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Such as the Garmin one. Can they be paired to an ANT+ device and a Bluetooth one at the same time? But only one used at once?
My smart trainer is Bluetooth and I have a Garmin computer which I think is ANT+, and I'd like to be able to use either without faffing around pairing.
I think the Garmin one transmits on BLE and ANT+ simultaneously so you should be fine; recent Garmin computers will also receive BLE but IIRC that's a two-way connection so it uses more power than ANT+ which is receive only.
Edit - have to make sure you get the right one; I have an ANT+ only Garmin HR unit which is the same shape but has a different pattern embossed in the front of the casing as the dual band one I bought for Zwifting
Just tested with my Wahoo Tickr and it's connected to my Wahoo bolt via ANT+, and my phone via bluetooth at the same time.
I've not tried the Garmin one yet as I'm waiting for the new HRM Tri, but the Polar H10 can do 2 BTLE And unlimited Ant+ simultaneously. I've tested this with a Vantage V, Suunto 9 and multiple Garmins at the same time and it all worked great. Polar also sell new elastic straps at a reasonable price (which Garmnin don't, although they are compatible).
I think (from perusing DC Rainmaker) that ANT+ isn't two way paired - it just broadcasts and any nearby ANT+ receiver can add the sensor, the number is just so the receiver knows to listen for that particular sensor
BLE is different as it is two-way paired (I think).
The Polar straps are indeed better but when I was on the hunt for a dual band HRM the Garmin one was cheaper and I didn't have to wait as long for it to turn up; I now have a stock of Garmin straps to use up...
Does your HR belt connect to your trainer? Mine has its own connection to the PC (decathlon cheap one).
Thanks folks.
I dunno if it connects to the trainer or not. I think the PC.
I use the Wahoo on iPhone on Zwift and port it to the garmin on ANT. Great device with fewer spikes than my Garmin HR strap.
+1 for the Wahoo. I've used it to connect to Zwift on ANT+ and to the Sufferfest simultaneously on BT.
Cheap coospoo one from Amazon here. Bluetooth connection to TR on my phone and then ant+ to the laptop with Zwift. No problems.
I have the Wahoo Tickr. That will BT to phone, and at the same time talk ANT+ to running machines etc.
BLE is different as it is two-way paired (I think).
No, in this instance they are identical. BTLE is unicast while Ant+ is broadcast. Ant+ is plaintext so anyone who chooses to listen can, BTLE is encrypted so all parties must go though a key exchange before they can communicate. Both are two way - trainer control is a good example of this. Ant+ profiles are generally more standard and reliable while Bluetooth is generally more buggy due to poor standards. Bluetooth uses different frequencies for each device to talk, so has some limitations (recent advances will eventually address this). Ant+ uses time division multiplexing so offers considerably more scale options.
Blutooth is more "private" so for pro athletes it can be useful to prevent others changing their gears or reading their power level (and hence doping levels).