Wahoo RFLKT Plus Bike Computer
#26
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Actually, probably wouldn't have to update any sensors. The RFLKT+ has an ANT+ bridge built it. It will pick up the ANT+ sensors and bridge it to Cyclemeter (or other such app) on your iPhone. While I haven't tested it (I have all BT sensors now), it should be able to connect all your ANT+ sensors to the iPhone. Be worth a try and I bet it works. I know that Cyclemeter on the iPhone supports the ANT+ bridge.
Note that Wahoo Fitness offers a RFLKT and a RFLKT+. The plus version is the one that has temp, barometric sensor and the ANT+ bridge.
Neither RFLKT plays music, they can control the music on your iPhone that is stashed in your pocket. It plays the music and you listen to that anyway you can.
J.
Note that Wahoo Fitness offers a RFLKT and a RFLKT+. The plus version is the one that has temp, barometric sensor and the ANT+ bridge.
Neither RFLKT plays music, they can control the music on your iPhone that is stashed in your pocket. It plays the music and you listen to that anyway you can.
J.
#27
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I'd recommend the RFLKT+ anyhow because of it's barometric and temp sensor. The barometric sensor will greatly improve the vertical accuracy for ascent/descent data. GPS is not all that accurate in the vertical dimension and the barometric sensor really helps.
j.
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If you don't have any sensors, you will need them in order to capture heart rate and cadence. If that is not important, you can use either RFLKT model to view the data from a supported cycling app on your iPhone. As JohnJ80 said, the difference between the two models is the plus has a built-in thermometer and barometric altimeter and it has an Ant+ bridge. The Ant+ bridge converts the sensor's Ant+ signals to BlueTooth and sends them to your phone.
I have the plus model and I am using it with Garmin Ant+ HRM and speed/cadence sensors with Cyclemeter on an iPhone 5c. The sensors connect in the same manner as BlueTooth sensors providing you have paired the RFLKT+ first and the RFLKT+ is turned on and connected. I opted to use Ant+ over BlueTooth because BlueTooth sensors each need a separate connection to the phone. With the Ant+ sensors, they connect through the RFLKT+ and use only one BlueTooth connection, although your app will show them as separate connections. This should use a little less battery power than BlueTooth connections but I haven't tested that theory yet. Plus, I already had the sensors because my wife used them with her Forerunner CX 405 watch. If you have to purchase the sensors, both the Ant+ and BlueTooth sensors cost about the same.
Customization of the RFLKT screen depends on the phone app you are using. Not all cycling apps allow for custom screens on the RFLKT. Cyclemeter has, in my opinion, the most available fields to customize the RFLKT's screen. It has a control field to turn on/off the music app on your phone and will allow you to customize the RFLKT's buttons to play forward/back of your playlist.
I hope I've explained this to where you understand how the RFLKT+ works. My only issue with the RFLKT is it's battery life when used with low cost batteries. I ride daily, for about three hours, and a battery is lasting me around one month. I have some Dura Cell batteries that I purchased and will try them after my Radio Shack batteries all die.
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#29
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@John_V thanks for the tips. I guess I'm going to have to pass since the costs of the device AND all the sensors which are sold separately as I really don't want to speed $300 plus just for the convenience factor of having everything on 1 screen. I just thought the phone was capable of doing it all, but looking at their site the software isn't even setup for iphone 6 yet.
#30
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@John_V thanks for the tips. I guess I'm going to have to pass since the costs of the device AND all the sensors which are sold separately as I really don't want to speed $300 plus just for the convenience factor of having everything on 1 screen. I just thought the phone was capable of doing it all, but looking at their site the software isn't even setup for iphone 6 yet.
If you use MapMyRide's web site to upload your ride data, every once in a while they will have a special on an UnderArmour BT HRM for $29.00, with a year subscription to the Pro version. MapMyRide's iPhone app also allows complete customization of RFLKT screen pages and uploads the data to their web site after each ride.
