[Closed] Hr monitor with tacx vortex

Needs to be Bluetooth, you've probably just got an Ant+ one?

Unless you're using a ant+ USB stick in a pc that is.

Thanks, I'm surprised my garmin one isn't Bluetooth? The watch it works with links to my phone via Bluetooth.

Garmin heart rate straps only do ANT+, not bluetooth. The connection between Garmin and phone is entirely separate.

It's worth mentioning that Bluetooth is not the standard here, and is not as good as Ant+ so it's worth doing a bit of research before buying. Dcrainmaker.com is a good resource for this. A big limitation of Bluetooth is that it can't broadcast to multiple devices so if you have a watch and a bike computer you'd need to choose which one gets HR data. Ant+ can connect to as many as you need. Power meter support is also lacking on Bluetooth where Ant+ has an official PM profile.

Cheers, all of my gear (Garmin/heart rate/speed/cadence) sensors are ant+. It's just my new tacx turbo that's connecting to my phone via Bluetooth.

So if I buy a blu tooth HR monitor I should be able to get HR as well as the power reading etc when on the turbo too?

You should, yes. I have a Vortex and never use the Tacx app. If you have a Garmin head unit then why not just record your heart rate (and power from the Vortex) on that?

Can the garmin pick up the power from the Vortex then? Didn't know that was possible.

It's nice to be able to create training programmes in the cloud though and run them through the tacx app, as I'll be having that open to control the trainer anyway it makes sense to have it all on one screen and data capture. I can then see what hr I'm at for what power output at different cadences etc.

My vortex connects to my PC via ANT - that picks up the HR.

Connection to phone etc is over bluetooth, no HR..

Yeh I'm not using a pc with mine. Just using the phone app. My laptop takes as long as a HIIT session just to boot up properly.

Yeh I'm not using a pc with mine. Just using the phone app. My laptop takes as long as a HIIT session just to boot up properly.

I use a mix of polar and Garmin stuff which means I need Ant+ and Bluetooth LE. I use a Wahoo Tickr HR strap as it can transmit both simultaneously, tbh it works faultlessly.

Get a cheap bluetooth heart rate monitor and get yourself signed up to www.zwift.com **

😆

**providing you have an iOS device.

I don't have IOS, so zwift will possibly happen on laptop when I've got time to faff with it. For now it's just about structured HIIT sessions.

I'm finding the TACX cloud pretty awesome to construct training blocks so definitely want to keep using that for the time being.

Get a cheap bluetooth heart rate monitor

Can you suggest one that is available and under £30?

I use this one as it came with my TomTom running watch: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Heart-Rate-Monitors/TomTom-9UJ0-001-00/B00ENWESCM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495454829&sr=8-1&keywords=tomtom+heart+rate

Can the garmin pick up the power from the Vortex then? Didn't know that was possible.

Yes, assuming it's not one of the basic Garmins. You can also control the Vortex from a Garmin (i.e. set a power level and have the Vortex stick to that power). I've never done that though, I use TrainerRoad (I can probably dig out a free trial code if you want one) and have also tried Zwift.

I don't *think* that you can program in intervals for a workout and run them just using your Garmin headunit - I think the control is a bit simpler than that, but I've never tried it.

Yes please to the trainer road trial code.

Also how do I do that with the garmin? Using an 810

Send me your email address by direct message and I'll send you a TrainerRoad trial thingy.

I've had a quick Google and it looks like you can't control a turbo directly from the Edge 810. You'd need a newer unit (520, 820 or 1000).

It does look as though on a newer unit you can create a workout and follow it, though. Knowing Garmin it might not work very well though.

I think TrainerRoad is ace, but it's only worth the money if you actually use. Their podcast is good too.

The Tacx Vortex Smart will broadcast power to any ANT+ or Bluetooth unit.

Most Android phones have an ANT+ receiver in them if having Bluetooth issues. I use the Trainerroad app on my OnePlus 3 and connect to everything through ANT, but had to use Bluetooth to do the firmware updates.