General Cycling Discussion - Am I just an idiot or does the S in VDO C3DS mean "suck"

So i mounted a VDO C3DS wireless on my new ride and have had nothing but problems. I got the optional cadence sensor with it as well. When i put it on it was reading speed perfectly fine with the occasional hiccup which the instructions say will happen if you are riding on the street because of interference and things like that. The Cadence sensor however was giving me problems (weird readings) but at least it was reading. I did everything the instructions said finally it quit working at all (and still doesn't). I gave up on it figuring I will work with it another day as long as the speedo and odo work I got enough to do my workout.

SO i hop on today and in a 15 mile bike ride It read a total of 4 miles. I barely if ever saw the speed. I do not live in manhattan, I do live in a suburban area. I figured maybe I was too close to the stores but even when i was deep in suburbia it still barely worked. I dont have my cellphone mounted to my handlebars which it said will cause interference. I have everything done right, I did multiple connection resets, this thing is just totally unreliable.

Am i doing something wrong? I should have just bought a wired one... ugh.

I had the same problem. I tried to get some answers from the company and they never returned any emails or calls. I ended up calling Performance, where I'd bought it. They said there had been lots of problems and to just return it and they recommended a Cateye.

I had the same problem. I tried to get some answers from the company and they never returned any emails or calls. I ended up calling Performance, where I'd bought it. They said there had been lots of problems and to just return it and they recommended a Cateye.

I'm an idiot, I bought it on ebay. Theres 60 bucks I will never see again... ugh!

I really like wired VDO computers, but the one wireless one I tried had all sorts of interference problems.

FWIW the newer VDO wireless computers are encrypted to prevent interference.

I put a wireless C2DS on my 'bent a couple of months ago and have had no problems. Needed digital signal because of the long stretch from fork to bars. I really like this 'puter.

So i mounted a VDO C3DS wireless on my new ride and have had nothing but problems. I got the optional cadence sensor with it as well. When i put it on it was reading speed perfectly fine with the occasional hiccup which the instructions say will happen if you are riding on the street because of interference and things like that. The Cadence sensor however was giving me problems (weird readings) but at least it was reading. I did everything the instructions said finally it quit working at all (and still doesn't). I gave up on it figuring I will work with it another day as long as the speedo and odo work I got enough to do my workout.

SO i hop on today and in a 15 mile bike ride It read a total of 4 miles. I barely if ever saw the speed. I do not live in manhattan, I do live in a suburban area. I figured maybe I was too close to the stores but even when i was deep in suburbia it still barely worked. I dont have my cellphone mounted to my handlebars which it said will cause interference. I have everything done right, I did multiple connection resets, this thing is just totally unreliable.

Am i doing something wrong? I should have just bought a wired one... ugh.

You're telling exactly my story. I finally gave up in frustration and returned it to Performance and got a CatEye. VDO C3DS == crap

Just as an update, VDO and their US Distributor IBEX sports have been VERY helpful and while I have no doubt my current unit is defective, they are more than willing to make it right for me in any way possible. Now THAT is great customer service, much better than I've gotten anywhere for any other product.

Just felt the need to update here, IBEX shipped me a brand new replacement unit with a brand new cadence module that they tested and I just tried it out and it works flawlessly. I even kept my cellphone in my pocket to see if it would interfere and it did not. I also have the sensor mounted on the rear wheel (which looks much nicer, not in the way). I would definitely recommend the VDO C3DS now, if you have a problem at least the support is definitely there. I think I just got a random bad one.

My wired VDO works great, I had lots of interference issues with my wireless Cateye.

Mine was doing the exact same thing before, however I figured out how to make mine work all the time. It's been working flawlessly since. This may work for other wireless cyclocomputers as well.

If you carry a cell phone with you, turn it OFF when you ride. I found that my speedometer was tripping and reading 0 kmh or 3.5 kmh as my phone would switch telecommunication towers. Even with my cell phone turned on in the saddle bag, the speedometer never worked.

Try it. I love the C3DS now :)

Obviously this isn't the solution if you never carried a cell phone in the first place.

Mine was doing the exact same thing before, however I figured out how to make mine work all the time. It's been working flawlessly since. This may work for other wireless cyclocomputers as well.

If you carry a cell phone with you, turn it OFF when you ride. I found that my speedometer was tripping and reading 0 kmh or 3.5 kmh as my phone would switch telecommunication towers. Even with my cell phone turned on in the saddle bag, the speedometer never worked.

Try it. I love the C3DS now :)

Obviously this isn't the solution if you never carried a cell phone in the first place.

I thought that could be the problem but it wasnt. Mine was defective, I ride with my phone in my backpack all the time now and never have a problem.

BTW Now that I have used the C3DS for a month or so, I love it as well. With the Cadence and all it gives a lot of great stats, its small but with a big screen, very unobtrusive. Overall a I Highly reccomend it!