can u use google earth on a Tacx VR fortius trainer

Michelin

hi, Im looking to purchase a virtual reality trainer and am wondering if anyone who has the tacx fortius knows if the software comes with the google earth facility where you can download any route/road and virtually ride its gradients. The only trainer I know of that can do this is the tax bushido. Maybe its better to purchase a bushido along with VR software if you cant download google earth on the fortius? I like the Vr features on the fortius.
cheers

abcdggs

Slightly off topic, but i thought this was really cool

Beasty

Michelin wrote: »

hi, Im looking to purchase a virtual reality trainer and am wondering if anyone who has the tacx fortius knows if the software comes with the google earth facility where you can download any route/road and virtually ride its gradients. The only trainer I know of that can do this is the tax bushido. Maybe its better to purchase a bushido along with VR software if you cant download google earth on the fortius? I like the Vr features on the fortius.
cheers

yes
You need to buy the software separately though

Ryaner

Beasty wrote: »

yes
You need to buy the software separately though

Which is a pain although the newer ones are starting to come out with the new software. They only had a tiny window for upgrading from Version 1 to version 2 as well.

ShowAndGo

There two pieces of software you can use with the Tacx VR Fortius trainer, the Fortius software and the Tacx Trainer Software. Only the Tacx Trainer Software has the feature you are after.

I got a Tacx VR Fortius trainer over Christmas. It was advertised on the box that it came with the Tacx Trainer Software (version 1). When I open it and started playing around I realised it came the Fortius software and not the Tacx Trainer Software.

I emailed customer support telling them how disappointed I was, how much money I spent, etc, etc and that I expected that the Tacx Trainer Software would be in the box as advertised. They got back to me in a few days and sent me a link and the licence code to the Tacx Trainer Software (version 2) free of charge.

Make sure the PC/laptop that you are going to install it on is of a high enough spec to run the software and one of the limitations of the licence is that the software can only be installed on one computer. So you can't upgrade your computer in a few months time and reinstall the software.

Michelin

Thanks for the advice above esp show and go. with that advice I was able to specify what I wanted. So I ordered the tacx fortius trainer and was assured it came with the latest tacx training software as opposed to the older fortius software. Unfortunately when I downloaded the software and started to use it and figure it out it was not the new one but the old software. I contacted the shop who i then realised didnt know what i meant when i had asked for the software so he put me onto the supplier in england who is only contactable by email. He agreed to send me out the new software but in the meantime the fortius software stopped working as did internet explorer in which case i took it too d shop who told me it was infected by a virus attached with d software tru programmes that r run with it. now after reinstalling it again the motorbrake is constantly sticking! I have contated the shop but keep getting a calm but really annoyin manner with an answer to simply contact the supplier. fair enough its not straightforward. I have looked at the tacx forum and seems full of people with issues im no computer whizz but shouldn this be more straightfoward? does anyone at least know how to get it running smoothly!

Beasty

I had no real problems running it on Windows XP, but understand there may be issues with some of the other operating systems. Which one are you running?

Murph100

When you say the motor brake is constantly sticking, do you mean after a few turns of the cranks or is it whilst in the middle of a program ?

ShowAndGo

I think this was happening to me when I set it up...as far as I can remember the motor brake was too tight against the wheel.

There should be black knob at the back of the motor brake that allows you to adjust how tight it fits against the wheel.

Michelin

yep im running xp also and its getting stuck early on just after i start.

I dont see a knob anywhere, the wheel is running smooth if i turn it manually or without the brake unit switched on.

I was wondering if ye guys can tell me if the power unit gets hot quickly, as its not now but was sure it did when i originally tried it before d software failure. I checked the fuse and thats fine

cheers

tunney

Michelin wrote: »

hi, Im looking to purchase a virtual reality trainer and am wondering if anyone who has the tacx fortius knows if the software comes with the google earth facility where you can download any route/road and virtually ride its gradients. The only trainer I know of that can do this is the tax bushido. Maybe its better to purchase a bushido along with VR software if you cant download google earth on the fortius? I like the Vr features on the fortius.
cheers

The computrainer allows you do this and much much more

Michelin

tunney wrote: »

The computrainer allows you do this and much much more

ah too late now tho, i made my decision and now i feel like im stuck with an exp piece of crap!
altho i have to admit when i was looking into them i found it hard to find good reviews anywhere on the computrainer but its not until u experience things for yourself when u really get an idea of something.

Beasty

Michelin wrote: »

yep im running xp also and its getting stuck early on just after i start.

I dont see a knob anywhere, the wheel is running smooth if i turn it manually or without the brake unit switched on.

I was wondering if ye guys can tell me if the power unit gets hot quickly, as its not now but was sure it did when i originally tried it before d software failure. I checked the fuse and thats fine

cheers

Is the cadence sensor working properly? If not, the unit will not work - check it's properly aligned.

In terms of the power unit, it should not get particularly hot, just warm (I've just completed a near 3-hour session, and the power unit was fine, although I did have a problem at the end, which I suspect is something to do with the brake unit - it's happened before after a long session, and will hopefully be fine tomorrow)

Murph100

Beasty is spot on with the cadence sensor, thats why I was asking to describe it sticking.

By Law Tacx had to build in an autostop safety feature on the braking unit so little 'uns or thick drunken older 'uns would'nt lose a finger or two in the back wheel whilst the motor brake was driving it, like whilst simulating downhill, ( Also the reason whilst you must either pedal slowly of back pedal a bit to keep the unit ' freewheeling' downhill )

The cadence sensor triggers the autostop, so no cadence = stop the wheel. You might in get a revolution or two before it activates, so can make you think its some other problem.

I had this problem ages ago and it drove me nuts until I found the info on the forum. I then checked the cable on the sensor and found a break in it (n its a stupidly fragile bloody wire !! ), patched it back together again and everything was perfect.