaining which tech works better once paired/connected

Awesome information thanks

Another GREAT video! Thanks For All of your work! I'm going to share this on the RGT FB User Group. The points you make can help users from all platforms :-)

Great video

very helpful. Thanks

This is critical knowledge. (Now I know why I have had problems with Bluetooth.)

great explanation :)

Hello IT, have you tried turning it off and on again.

Super informative

Got it, man thanks a lot man

Excellent Shane, Bloody Bluetooth!!!

Shane, this was very helpful and helped me understand the difference. One of most everyone's frustrations with their Garmin is the unreliable syncing with their smartphones. I have a Garmin 820 and it will work perfect one day, and will take 10 mins of fiddling the next. Have you found a secret to reliable pairing/syncing? I suspect there is a connecting issue going on with the bluetooth, but can't seem to nail it down. Could other bluetooth devices be causing a conflict issue?

Thanks for the video. I have the tacx Vortex smart trainer and I connect to Zwift through the Bluetooth on the mobile link app. It nearly always recognises the power from the trainer but only rarely as a controllable trainer. Any advice?? Cheers

Great video, thanks. I have been educated.

Thanks, that was really clear. Seems Bluetooth can be more secure if you don't want other people listening in to your data. Cheers.

Thanks, Shane for the video. I am very new in the world of smart trainers. These COVID times forced me to try a smart trainer while being home with kids and working too. I bought a (second-hand) Vortex TACX trainer but I am having difficulty connecting ANT+ or Bluetooth. I have no difficulty to pair Bluetooth or ANT + on bluetooth settings on the desktop app on my laptop However, the TACX desktop app on my laptop is not seeing the trainer to connect. Secondly, I also trying to connect the trainer to a TACX app on my iPhone, The TACX app connects to the trainer in the iPhone but doesn't give any readings just ZERO no movement. Any suggestion or recommendation most welcome.

I´m just setting up for my first training and I will use the Elite Qubo Digital Smart B. I thought that I will have to get bluetooth AND Ant+. Puh, your video saved me ;-) So I can start right now! Yipie!

Hi, thanks for your videos, I would like to know if it works for IGPSPORT Devices ??

good stuff Shane! (Y)

You should do performance difference on zwift with Apple TV using Bluetooth vs laptop connected to the tacx ant plus antenna to see how well they track power on the same workout session

Good Video...Thanks

I only use Ant+. Its always been a solid, quick connection over multiple device, as you show in your video. Bluetooth for me is great for wireless headphones, speakers and other one to one connections. But when I try to pair my HR, Garmin, Cadence/Speed sensor and phone its hit and miss whether it works. Not worth the hassle. Nothing worse than being halfway through your ride and one or more of your sensors drop out.

Awesome video Shane! Interesting to see how fast the device drops off the search once a connection is made. I had read somewhere that BT1/2 was device to device and BT4 is application to device. I would be interested in knowing what tech they are using for wireless gears, I assume there would have to be a level of security there?

Thanks for the really good explanation! Can you say anything to energy demand of the different systems? Is one or the other putting less drain on the battery of either the sensor or the head unit?

a huuuuge thx to you. Almost thought I had to buy a ant+ dongle. HAPPYDAYS

Hello , thank you for this video. An advantage for Bluetooth connections is the fact that the computer can send order to the device.

Great explanation. Once there is a new BT standard (ver 5 or above), is that firmware upgradable or does that require new hardware?

Thank you Shane! BTW, given the option, does one method use more power than another?

Hi Shane, Do you know if bluetooth signal interfere with the ant + devices? bluetooth headphones in this case. I'm experiencing some dropouts.

Before installing stages power meter, I used a Garmin Blutetooth USB-ANT stick for speed/cadence and virtual power on Trainer Road. With Stages, I have conflicts which keeps dropping either the cadence/ speed or power meter thus TR stops the workout. I can use TR without the speed cadence meter since stages records the cadence, however I can't track the mileage for Strava. OH MY! I found a work around for the time being. so I should survive the winter. Great video. It help ease my frustrations a tad.

