Wireless on recumbents (RANS Stratus)

The new Mavic Win Tour is about to be imported. At a list price of $129 with cadence it is VERY
pricy but supposedly is a breakthrough in wireless.

--
Bob Siegel in Gainesville FL "RVC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've just purchased a Stratus and wonder if any improvements have been

made

Quoted message said:

in the wireless computer world ? I've read the archives and it appears

the

Quoted message said:

main problem(s) is/are transmission distance and durability. I can mount

by

Quoted message said:

Garmin eTrex Vista on the bike as a solution, but would prefer a bike computer.

Any recommendations, to include waiting for improvements! :-)

Thanks!

RVC, USMC(Ret)

"RVC" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I've just purchased a Stratus and wonder if any improvements have been made in the wireless
computer world ?

WiFi ? 802.11g?

Quoted message said:

a bike computer.

Oh, that kind of computer wireless... %^)

You don't mention why you want to go wireless for your cyclocomputer. Wire routing? Aesthetics? I
use a wired one on my TE as does a friend on his Stratus.... Wrapping the wire around the brake
cable hides it quite effectively.

As someone (Cletus?) recently pointed out, there's a reason that the wheel/cadence sensors for
wireless cyclometers have a limited range. Interference with other wireless cyclometers.

I speculate that the simplest design for such sensors merely transmit a pulse each time the magnet
passes. For systems with both cadence and speed sensors, perhaps they use two different frequencies
to tell them apart. Nothing elaborate in the radio transmitter(s). Nothing elaborate or highly
selective in the receiver. Simple, cheap and reliable (within range).

To extend the range and deal with potential interaction with other wireless cyclometers, one would
likely need more complicated hardware in the sensors and some real data packet transmission
protocols. Probably more battery power in the sensors and head-units would be needed, too.

If it were acceptable and sufficient to simply boost the output of the wireless sensors to gain
another 10-15 inches, even that would likely require more battery power.

On the other hand, maybe what's needed is more directional transmitter and receiver antennae for
these devices.... hmmm...

Jon Meinecke

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I've just purchased a Stratus and wonder if any improvements have been made in the wireless
computer world ? I've read the archives and it appears the main problem(s) is/are transmission
distance and durability. I can mount by Garmin eTrex Vista on the bike as a solution, but would
prefer a bike computer.

Any recommendations, to include waiting for improvements! :-)

Thanks!

As a former Stratus owner, I initially experimentd with wireless. AFAIK, all wireless transmitters
have a range limited to about 70cm. This excluded the Rans Stratus H/B to front wheel. I did mount a
wireless on a Crono 'Nob' attached to the top tube near the headtube. While it worked, it was out of
reach and the night light feature was useless.

I got my best unmodified wire using a Cateye Astrale.

My recommendation, Don't hold your breath waiting for improvements.

Another choice, a Garmin Geko. uses GPS for speed and distance. No wheel magnet. It does under
report speed by about 1.5% over a well calibrated wired computer.
--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

I've had good results with the Performance Axiom wireless. The first model I used on my TE (probably
not that different from your Stratus) I mounted on the top tube (with Crono 'Nob'😉, and I could
control it by leaning slightly forward. It eventually went belly up, after several thousand miles,
including a trans-Am), so I replaced it with their new one. But it has a different mounting deal
that required me to put a space bar on the handlebar stem, just above the headset. Works
beautifully, and I can still adjust it by leaning forward slightly. Never experienced any control
problems while doing so.

And the price is right!

Steve

RVC said:

I've just purchased a Stratus and wonder if any improvements have been made in the wireless
computer world ? I've read the archives and it appears the main problem(s) is/are transmission
distance and durability. I can mount by Garmin eTrex Vista on the bike as a solution, but would
prefer a bike computer.

Any recommendations, to include waiting for improvements! :-)

Thanks!

RVC, USMC(Ret)

--
Steve Fox McKinleyville, CA sotier2003.crazyguyonabike.comsotier2003.crazyguyonabike.comOpen ↗

O \ _____,%) (*)-'------------(*)

"Cletus Lee" skrev...

Quoted message said:

As a former Stratus owner, I initially experimentd with wireless. AFAIK, all wireless transmitters
have a range limited to about 70cm. This excluded the Rans Stratus H/B to front wheel. I did mount
a wireless on a Crono 'Nob' attached to the top tube near the headtube. While it worked, it was
out of reach and the night light feature was useless.

As I mentioned elsewhere Mavic is coming out with a wireless.
mavic.comnewsficheOpen ↗ Digital so might be better.
Doesn't say how long the range is but it should work on a VK2. Nice that the skewer has the sensor
and you can get a wireless cadence kit too.

Review when my LBS gets it. Sometime in the new year I think.

Mikael

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Rvc
I've just purchased a Stratus and wonder if any improvements have been made in the wireless computer world ?

