How do we love ANT+?  Let us count the ways...

As you know by now, Wahoo Fitness’s mission is to connect smart phones with fitness sensors—making the technology seamless so you get all the data you want without out the wires, charging up, plugging in, clipping on, etc.   And we couldn’t do what we do best without our friends over at ANT+.

So what is ANT+?  It’s a super efficient wireless technology that’s used in many fitness, wellness and home health applications.  In fact, many existing fitness sensors, like heart rate monitors and bike speed and cadence sensors, already use this technology.  ANT+ allows these sensors to send your fitness data wirelessly to any ANT+ receiver so you can see and track your fitness stats. 

For example, if you run with a Timex heart rate watch, your heart rate monitor measures how many beats per minute (BPM) your heart is beating, depending on how much energy you’re exerting, and then sends that data via ANT+ to the receiver in your watch, where your BPM is displayed. 

Well, often those ANT+ receiver devices are expensive and only work for specific functions (ie JUST read heart rate).  That’s where Wahoo comes in.  Our Wahoo Key for iPhone and Bike Case for iPhone add an ANT+ transceiver to your iPhone, which allows your phone to receive and display all the data sent from any ANT+ sensor.   It’s the magic behind what we do.

 
Why we love ANT+ (and why you should too!)

• Since Wahoo products run on ANT+ technology, you can use most fitness sensors currently on the market with our products.  So if, for example, you already own a Garmin heart rate monitor, you don’t have to buy a different one to use with our Key or Case.  The technology is the same and it will work seamlessly.  (We still like our sensors best, but we play nice so you can benefit!)
• It supports multiple sensors at once so you can run with a heart rate monitor AND a foot pod or ride with a speed and cadence senor AND a power meter.  Actually, it can run up to 8 sensors at a time, which is way more than you’d probably ever need, but a neat fun fact nonetheless.
• It’s engineered for efficiency.  As their website explains, ANT+ has “been designed to simplify network development and optimize network operational efficiency.” Obviously.  What that means in English is that ANT+ devices can run for years on a simple coin cell battery, compared to days or months other wireless technologies would last.
• Our products feature an ANT+ transceiver, which means they can send AND receive data.  Most often you’ll want them to receive data (info from your heart rate monitor, speed and cadence sensor, etc.), but they can also send data.  Want to calibrate your Quarq power meter?  Your Wahoo Bike Case or Wahoo Key can send all the data to your power meter needs to make it uber-accurate. 

So thanks ANT+.  We think you’re great.