Wireless bike computer - slow to pick up data

Hmmzis

Hi Everyone,

I'm very new to wireless bike computers, so bear with me if the blow is something common knowledge.

I recently got a new shiny bike computer as a present and this morning was the first time I tried it out on the road.

And after the first few hundred meters I noticed that the computer is slow to pick up the speed readings. It took about half a mile to get the first reading. The same pattern continued also later on, every time I had to stop at traffic lights it took ages for the speed readings to come back.

The HRM took a while to start showing data too, but thankfully my heart doesn't stop at every red light so that part of the set worked just fine

In the 7km that I have from home to work the cadence didn't come up a single time. Trying it out yesterday indoors on a stand it seemed to work OK but again very sluggish to pick up the readings (about a minute or so for the first digits to appear).

So my question here is
Is this normal for wireless bike computers or is there something faulty and I should contact the customer service?
Would wireless computers just be used for long distance spins and in the city stop n' go routine they're not ideal?

Thanks for all your input, greatly appreciated.

Surveyor11

What make / model? id the magnet on the spoke aligned properly with the receiver at the forks? Would play around with this and see what happens. My bike coimputer is a Cateye velo wireless - cheap and cheerful, but picks up the speed instantly.

Hmmzis

It's a Sigma 2209 MHR (STS). The speed magnet seems to be well within the 12mm distance that the specs state (about 5mm distance). Also the cadence sensor and magnet are separated only by about 3-4mm at closest point.

Could it have to do with the fact that I have mounted the head unit on the stem on not on the handlebars. Though the manual states that both options are viable but it's an MTB stem and that thing is a lot of metal for a signal to get through.

Lumen

It's possible that your lights are interfering with the signal.

Hmmzis

Thanks, that's something to try out. I'll check tonight on the stand with the lights removed if the readings come up any quicker.

Lumen

Hmmzis wrote: »

Thanks, that's something to try out. I'll check tonight on the stand with the lights removed if the readings come up any quicker.

You can just turn them off.

Hmmzis

Problem was solved.

It turns out, new stuff can be shipped with (almost) dead batteries. Replaced the ones in the transmitters and it's working like it says in the manual, four blips and all the data starts rolling in .

Hmmzis

Might have spoken too soon. This morning the cadence was gone again and from the 7k trip it only registered 3.8km. Also, I've noticed that the heart rate readings are bit erratic.

Sent an email to Sigma's customer support. Hopefully they can sort this out for me.

victorcarrera

It might be temperature related. Some LCD displays don't work too well below 2-3 degrees. The 5mm clearance: Move the sensor as close as possible to the magnet without touching and retest.

ashleey

Also esb cables and phone wires from telegraph poles may interfere. The worst ones for me were electric fences around farmland. Drove me mental so ended up with a gps unit. Those may not be problems for you in the city though.