Hi,
I’m at a total loss about my Zwift problems. I have deliberately chosen the Kick Power V6 for its wifi functionality. It keeps dropping out and it sometimes takes me 1 hour of frustration to get connected. Sometimes I give up and sometimes there are no problems at all. I tried Zwift+Wahoo Kickr trainer jan-apr 2024 and this winter.
In jan-apr 2024 I was able to use the trainer with Trainerroad or workouts on my Garmin. I didn’t really used Zwift, partly because of these problems.
My setup:
- Trainer setup in garage.
- Wahoo Kickr V6 (dec. 2023)
- Samsung Tab A8(One UI 6.1, Android 14), or Windows laptop
- All software updated
- TP-link Deco X50 PoE access point, 2m distance (from oct 2024)
- Cat 7A S/FTP cables running from my router to my garage. +/- 15m of cable, not close to cables.
*Before this winter I used an different AP + cable, so that shouldn’t be a problem. - 1 gbps glassfiber connection from a ‘high quality’ provider. No other problems regarding internet connections.
- Zwift cog and click (new this winter, doesn’t have impact on the existing problems)
What I am experiencing are:
- Not being able to connect at all, or only power.
- Quick loss of connection after I hold my legs still for a couple of seconds
- Different expectations about the usability of Zwift.
- Every training effort is a gamble for my girlfriend. Will I come back inside frustrated or elevated?
So how do I connect and what do I experience?
When starting Zwift I start pedaling and try to connect the power meter with the Kickr Power via the UTP connector icon. This should be the wifi on the Kickr right? The other Item is an Bluetooth Icon. The tablet is connected to the same network as the trainer is. Once I connect with the Kickr I’m seeing watts but most of the times it doesn’t ‘expand’ the options to cadence, controls and heart rate. Why not?
Yesterday it shown the cadence, controls and heart rate and I was able to start Zwifting. During the warming up it disconnected every minute or so for 5-10 seconds.
What I am always experiencing is a too rapid disconnection of the Kickr with Zwift. If I hold my legs still for 5-10 seconds it needs a couple of seconds to reconnect. This is too soon right?
What have I done to get it working?
I tried multiple devices like the tablet, two different laptops AND disconnected from the other devices to cancel out multiple connections. And of course removing and reinstalling the Zwift app and other connections. It doesn’t help.
Overall expectations of Zwift
Even when I everything works I am not totally immersed in a ‘Zwift experience’. Because of the ‘connection gamble’ I haven’t tried a race or group ride yet and have used only workouts. These are still boring and I use Zwift as a training platform with workouts. So during boring workouts I want to stream some movies to keep me from falling asleep. But Zwift doesn’t allow running in the background. So I need two devices while Zwifting?
Anybody out there to give some usable tips?
Kind regards, Koen