How to connect Zwift and Wattbike Hub to your Wattbike at the same time

This is tested only for iOS and Apple. However, due to the nature of the solution, it should be easy to replicate with Android and other devices.

The solution is very simple once you have the know-how. The solution has proved reliable for me, but some have reported dropouts of the signal. I have not yet been able to replicate this. I would suggest that it may be down to any interference and ensuring that your configuration is spot on.

Why would you need both Wattbike Hub at the same time?

This is all down to personal preference. Personally, I love data and it’s been at the centre of making me a stronger cyclist by understanding more about my training (note: I’m a very amateur cyclist!). With Zwift you get a raft of data. However, with the Wattbike Hub, you get much more in-depth data about your riding, including the PES (Peddling effectiveness score) and the Polar View (The peanut!). The data side of things is outside of the scope of this blog. This is to get you set up. It’s up to you what you do with the data.

So, how does it work?

The Wattbike broadcasts two types of signals for devices to control it. This has been designed as a one-to-one relationship and connecting two devices with different channels was more to help with Heart Rate monitors and older devices using ANT+. Bluetooth is the connection of choice for most manufacturers of fitness machines.

Currently, you connect Zwift to the Wattbike via Bluetooth (mostly) and it hooks up pretty seamlessly and off you go. Connect up a heart rate belt and is all set.

However, if you connect the Wattbike Hub to your device (iOS anyway), it will ONLY use Bluetooth. Furthermore, it takes complete control of the Wattbike – which makes perfect sense.

My (borrowed) solution…

Take the ANT+ signal and turn it into a Bluetooth signal and you then have two separate Bluetooth channels to connect to with your iOS devices. All I need now is a clever little device that would sit in the middle and do this.

Enter CABLE NPE, a US company that specialises in clever gadgets.

CABLE NPE device for Wattbike Hub and Zwift at the same time

Link to CABLE device: https://npe-inc.com/cableinfo/ (NOT an affiliate link)

This tiny little device sits in the middle of the ANT+ broadcast from the Wattbike and magically turns the ANT+ data into Bluetooth. And it works – really well.

The only slight catch is setting it up correctly. After much fiddling, testing and more fiddling, I cracked it. Have a go yourself or use my CABLE NPE config screens are below (and save some time/pain/frustration).

Once you have that working, then it’s time to connect your devices and apps. The diagram below attempts to demonstrate how it all fits together – using Zwift as the additional app.

I see no reason why these should be the two apps. I’m assuming this would work with Trainer Road, Sufferfest, Training Peaks and whatever is your choice training poison. So long as they require/facilitate Bluetooth.

Setting this system up, there are a few key pointers to observe (and that ignored, may spoil your euphoria of getting this to work).

You need to choose ONE app to be the ‘MASTER’ i.e. control the Wattbike. It’s impossible for both to control resistance at the same time. In the instance of Zwift, then you would want Zwift to control the Wattbike and ‘be the MASTER’.

IMPORTANT: To facilitate this then you need to CONNECT THE APP THAT YOU WANT TO ACT AS THE MASTER APP FIRST.

Once Zwift is connected via the CABLE NPE Bluetooth, then you should be able to connect the Wattbike Hub via Bluetooth and see your data when riding.

IMPORTANT: You will only start to see the Wattbike Hub data in action – and the PES, Polar view etc. when you start a ‘Quick Ride’ and press play.

That’s it – the above should be enough to get you up and running. I will be updating this blog and instructions to add more detail, but for now, I’m short on time and there are many of you who want to get this up and running now, so there you go.

Perfect dual-screen devices for running two apps with your Wattbike Atom.