DIRCON-->MacBook

Bugs and Support
1

Zwift no longer finds KICKR over Ethernet.

Setup:

Newest version of KICKR
DIRCON
Ethernet cable
USB-C to Ethernet adapter
MacBook Pro M1 Ultra

It ** was * plug and play. When I “paired” devices, there was little symbol that looked like an ethernet port, but no more.

I can see the KICKR on Bluetooth, ANT+, and Wifi; those are my three choices.

I tested the USB-C to ethernet adapter on another computer - works.

I tested the ethernet cable using two other devices and using the USB-C to ethernet adapter - works.

I tested the DIRCON cable by connecting to switch.

I updated everything. I restarted everything.

No little picture of ethernet port in Zwift in pairing screen.

How do get the KICKR to connect directly to MacBook Pro?

Please help.

Thanks in advance.

2

Since the last update

… Network connections are now represented by a single Wifi Icon in-game.

3

Thank you for the answer. Not your fault, but this seems like a terrible and lazy decision. How hard is it to have the Ethernet symbol?

So can users distinguish between WiFi and Ethernet connections? I just want my physical connection and to know it is working correctly.

Does the KICKR stop broadcasting WiFi when the DIRCON is plugged in?

Thanks for your help.

4

I only have a KICKR V5, so no idea how a trainer with both wifi and dircon connection types works in the pairing screen. I just noticed the dircon icon changed a bit ago.

5

Thanks. Maybe someone else will chime in here.

6

I’ve had that discussion with Wahoo -
When you have a physical connection via DIRCON, it will use that over WiFi.
You can’t change while Zwift is running, though.
If you want to use DIRCON, make the connection before starting Zwift.

7

Thanks for the info. Sounds like I have to simply trust that the WiFi symbol means physical connection.

Maybe someone from Zwift will post here and explain the logic of having a WiFi symbol represent a physical Ethernet connection.

Thanks community for the help.

Ride on.

8

In another post -

As for the logic, I think it’s a regression.
It used to differentiate between the two with different icons.

9

Thank you all for sharing your experiences…

Me too, only just recently I keep having power drops (to 0) while riding. I never had such issues in the past using direct connection. Zwift confirmed direct connection thanks to an Ethernet icon… this doesn’t seem to work anymore? How can I make sure that direct connection is preferred over wireless lan?

thanks for help and ride on

10

If you have a Kickr V6 on the new Wahoo firmware 5.6.13, then you are probably having this problem:

In other words, Wahoo broke the trainer and didn’t provide a way to fix it. I recommend contacting Wahoo support.

11

Yes, Kickr v6 and the mentioned firmware. Thank you Paul. This sounds annoying
Wahoo homepage states: “For installation, please note that firmware updates are now installed automatically over WiFi.”

This probably means we are stuck…

12

For now, I think you are stuck unless Wahoo support helps you roll back the firmware. I believe in some cases that is possible but they have to cooperate with you to make it happen. I don’t know if it’s possible to roll back every type of change, but it’s worth asking.

For the future, your options for avoiding another botched firmware update are to either block the trainer from reaching the Internet via controls in your home network, or never use WiFi or DirCon and remove the WiFi network from the trainer so it’s only accessible via Bluetooth or ANT+. Not exactly a pleasing solution, either.

13

Thanks. Yes, that is not an option. In terms of occurrence of the problem, my issues seem to coincide with the timing of the other posts. You don’t immediately think there’s a major problem; instead, you look for the mistake in yourself. It’s a shame that there still doesn’t seem to be a fix available. Fingers crossed for an update from wahoo.

14

Blocking the trainer from reaching the Internet would not prevent you from using DirCon or WiFi pairing. That would be my choice if I wanted to prevent a recurrence of this little fiasco. My goal with firmware updates is give them enough time to soak that all the problems are identified by someone else. I’m not volunteering for that unless there’s a roll-back feature.

15

Zwift recently made a change that the ethernet icon has been replaced with a WiFi icon to indicate either DIRCON or WiFi.
So, even if you have hardwire DIRCON, Zwift will show a WiFi icon.
Wahoo has stated that if hardwire DIRCON is being used, the trainer will use that and not WiFi, regardless of what the Zwift icon shows.

16

I want to make sure other users reading this thread know:

  1. I connect my Kickr directly to my computer with an Ethernet cable - does not use home network.

  2. I tried Bluetooth - because that is always what Zwift suggests - and had dropouts on every ride. I went back to plugging in over Ethernet (WiFi symbol) and have not any dropouts. But maybe that is coming today now that I typed this post.

Maybe it is time for a different brand of trainer and different software. But my guess is they all have mediocre support and make poor decisions about updates and everything else.

I could go back to rollers and using Kickr as dumb trainer manually changing resistance from the app. Never connect it to WiFi again?

Oh well, and good luck to everyone.