Wahoo Fitness Key for iPod/iPhone

I've had my Wahoo key (iPhone chip) for about two weeks and really like it. Based on my initial research and subsequent use of the device, here are my thoughts for anyone looking to get it:* You'll need an ANT+ heart rate strap because Polar (the industry standard for the past 20 years) doesn't work with the device.* The key works with Wahoo, Digifit and a number of other apps. I read that Digifit's key only works with their app, which to me was a big enough hurdle to justify paying an extra $25 for the Wahoo key.* When I plugged in the key to the iPhone, it didn't recognize it at first but after playing around with the menu, it showed up.* It sucks up quite a bit of battery power. I do my workout first thing in the morning when my iPhone is fully charged and after an hour it's only half charged. You can't plug in a charger or external power (like Mophie) because the key goes into the power port.* Wahoo's iPhone app is designed to monitor your heart rate for biking and running. If you're like me and also want to track your heart rate when you do resistance/strength training (which is great if you want to measure how many calories you burned during your workout), you need to fool it by saying you're biking or running.* I initially thought Wahoo's app would let me review all of my historical data and look at my rides on a map, but I discovered it's really just a data capturing app. You can see the basics one day at a time, but nothing elaborate.* So the power of Wahoo or Digifit (the whole purpose of getting either one) really comes in their ability to export to cloud-based apps that you can then review on a full-sized computer. Wahoo can export to 7 web-based apps, while Digifit can only export to one (TrainingPeaks). I tried to use all of the seven apps and this is what I found:* Runkeeper: Great app that works for biking or running (I've used it off and on for the past two years even before I knew about Wahoo or Digifit). It's interesting that if you record your bike/run using Runkeeper's iPhone app on its own (which can't record your heart rate), the elevation and speed graphs appear more accurate than when using the Wahoo chip to record this information and then exporting to RunKeeper. Unfortunately, RunKeeper doesn't offer much for recording resistance/strength training. With that said, I found it to be the best app among the seven.* TrainingPeaks: It's good in that it lets you re-label the data from Wahoo (such as calling a "workout" just that rather than "biking" or "running") and it has lots of options in terms of how to look at the data. The problem I found is that their elevation data is off by at least 200 feet (I ride next to sea level and it shows me being at 200 feet) and doesn't match the topography of my ride (when I start my ride I go down a large hill but TrainingPeaks shows me going up a hill). After exchanging emails with their tech support, it appears this is something they don't plan to address soon.* MapMyFitness (or MapMyRide): Categorizes all data imported from Wahoo as a "Run/jog" even if it's a bike ride or resistance/strength training. Not very powerful in terms of charting or comparing your workouts over time.* Garmin Connect. It's also designed around biking and running (no resistance/strength). The web pages aren't as intuitive as RunKeeper but look cleaner than Training Peaks. Nothing really stands out about their site.* Strava: It's more about biking than running (and has no mention of resistance/strength). I didn't get to test their site because they insist on making your profile public to all members (or the less restrictive option is to make it available to the general public), which bothered me. If you go to "Athlete Search" you can find everyone who uses Strava.com in a given city/town, first and last name as well as their daily workouts, which I thought was a bit intrusive.* Nike+: Only tracks runs and since I don't run, I couldn't get it to show my data.* MapMyTracks: Wahoo let me set up an account with MapMytracks but then didn't provide it as a place to forward my data.Overall, none of the apps met all of my needs, but I'm looking to track my resistance/strength training heart rate as well as biking. If you're just looking for running or biking, there's probably at least one that will meet your needs. Over time, someone will develop the whole package, where you can upload your data (speed, elevation, gps coordinates and heart rate) as well as manage things like the specific exercises you do for strength training (like iFitness or Finess HD for the iPad) and track nutrition (DailyBurn).*************** JANUARY 22, 2012 UPDATE ******************I recently bought Wahoo's new Bluetooth heart rate chest strap that, as of today, only works with the iPhone 4S. This means you no longer need the Wahoo Key (dongle), which is nice because it's one less thing to take along when I'm traveling. It's also cheaper because you don't need to spend the $22 on the Garmin chest strap.Now that I have a few months of data uploaded to the services above, I find Garmin Connect to be the best for reviewing my data (I haven't been uploading to Strava or MapMyTracks for reasons discussed above). I think Garmin has made some updates to their site because it's more intuitive and visually appealing than I recall when I initially looked at the sites (before I had any of my data uploaded). It also allows for data from a workout to be classified as "Strength Training" which wasn't an option in some of the other apps. Garmin Connect still doesn't offer everything I want, but it's getting closer.*************** May 28, 2012 UPDATE ******************Wahoo's iPhone app was updated this past week, which alters some of my comments above. You can share the information you collect on your device with 4 new partners (2Peak, Ride With GPS, Dropbox and dailymile). More important to me, they finally expanded the types of exercises available, which until now had been limited to "Biking" and "Running" (the list now has about 40 activities). In terms of the apps reviewed above, I haven't spent much time re-reviewing their sites, but here are some thoughts:1. It looks like MapMyFitness just launched a beta version of their new site which appears to have new reporting functions (which it lacked in the past).2. I keep getting comments asking to correct my privacy comments about Strava in my original post. But as of today, their privacy statement still says your profile is "viewable only by signed in Strava members." This means that even in the most restrictive privacy settings, anyone with a Strava account can see your details (not private enough for me -- I'm looking for a place to store/review my workout data, not find friends to bike with).3. Mobile apps and their desktop counterparts are changing all the time. Also, each person has different needs -- I bike and do strength training. If you get the Wahoo device, which I highly recommend if you like to store/review workout data, try sharing your data with each app for your first 3-4 workouts/activities and then see if the websites give you your information the way you want it.