I was using my iPhone with Cyclemeter to get my routes mapped so I can upload my rides to Endomondo and MapMyRide. I was also using a Sigma PC15 HRM watch style monitor to monitor my heart rate and a Cateye Double Wireless so I could see my speed, distance and cadence. That really got to be a pain after a few years so when my Cateye died, I decided to put everything in one place. Since I carried my phone with me on every ride, it seemed that the phone would be a more logical place to store my rides than buying a Garmin and duplicating the process at a higher cost.
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#31
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The RFLKT+ costs $129.00 MSRP ($99.00 for the RFLKT) and you can find it a bit cheaper if you search around the internet. My wife just purchased a Wahoo Tickr HRM with dual technology (Ant+ and BlueTooth) for $55.00. If you don't really need the cadence at this point, the cycling app will give you your speed without the need of a sensor. I've seen Garmin speed/cadence sensors on Amazon go for around $40.00 and something that you can add later. That's a nice feature of the RFLKT is that you don't have to get the sensors all at once and you can still get data from your iPhone app and display it.
If you use MapMyRide's web site to upload your ride data, every once in a while they will have a special on an UnderArmour BT HRM for $29.00, with a year subscription to the Pro version. MapMyRide's iPhone app also allows complete customization of RFLKT screen pages and uploads the data to their web site after each ride.
I was using my iPhone with Cyclemeter to get my routes mapped so I can upload my rides to Endomondo and MapMyRide. I was also using a Sigma PC15 HRM watch style monitor to monitor my heart rate and a Cateye Double Wireless so I could see my speed, distance and cadence. That really got to be a pain after a few years so when my Cateye died, I decided to put everything in one place. Since I carried my phone with me on every ride, it seemed that the phone would be a more logical place to store my rides than buying a Garmin and duplicating the process at a higher cost.
If you use MapMyRide's web site to upload your ride data, every once in a while they will have a special on an UnderArmour BT HRM for $29.00, with a year subscription to the Pro version. MapMyRide's iPhone app also allows complete customization of RFLKT screen pages and uploads the data to their web site after each ride.
I was using my iPhone with Cyclemeter to get my routes mapped so I can upload my rides to Endomondo and MapMyRide. I was also using a Sigma PC15 HRM watch style monitor to monitor my heart rate and a Cateye Double Wireless so I could see my speed, distance and cadence. That really got to be a pain after a few years so when my Cateye died, I decided to put everything in one place. Since I carried my phone with me on every ride, it seemed that the phone would be a more logical place to store my rides than buying a Garmin and duplicating the process at a higher cost.
Anyone need an almost new garmin 605 pre-loaded with 3d maps?
#33
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It is just a display only although the plus version has an ANT+ <> Bluetooth bridge in it. The display uses a lot less battery than your cell phone display.
It doesn't have any speed or cadence sensors. But if they are ANT+, it can bridge that to your bluetooth equipped smartphone running an application that understands it. The RFLKT won't talk to ANT+ but the RKLKT+ will.
Depends on the app. For example, Cyclometer from Abvio for the iPhone has full support for the RFLKT/RFLKT+ where you can create, edit, add, delete pages as you desire.
J.
2) does it require ant speed sensor?
Or one or the other?
3) At this point, does the customizable screen work w/ any app, or still just Wahoo's?
3) At this point, does the customizable screen work w/ any app, or still just Wahoo's?
J.
#34
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Be aware that from my experience the RFLKT+ system is unstable. When I had the iPhone 5 it was stable until either a new iOS version or a new Wahoo Fitness came along and threw it into chaos of not pairing up or locking up in the middle of a ride. The pairing up issues has always been with the ANT+ sensors. I gave up and went with a Magellan Cyclo 505.
