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Is ANT+ more reliab...
 

[Closed] Is ANT+ more reliable than Bluetooth?

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For HRMs, I mean?

On my turbo trainer, my HR drops out frequently - it must be off 1/4 to 1/3 of the time. But it never happens on my bike connecting to my Garmin. But the Garmin is using ANT and when Zwifting it's connected to my computer using Bluetooth. This could explain the different behaviour. The other option is interference from somewhere - in the garage I am riding underneath a pretty old CFL bulb.


 
Posted : 12/11/2020 7:27 am
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Yes, bluetooth is shit


 
Posted : 12/11/2020 8:30 am
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The Bluetooth between my MacBook and my hrm and wahoo kickr works perfectly with no drop outs. I run an ant+ dongle sometimes when I do trainerroad workouts alongside zwift and find that less reliable.


 
Posted : 12/11/2020 8:56 am
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I think ANT+ is about a million times better. Bluetooth caused me endless problems.

But people's experiences seem massively varied and totally unpredictable. So trial and error is probably the only way.

Is your issue the HRM - zwift connection? Windows Bluetooth is what I hated to be more precise...


 
Posted : 12/11/2020 9:24 am
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I suspect for the most part the answer is "it depends". In my case I have found Bluetooth a more reliable connection than Ant+ ever was for Zwift (connection turbo, HRM & cadence sensor), however that may be because the laptop inbuilt bluetooth is a better connection than an ANT+ stick.
Ant+ sticks are cheap, so if bluetooth is giving you hassle, no harm in trying to see.


 
Posted : 12/11/2020 9:46 am
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Is your issue the HRM – zwift connection? Windows Bluetooth is what I hated to be more precise

Issa Mac.

I could try it with another PC though, that's probably the first thing I should try.


 
Posted : 12/11/2020 11:15 am
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I have an ANT+ Cateye HR strap thats never connected to anything
Tried different phones, apps etc but no
and I never got the computer to go with it
so if anyone has a great idea...


 
Posted : 12/11/2020 8:05 pm
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so if anyone has a great idea…

Try and connect it to something that supports ANT+?


 
Posted : 12/11/2020 8:28 pm
 MSP
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Wifi 2.4 frequency can cause interference with Bluetooth.

Mac and iphone bluetooth is generally pretty reliable because the programmes are written to match the hardware and driver set, PC's can be more problematic, sufferfest use to require a specific bluetooth chipset on PC's.

Could you try using the companion app on your phone to link the devices instead of the mac? Shouldn't really make much difference but could be worth a try.


 
Posted : 12/11/2020 8:40 pm