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smartphone as cadence / power meter

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  • 25-03-2013 11:59am
    #1
    woody1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,907 ✭✭✭


    i need a new phone, i wouldnt mind a bike computer / garmin / whatever with cadence and power capabilities but thats not going to happen as its just to expensive
    from looking online there appear to be apps for cadence and power for both apple and android, does anyone have any experience, do they work, what kind of hardware is needed other than the phone, i know sensors etc are going to required but particular ones or any..
    il be getting the phone anyway just curious about the bike apps more than anything


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    #2
    tunney
    Registered Users Posts: 12,583 ✭✭✭✭tunney


    The phone would cost a fraction of the price of the power meter requires to supply the data to the phone.

    iPhones support Bluetooth Low Energy - which could be used to display HR/Cadence and power but no one really broadcasts over BLE.

    An ANT+ dongle can be gotten for iPhones to read ANT+ data streams. So that could work.

    Some Android phones have support built in for ANT+ so they would work too.

    In all honesty though, its a bad bad idea.
    Battery life would be terrible.
    They aren't water proof.
    Cadence would be the only affordable sensor.


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    #3
    sconhome
    Registered Users Posts: 5,468 ✭✭✭sconhome


    If you don't have the power meter already that is the expensive bit that will be required.

    Some form of pedal, crank or wheel based system of collecting data and transferring information to the phone. The apps alone will be worthless without the hardware.

    Edit: crossing info with Tunney


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    #4
    woody1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,907 ✭✭✭woody1


    i had seen that the apps exist so i was curious about the hardware configurations and cost issues and youve filled me in..
    id assumed battery time would be bad, i think there are cases / mounts in terms of water proof-ness but the main issues youve identified there show its not a runner...


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