Direto XR problems with ERG mode

[ipsummedicare]

I’ve just got the Elite Direto X, so older model, and it seems to work fine in ERG mode if not a bit unstable at the beginning of each resistance change as I expected.

[florian.woelfl86]

Hello,
since a few weeks I have permanent issues with ERG-Mode on Zwift.

I am using an Apple TV (4th generation) for connection.
Apple TV, Zwift-App and Direto XR firmware are all up to date - no updates available, even when actively searching for updates.

Anyone else forcing issues? Any idea whether Zwift or Direto XR may be the reason? Direto XR last firmware update looong time ago, is there no update anymore?

regards
Florian

[steve.hammatt]

Hello,
since a few weeks I have permanent issues with ERG-Mode on Zwift.

Is your Zwift app up to date? Because there was an issue on Zwift with ERG mode.being broken for lots of people, but it was fixed fairly recently.

Also are you paired directly through the Apple TV and not Zwift Companion?

[florian.woelfl86]

sorry that I forgot to put FW and App versions in the comment.

Same issue also with my Zwift App on my iPhone.
And I am only connected to Apple TV - I don't use additional connection to campanion app. (may this improve this ERG-mode issue?)

all Zwift apps with version 1.33.3 on both devices (AppleTV and iPhone). If I remember right the update from 6th of feb.

Direto XR with Version 0.78 (update longer Time ago)

monthly calibration 2 digits difference to what is written on bottom of my device on the label.

issue is similar to older comments. at lower Watts in ERG mode less is set. at medium it fits. and higher it even sets much more.

[steve.hammatt]

monthly calibration 2 digits difference to what is written on bottom of my device on the label.

Do you really mean "2 digits" or simply a value of 2?

Because the latter would be fine, but the first one (e.g. 6255 compared to 6204) would indicate a problem.

[florian.woelfl86]

value of 2

written is 6523 and calibration with myTrainerApp on iPhone results in 6521.

[BB883]

Update with a clear example :

Problems always occurs at the beginning of an activity (Zwift, Garmin, Elite App).

Stop pedaling seems to reset offset and sometimes solve the issue.
Defective motor / brake ? Impacted by low temperature ?

Regarding my issue, the problem seems to be related to the stepper motor loosing steps in a small range of magnet position.
When the power target is around this magnet range, stepper is becoming harder and harder until the magnets reach the end of the screw.
That’s why a reset (homing the magnet to the zero position) solves the issue.
Unfortunately i was not able to determine what make the magnet tray to be harder to pull in a specific location,
Lubing the plastic guides + stepper screw seems to help an solved my issues for several monthes, but problem is back.
Was thinking about enlarging space between magnets and flywheel to make it easier for the stepper.
Noticed that steps are lost only when pulling the magnet tray. When pushing to the harder side no problem.

Can this be a weak stepper ?

Should i try to increase magnet/flywheel space ?

Elite already sent me a replacement board with last hardware an it did not solved the issue.

[jbroussia]

Update with a clear example :

Problems always occurs at the beginning of an activity (Zwift, Garmin, Elite App).

Stop pedaling seems to reset offset and sometimes solve the issue.
Defective motor / brake ? Impacted by low temperature ?

Same problem for me. I need to stop pedaling, somewhere between 4 and 10 minutes, then it returns to a normal behavior.
Here are some screen captures showing how it looks:

2023-01-28 17.17.22 intervals.icu 7107c2a784f4.png (122.27 KiB) Viewed 18698 times

2023-01-28 17.17.44 intervals.icu 38383a01fb4d.png (124.78 KiB) Viewed 18698 times

2023-01-28 17.17.52 intervals.icu 6470d8e3bc20.png (124.63 KiB) Viewed 18698 times

[jbroussia]

2023-01-28 17.18.04 intervals.icu 2486d4df80ee.png (124.47 KiB) Viewed 18698 times

2023-01-28 17.18.12 intervals.icu d5a4e4894d98.png (124.86 KiB) Viewed 18698 times

2023-01-28 17.18.32 intervals.icu 2febbba99c0d.png (124.81 KiB) Viewed 18698 times

On the "power" graph, the blue line is the target power that was supposed to be in ERG mode. As you can see, it slips upward after each interval during the first minutes, until I stop pedaling for a few seconds after the crazy interval (>500W with the DiretoXR when it was supposed to be 289W), then it finally reaches the target.

[mark539]

March 2023 - I am experiencing difficulties with direto XR in Erg mode using Zwift. The trainer sets resistance very high and does not drop resistance as I exceed target. For example with target 195W resitance, i am hitting 300+W at around 60rpm and there is no change from the trainer. In such a circumstance as the target increases, say to 240W, the trainer increases resistance, at which point I am unable to sustain that power output.

BTW I am using Apple TV and Zwift, so this is not the Zwift Windows problems reported in January.

I contacted support and elite have shared this set of checks for people. I have completed these checks and there is no problem reported by the checks.

May I ask you to make a couple of checks to better understand if there is something wrong?
Please could you please make the following test to better check what is wrong?
From My E-Training app go to Workouts -> Level Mode (it is a free function so you don't need an active annual subscription)
Click on Start and while you are pedalling change the level from 1 to 16 and check if you feel the resistance variation.

Moreover with the help of the video of this link:
Resistance Check On Interactive Trainers: https://elitesrl.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360014596239-Resistance-Check-On-Interactive-Trainers?source=search
please take a video of the internal motor while you power on the trainer (start the video with trainer powered off) and a video of the stepping motor while you are changing progressively the resistance levels from My E-Training from 1 to 16 and from 16 to 1.