Any app/software suite claiming to do ´everything´, is in most cases mediocre at doing anything.
Intervals is great at analysis, Auuki/Breakaway/Biketerra… are good at trainer control, HRV4Training/Elite/Kubios are good at HRV analysis, etc, etc.
If you are looking for one app/software doing great at everything, you will only get disappointed.
Look for apps doing great stuff at correct price point and, importantly, allow to transfer data in an open way. That aĺlows you to put it all together and get a straightforward overview.
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I am just looking for a trainer control app.
The referene to GC might be misunderstood as its mainly for data captureing / analysis but has also a trainer control potion.
What platform do you prefer or which ones do you have? Android, Apple, Windows, Mac, Linux…
For ANT+ support, you will probably be limited to some Windows app.
Android and Win - currently Auuki mostly fits the bill, but sure, Ant+ is (and will be) missing.
Why do I need BT and Ant+ - just to run Zwift Free Rides parallel to my trainer control app for distraction ^^. So its the trainer for the trainer control app and the crank powermeter for Zwift. I know, I can set up Workouts in Zwift but I like the Free Rides most as it offers more options for me.
Since you goal is to use a trainer control app and Zwift at the same time, would you be interested in solving this with a WiFi relay instead of ANT+.
WiFi relay for bluetooth devices
What if you are able to connect your devices to Auuki over Bluetooth and then connect Auuki as a WiFi dircon trainer to Zwift. Auuki can pretend to be a Wahoo Kickr v5 with WiFi direct connect support and just retransmit the Bluetooth data to Zwift. This way you can have your trainer send data to both applications and you’d be able to record with any of them or both at the same time.
Control selection
Moreover what if you are able to change which app controls the trainer during the same session.
I often do long Z2 workouts on Zwift, but control the trainer with Auuki in ERG mode. While I would like to run most of the workout in flat ERG mode set at some Z2 power, when I approach a climb I’d sometimes prefer to take the climb in SIM mode. This SIM mode could be controlled by Zwift with dynamic grade changes or by Auuki in Slope mode with a stable grade. When the climd is over I would like to be back in ERG mode.
Zwift Hub → Bluetooth → Auuki – WiFi → Zwift
Merge multiple devices into one connection
Additionally this will allow to merge multiple bluetooth devices in one signal and transmit all of their data over one connection. This is going to be quite useful on Apple TV + Zwift, where the number of connections was limited to 2.
Would you be interested in this feature?
That sounds like a very attractive feature!
The number of devices/apps using WIFI DC is rather limited at this time I think. I don’t use Zwift and wasn’t aware that they implemented it already. Apparently they already did in 2022…
I know of one other app that can connect Wifi direct devices, InCyclist. But if more trainers become available with WIFI DC, it will probably spread to apps in the near future. Wahoo and Jetblack have it for sure, don’t know which other brands also do.
But as you say, if Auuki can act as a Wifi Direct device to relay the connected BLE devices, that would hugely increase all the integration possibilities. Devices with only one BLE channel all over sudden become widely available for multi-connections. So basically this allows to use those devices as if they had ANT+.
If I understand it all correctly, it should be possible to build some sort of a ‘Bridge’ app that can connect to both BLE and ANT+, and then acts as a fully featured virtual WIFI direct connect trainer.
The limitations now is that it is hard to build something web-based with ANT+ support. But the combination of a bridge-application (that supports an ANT+ dongle) which can be installed on different platforms, Windows/iOS/Linux/Android/Mac… and a web-based trainer control app able to receive WIFI DC, could be extremely versatile and put an end to limitations with older ANT+ only and single channel BLE devices.
Sounds interesting and I sure would give it a try once available!