If you are talking distance trouble, try putting the computer on the derailleur tube.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by bentcruiser
If you are talking distance trouble, try putting the computer on the derailleur tube.

Deraileur tube solves the reception problem, but I'd prefer having it up on the handlebars so I don't have to move my head and take my eyes off the road to see it.

I think you could partially run a wire down from the receiver to serve as an antenae, but that significantly erases wireless benefit.

If you don't run in packs, it probably wouldn't be much of an issue to increase transmitter output. Maybe higher voltage battery could extend range, but anyone know if the transmitters handle the higher voltage?

"RVC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I've just purchased a Stratus and wonder if any improvements have been made in the wireless
computer world ? I've read the archives and it appears the main problem(s) is/are transmission
distance and durability. I can mount by Garmin eTrex Vista on the bike as a solution, but would
prefer a bike computer.

Any recommendations, to include waiting for improvements! :-)

Thanks!

RVC, USMC(Ret)

Currently riding a Stratus with the new style bar and using a wireless Vetta 100A computer. This
baby is loaded, Temp, Alt, Cadence, and Speed. Called Vetta prior to installing. They stated their
standard response was it would not work on a recumbent. Installed it anyway with the cadence and
speed sensor on the left side of the bike with the cadence sensor on the front derailleur tube and
the computer on the top left side of the bar as it is designed to be installed and it has work
flawlessly for 350 miles. Confident it will not work for all applications but it works great on the
Stratus with the new bars. On wireless computers you do have to replace the batteries on the sensors
occasionally and perhaps more often where the signal must be stronger for the additional range
required. By the time you buy the computer with the cadence sensor you will put out a bit of change,
over $100 but it is a slick looking installation compared to wired. In general I have not had very
good luck with Sigma wireless computers even on df bikes. Kelly

vetta.comvetta.comOpen ↗

bentcruiser <[email hidden]> wrote in news:8OmEb.196$rA2.109
@fe04.private.usenetserver.com:

Quoted message said:

Rvc said:

I've just purchased a Stratus and wonder if any improvements have been made in the wireless
computer world ?

Wireless sounds neat, but there's something galling about a $40 solution to a $10 problem.

I had a dead "Walkman-like" head set. I snipped the wires and spliced them into a Sigma lead. Two
years, rain, snow, fog, no problem. I think hook-up wire from electrode-hut would work pretty well
too, that and a little heat shrink, you could probably get away with no solder.

H

bitshift blah blah to respond

"Mikael Seierup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Cletus Lee" skrev...

Quoted message said:

As a former Stratus owner, I initially experimentd with wireless. AFAIK,

all wireless

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

transmitters have a range limited to about 70cm. This excluded the Rans

Stratus H/B to front

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

wheel. I did mount a wireless on a Crono 'Nob' attached to the top tube

near the headtube.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

While it worked, it was out of reach and the night light feature was

useless.

Quoted message said:

As I mentioned elsewhere Mavic is coming out with a wireless.
mavic.comnewsficheOpen ↗ Digital so might be better.
Doesn't say how long the range is but it should work on a VK2. Nice that the skewer has the sensor
and you can get a wireless cadence kit too.

Review when my LBS gets it. Sometime in the new year I think.

Mikael

If HERE means the US its for sale here

excelsports.comnew.aspOpen ↗
Tech+Computer&vendorCode=MAVIC&major=3&minor=2

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

"Cletus Lee" skrev...

Quoted message said:

As a former Stratus owner, I initially experimentd with wireless. AFAIK, all wireless
transmitters have a range limited to about 70cm. This excluded the Rans Stratus H/B to front
wheel. I did mount a wireless on a Crono 'Nob' attached to the top tube near the headtube. While
it worked, it was out of reach and the night light feature was useless.

As I mentioned elsewhere Mavic is coming out with a wireless.
mavic.comnewsficheOpen ↗ Digital so might be better.
Doesn't say how long the range is but it should work on a VK2. Nice that the skewer has the sensor
and you can get a wireless cadence kit too.

Review when my LBS gets it. Sometime in the new year I think.

Two comments:
1. Curiously missing from Mavic's website are any useful information like range and installation
instructions. If the range is still limited to 70cm, 'Bent users are still out of luck and worse
since the transmitter is located at the axle and not the rim.
2. With wired Magnets and sensors, if the sensor is placed too near the SON Hub, the computer
malfunctions. I am wondering if the Skewer mounted transmitter will work with a SON Hub.

--
Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

"Here" means 100% of MSRP. The street price should drop 25% to 30 % quickly after gotta-have-one-
first buyers have grabbed up theirs.

--
Bob Siegel in Gainesville FL "Mark Leuck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:7nqEb.82077$8y1.287941@attbi_s52...

Quoted message said:

"Mikael Seierup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de...

Quoted message said:

"Cletus Lee" skrev...

Quoted message said:

As a former Stratus owner, I initially experimentd with wireless.