Question regarding Bluetooth in the Ultegra Di2 8100 environment. I added two sensors, one for cadence and the other for speed to the bike. I paired them with my Wahoo Roam computer and they worked correctly collecting and displaying data. The sensor are made by a company named Moofit. After installing them my Di2 shifting was terrible. It was slow. The chain bounce around and sometimes skipped. I decided the sensors had something to do with it, so I took them off. The Di2 shifting returned to working without any issues. I’m unsure why the sensors hurt the Di2. It’s seems there’s Bluetooth interference. Do you have any thoughts as to what happened? Can you suggest cadence and speed sensors that will work with 8100 wireless. I guess Wahoo and Garmin might be obvious answers or is it perhaps a setup issue with the 8100. I haven’t had this bike long and the is my first Di2 capability so I just figuring things out as I go. Thank you, Bob

Great video and damn I learnt a lot but which one is more stable when connecting n Zwift?

I have an elite qubo wireless smart trainer. It only has Ant+ built in. Can I connect that trainer directly to a tablet and use zwift and Strava? If so what tablets are compatible? Any help appreciated thanks

Great video!! I am still having a hard time getting the Bluetooth on my phone to connect (or even see) my speed and/or cadence sensors. I have turned the phone and Bluetooth on and off as well as taken the sensor batteries out and in - any suggestions? I have an iPhone 5 (which is using Bluetooth 4.0) and the sensors are Magen's Gemini 210s. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Question: Can this app conflict with conventional Bluetooth such as a cell phone?

Excellent video; got a question regarding ANT+. It can do multiple connections as you demonstrated, alright, but what does happen if it connects to a bidirectional device aka a smart trainer. Does it do 2 connections; one for reading data and one for sending data (controlling the trainer) and following this assumptions if more than one connection is made for controlling the trainer? Is that possible?

Can I pair bluetooth smart hrm to bluetooth and ant+ (igpsport) speedometer

If a heart rate monitor broadcast in both Bluetooth and ANT+ can a Bluetooth connection and a ANT connection be made at the same time to 2 different units?

great video! Hey Shane, did you get the Bluetooth smart connection working for using Zwift with the Elite Qubo Digital smart b+ yet? I just received my EliteQDSB+ yesterday and it links via bluetooth to the Elite MyTrainer app on my iPad. But it does not appear on the device list for the iPad bluetooth menu. Nor does it appear on my Macbook bluetooth list. It does link via Ant+ to my wife's Macbook using Zwift, (and even does that while simultaneiously linked via Bluetooth to MyTrainer on the iPad). But I would really prefer to link the trainer via Bluetooth to the iPad for when Zwift goes to iOS, s I don't need her iPad (and hoping the graphics are better from iOS than the Macbook air)

Hi, in your example, does the coach need to pair (with a PIN or the like), before connect his ANT+ device to the 3 devices? If not, it’s not secure. Thanks!

Good morning Shane (from a very cold and wet Scotland). I was wondering if you could shed some light on an issue I have with my Elite Rampa trainer? As a complete newbie, I seem to have issues connecting the trainer to the likes of Rouvy, Kinomap etc when going through my AppleTV 4K. I'm trying to use the Ant+ coming out of the trainer, however, I am constantly getting no connections and having to pull out the power cord to the trainer in order for AppleTV to try and see the trainer. I've watched a few of your other tutorials concerning Ant+ and Bluetooth and you mention maybe using something like the Tacx T2028 USB Ant+ Antenna, however, my question is, how would you connect this to the AppleTV unit as all instances I find where such a device is used to help with connections reference the user connecting the relay/antenna via their laptop USB port - hope you do not mind the newbie question and are able to shed some light on how to resolve my issue - many thanks in advance for any guidance Shane :)

I wish I had seen this before trying to set up my Flux!

Thanks a bunch! Trying out zwift and confused why my cadence and power source are coming from my Tacx Flux - Android phone connection but it's not seeing the Tacx Flux as a "controllable" trainer, any thoughts (getting a ant+ usb dongle, asking for the meantime)

So, now that we're in 2020, what's your recommendation for an at-home set-up? I want to use a smart trainer, Zwift on either an iPad or MacBook, Android phone, heart rate monitor, and Wahoo Elemnt to save data. The trainer, monitor, and Wahoo are all Bluetooth/ANT+. The computer and mobile devices are all Bluetooth.

