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Symptoms of interference
- Your training app repeatedly disconnects, or disconnects and reconnects with Fliiiight.
- Fliiiight stops responding to changing ERG targets or hill slopes partway through your ride.
- Power and other readings stop populating, or "stick" at a certain value.
- Fliiiight misses an interval change, then is back on target following the next change.
- In a simulation, your avatar keeps stopping even though your wheel is spinning.
- You may also notice other ANT+ and Bluetooth devices intermittently losing signal as well.
Solutions
Trainer radio range
- Charge your trainer. Low batteries can affect the strength and range of the radio signal.
- Move the controlling device closer to the trainer. ANT+ and Bluetooth are both short-range, low-power protocols. In our experience, ANT+ is reliable to a maximum distance of about 10ft (3m), and Bluetooth to about 15ft (4.5m).
- ANT+: Use a USB Type A extensions cord (male to female) to get the dongle closer to the trainer.
Interference in the environment
Both the Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ protocols use radio waves in the 2.4 ghz range to communicate. Unfortunately, many other common household items, such as Wifi routers, microwaves, and cordless landline phones also communicate over the 2.4 ghz band.
- Move the controlling device closer to the trainer. Much like speaking directly into someones ear can help them hear you in a loud room, moving the receiving radio close to the trainer's broadcasts will help it send and receive commands more reliably.
- Streamline the number of devices using Bluetooth and ANT+ in the area. For example, there's no need to use separate power, speed and cadence sensors with Fliiiight, and using "power matching" features available in some apps may cause ERG commands to lag.
- Change your Wifi Router's channel. Changing to a different channel slightly changes the exact radio frequency your router uses. Wifi Routers typically ship using 2.4 ghz channel 1, 6, or 11. Changing channels may actually improve your household's wifi reception (by using a channel your neighbour's equipment isn't using), in addition to helping with interference with your trainer.
- If you have an older microwave, check if members of your household are using it during the incidents of poor connection your trainer. Microwaves work by blasting food with hundreds of watts of 2.4 ghz radio waves, exciting water molecules. This means that any shielding leaks from a microwave will typically overwhelm any 2.4 ghz communication in your house.
- Switch to using only the 5 ghz band of your wifi router. This will completely eliminate your wifi as a source of interference with your trainer, since the trainer only uses 2.4 ghz. Switching to 5 ghz may also improve your general Wifi reception. Note: Older wifi-enabled devices in your house may not work on the 5 ghz band.
- Move any large metal objects between your device and your trainer (not including your bike of course!).
Devices
- Switch protocols if it's available. ANT+ has a shorter range but can be more reliable within that range in cases where Bluetooth is unreliable.
- Try a different device, if it's available. Not all Bluetooth radios are created equal.