Now that I have an iPhone 6 I decided to try the my old RFLT+ unit again. New battery installed and tried to pair it up with phone. Bluetooth heartstrap, no problem. ANT+ sensors? Didn't even find them. I contacted tech support again and after a few tries they sent me a new unit (That was cool). I tried to pair up to my iPhone 6 and again didn't even detect any ANT+ sensors (speed/cad and a power meter). I tried it on my iPad and bingo it worked!
To me, it seems that there are too many variables to keep it going. A change in the iOS and it breaks. A change in the firmware and it breaks. If all of your sensors are bluetooth then get the RFLKT version.
I do hear that on the iPhone 5c it has been working. If you do get one that works, then don't update either the firmware or the iOS!!
Now that I have an iPhone 6 I decided to try the my old RFLT+ unit again. New battery installed and tried to pair it up with phone. Bluetooth heartstrap, no problem. ANT+ sensors? Didn't even find them. I contacted tech support again and after a few tries they sent me a new unit (That was cool). I tried to pair up to my iPhone 6 and again didn't even detect any ANT+ sensors (speed/cad and a power meter). I tried it on my iPad and bingo it worked!
To me, it seems that there are too many variables to keep it going. A change in the iOS and it breaks. A change in the firmware and it breaks. If all of your sensors are bluetooth then get the RFLKT version.
I do hear that on the iPhone 5c it has been working. If you do get one that works, then don't update either the firmware or the iOS!!
#35
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OTOH, I've had zero problems over thousands of mlies on both an iPhone 5 and 6 and multiple iOS versions with no problems. I think you see a similar phenomena when you read Bluetooth headset user reviews. - people with the same phone and headset have different experiences. There has to be something about the RF environment that causes problems. Other electronics can interfere and that's true regardless of Bluetooth or ANT+.
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JohnJ80, I wish I had your experience with it. It sort of bugs me not knowing for sure what the problems lol
I can understand the RF interference but I don't think that is the issue here. I use the same iPhone (and same local) and this time I use the Wahoo ANT+ Dongle and the Fitness app sees my Power Meter instantly.
I can understand the RF interference but I don't think that is the issue here. I use the same iPhone (and same local) and this time I use the Wahoo ANT+ Dongle and the Fitness app sees my Power Meter instantly.
#37
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JohnJ80, I wish I had your experience with it. It sort of bugs me not knowing for sure what the problems lol
I can understand the RF interference but I don't think that is the issue here. I use the same iPhone (and same local) and this time I use the Wahoo ANT+ Dongle and the Fitness app sees my Power Meter instantly.
I can understand the RF interference but I don't think that is the issue here. I use the same iPhone (and same local) and this time I use the Wahoo ANT+ Dongle and the Fitness app sees my Power Meter instantly.
J.
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I just started using the Blue SC speed/cadence sensor, 0 issues with connecting to an iPhone 5s and battery life seems OK. I can't recall the percentage used but will pay more attention. I haven't bought the Rflkt yet because I wanted to try and not have anything on the bars.
I am using the Wahoo app and exporting to Strava. My only complaint is that there is a Wahoo odometer app that captures lifetime mileage from the sensor but for some reason the app is not available in the US app store. I dent an email to Wahoo and received a prompt reply that they would work with their developers to add that to the Wahoo ap. I'm not holding my breath.
I am using the Wahoo app and exporting to Strava. My only complaint is that there is a Wahoo odometer app that captures lifetime mileage from the sensor but for some reason the app is not available in the US app store. I dent an email to Wahoo and received a prompt reply that they would work with their developers to add that to the Wahoo ap. I'm not holding my breath.
#39
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[MENTION=347995]ray.garza[/MENTION] - I have had zero issues with my RFLKT+ hooking up to my iPhone since I bought it in October of last year. I believe I had iOS 7.x on the phone when I got the RFLKT+ and now have 8.2. I had an issue with the original unit that I purchased in that the batteries were only lasting me about a month or so. I went through several batteries and then notified Wahoo and they sent me a new unit. It immediately saw the iPhone and paired my Garmin Heart Rate and Speed/Cadence sensors without a hitch. Since Wahoo told me to discard the old unit, I gave it to my wife so she could use her recumbent trike indoors on her rollers (her trike has a Sigma BC12.16 CAD for normal riding). The old unit paired right up to her 5c and saw her Garmin Speed/Cadence senor and paired it.
