Bizzmark Posted August 12, 2015 Posted August 12, 2015 I bought a 2nd hand Tacx Fortius VR trainer here on the hub about a year or so ago..... Used it for about a month before it just stopped working after a software update. I tried everything including buying another 2nd hand one, and swapping the various part out trying to figure out which part was broken.... It was beyond my limited brain power.... Could not figure it out lost patience.... And just carried on training on my new 2nd hand one until it too stopped working after about month.... Got grumpy ... Chucked everything into a corner of the garage and wrote them off. Bought a iGenius and that has worked well for the last year or so. On an impulse tried to connect the busted Fortius up to the new Tacx software recently and the "newer" of the Fortuis 2nd hand trainers was identified and useable again.... Bonus!!! The first one is still dead... Picks up the vr control unit but motor and break seem dead still... Anyway, the point of my ramble... If you have an old Tacx trainer that you gave up on... Try connect to new software if you have... Maybe you get lucky... Also if anyone wants to have my original "dead" Fortius to test or try and get working... They are welcome to it.... Just taking up space and annoying me every time I look at it. (Collect from me in Pineslopes / Lonehill) Just as a by the by.... There is zero repair options for Tacx in SA. The bike shop guys are simply going to want to send it off to the wholesaler like The cool heat guys. Who are simply going to charge you out for a new unit of whatever is deemed to be busted (If a little fuse is gone in that there motor unit.... To bad, you are going to have to replace the whole thing).... So if there is an electronic repair person out there.... This could be a business opportunity for you....
Swift01 Posted August 12, 2015 Posted August 12, 2015 Mine also stopped working the other day. Eventually managed to get it working again by reloading the software only for it to last 10 min and break. I then used another laptop and it worked perfect. Could be something wrong with the USB drivers or USB ports on the old laptop causing the problem.Going to try for several sessions on the newer laptop (works laptop) before deciding is I should buy another laptop.The cost of a new VR unit is in the region of 2900 from SA shops. No stock at the moment. Almost not worth staying with Tacx at that cost and biting the bullet and moving to something different and more reliable.
Gunzo Posted August 12, 2015 Posted August 12, 2015 Bizzmark, I have sent you a PM regarding your original "dead" Fortius. I am busy building/hacking an automated indoor trainer. This might speed up the build a lot. Let me know!
Bizzmark Posted August 12, 2015 Author Posted August 12, 2015 Bizzmark, I have sent you a PM regarding your original "dead" Fortius. I am busy building/hacking an automated indoor trainer. This might speed up the build a lot. Let me know! No problem - responded - you are welcome to it .... hope it helps your project.
Tjokkits Posted August 12, 2015 Posted August 12, 2015 Coolheat support is shocking, not even parts for the Genius which is fairly new. Another eg not to support local agents
Bizzmark Posted August 12, 2015 Author Posted August 12, 2015 Mine also stopped working the other day. Eventually managed to get it working again by reloading the software only for it to last 10 min and break. I then used another laptop and it worked perfect. Could be something wrong with the USB drivers or USB ports on the old laptop causing the problem.Going to try for several sessions on the newer laptop (works laptop) before deciding is I should buy another laptop.The cost of a new VR unit is in the region of 2900 from SA shops. No stock at the moment. Almost not worth staying with Tacx at that cost and biting the bullet and moving to something different and more reliable. Yeah.... on the one unit ... the one I got working.. that seems to be the problem., drivers, the new TTS4 got it working again, but maybe reformat laptop could also work.... just such a waste of time that could be used for actual riding. I just have so much invested in the differant race scenarios and software, so have to bite the bullet and stick with Tacx
raymakestv Posted August 12, 2015 Posted August 12, 2015 Can anyone recommend a trainer that is decent, not too loud, and has any kind of basic power metering function? I have a simple cycleops which I use a LOT but I want to upgrade to get some powermeter function and maybe a little quieter. Any advice or experience would be great.Thanks
Bizzmark Posted August 12, 2015 Author Posted August 12, 2015 Coolheat support is shocking, not even parts for the Genius which is fairly new. Another eg not to support local agents Yes - complete waste of time.... the internet is really the only place you will get info or assistance with regards to Tacx - and the retailers that do stock units, have zero training or product understanding ... without fail, the standard reaction when trying to figure out the differances between a unit, when asking an assistant at a number of the well know shops was for them to start reading the specs off the box........
Bizzmark Posted August 12, 2015 Author Posted August 12, 2015 Can anyone recommend a trainer that is decent, not too loud, and has any kind of basic power metering function? I have a simple cycleops which I use a LOT but I want to upgrade to get some powermeter function and maybe a little quieter. Any advice or experience would be great.Thanks I recommend going to this site and reading the reviews.... and then based on your budget, go from there. One of the most detailed sport gadget review sites out there. http://www.dcrainmaker.com/product-reviews
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