I can't get my current setup to work with OrbRider -- I have a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine (dumb trainer, but with power curves predictable by road speed) and a Garmin speed/cadence sensor. I have an Ant+ interface for PC, and I can get the Ant+ and Trainer icons to turn green, but I don't ever appear to get speed or power readings, and can't get the virtual rider to move.
I'm also having other issues (can't get Xbox controller or keyboard to work, but mouse seems OK) which might be interfering with the trainer input though -- should I be able to use a non-smart trainer with OrbRider, or is that something which is currently unsupported?
Hi @bowdends, Great news! I've been able to add support for speed sensors which should open up the game to people who don't own a smart trainer. The idea is that you can buy a $35 speed sensor to use in conjunction with your "non-smart trainer". OrbRider will detect the output from your speed sensor and convert the readings into "Power/Watts" to propel your avatar forward while you are playing either the biking or flying fitness modes. I'd really appreciate it if you could test it out on your setup and let me know if its working with your older model speed sensor.
Ok, thanks for linking that. I ended up ordering the one I linked. I'll take a look and see if I can get it working.
I'm an embedded developer, with little experience in PC applications, but tons of experience in getting other types of devices to talk to each other. I've never used ANT+ before, but do have a speed/cadence sensor, a heart rate sensor, an ANT+ dongle for PC and an ANT+ enabled android phone.
I'm happy to offer any kind of assistance that might help you add support for any of the above.
I believe the sensor I'm using is a type 4 from this page, where the speed and cadence are combined into a single signal, but if you're adding support it probably makes more sense to start with something newer, which would be the type 1 or 3, where each sensor has it's own channel.
https://www.thisisant.com/developer/ant-plus/device-profiles/#523_tab
I have the previous generation of sensors, where the speed and cadence are combined into a single unit that uses magnets to measure rotation. Here's a link showing what it looks like: https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Speed-Cadence-Bike-Sensor/dp/B000BFNOT8
Hi Again, Is this the device your using?
https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Speed-Sensor-Bike-Monitor/dp/B07PJKZ7G9/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=Garmin+Bike+Speed+Sensor+and+Cadence+Sensor&qid=1581191693&sr=8-4
Hi bowdends - First of all, thank you for giving it a try. You and a few others have asked about this. The current functionality is reading "Power" which presumably is only transmitted by a smart trainer over the ANT+ Wireless protocol. So if your device doesn't calculate and transmit "Power", then that may be the issue.
Would you be able to link a URL maybe to Amazon for the speed/cadence sensor you are using? I'll see how much it costs and if its not to bad, I'll buy one and see if I can get OrbRider to work with it. A kind of workaround could be to just put some weight on your spacebar to make the avatar move forward and at least give you something to look at as you ride.
Now on to the Xbox controller... the game does support using an Xbox controller, which I have tested on my computer. Do you have one of these devices though?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZB7W4QU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Microsoft wants to sell you one of these in order to use an Xbox controller with a Windows PC... Are you using the Windows or Mac OS version of OrbRider?
The keyboard is a mystery. I'm kind of at a loss as to why your keyboard wouldn't be working with the game. When you first start the game as a biking avatar and then you hold down on the spacebar... does your avatar start to move forward?
Thanks,
Jeff