I upgrade the iOS every time a new one comes out and have not had it drop connection to my RFLKT+. You may try using something other than the Wahoo app when using your RFLKT+. My wife and I use Cyclemeter and it works flawlessly with the RFLKT+, even through iOS and app version updates. While the Wahoo app is free, Cyclemeter is $4.99/yr for the Elite version which is needed in order to use the RFLKT+. Cyclemeter also sends your data to Strava or any of the popular social media sites at the end of each ride, if set up to do so. You can also try MapMyRide, also compatible with the RFLKT+, but it also requires a paid version to connect.
I upgrade the iOS every time a new one comes out and have not had it drop connection to my RFLKT+. You may try using something other than the Wahoo app when using your RFLKT+. My wife and I use Cyclemeter and it works flawlessly with the RFLKT+, even through iOS and app version updates. While the Wahoo app is free, Cyclemeter is $4.99/yr for the Elite version which is needed in order to use the RFLKT+. Cyclemeter also sends your data to Strava or any of the popular social media sites at the end of each ride, if set up to do so. You can also try MapMyRide, also compatible with the RFLKT+, but it also requires a paid version to connect.
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[MENTION=234859]John_V[/MENTION]
I have Strava and Cyclemeter. I'll give them a try and see what happens.
I'm glad it working for you guys cause It's a great concept that's affordable. This has been the only product of Wahoo that I've had issues with.
I have Strava and Cyclemeter. I'll give them a try and see what happens.
I'm glad it working for you guys cause It's a great concept that's affordable. This has been the only product of Wahoo that I've had issues with.
#41
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I just started using the Blue SC speed/cadence sensor, 0 issues with connecting to an iPhone 5s and battery life seems OK. I can't recall the percentage used but will pay more attention. I haven't bought the Rflkt yet because I wanted to try and not have anything on the bars.
I am using the Wahoo app and exporting to Strava. My only complaint is that there is a Wahoo odometer app that captures lifetime mileage from the sensor but for some reason the app is not available in the US app store. I dent an email to Wahoo and received a prompt reply that they would work with their developers to add that to the Wahoo ap. I'm not holding my breath.
I am using the Wahoo app and exporting to Strava. My only complaint is that there is a Wahoo odometer app that captures lifetime mileage from the sensor but for some reason the app is not available in the US app store. I dent an email to Wahoo and received a prompt reply that they would work with their developers to add that to the Wahoo ap. I'm not holding my breath.
J.
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Using the RFLKT now and battery life today went from 100% to 60% over a 5.5 hour ride. Only glitch was at mile 57 I looked down and RFLKT was blank. Wahoo app had completely shut down. I checked the settings tab but didn't find a "shut down after so many minutes" option. Any ideas?
I got a response about the odometer app, no longer supported. Oh well.
I got a response about the odometer app, no longer supported. Oh well.
#43
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Using the RFLKT now and battery life today went from 100% to 60% over a 5.5 hour ride. Only glitch was at mile 57 I looked down and RFLKT was blank. Wahoo app had completely shut down. I checked the settings tab but didn't find a "shut down after so many minutes" option. Any ideas?
I got a response about the odometer app, no longer supported. Oh well.
I got a response about the odometer app, no longer supported. Oh well.
Nice to be able to configure the display for 50 year old eyes with no bifocal in my scrip inserts for Wileyx.
you can run multiple aps with little extra battery drain as far as I can see, so I'd suggest giving Cyclemeter a try instead of wahoo. I found Cyclemeter much more versatile as far as creating a custom RFLCT screen goes.
