Garmin gadgets and Zwift run

Hi Guys,

I would like to join this Winter the Zwift run as I do with the cycling one. There are tons of posts from what should I take/install and/or calibrate, so I decide to say to the Jedi council (all of you), what do I have.

Iphone 8, iOS 13.1.3
Garmin 920xt
Garmin triband
Garmin dynamics pod
ANT+ USB (the one I use for my mac)
Lightning / USB adaptor

Zwift app
Zwift companion app

Can I join Zwift run?, if not, what should I do? :thinking: :thinking:

PS: The treadmill is a standard one from my gym, so it wont help.

Many thanks in advance :slight_smile:

Cmunozh

Zwift on iOS devices is ANT+ only, the use of ANT+ adapters is no longer supported (Apple’s fault not Zwifts).

To connect ANT+ only devices to an iOS device you would need to bridge the signal with CABLE or the 4iiii Viiiiva HRM.

You could also just purchase a Zwift Pod since it is Bluetooth or the best option is Stryd

The 920xt cannot be used with Zwift.

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Here is another helpful document (it has not been updated to include the new NPE RUNN):

Speed sources for Zwift Running

TIM GROSE¡SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017¡

In order for Zwift to know how fast you are running, you will need a sensor (or ‘smart’ treadmill) of some sort to tell it. Here are some options below. The most popular options are foot pods, the cheapest options are the phone apps, the best options are probably the “direct” options.

NOTE: All of the options below also appear in a list of Platforms and Sensors that can be used to run the Zwift app (platforms) and that can deliver speed, cadence, heart rate or power data to Zwift (sensors).

Sensor types

Sensors come in two types depending on how they communicate with a receiving device:

ANT+ is popular in the Garmin world, and does allow a sensor to be connected to multiple receiving devices at the same time (e.g. you could connect an ANT+ footpod to Zwift on a PC and to your Garmin watch at the same time)

BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) is popular in the apple and smartphone worlds. BLE sensors can only connect to a single receiving device, but given the popularity of apple/ smartphone devices, it can be easier to directly connect the sensor to your Zwift device

The following table shows the options available for connecting ANT+ or BLE sensors to each of the Zwift platforms. Find your platform and sensor type to identify your connection options:

Connecting Sensors to Zwift

OPTION 1: Direct from treadmill (GEM Modules aka GymConnect OEM Module) ANT+ or BLE

See https://npe-inc.com/gem-bluetooth-ant-module/ (pre installed on treadmill)

Note that the product line was originally developed by Wahoo http://www.wahoogym.com/gym-equipment-gem-module/ and is now with NPE.

Examples:

True Performance 800 (PS800) https://shop.truefitness.com/treadmills (verified - see Zwift Runners | Facebook)

True Performance 10o (PS100) https://shop.truefitness.com/treadmills

True Performance 300 (PS300) https://shop.truefitness.com/treadmills

Star Trac http://www.wahoogym.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Wahoo-Fitness-star-trac-case-study.pdf (this seems to be the OpenHub consoles - see under OPTION 3)

OPTION 2: Direct from treadmill (GEM Retro aka GymConnect Retrofit Module) ANT+ or BLE

See https://npe-inc.com/gem-bluetooth-ant-products/ Requires fitting to the CSAFE port. Note that the product was originally developed by Wahoo http://www.wahoogym.com/gym-equipment-retrofit-module-2/ and is now with NPE.

Examples:

Precor 966i (mentioned Zwift Runners | Facebook )

Woodway Desmo

Some versions of the Life Fitness Club Series, Club Series +, Platinum Club Series treadmills have CSAFE ports that work with the GEM although not all do and apparently not the latest Life Fitness Club Series+ with the Integrity X console. https://shop.lifefitness.com/cardio/treadmills Please check with the vendor prior to purchase if considering one of these.

OPTION 3: Direct from treadmill (BLE)

Examples:

MYRUN Technogym https://www.technogym.com/gb/newsroom/technogym-myrun-now-compatible-with-zwift-running-platform and confirmed as working as for 19th Feb 2018 in this forum.

