Bluetooth and ANT+ explained

Bluetooth (BLE)

BLE stands for Bluetooth Low Energy. A supported Bluetooth heart-rate, speed, cadence, or power sensor connects directly to your phone. This is usually the simplest option and works whether or not the bike has an NXS system.

ANT+

ANT+ is another wireless standard commonly used by cycling sensors. Most phones cannot receive ANT+ data directly. In BikeNet, a compatible NXS shifting controller acts as the receiver: it connects to the ANT+ sensor and passes the readings on to the app.

Because the controller handles the connection, an ANT+ sensor is associated with the selected bike and requires that bike’s NXS controller to be awake and connected.

Which protocol to choose

Choose Automatic if you are unsure. BikeNet searches for Bluetooth first, then looks for ANT+ through the selected bike’s shifting controller. If you know the sensor only supports one protocol, choosing it directly can make the search quicker and easier to understand.

Look for the Bluetooth or ANT+ logo on the sensor, its packaging, or the manufacturer’s instructions. Some sensors can broadcast both at the same time.