Connecting to Zwift

Jay Wilson

Recently loaded Zwift on my computer but have been unsuccessful at getting it to sync with my Garmin devices.  I've unpaired all devices & tried to start from scratch but no luck.  Any advise would be greatly appreciated.  

Al Truscott

Not sure what you mean by "sync'ing" with Garmin. While both Zwift and a Garmin watch or bike computer can receive ANT+ and/or Bluetooth signals simultaneously from the same sensors (power meter, heart rate monitor, speed, cadence sensors,etc), the Garmin devices and the Zwift app will not be communicating directly with each other. Each will display their own data, like HR, speed, distance traveled, watts, rpm, independent of the other. They may or may not display the same numbers, depending on precisely which sensors you have them linked to, and their own internal algorithms for displaying the data.

E.g., I have my Garmin watch set to receive power and cadence data from my P1 pedals, and Zwift to receive it from my KICKR. Even when they are getting the data from the same source, I notice that speeds and distance on the Garmin are substantially different than that displayed in Zwift.

scott dinhofer

@Jay Wilson - per Al's comment, I do not use my garmin at all with Zwift. 
Garmin is a screen that shows you a bunch of information, HR/Power/Cadence/speed/Distance/etc... 
you get all of this information on the Zwift screen. 
the key is to ensure you have all of your Zwift "connections" up to date. 

Garmin, is my conduit to package all of my information into a nice data package and send it to the places I store/use it, in my case: Strava, TrainingPeaks & Garmin Connect. 
Zwift also does this. 

The only thing I do differently than Al is that I sync my PowerMeter (P1 pedals) as the power data source in Zwift. I just suspect that the power meter is a better sensor than the one in my Kickr. Zwift outputs the proper tension to my trainer based on the data it gets from the P1s. 

Robert Sabo

I have my computrainer hooked to my Mac through a dongle. But I can’t get my hrm to sync through a garmin ANT+ stick. Any tips?

scott dinhofer

Robert Sabo said:

I have my computrainer hooked to my Mac through a dongle. But I can’t get my hrm to sync through a garmin ANT+ stick. Any tips?

are other programs you normally use picking up the HRM? I'd check 1st if it is a Zwift issue or a device issue.. 

Jason Veith

I connect all my devices to Zwift (P1 pedals, ANT+ HRM, Kickr Snap, etc).  After I complete a ride in Zwift, it sends the workout data to Garmin Connect, Strava, and TrainingPeaks.

To setup the connections to other "Training Apps" in Zwift, you need to go into "settings" and "connections"  in your profile on Zwift's website.

Robert Sabo

The dongle and ant stick for HRM was what I used last os with trainer Road 

scott dinhofer

@Robert Sabo - assuming you haven't used the ant+ stick and HRM together on your PC since last OS, i am suggesting that perhaps something changed?
Try to get it working in the software you know it worked in, TR in this case. If it's connecting there, then we know it's a zwift issue. If it's not working there, you've got a hardware option... 
I wasn't getting HR the other day at the beginning of a ride and I know my HRM worked fine for my entire last workout, but I changed the battery & Voila, it worked! So, it may just be something simple and stoopid. 

John Withrow

@Robert Sabo I'm brand spanking new to Zwift, but it took me a full week to get my system setup.  One of the things I learned was that my older Garmin ANT+ sticks (I had 2 of them) that worked fine with TrainerRoad 3 years ago are not actually compatible with Zwift which needs the newer vintage of the USB technology.  I literally spent hours and hours trying to debug this until I learned it was an ANT+ hardware issue.  Once I ordered this one on Amazon for $18 and waited 2 days for it to show up:   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3VQP6Z/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 http:
It then took me approximately 10 seconds for Zwift to pair with all of my devices (Powermeter, HRM, Cadence).

Jay Wilson

Thank you so much guys for all the feedback!  I've been successful in connecting into Zwift.  Happy Training guys!!!

Robert Sabo

@John Withrow
thanks. I’ll order one today. I thought about that but hate to buy something in hopes that it will work. 

Al Truscott

One trick which made a big difference in facilitating a seamless connection between my smart trainer (KICKR) and ZwiftWorld was to select the ANT+ FE-C option among the several which showed up in the opening dialogue box. When using Bluetooth or the other Ant+ option, I had persistent intermittent connection drops, even with the ANT+ dongle right next to the KICKR. Since I started linking via ANT+ FE-C, no problems whatsoever, either in ERG or resistance mode.

Sheila Leard

My problem is that I can't get Wahoo Fitness Ap to say connected on my IPhone 8. It's not allowing me to move forward with registration or a spindown. I know I'm in Erg mode when riding but watts are WAY off because I can't do a calibration.
Someone mentioned getting the extender cable. But that would be helpful for connecting to my computer. https://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/accessories/usb-ant-kit

Sheila Leard

I'm so excited. I finally got my iPhone to pair with Kicker Ap. Wahoo support gave me the inside info if anyone has issues with their Kicker trainer. I feel like I unlocked the Da Vinci Code!! Now I can do another FTP and get going.

Jonathan Brown

So here is my questions since you all are very very smart.  I find that the power meter on the wahoo kicker snap is way off.  (i believe it is).  For example, i did a ride on sunday and my average power was 100 watts and i was dying the whole ride.  Then i tried to use my pioneer power meter as the power source and the wahoo as the smart trainer source on my tuesday ride.  And the whole ride, i was in the easiest gears to hit 120 watts during a portion of the workout.  If i moved into the large chain ring, i was in the 180's on my watts.  My watt numbers were super dupper high.  

Thoughts?

Al Truscott

@Jonathan BrownI've had a KICKR for two years now (the wheel off model). I've found that, even when properly warmed up and calibrated, it is usually 10-20 watts or up to 10% higher than the numbers I get from my Stages/crank or PowerTap P1 pedal power meters. Since its the winter, and I'm not looking at any races for the next 6 months, I don't worry about it, I just adjust my own mental expectations, and make sure that places like Zwift and Training Peaks have the correct FTP in them when I am using the KICKR.

This demonstrates the hard truth that there is a range of variation among brands of power meters, and within any individual meter. If it feels too hard or too easy, even though the numbers might say otherwise, your perception is probably right.

I suppose I really should try and use the P1 pedals as the power source, that would make my life simpler...

Jorge Duque

@Jonathan Brown I have a Wahoo Kickr and P1 pedals and my readings are within 1-2% between them. Have you made the spin down on the Kickr to calibrate?

Also there is a great and very active group on Facebook of Wahoo users where you can find or ask any question

Jonathan Brown

thank you @Al Truscott  and @Jorge Duque.  I need to remember to do the spin down.  The other day i did a spin down and it was the hard as hell workout and i never topped 120 watts.  So that never made sense, but i will fiddle with it again.

Randy Peene

I have a Computrainer and power meter. In Paired Devices under Power Source I select the power meter. Controllable is the Computrainer.

I'm assuming this is the preferred setup...yes?

If so, do I need to calibrate the Computrainer since power reading is coming from the power meter??
I wish Zwift had a way to calibrate "in-game".

Robert Sabo

No need to calibrate. I got my new Ant + stick and it all worked great.