How to prevent trainer interference when 2 are riding?

Triathlon Forum
1

When I am riding on my Saris H3 (ant+/laptop) and my husband starts his session on his Wahoo Kickr Core (ant+/laptop), I lose my connection to Zwift and it can’t locate my power signal. If I do get it back at all, I have intermittent power dropouts the entire time he is riding.

We both have the extended cables so the ant stick is close to our trainers. Trainers are on opposite sides of the room.

Any tips for eliminating the interference so we can both ride at the same time?

2

If I remember correctly, I rode my hammer (first version) about 10 feet away from my daughters kicker (first version) without any issues, I normally use my iPad (Bluetooth), what I don’t remember is if she used her computer (ant) or her iPad (Bluetooth). I always use my iPad and Bluetooth, but I have to start and connect the Bluetooth prior to starting my garmin watch (ant) for recording the session, if I start my watch first it seems to grab the Bluetooth and the iPad doesn’t work. I don’t know if this helps just a idea.

3

I heard a discussion similar to this on the Trainerroad podcast, but it was related to a Garmin device, I believe. It may have been the episode where they interviewed DC Rainmaker and he apparently describes how he gets away from this on his website. I think he said you need to make sure all of your devices are up to date with their firmware

4

My wife and I have a very similar setup. I’m on a Cyclops Hammer (first generation of what you have) connected using Ant+ and cycling on Zwift. My wife is on a Kickr Core around 10 feet away, connected using Ant+ and cycling on Trainer Road.

We’ve had interference issues before but it’s been much better the past few months. Start with the basics:

  • Make sure your firmware is up to date on both trainers.
  • You say your husband causes issues for you when he starts his workout. Try connecting your trainer first, then watch him connect his, and make sure he isn’t connecting to your trainer. I did that to my wife once and it cause all kinds of weird issues, as you can imagine.
  • Try plugging the Ant+ directly into your laptop and skip the USB extension.
  • It might be as simple as your Ant+ dongle is bad. Order a new one. My wife and I both use the Garmin Ant+, rather than the cheaper knockoffs.
  • On a related note, swap Ant+ dongles with your husband and see if the dropout continues on your end or his end. If yours starts to work and his is having problems, that points to a dongle issue.
5

unfortunately, one person (or both) probably has to use Bluetooth to avoid the interference.

6

The ANT+ signal can be received by many (unlike BT) - BUT the receiver must be specifically ‘connected’ to the transmitter first. Think about this - on the start line of a big race. Very many ANT+ receivers (on everyone’s wrist/cycling computer) for many types of signals - HR, power, cadence, foot pods, etc. In that case, one runner does not get ‘interference’ or ‘pick up’ the ANT+ signal broadcast by others.

We need more details about your setup, but go to Zwift and ‘forget’ all of the ANT+ transmitters. Be sure that husband’s ANT+ transmitters are OFF and wife’s are ON. Now, restart Zwift - you should see only wife’s transmitters. Accept those and use for a short ride. That should have wife’s ANT+ transmitters ‘known’ to wife’s receiver and ignore husband’s ANT+ transmitters. Maybe should then do the inverse with husband’s - forget all, wife’s OFF, husband’s ON, connect, ride, quite.

It sounds as if one user has connected to he other user’s transmitters in the past. Zwift remembers all of those ANT+ transmitters and connects to the - strongest? most recently connected? - I don’t know. Have you ever swapped ANT+ dongles? HR straps?