Desperately trying to understand my power meter stats

Keith Shackleford

I have a stages crank arm power meter and Garmin 920XT. My power stats constantly register when I use the TrainerRoad app.  At the same time, on my Garmin the power meter appears to constantly drop or disconnect. Take a look at the bike cadence and Power Watts.  (just ignore my bad performance.) As I start to train on the road with power, reading my power and getting the benefits is extremely important, needless to say. Any help is appreciated.

Scott Alexander

I know several people that have had problem with Stages dropping only because the distance between the PM and the computer/watch is BARELY outside the range of receiving the signal. Doesn't happen all the time, or even a lot necessarily, but still annoying. It's just horribly inconsistent from what I've heard.

Bad for me to say since I just bought one for my MTB. Oh well, guess I'll see just how bad it is!

Tom Glynn

I would start with Scott's thoughts about distance from the power meter to the watch.  So, sit on your trainer but instead of the watch on the wrist, place it on the floor next to your pedals.  If there are no drops, that's the issue.

Why did your HR data stop recording?  Are you using a separate cadence sensor?  It's odd to have dropped data from the HR monitor, cadence sensor and power meter.  Sounds more like some sort of interference issue in the garage.  If you take your bike outside do you get the same issues?

Do you have a bike computer to try?  Maybe swap out the 920XT to see if the issue is the watch.

Leslie Knight

I've had a Stages for a few years. Early quality was horrible- I think I'm on my fourth one.   But customer service was great and they always sent me a new one.  I think the current one is prob two years old and is fine.  There was concern with water entering the battery compartment and my tines bent a little, so I put electrical tape on it and its fine.  It didn't work well with my Garmin 910 when it was in my wrist, but was better when mounted in my bar.  My 920 has no problems at all.  The main thing now is it doesn't seem to want to calibrate.  I haven't tried a software update or reset or anything and as long as it's consistent, I don't really care about the actual number.  If I were to do it again, I'd get Garmin pedals as it's easier to move from bike to bike.  But I got the Stages when the pedals kept getting delayed again and again.  

Shaughn Simmons

1) Ensure your PM batteries and fresh.  As batteries weaken, the signal output and range decreases.

2) Run a USB cable from the computer to a location very close to the bike PM Stages output with an Ant+ receptor.  This will ensure your computer is picking up a strong signal.

3) Regarding the Garmin unit, house wifi can interfere with the reception.  I use an 810 unit.  I have moved my pain cave to a room as far away from the house wifi as possible and this have helped a lot with dropping signals to the 810 unit.

If you consider a change/upgrade to another power meter, I recommend going with the Power Tap P1 pedals.

Hope the team comments help you solve the issue.

SS

Jacklyn Moore

Talked with Garmin when I got my PT pedals. I was having a huge problem with drop out. Turned out the wireless modem above the pain cave in the living room was providing JUST enough interference to cause drop out. I did an update on my watch and it has been a lot better. I have had no issues out on the road. 

peter Lautenslager

I have a stages PM and have had drops in the past.  Here is what works well for me:
1. check inside the battery compartment and make sure the tiny brass colored contact is not flat or pushed in.  You can carefully bend it out with an exacto knife and it makes a world of difference in terms of getting intermittent connections.  I check this every time I change the battery
2. As mentioned in this thread, where you place your head unit makes a big difference.  I found that any mount on top of a bottle (between the aero bars) does not work well.  What works for me is a mount that puts the head unit out front: http://www.trisports.com/zipp-vuka-alumina-bta-mount.html?gclid=CjwKEAjw387JBRDPtJePvOej8kASJADkV9TLxfjwRKZ2G6IQmbyn4AWHxfzslbJjRLR0vl6mzj8NwxoChjfw_wcB
3. Change the battery often
4. I upgraded from a Edge 500 to the 520 and I have had zero issues.

I Hope that helps

Dave Campbell

Did you get this sorted out Keith?  I can help you get up to speed looking over your data. Can't help with a hardware problem with Stages though, never used that product. Let me know. 

Keith Shackleford

Thanks all.  I am going to try using a headunit in addition to my watch. 

Sid Wavrin

I have P1 pedals and am using 920xt BTA and am also experiencing dropouts. Which head unit have people had success with in this application? 

Dave Campbell

My P1's like my Garmin 520.  No dropouts there.  Seems like the dedicated cycling head units do work better than the multi sport Garmin watches.

Mark Stahlkopf

Using a head unit like a Garmin 520 should clear up the problem. Friend of mine had the same issue between 920xt & Stages. As soon as she switched to a 520 everything was perfect.

Scott Alexander

I tend to see dropouts when the computer moves (ex, on my wrist), which is why I have a mounted Garmin 510 for all my cycling: tt/tri w/ quarq, road w/ p1s and mtb w/ stages. No movement, no dropouts.

I've recently started using my 920 wrist-mounted garmin when spinning at the gym with my powertap p1s and I get tons of dropouts.

Keith Shackleford

Mounting the 520 seemed to do the trick.  no problems with it although the 920 continues to drop.

Jorge Duque

Mounted Garmin 500 Edge has never given any problems.