Posted at: Aug 27, 2021
This is a summary of Bluetooth Ant+ sensors, which can turn your phone into a cyclocomputer or add sensors to your cyclocomputer. How to find a sensor, compatible apps, and what to look for when choosing one.
Table of contents
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“ANT is a wireless communication solution and protocol developed by Dynastream Innovations, a subsidiary of Garmin.
ANT is not just a protocol for bicycles. There are also exercise profiles such as,
ANT+ sensors only emit the ANT+ signal, so there is no need for pairing ANT+ sensors with the cyclocomputer. ANT+ sensors can be used in multiple devices simultaneously.
In addition, many of the newer models of cyclocomputers connect to the sensor via ANT+, so even if you start out using a cyclocomputer with a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone, when you want more functions and want to use a full-fledged cyclocomputer, you can use a sensor that supports both Bluetooth and ANT+.
ANT+ for Connecting Cycle Computers to External Sensors
The sensor sends a variety of data to the cycle computer. There are many advantages of ANT+ sensors for bicycles, such as no pair required and the ability to connect multiple units simultaneously.
ANT+ is a protocol for sensors, while Bluetooth Smart is a separate Blueooth standard that allows for “low energy wireless”.
Bluetooth Smart is used for all “low energy wireless” Bluetooth devices developed to the Bluetooth 4.0 specification. It is not a standard for fitness sensors such as those used in bicycles. It is also used for mice and keyboards.
Bluetooth Smart includes
Bluetooth Smart Smart Ready
Bluetooth Smart is a standard for “low energy wireless devices” and is often used for sensors, not just for bicycles.
Bluetooth Smart Ready is a standard that can be used for both Bluetooth Smart devices and conventional Bluetooth devices, and is used for smartphones and cycling controllers.
Bluetooth / ANT+ sensors are available from a variety of manufacturers, from major players such as Germin, Polar, CATEYE, and Wahoo, to emerging players such as XOSS.
Sensors from major manufacturers tend to be more expensive, but the advantage is that they have good connectivity with official apps, and you can find out from user reviews how well they work with apps.
On the other hand, sensors from inexpensive emerging manufacturers may not have good connectivity or measure data properly depending on the app, so check beforehand if the app is compatible.
There are some major apps that support Bluetooth and ANT+, such as “Wahoo Fitness” and “Garmin COnnect” that are specifically for bicycles, and you can easily get them by searching for “ANT+” in the app store.
If you can receive “CAD (Cadence), SPD (Speed), and PWR (Power)” data for your bike from the sensor side, you will be able to record and display various data on your phone.
In the case of smartphone apps, most of the time, the sensors are connected via Bluetooth.
Like the Wahoo Blue SC and XOSS sensors I mentioned earlier, many recent bicycle sensors are compatible with both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart, the ultra power-saving standard for Bluetooth.
However, some sensors are “Bluetooth only” or “ANT+ only”, so make sure you check the connection method properly.
On the other hand, as for the smartphone that will be the receiver, most of the recent smartphones support Bluetooth Smart, but many of them do not support ANT+, so in principle, you will have to connect via Bluetooth.
It is important to note that if you buy a Bluetooth-only sensor because you only need to connect it to your smartphone, you may end up needing an ANT+ sensor later when you switch to a high-end cycling controller.
For the sake of versatility, it is better to buy a sensor that supports both Bluetooth and ANT+ even if you want to connect it to your phone.
What you need to pay attention to is the connection to the cycling controller.
There are some products that only support ANT+ and some that support both Bluetooth and ANT+, so check the specs of the sensor connection method of the cycling controller.
Also, even if a product supports both Bluetooth and ANT+, there are some cyclocomputers that use Bluetooth for pairing with a smartphone and use ANT+ to connect the cyclocomputer to the sensor, so check which method is used to connect the cyclocomputer to the sensor before purchasing.
We have been looking at Bluetooth Ant+ sensors that can turn your smartphone into a cycling controller.
It’s a standard that hasn’t gained much momentum due to the lack of compatible sensors, but it’s great for users with limited budgets to be able to turn their smartphone into a cycling controller as long as they have a sensor. We hope you will give it a try.
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We have compiled a list of recommended Bluetooth ANT+ sensors that are currently available in Japan, as well as how to choose and what to look for when selecting a Bluetooth ANT+ sensor.
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Cycle computers are used to collect detailed data such as speed and heart rate on road bikes, but in fact, you can turn your iPhone into a high-performance cycle computer with just a few additional items.
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The sensor sends a variety of data to the cycle computer. There are many advantages of ANT+ sensors for bicycles, such as no pair required and the ability to connect multiple units simultaneously.