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best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop?
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 2014-01-02 9:00 AM |
New user  324 |  Subject: best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop?what is the best way to extend the ant+ signal from my laptop? I'm getting set up to train with TrainerRoad, and my power meter is about 10 ft or so (as the crow flies) from my laptop. I've heard of people having signal issues if they get to far away, and I'm trying to avoid that issue from the start. This weekend I tried a USB extension cable (the "active" variety) and it didn't work with the ant+ device. I tested the ant+ device separately by plugging it directly into my laptop and pairing it with my garmin and it worked fine. The usb extension cable also worked fine with a basic thumb drive. together, the ant+ would not recognize/pair with my garmin. My ant+ is the little nubby kind, not the one that looks like a thumb drive. Anyone else have an issue like that and resolve it? Any suggestions about how to boost the signal (i.e. a powered usb hub or something like that)? If it matters, the usb extension cable is the one here: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3964619. I got the 16 ft one, because I need to down from my laptop and then around some things and across the room. I suspect the length of the cord might be the issue, but the shorter one at the store was 9ft which wouldn't have worked. Thanks. |
| 2014-01-02 9:25 AM in reply to: braciole |
Expert 2192   Greenville, SC | Subject: RE: best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop? Do you have the latest version of TR? I downloaded the updated version a week or so ago and all my signals went from Bad/Poor to Good/Excellent with the new update which apparently specifically addressed the poor signal issues everyone complains about. |
| 2014-01-02 9:34 AM in reply to: braciole |
Elite 7783  PEI, Canada | Subject: RE: best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop? Mine works with an extension cable. Mine you, it's not 16 ft long and I have the actual Garmin Ant stick. I guess I'm not much help. Any reason you can't just move the laptop closer? |
| 2014-01-02 9:43 AM in reply to: Clempson |
New user 324 | Subject: RE: best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop? Originally posted by Clempson Do you have the latest version of TR? I downloaded the updated version a week or so ago and all my signals went from Bad/Poor to Good/Excellent with the new update which apparently specifically addressed the poor signal issues everyone complains about. I haven't actually downloaded TR yet. I guess I'm kind of trying to solve a problem I'm not sure I'll have yet. I had read so much about it happening that I figured I'd work the solution into my set up initially. It could end up not being an issue. |
| 2014-01-02 9:46 AM in reply to: axteraa |
New user 324 | Subject: RE: best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop? Originally posted by axteraa Mine works with an extension cable. Mine you, it's not 16 ft long and I have the actual Garmin Ant stick. I guess I'm not much help. Any reason you can't just move the laptop closer? ultimately I could move the laptop closer, but it's not my ideal set up. Right now the laptop is on a non-moveable piece of furniture in my home gym, right speakers, TV, other components and power cords/outlets) and right in front of my bike/trainer set up at just the right viewing height/distance/angle. I could always move stuff around each time i use it -- like pull the laptop out to a snack table or move my bike etc., but I want to get it all set up just right without having to do all of that stuff. |
| 2014-01-02 10:24 AM in reply to: 0 |
Expert 2098 Ontario Canada | Subject: RE: best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop? I am using the new mini Garmin Ant+ stick the nubby with a straight old fashion 10 ft USB cable with no problems what so ever, linked and paired right up with no issues. Edited by RRH_88 2014-01-02 10:25 AM |
| 2014-01-02 10:39 AM in reply to: RRH_88 |
New user 324 | Subject: RE: best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop? Originally posted by RRH_88 I am using the new mini Garmin Ant+ stick the nubby with a straight old fashion 10 ft USB cable with no problems what so ever, linked and paired right up with no issues. interesting. thanks. i suspected the length of the cable may be the issue. maybe i'll get a shorter cable online and see if I can make it work with the room as set up. |
| 2014-01-02 12:07 PM in reply to: braciole |
Elite 7783 PEI, Canada | Subject: RE: best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop? Originally posted by braciole Originally posted by RRH_88 I am using the new mini Garmin Ant+ stick the nubby with a straight old fashion 10 ft USB cable with no problems what so ever, linked and paired right up with no issues. interesting. thanks. i suspected the length of the cable may be the issue. maybe i'll get a shorter cable online and see if I can make it work with the room as set up. FWIW, the maximum allowed cable length for USB 2.0 is 5 meters/16 feet so your cable is right at the maximum limit. It may very well be the cause of your issue. |
| 2014-01-03 2:10 AM in reply to: braciole |
Regular 606 Portland, Oregon | Subject: RE: best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop? Get a cheap dollar store usb extension. If you are only 10 feet away, I'm sure even a 3 ft cord would be enough to get a little closer and a better line of sight. The "active electronics" sound like they are either the direct problem or just getting in the way. |
| 2014-01-03 5:45 AM in reply to: braciole |
Pro 4353 Wallingford, PA | Subject: RE: best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop? We're using a program similar to TrainerRoad (PerfPRO) in a multi-rider setting, and were having trouble with some ANT+ signals dropping out. We've added a USB Extension cord with a cradle that allows the ANT+ stick to be held vertically and elevated it in the room. This seems to have eliminated our drop out problems. We used a cable similar to this one. |
| 2014-01-05 9:38 AM in reply to: braciole |
New user 324 | Subject: RE: best way to boost ant+ signal from laptop? problem solved, I think. I returned the 16ft active cable and got a 10ft passive one (which worked out especially well because the shorter one was cheaper and I got to use a coupon they gave me last time at the store). Anyway, I got it all to work, but I had to right click on the ant+ Agent icon and enable "pair with new devices" (which was set to "disabled") and then accept the pairing on my Garmin. I had done that during the initial set-up, and my understanding was that I wouldn't have to pair my Garmin with the ant+ again after doing it the first time -- that it would just pick up the device automatically and transfer new workouts on its own. I hope I don't have to do that each time going forward, but even if so I can get the data to transfer and the USB extension cable works with the ant+. "Pair with new devices" is now set to "enabled". I'll test it again tomorrow to see what happens. |
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