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Again, you have to remember that other trainers have this built-in already. IРІР‚в„ўd say about half as much would be appropriate. Right now the plan is to price it in the same ballpark as the existing unit (controller), so about $375. ItРІР‚в„ўs an app-driven world for trainers today, regardless of whether youРІР‚в„ўre doing entertainment based apps, or structured workout based apps.Р”Р„s for pricing РІР‚вЂњ well, thatРІР‚в„ўs the only other sticking point. Especially the ANT+ FE-C control piece, of which virtually every major app has added support for, and more on the way. So, sure, you could not do the above, but I wouldnРІР‚в„ўt really recommend it for long-term sustainability of the company.Р”Вoing the above would immediately make the unit technically competitive. And thus why CompuTrainerРІР‚в„ўs market share has evaporated. To which IРІР‚в„ўd respond: All of the competitors already do this. Now, you may sit there and go РІР‚СљBut DCR, thatРІР‚в„ўs a huge list!РІР‚Сњ.

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HereРІР‚в„ўs what I think they need to do: In a nutshell, itРІР‚в„ўs called copying Tacx & Wahoo, but just for clarity, hereРІР‚в„ўs precisely what IРІР‚в„ўm asking for:Р”Р„) Add in support for ANT+ broadcasting of: Power, Speed, and CadenceР”В«) Add in support for Bluetooth Smart broadcasting of: Power, Speed, and CadenceР”В¬) Add in support for connecting to ANT+ Cadence, HR sensors (on user/bike)Р”В) Add in support for connecting to Bluetooth Smart Cadence, HR sensors (on user/bike)Р”В®) Add in support for ANT+ FE app controlР”Р‡) Add in some variant of Bluetooth Smart control So, since theyРІР‚в„ўre being decided upon РІР‚вЂњ I figure IРІР‚в„ўll be a friendly little person on the internet and offer my unsolicited advice (youРІР‚в„ўre of course more than welcome to add yours). Those pieces are still being decided upon. For example, will it transmit ANT+ Speed/Power/Distance? Or just connect to ANT+ accessories (like HR/Cadence)? And the same goes for Bluetooth Smart. TheyРІР‚в„ўve added the chipset to it, but havenРІР‚в„ўt decided to what extent theyРІР‚в„ўd add support for either wireless solution. Though, I donРІР‚в„ўt think thatРІР‚в„ўs a huge issue (annoying, perhaps, but not a show-stopper).Р”В«ut what about their inclusion of ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart? Well that part is slightly up in the air.

So to be clear, the communication between the trainer and the controller is wired (not wireless). As such, since the controller requires power theyРІР‚в„ўre routing the data from the CompuTrainer to the controller via the same wire as always. It still requires power to the trainer itself, but also still to the controller. Now itРІР‚в„ўs important to note that this doesnРІР‚в„ўt make the entire CompuTrainer wireless.

WiFi typically has a bit better range than ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart, especially in indoor settings РІР‚вЂњ so for a trainer studio it might be more resilient than some ANT+/BT group solutions. This makes it far more ideal for operating within not just your house, but also trainer studios.

So instead, itРІР‚в„ўll also support the ability to have the CompuTrainer connect to your existing WiFi network. But obviously in a home/business setting thatРІР‚в„ўd be annoying. Now the unit at the trade show was configured in a mode where you could connect from a laptop to the CompuTrainerРІР‚в„ўs WiFi network. And people wonder why WiFi interference is such an issue at trade showsРІР‚В¦. Sure enough, there it is, nestled among 823 other WiFi networks on the show floor (RacerMate_CT_1).

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To show off its WiFi prowess, I cracked open my phone and went searching for some WiFi goodness. The left one is the new WiFi-enabled one. The new head unit looks identical to the existing head unit from the outside. They had the head unit (controller) on hand within their booth this year at Interbike, and were able to explain some of the direction theyРІР‚в„ўre headed in. RacerMate, the maker of the CompuTrainer, is preparing to release a new controller that includes support for WiFi, ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart.

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