#44
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My wife uses an iPhone 4s and cyclometer, but she is going to upgrade to an iphone6 soon. I suggested she try the RFLCT and she commented that she likes to see who is calling her and the "likes" and comments about her ride that her friends make while she is riding . She also enjoys hearing the cyclometer/phone reports of her average speed, distance, etc.... She might be able to live without that, but using cyclometer, can the RFLCT pages be configured to show the incoming calls and the facebook comments? I guess not, so maybe it is time to look for a case for the iphone6?
#45
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My wife uses an iPhone 4s and cyclometer, but she is going to upgrade to an iphone6 soon. I suggested she try the RFLCT and she commented that she likes to see who is calling her and the "likes" and comments about her ride that her friends make while she is riding . She also enjoys hearing the cyclometer/phone reports of her average speed, distance, etc.... She might be able to live without that, but using cyclometer, can the RFLCT pages be configured to show the incoming calls and the facebook comments? I guess not, so maybe it is time to look for a case for the iphone6?
I keep the iPhone in my back pocket. If you put the volume all the way up and the bottom of the phone to the top of the pocket where the speakers are, you can hear Cyclometer's announcements. Same story if you mount it to your stem but leave the display off.
J.
#46
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My wife uses an iPhone 4s and cyclometer, but she is going to upgrade to an iphone6 soon. I suggested she try the RFLCT and she commented that she likes to see who is calling her and the "likes" and comments about her ride that her friends make while she is riding . She also enjoys hearing the cyclometer/phone reports of her average speed, distance, etc.... She might be able to live without that, but using cyclometer, can the RFLCT pages be configured to show the incoming calls and the facebook comments? I guess not, so maybe it is time to look for a case for the iphone6?
I had had a quick look in Cyclemeter and did not see any possible data fields for stuff like your talking about :-).
I have a Walgreens fitness band that can recieve stuff that is flashed on the phones notification screen. It is their branded version of the striiv band. the biggest benefit of the RFLCT+ from my point of view so far is being able to access Ap data while using very little battery reserve.
Last edited by Willbird; 03-29-15 at 04:23 PM.
#47
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Using the RFLKT now and battery life today went from 100% to 60% over a 5.5 hour ride. Only glitch was at mile 57 I looked down and RFLKT was blank. Wahoo app had completely shut down. I checked the settings tab but didn't find a "shut down after so many minutes" option. Any ideas?
I got a response about the odometer app, no longer supported. Oh well.
I got a response about the odometer app, no longer supported. Oh well.
That sounds about right on the battery life remaining. If you have optimized your phone to increase battery life, you could tweak it some more to get a little more life out of the battery. I think the problem with the RFLKT turning off is most likely due to an error within the Wahoo app. If the app errors out, it can disconnect the active connection to the RFLKT, which turns the RFKLT off.
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#48
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My wife uses an iPhone 4s and cyclometer, but she is going to upgrade to an iphone6 soon. I suggested she try the RFLCT and she commented that she likes to see who is calling her and the "likes" and comments about her ride that her friends make while she is riding . She also enjoys hearing the cyclometer/phone reports of her average speed, distance, etc.... She might be able to live without that, but using cyclometer, can the RFLCT pages be configured to show the incoming calls and the facebook comments? I guess not, so maybe it is time to look for a case for the iphone6?
Apparently with RideWithGPS app the RFLKT will soon display turn-by-turn directions though. If it can do stuff like this, I'm not sure why it can't do notifications.
#49
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I'm sure that as more and more apps come out, it will happen. The guys are Abvio (Cyclemeter) built in pretty complete support for the Wahoo products. Write them, odds are they already have it on their list of things to do.
J.
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Agree! It's not the RFLKT that will do the turn by turn directions but the cycling app in your phone. If I remember correctly from an FAQ on their website, Abvio is currently working on this. It would really be nice to have that addition for charity rides where you can download the route and not have to worry about getting lost. Since RWGPS is one of Abvio's top competitors, I don't think they will let them be first to market with something like that; or at least be too far behind them.
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