TrainerRoad is among the first software companies to support the new wireless ANT+ FE-C protocol. Now, we fully support electronic-resistance control for Tacx trainers.
What is ANT+ FE-C?
ANT+ is the most common wireless protocol used in the cycling community. It’s the language that wireless devices like speed sensors and power meters use to communicate with TrainerRoad or devices like Garmin head units. When you’re training on the road or indoors, ANT+ is the key component responsible for transmitting your fitness data.
ANT+ FE-C is a new and improved version of their wireless protocol geared specifically toward trainers and indoor-cycling bikes. Now, hardware companies have a standardized open protocol that they can use to communicate with software like TrainerRoad.
Tacx Trainer Support
As a result of ANT+ launching FE-C, Tacx trainer owners can now use TrainerRoad to control the resistance of their trainers — something you’ve never been able to do before. With this new feature, owner’s of the following trainers can now use their devices to their full potential:
- Vortex Smart (Model Number: T2180)
- Vortex Smart TDF (Model Number: T2380)
- Bushido Smart (Model Number: T2780)
- Bushido Smart TDF (Model Number: T2300)
If you have a Tacx trainer that outputs power, cadence or speed data, TrainerRoad will be able to pick that up too.
Upcoming Devices
FE-C is the new industry standard for upcoming ANT+ enabled electronic trainers and spin bikes. As more and more FE-C devices become available on the market, they’ll be compatible with TrainerRoad.
Share this Post
I’m using the IOS version of TrainerRoad on an iPhone 5. Does this development mean anything to me? The Tacx Smart trainers are dual ANT/BTLE, I believe, but this announcement doesn’t mention controlling them over Bluetooth.
Hey There,
Tacx plans to open up resistance control via bluetooth with third party software like TrainerRoad at some point in the future. When that happens you’ll be all set!
In the meantime, all you would need is an ANT+ Key and an adapter. Check out this article for more info: http://support.trainerroad.com/hc/en-us/articles/201618914-ANT-Connectivity
Any word on when Bluetooth Open control will be implemented?
Hi Nathan,
Still no ETA on open BT control. We’re heavily focused on getting the revamped Mac app out and Android after that. We’ll keep everyone up-to-speed as to any development for this. 🙂
I have a TACX Vortex Smart. Will this only work with the iOS version or does it work with the Windows PC (with ANT adapter) version as well?
Hey Tod,
After updating the firmware on your Tacx trainer you will have resistance control on both platforms. 🙂
I’m curious to hear how people like their Vortex Smart trainers… Especially anyone who can compare to training with a power meter and fluid unit like Kurt’s Road Machine.
I’m always interested in new toys and like the idea of ERG mode, but would hate to jump in and find the power readings way off…
Anyone have experienced to share? I’ve googled a little and seem to find accuracy complaints about every ERG trainer (Kickr, Powerbeam, Tacx). Not sure if I’ve seen Computrainer complaints…
Thanks!
Tim
Hey Tim,
The Vortex is a great trainer! You will see discrepancies in power readings even from one power meter to another of the same model. While they generally aren’t large, the important thing to keep in mind is that if your power readings are consistent on a day-to-day basis, then you are reaping full benefits of a power meter.
Having said that, our new PowerMatch feature solves this issue. It will use your power meter’s data to control the resistance of your electronic trainer, or you can just manually enter an offset. Check out this article for more information: http://support.trainerroad.com/hc/en-us/articles/204631294-PowerMatch-Using-Power-Meters-with-Electronic-Trainers
This is interesting in planning for the fall/winter. Does the Fe-C control allow one to override the resistance on the high side? For instance if doing a Sufferfest Video during an interval will the protocol allow me to push more watts than suggested? Does it allow one to take a lap off in Revolver or Half is Easy (spin through or skip an interval to recover)? (Don’t tell Grunter I asked!)
Hey Kevin,
The objective of ERG mode is to help you hit your power targets with precision. No matter the cadence, the trainer will modulate the resistance to make you hit the power targets sent over from TrainerRoad.
However, you can change an electronic trainer’s mode from ERG to Standard (sometimes called Slope). This mode differs from ERG in that the trainer is not locking you into a power target. Instead, the trainer takes into account the speed at which you are spinning the trainer and attempts to apply sufficient resistance to emulate the resistance that you would experience if you were riding at that speed outside.
So, any time that you wanted to go harder or easier than a prescribed power target, you could switch the trainer’s mode from ERG to Standard via the Devices Settings view.
Working out the bugs and changes with my new Bushido Smart Trainer. Can you tell me about “resistance” mode? Not sure what that is.
Hey Kevin,
Resistance Mode allows you to manually set the resistance of the trainer. It operates on a 0-100 scale of resistance, “0” being no resistance, “100” being the maximum resistance the unit can produce.
When in resistance mode, the resistance of the trainer will not follow the workout profile. Some people use this extremely short intervals with great disparity in intensity between the rest and work intervals.
Do you think for Tacx trainers etc. you will support Bluetooth?
Ignore my previous comment