AFAIK,

Quoted message said:

all wireless

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

transmitters have a range limited to about 70cm. This excluded the

Rans

Quoted message said:

Stratus H/B to front

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

wheel. I did mount a wireless on a Crono 'Nob' attached to the top

tube

Quoted message said:

near the headtube.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

While it worked, it was out of reach and the night light feature was

useless.

Quoted message said:

As I mentioned elsewhere Mavic is coming out with a wireless.
mavic.comnewsficheOpen ↗ Digital so might be better.
Doesn't say how long the range is but it should work on a VK2. Nice that the skewer has the
sensor and you can get a wireless cadence kit too.

Review when my LBS gets it. Sometime in the new year I think.

Mikael

If HERE means the US its for sale here

excelsports.comnew.aspOpen ↗
Tech+Computer&vendorCode=MAVIC&major=3&minor=2

"Mark Leuck" skrev...

Quoted message said:

If HERE means the US its for sale here

Nope it means out in the fringes of the civilized world... Denmark ;-) LBS is getting it soon.

Mikael

I wonder how well one of these would work on a bike:

interbike.co.ukcs pedometers.htmlOpen ↗

Thanks to all for your replies.

RVC< USMC(Ret) "RVC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've just purchased a Stratus and wonder if any improvements have been

made

Quoted message said:

in the wireless computer world ? I've read the archives and it appears

the

Quoted message said:

main problem(s) is/are transmission distance and durability. I can mount

by

Quoted message said:

Garmin eTrex Vista on the bike as a solution, but would prefer a bike computer.

Any recommendations, to include waiting for improvements! :-)

Thanks!

RVC, USMC(Ret)

"Cletus Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Another choice, a Garmin Geko. uses GPS for speed and distance. No wheel

magnet. It does under report speed by about 1.5% over a well calibrated wired computer.

My Garmin Geko doesn't under report speed--it's right on.

"bentcruiser" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Rvc said:

I've just purchased a Stratus and wonder if any improvements have been made in the wireless
computer world ?

If you are talking distance trouble, try putting the computer on the derailleur tube.

That's what I did on my RANS Tailwind, it works just fine on the derailler tube. Except last Tuesday
when the weather was quite cold for these parts (about 15 deg F) on my morning commute. My wireless
only reported about
1/2 the distance I really traveled--kept jumping between my actual speed and zero. The rest of the
week the temp was in the mid 20's and it worked fine--I guess I could try a new battery but this
one isn't that old. Seems like under 20 deg F it doesn't work dependably.

I don't think poor cold weather performance is a wireless thing. On my V-Rex and my DFs I have wired
computers and they don't work well either when it gets well below freezing. Anyone know of a
computer that works well in the bitter cold?

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email protected] says...

Quoted message said:

"Cletus Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Another choice, a Garmin Geko. uses GPS for speed and distance. No wheel

magnet. It does under report speed by about 1.5% over a well calibrated wired computer.

My Garmin Geko doesn't under report speed--it's right on.

I am sorry, You are correct about the speed. Mine is accurate to the .10 mph. Except for the time it
registered 888 mph in downtown Houston while I was stopped at a traffic light. It is distance that
is under reported by ~1.5%. The reason the distance is off is because the Geko measures distance
from point to point. A route with a lot of turns will be in error. Also I have found that false
signals are causing route track errors in city canyons.

--
Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

"Cletus D. Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email protected] says...

Quoted message said:

"Cletus Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

> Another choice, a Garmin Geko. uses GPS for speed and distance. No

wheel

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

magnet. It does under report speed by about 1.5% over a well calibrated wired computer.

My Garmin Geko doesn't under report speed--it's right on.

I am sorry, You are correct about the speed. Mine is accurate to the .10 mph. Except for the time
it registered 888 mph in downtown Houston while I was stopped at a traffic light. It is distance
that is under reported by ~1.5%. The reason the distance is off is because the Geko measures
distance from point to point. A route with a lot of turns will be in error. Also I have found that
false signals are causing route track errors in city canyons.

--
Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

Well, I'm not so sure about the trip distance being under-reported. When I first bought it, just for
an experimentation I brought it along and watched it update while my wife was driving down the
freeway. Assuming the survey mile markers were correct, I didn't see any noticeable error at all. I
also used it when I rode a century (actually a 108 mile ride), every rest stop was exact on my
Garmin, as was the final distance when compared to the cheat-sheet. It was not 1.5 miles off, it
wasn't even .15 miles off. But heck, I guess you could also argue that they probably used some kind
of GPS to calculate and make the cheat sheet to start with.

Maybe you know for sure, but I theorize the Garmin does not simply triangulate between points (thus
cutting corners as you indicate). I believe the Garmin somehow integrates velocity, and thus doesn't
necessarily cut off corners. The reason I believe this is I've seen the Garmin continue to update
trip distance for a several seconds (at least) after the GPS signal is lost.

Brian