I realise this is an older video. Do any of the current range of cycling computers manage connections better for both any+ and ble? I now have a bike where I have data coming in from both types. My Fenix 6 works but disconnects and reconnects even though it works.

alright. so if my garmin speed/cadence sensor is paired with my Garmin Edge 520, i cannot pair those sensors to my iphone via Bluetooth (iphone has no ANT+) for ZWIFT use?

Hi Shane, I have an old apple 4k running zwift on my tv. I use a Life Fitness IC8 stationary bike. i pair the bike with zwift program, and riding cadence shows 61RPM, real bike shows 86RPM. power seems to be ok, jumps around a bit but no real issues. I did not pair my HR monitor so no interference from this device. Have you heard of any issues with Zwift not pairing properly , I ran the RGT program and same devices no issues with any readings . any help is appreciated

Yeah, unfortunately making a connection with BLE sometimes is a pain in the ass. It sometimes takes up to 1-2 minutes to find the BLE heartrate sensor and once it's connected it is so secure that it is impossible to disconnect, besides turning off BLE on my cell phone. Good for spinning studios and riding in a crowded peloton, but annoying on the road by myself. However BLE 4.1 is announced and it will have the same broadcasting features like ANT+

Do you have powertap G3? I'm intrested to get powertap and i don't have any bikecom unit. What fastest to start and go? No time to lose to get going😉

Can someone tell me which heart rate strap should I buy for Concept2 model d with PM5 monitor. I guess I don’t need watch just strap, because I only gonna use it with my indoor rower. I live in Georgia(country) there aren’t HRM, I have to order from US. Which HRM brand and model should I buy. Sorry for my broken English guys.

Shane, which is more reliable ANT or BLE? My BT loses connection in the middle of a hard ride. Also, I have a Bryton 530 but I was considering a third party HR. Have you had experience with Garmin ANT?

I have a NPE Runn. Currently it is paired to Zwift on my Win10 laptop through Bluetooth. How come I can also connect to the Runn using the Configuraz or Gymtrackr apps on my iPad at the same time?

Any other differences between the signals? Maybe signal distance or how much data they can handle? I've heard one limitation of Ant+ is the relatively small amount of data it can send in a given time. Hence why some dual sided power meters do not transmit advanced pedaling data via Ant+. Is that just cycle marketing speak for "Buy our head unit"? For example: Pioneer power meter. I can use Ant+ mode or pedaling monitor mode. Ant+ does not transmit pedaling smoothness or efficiency. Pedaling mode is on a private channel that only their head unit can use. So I cannot use pedaling mode when on Zwift (gotta switch to Ant+) or when I'm using my Garmin Edge 520. Due to that, I find myself using my Pioneer head unit (got it for free back in May when Pioneer was giving them away with the dual sided meters) if I'm having some discomfort on the bike. That way I can collect data about my pedaling and give it to people for advice. Last time I did that, my LBS was able to see that my saddle was a touch too high. They lowered my saddle by 1-2mm, moved the saddle VERY slightly forward, and checked to make sure that it was not pointed nose down. And the pain that I was getting on my right calf went away. But I'm not a fan of the interface of their head unit. And the pressure sensor for measuring elevation and incline seems WAY OFF. Between that and always having to turn on my head unit to log in to Zwift (to change to Ant+ mode or to turn it on to change to pedal mode so I can 0 offset since their head unit will only 0 offset in pedal mode) and the fact that their unit has no mapping (even though it does have GPS) I switch back to my Edge 520 often. On the Edge 520, I cannot get those advanced metrics. So if a problem crops up or if I'm just curious about my pedaling, I have to switch my bar mount and use a different head unit. Awfully inconvenient and I'd be downright annoyed if I had to pay for the thing. Plus their head unit is required to do firmware updates to the power meter (thankfully my LBS ordered a head unit just so they could update meters for customers). So the question is, does Pioneer HAVE to do that because the Edge cannot handle the data the power meter wants to send? Or is it just an excuse for Pioneer to sell more head units or for Garmin to try and push Edge customers into buying Vector pedals? Is it a limitation of Ant+ as a signal medium? Or is 2 companies trying to control their share of the market even if it inconveniences their customers? Personally I like the Pioneer head unit once I'm moving on the bike. But I really hate it when getting ready for a ride. The interface is clunky. It is really unintuitive. The best way I describe the difference is you learn how to use a Garmin by messing with your Garmin. You learn how to use a Pioneer by reading the user manual or finding how to videos online. Between that, the lack of Bluetooth (so I have to make my phone a hotspot to upload a ride when I'm not anywhere with wifi), and lack of mapping I don't see myself using it and am very glad that I didn't pay $300 for it.