Woodway 4Front https://www.woodway.com/products/4front This seems to allow iOS users to pick up pace direct from the treadmill over BT and also HR from an ANT+ strap that is rebroadcast as BT). See Zwift Runners | Facebook for discussion here.

Life Fitness treadmills with a Track Connect console https://lifefitness.com/home/products/consoles/track-connect-console Confirmed as working in the comments of this doc and with Life Fitness. The T3, T5 and F3 home treadmills are offered with this console. Note the older Track Plus console or the cheaper Go console do not work with Zwift.

Life Fitness treadmills with a Discover console https://lifefitness.com/home/products/consoles/discover-console This appears that it may well work like the lower spec Track Connect console above but has not been verified.

BowFlex BXT116/BXT226, BXT216/BXT326. Confirmed as working with Zwift with Bowflex. Note that the BXT116 and BXT216 are the North America versions and the BXT226 and BXT326 respectively are the International versions of the same treadmills.

Star Trac treadmills with one of the OpenHub consoles https://corehandf.com/openhub (see in the video on that page or at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD9XPw5Grpc). These ones have the “Bluetooth button” that is mentioned by Zwift in https://support.zwift.com/en_us/what-treadmills-and-sensors-does-zwift-support-ByeebAJbBm

Sole F80 & F85 2019 models (and TBC other 2019 versions of Sole treadmills).

Treadmills that support Bluetooth FTMS (Fitness Machine Service - see https://www.bluetooth.com/specifications/gatt). Examples of any treadmills that support this to be established.

Note see https://support.zwift.com/en_us/what-treadmills-and-sensors-does-zwift-support-ByeebAJbBm for Zwift’s list of the latest supported treadmills.

Other direct from treadmill (BLE)

Tacx Magnum treadmill http://magnum.tacx.com/

OPTION 4: Foot pod (BLE) - these are typically attached to your shoe.

Polar Stride Sensor https://www.polar.com/en/products/accessories/stride_sensor_bluetooth_smart

MilestonePod http://www.milestonepod.com/ (Note that the MyFitPod http://www.theathletesfoot.com.au/myfitpod is a rebranded MilestonePod)

Stryd https://www.stryd.com/ (also ANT+ compatible)

Stryd Live https://www.stryd.com/live (also ANT+ compatible). This is a cheaper version of the Stryd that was designed just for Zwift and omits the power functions of the fully featured Stryd. As of September 2018 it has permanently sold out but will still work.

adidas MiCoach Speed Cell (discontinued)

Needs more verification:

Pyle Sports http://www.pyleaudio.com/sku/PSBTFS40/Wireless-Bluetooth-Footpod-Fitness-and-Training-Sensor-for-Running,-Jogging-and-Walking-Step-Cadence

RunScribe Plus https://runscribe.com/ (also ANT+ compatible)

Boltt Stride Sensor https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also ANT+ compatible)

Boltt Connected Shoes https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also ANT+ compatible)

Foot pod (ANT+) - these are typically attached to your shoe.

Garmin https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/15516

Suunto http://www.suunto.com/en-GB/Products/PODs/Suunto-Foot-POD-Mini/

Stryd https://www.stryd.com/ (also Bluetooth compatible)

Stryd Live https://www.stryd.com/live (also Bluetooth compatible). Discontinued - see above.

Needs more verification:

RunScribe Plus https://runscribe.com/ (also Bluetooth compatible)

Boltt Stride Sensor https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also Bluetooth compatible)

Boltt Connected Shoes https://boltt.com/stride-sensor.php (also Bluetooth compatible)

OPTION 5: Apple Watch (BLE)

An update at end March 2017 has enabled the ability to use an Apple Watch

OPTION 6: iPhone Apps (BLE)

Treadmill Smart Speed (TSS) https://appyappster.com/apps/ John McManus (member here) developed this for the iPhone and is available in the App Store.

