Wired or Wireless Computer

Cyclist14 said:

I perfer wired because less can go wrong. With a wireless computer you could have signal interferance and there are two batteries to worry about.
Just wondering what you guys (or girls) think about that.😄

I am both lazy and anal retentive so I go for wireless so that I have as clean a look as possible without having to do much if any work. 😄 That said the interferance issue bothers me a little as I would like to use my Polar HRM and I am not sure if there will be cross talk between the two.🙁

I have a Polar 720 with speed/cadence (wireless) sensors. Strange occurrences would let them work sometimes, sometimes not. I got tired of fooling with it and am back to a wired computer. Losing speed means I can't follow a cue sheet and that's potentially a real problem. Losing cadence is frustrating when I don't want to guess that. There is virtually no weight advantage and about a 10 minute difference in how much more time it takes to put a wired computer on.

I'm really interested in seeing a good argument for going wireless.

Cyclist14 said:

I perfer wired because less can go wrong. With a wireless computer you could have signal interferance and there are two batteries to worry about.
Just wondering what you guys (or girls) think about that.😄

jasong said:

I have a Polar 720 with speed/cadence (wireless) sensors. Strange occurrences would let them work sometimes, sometimes not. I got tired of fooling with it and am back to a wired computer. Losing speed means I can't follow a cue sheet and that's potentially a real problem. Losing cadence is frustrating when I don't want to guess that. There is virtually no weight advantage and about a 10 minute difference in how much more time it takes to put a wired computer on.

I'm really interested in seeing a good argument for going wireless.

I agree with less things going wrong on wired system. Good planning and intelligent use of zip ties will seem to make it appear 'wireless' 😄

With regard to the "wired vs. wireless" debate, ever tried a wired HRM? :p

Cheers

Perhaps this is only possible in a gym with a finger pulseometer or when we get to those last days and are wired to a machine in a hospital. Being outdoors seems to allow us to avoid them both!

e_guevara said:

With regard to the "wired vs. wireless" debate, ever tried a wired HRM? :p
Cheers

I currently use the Polar S520, and find that it works quite well the majority of the time. I have only experienced a max hr or 236 :eek: once or twice in all my time using it 🙄 . I find that using a wired computer for cadence and speed, and then a wireless hrm was too much of a hastle and took up too much space on the bars (yes, I did consider stem mounting too). Its just easier for me to have one device.

Jeff

I only have a wireless odometer, but the flashing LED lamp on the handlebars confused the wireless odometer for a while (45mph?!? don't think so!). Think it was when the battery on the transmitter wore down, but have moved the odometer away from the LED lamp on the bars, and it doesn't get confused anymore.

a wireless HR combo (Vetta). No crosstalk issues.

I think that the mountain bike should have a wired computer if it has a shock and if it dosent then it can have a wireless computer. On a road bike I feel that a wireless computer is the only way to go

I opted for the wireless on my road bike because I don't have to worry about any cables breaking. The cleaner look is a nice perk too. Having installed both types I definitely prefer the wireless computers. I don't use a HRM so I don't have any crosstalk issues.

I like the clean look of wireless, but I prefer wired. Some wireless cyclometers won't read a sensor if it is on the rear wheel, which is needed for a trainer. Some wired systems won't reach, but the cable can always be spliced easily enough. I also use an HRM but with a wired speedo crosstalk isn't an issue.

I've got a wireless Vetta V100HR with wireless cadence. The only time anything ever goes wrong is when the batteries need replacing which I do in January each year. I ride with all kinds of others with Polars etc. and have never had an interference issue.

Wireless = more batteries to change. A bit easier to mount but we're only talking a few minutes here. Also wireless = more expensive. For the price of a wired computer w/cadence (i.e. Cateye astrale 8) wireless doesn't come close (or didn't last time I bought one)! OEM's are using wireless as a marketing tool to increase price $$.

Also -- seems like you never see pro's without a wire looped down the front brake cable... a testament to reliability perhaps?

Cyclist14 said:

I perfer wired because less can go wrong. With a wireless computer you could have signal interferance and there are two batteries to worry about.
Just wondering what you guys (or girls) think about that.😄

I had a Sigma BC800 Wireless. I switched back to a wired model for a few reasons. First, I ride year 'round in New England, and I found that the wireless would go out on me after a couple miles when the temps were below 30 deg F. Second, there are so many batteries to contend with (4) in the wireless as opposed to 1 in the wired model. Finally, I would get phantom speed readings on the wireless, like 60 mph (at best I would hit about 40-45). The wired verion (BC1200) is reliable and you can get additional mounting kits for $6.95.
😎

PeterF said:

I had a Sigma BC800 Wireless. I switched back to a wired model for a few reasons. First, I ride year 'round in New England, and I found that the wireless would go out on me after a couple miles when the temps were below 30 deg F. Second, there are so many batteries to contend with (4) in the wireless as opposed to 1 in the wired model. Finally, I would get phantom speed readings on the wireless, like 60 mph (at best I would hit about 40-45). The wired verion (BC1200) is reliable and you can get additional mounting kits for $6.95.
😎

You ride when it's below 30 F?? You're brave.

If only the batteries in my wireless unit lasted like davidbob's
"The only time anything ever goes wrong is when the batteries need replacing which I do in January each year."
Had a wired unit that lasted 5 years and kept time better than a watch (cateye ) and other data, the wireless unit maybe 3 months max, has 3 batteries but the HRM is usefull for training.

I've got a Nike HRM and a Cateye CD300 double wireless speed/cadence based on the rear wheel.

No problems whatsoever with interference, crossover etc, even in the rain?