Wahoo's Fisica Sensor key picks up my Garmin Heart Rate and foot pod sensors, no problem. Well, very occasionally it takes a few tries to get my iphone4 to recognize the key is connected. On my first run my HR recorded only intermittently for some reason? But this worked itself out and has recorded full time since.The key doesn't seem overly fragile. I have lightly bumped a couple of times with no ill effects. I use Marware's Sportshell case and armband which leaves the plug in area free for the sensor key. Works great for the gym and running.I use it with Log Your Run App which then shows HR for my runs and the amount of time in each zone. I can see how my heart is responding to my training in being able to more comfortably withstand faster paces and inclines the longer I train. My resting and recovery HRs have improved, also. Very Cool. The info and gadgets help me stay motivated and since I am 50 it is nice to know I can track my HR for any issues that may arise.When you are on the treadmill (not outside picking up distance by GPS through your iphone) LYR uses your foot pod to determine distance, cadence, etc via the Fisica sensor key. Distances are a close match to treadmill's computer.None of the equipment at my gym (Marin YMCA) seems to be ANT+ capable at this time. But I bet this will change in time. They have many more Apps taking advantage of the ANT + technology in the last few months alone. I really don't ride enough to warrant replacing my bike computer with a Wahoo sensor and using my iphone for rides but I bet that's cool.I still wear my Garmin FR60 watch for its other functions and for backup data---when outside and the LYR app doesn't pick up GPS (and it doesn't pick up foot pod while in GPS mode) so the only data I end up with is from my watch--- but, I like having the Fisica key attached anyway because I get HR info in a chart of time in each zone that LYR shows on their website via ANT+ hookup and don't have manually enter HR info in my running log there.Shipping and packaging was good (arrived about 4 days after order.) Thanks Wahoo for the cool product!

Using this with the lightning adapter for my iPad Pro. No setup on my device was required. However, the range is a bit wonky. I am using Garmin speed and cadence sensor, along with transmitting HR data from my 935XT. In order to pair the devices to my iPad (using Trainer Road), I had to put receiver right near the devices. While I am riding, my iPad is a couple inches to the side of my bike. The signal goes in and out more than I would like. I tried just doing 1 sensor only, and still had same issue. I also tried replacing sensor batteries, same issue. I then tried it with a Garmin HRM and then a Wahoo Tickr, and, again, same issue. There aren't many options out there, so this does the trick, just wish device signal didn't drop so much. Overall though, it gets the data I need and I don't have to fuss too much with it.

Worked well for me. Made it easy for we to sync me Garmin devices with my Apple device running Zwift. Only issue I have is that while the device is in, you can not charge your Apple device as it us using the port so you might be time limited in your activity to you batterry life which cn be limited on power hungry apps that used Wifi which much data :-)

I bought this key as I no longer have a laptop and my running statistics were locked in my watch. I thought I would be able to use it like a usb stick to upload my statistics to garmin connect after my run but for some reason it doesn't connect with my garmin FR 405c (if anyone can help on this I would be grateful) it does recognise my garmin heart rate monitor though so I plug the key into my phone and use the wahoo fitness training app on my runs.You need an adapter for later models of iphone though, which is a pain. It sucks the life out of the phone battery and I've only managed to use it for an hour and a half. It uploads your statistics to garmin connect, Nike+ and others and you can view all your data as usual. It's very small and doesn't make your phone too big to fit in your pocket.You can get information and instructions on youtube which is helpful for setting it up and once you've done that it's great. It's a great tool for helping you improve your running, particularly heart rate training. Overall, I'm happy with it and would recommend it

Works with my Garmin FR70 watch and Garmin heart rate monitor. Works with my favorite app on iphone 4, irunner / Digifit.The Garmin key only works with Garmin app's....Very pleased with this purchase!

Work perfectly after many months of useIt pairs without issue to the Garmin bike speed and cadence sensor and also the Garmin heart rate strap. Combined with the simple and free Wahoo iPhone app, it makes workouts more interesting/productive and calorie burn calculation, more accurate. I have just purchased the Wahoo RPM cadence sensor for Spinning Classes where the use of a fixed cadence sensor is not practical, so look forward to adding cadence to those workouts in addition to heart rate (via the garmin chest strap). I Highly recommend Wahoo.

Works really well with my Stages power meter. Great when performing power test. Very few "drop outs". I use it side by side with my Garmin 520. The Garmin drops out about 10 times as much as the ANT+ key.