Drivo, bluetooth, resistance responsiveness/limitations?

[par.bertilsson]

I'm hooking up my Drivo to Zwift, using a Apple TV 4K and Bluetooth. I among other Drivo users have when using Drivo over Bluetooth experienced problems to get proper resistance when pushing hard.
In Zwift when trying to push hard on the flat I max out the my cadence 120-130 rpm using 53/11 without reaching any higher watts (around 700 w). If using ANT+ connectivity, same app Zwift , same settings the behavior is much different . The resistant is then more in line with I expect and can do i.e. much harder and I then do not max out the candence.

Is this something you, Elite is aware about?
It has been talks about a firmware upgrade for some time now (see topic http://forum.elite-it.com/viewtopic.php?t=216), what is the status?
Is this something that will/could be looked at as part of a possible firmware upgrade?



best regards,
Pär

[Elite Admin S]

Hi

I see that you're already in contact wiht our customer care.
Go on with them and at the end share your experience here, if you'd like

Regards

[priit.alumaa]

I've the same problem with my Elite Drivo I obtained last year! When connecting with Zwift on Mac OS X computer via Bluetooth Smart and doing freeride (i.e. simulation mode in Zwift) I have very low resistance - especially on a 0% grade. Exactly as previous poster par.bertilsson describes. Because of that I will spin out even at 50-11 gear and basically can't do any sprinting in races. Curiously, this problem with Zwift Bluetooth connection doesn't show up in Zwift workout ERG mode. I can do workout intervals at high power in ERG mode just fine using Bluetooth connection.

At the same time my Drivo works perfectly fine in Zwift via ANT+FE-C in both simulation and ERG mode. Also my Drivo works perfectly fine in the Elite app via Bluetooth Smart slope and ERG modes.  And my Drivo works perfectly fine in Trainerroad  via Bluetooth Smart.
I've also contacted with Zwift about the issue, but so far no solutions.

I really think that's it a time for you Elite and Zwift to finally come together and find a solution to this. This software or hardware issue is known to be to exist more over a year now.

People need Bluetooth Smart as with Bluetooth the connection with computer is much more reliable, especially in noisy environments (and it works with iPad, iPhone) and trainer reacts to changing gradients much better than with Ant+FE-C. This is probably due to Bluetooth better error correction algorithms and much higher refresh rates than Ant+FE-C 1Hz signal.

[trazor]

Both Elite and Zwift have been made aware of this, but nothing have happened. However, even the DCRainmaker encountered some bluetooth problems with the new Drivo 2 on Zwift, and this time a bunch of Elite empolyees showed up in a matter of minutes:
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/07/elite-drivo-2-ii-trainer-review.html

Zwift threads:
https://support.zwift.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115003777332-Resistance-issue-with-Elite-Drivo
https://support.zwift.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115000220203-Drag-Resistance-too-low?page=1#

If their existing customers (us) cant make them fix this problem (or help zwift fix it) maybe having a well known sports blogger highlight this problem can help.

And yeah, this much talked about firmware upgrade (Well, Elite is talking very little about it these days) is delayed. Lets hope it is because they are trying to implement a bluetooth fix.

[priit.alumaa]

Good news from Zwift support about this issue:

Vincent Williams 10.07.2018 Official comment
We are aware of Elite trainer issues and starting with our next update (hopefully) most of these issues will be taken care of. After the next official Zwift game update, try out your Elite devices and see if you are still experiencing the extreme of these power and resistance discrepancies. Feel free to send us a support ticket if so and we'll do our best to get to the bottom of the issue. Thanks for writing in!

[priit.alumaa]

Well, after two Zwift updates where they implemented FTMS protocol for Drivo, the situation with Bluetooth resistance problems has not changed at all. Still the same. Maybe it is because Drivo dosen't support FTMS Bluetooth protocol... As I know only Drivo II and Direto do FTMS - maybe Elite can confirm it here?

[[email protected]]

Well, after two Zwift updates where they implemented FTMS protocol for Drivo, the situation with Bluetooth resistance problems has not changed at all. Still the same.

same for me here, easily go out of spin on flat

[Elite Admin S]

All our Direto support the FTMS.
About Drivo, it depends on the date of production.

[aitorm78]

All our Direto support the FTMS.
About Drivo, it depends on the date of production.

Hi. Can you please tell me how to verify if my Drivo I is compatible with Bluetooth FTSM? I do not know if you could indicate from what serial number this option was included in Drivo I. Thank you.

[Elite Admin S]

Hi

Sorry, it's not possible as the implementation is not always coherent with the numeration of the trainers.
If you need to know, simply contact our customer care at [email protected] adding your serial number, we will check and give you the answer.

Regards