Ever heard of the old Kickr Snap being unable to connect via Bluetooth on a Pixel 2? Incredibly frustrating.

My general understanding is that Ant+ is a better spec (with things like FEC and good standards) but BTLE is a better network protocol. With respect to using Zwift I see a lot more issues with Ant+ drop outs than with BTLE. With Ant+ people are using extender cables and putting the receiving practically right next to devices but I rarely see drop out issues on the BTLE side.

Another issue with ANT+ is the limitied number of IDs. At a race I have experienced my watch picking up signal from multiple HR sensors, giving me twice HR i felt.

Shane you could've imagined this video was going to create a lot of comments. My question is for swift and which we should be using when doing interval training. My example is with ant +versus Bluetooth and the use of a kicker snap. Which is better for interval training? I have had instances where the power cuts in and out and it tells me that I am not within the zones that I should be. I am not sure if this because i was on ant plus versus Bluetooth at the time. What are your recommendations?

Best to name your devices , especially if your using ant+ it seems

I use zwift using an ipad.. the connection is quite slow (i assume due to the distance between ipad and turbo)... would the use of an ant+ dongle have a stronger connection?

Shane I have Apple TV but an ant+ hrm. Can I use the ant+ dongle on my iPhone with the companion app to bridge my heart rate into Zwift leaving the 2 Bluetooth channels for my bushido and vector pedals. Sounds like it should work. Or could I use a Bluetooth hrm and the companion app. Otherwise it looks like I need a CABLE. Basically I want to connect power meter and smart trainer plus heart rate. 😀

I've Elite Qubo Digital in the first version, without Bluetooth. I've a problem to connect Qubo Digital by ANT+ to my smartphone iPhone 6s Plus. I've Lightning 30-pin Adapter but iPhone don't see ANT+ key and of course I can't connect the Qubo Digital

i need help, i have 2 questions, 1) bluetooth smart, bluetooth 4.0 and bluetooth BLE are ALL THE SAME? i want to use a specific app that says: "Note: this application works ONLY with BLUETOOTH SMART heart beat monitor." 2) is there a chest HRM that supports both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart? i also have a Garmin fenix 3HR and would be cool if i could conntect the HRM to my watch as well. Thanx

the power meter on the bike are on bluetooth? i want to start using zwift and i have iphone, ipad, bike, garmin vivo active watch but no trainer.

Can you please tell me the which heart rate monitor support the GATT profile ,The first type is a short 16-bit UUID. The predefined Heart rate service, e.g., has the UUID 0x180D and one of its enclosed characteristics, the Heart Rate Measurement characteristic, has the UUID 0x2A37. in now market

Thanks !

hi, can I connect a wahoo kickr core with zwift for power, control, cadance,...via ant dongle, and read my heartrate in zwift via a separate Polar bluetooth heart strap at the same time? thanks!

So if you buy identical Ant+ sensors for multiple Zwift setups in the same room, how do you make sure you're correctly connected to the device on your bike and not the one next to it? At least with Bluetooth, if one person makes all their connections first there won't be any other options. Do they have unique id's or do you have to have each person ride at a different speed/cadence so they can tell which one they're using?

What if BLE is in broadcasting mode, can't its data been seen by multiple devices just like ANT+?

Is there any hardware needed for the Bluetooth 4.0? Can it be a replacement for the ANT+ dongle? I need to listen to this again.

I just want to know what is your goto for hooking up the smart trainer to your laptop or pc?

I'm using Bluetooth with Elite Rampa and Elite software. It works very well. I have tried to ride Zwift with Bluetooth, but the software is freezing every 2 minutes. I don't know if it's the Bluetooth that's crashing Zwift or if the Mac version is just so buggy overall. If I'm just watching others ride then Zwift is working fine.

exactly what i wanted to know thx

Hi Shane, do you have any updates on Bluetooth FTMS? -- Thanks :)