OPTION 7: Android Apps (BLE)

Treadmill Speed Transmitter https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bipr.treadmill.speedtransmitter

OPTION 8: Chest straps (dual BLE and ANT+)

Wahoo TICKR X http://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/wahoo-tickr-x-heart-rate-strap

Wahoo TICKR Run http://uk.wahoofitness.com/tickr-run-running-monitor

OPTION 9: Treadmill Belt Measurement (BLE)

TreadTracker http://store.runsocial.com/products/treadtracker Make sure you get the gen 2 version which works with Zwift as the gen 1 does not. It is however very difficult to tell which is which from just looking at them. It is thought the gen 2 version comes with
a branded cover sleeve for the cardboard box it comes in but the gen 1 just comes in the box with no cover sleeve. Recommend asking the vendor prior to purchase.

OPTION 10: BLE Shoes

UnderArmour Record Equipped shoes. Mentioned in https://support.zwift.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000697031-What-Treadmills-and-Sensors-Does-Zwift-Support-?section=360000168612

Boltt Connected Shoes https://boltt.com/shoes.php

OPTION 11: BLE Headphones (yes really!)

Jabra Elite Active 65t https://www.jabra.co.uk/bluetooth-headsets/jabra-elite-active-65t Confirmed as working in Zwift Runners | Facebook although accuracy is subject to further investigation.

Sensors that will not work as Speed Sources

There are some devices that Zwift users have expected to be able to use as a speed source that do not transmit speed data (they cannot be used as a speed source).

Garmin Running Dynamics Pod https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/561205
This pod clips to the back of your shorts/leggings and measures torso movement. It does not measure (or transmit) running speed.

Most running watches. Running watches do not typically broadcast running speed - Zwift cannot use them as a speed source.

Appendix

BLE/ANT+ bridges (for use with iOS and with ANT+ foot pods)

4iiii Viiiiva https://4iiii-innovations.myshopify.com/collections/heart-rate-monitors/products/viiiiva

WASP CABLE http://www.npe-inc.com/products/products-cable.html

iOS to ANT+ conversion (to use ANT+ sensors on iOS devices)

Wahoo Key http://uk.wahoofitness.com/devices/wahoo-key-16 (this also would need the Apple Lightning to 30 pin adaptor http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MD823ZM/A/lightning-to-30-pin-adapter ). This does however need confirmation that it actually still works properly with Zwift as various users here have reported issues with it since a recent iOS update which seems to have adversely impacted it. As such it is NOT a recommended bridging solution at this time.

Note that the Garmin ANT+ Adapter for iPhone definitely does NOT work https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/103887

ANT+ stick (to use ANT+ sensors on Windows & Mac computers)

Garmin USB ANT Stick https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/10997

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Wow, thanks :slight_smile:

Would it mean then, that with the Wahoo chest strap only, I could connect to zwift run?

Yep, it does work, but not very accurate.

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Thanks, It think it’s not the most elegant one but yes a quite practical one (for me) as my garmin running band crashed last week.

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I personally use a Stryd footpod and broadcast my heartrate from my Garmin watch. I have an ANT+ bluetooth dongle for my laptop so that Zwift can receive the heart rate from the watch.

Hi,

For what it’s worth I use a Wahoo TickR-X and the Zwift Runpod and get reasonable results.

I make sure that both my units are calibrated and that the batteries are ready for action (get spares as they die when you need them the most).

My start up procedure is:

  • connect the TickR to your iOS device (iPad) first using bluetooth
  • put Zwift Runpod on your shoe laces
  • start Wahoo fitness app
  • start a training session on the iOS device (iPad)
  • shut the Wahoo app and double click it to close the app completely (yes, weird but it seems to work for me)
  • start Zwift app on the iOS device
  • connect the TickR for your HR (it’s far from accurate as a running monitor but does work after calibration)
  • connect the Zwift Runpod (as your speed and cadence device)
  • select course
  • start running

Key points:

  • make sure that once you’ve connected your Zwift Runpod for the first time you calibrate it properly.
  • under 7kph it’s way out of whack so don’t rely on those figures.
  • there’s probably better ways but this is working for me.

Make sure you get outside occasionally and enjoy the atmosphere.