I am pretty new to Zwift but recently started cycling more frequently. So far I have always connected my kickr core to Zwift via companion mobile app (bluetooth). But then I read that ant+ is more accurate and generally adviced to use. I am using macbook air m1 2020, which doesn’t have Ant+ connection built in.
So my question is which dongle is commonly used by you guys? And should I get just a dongle looking like pendrive, or is it better to get dongle with long cable (antenna like) and place it really near my kickr core?
ANT+ or BLE has nothing to do with accuracy. If you had no problems with it I would stay with Bluetooth. And I believe with Kickr Core you could use virtual shifting?
For virtual shifting, yeah I use that. Well ok I will just stick to your advice and keep on using bluetooth, but avoiding companion app, just directly connecting bluetooth kickr core <> macbook.
For either dongle, it’s better to have the thing on a high quality extension cable and as close to the trainer as possible. I have both on cables sitting under my trainer. That way they aren’t likely yo be stepped on with cleats, and will (should) get a solid signal. I’ve been using the Wahoo Bluetooth dongle (generic usual brand (BlueGiga, bought out by Silicon Labs and dropped their dongle)) and the Garmin ANT+. (Real men don’t do virtual shifting? (riding a Tacx Smart))
some people may disagree but i find bluetooth to be much quicker to respond to gradient changes anyway so if you have no need to change to ant+ i don’t see the need.
You say you connect via the companion app, is there any reason you can’t connect to your macbook directly?
Today was the first time I tried to connect to macbook directly, avoiding companion app and it worked well. Not sure why I was using the companion app, just configured it this way like few months ago when I was starting to use Zwift and it was like that until now haha. rode like 1.5h today and no issues seen with direct bluetooth connection, so I guess it will just stay like this
(riding a Tacx Smart))