kingsqueak

The Sigma Datacenter software needs to be updated via their website for the export to .FIT and .GPX to function properly.

You have to go to the sigma shop for the datacenter site, create an account, then enter the CD license key that shipped with the unit.

Once I downloaded and installed the new version 3.2.1-005, the export works fine and imported into Strava with no drama.

First ride with the Rox - no cadence or HR or speed sensor data yet, just GPS

A side note on pairing the ANT+ sensors, took me about 20 seconds to set up the HR strap and the cadence sensor once I knew what to do. They very quickly registered to the unit.

kingsqueak

Some information links.

The Facebook page is showing users' successes with export/import to several sites like Strava

https://www.facebook.com/SIGMASPORTUSA

The installation video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHIZ8FwiPBo

Basic operating walk through

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QGaF4DARFE

Snapperhead

Only bogus to anyone that cares about Strava. Plenty of folks don't. And the extra step is only a minor pita imho.

Looigi

No, not only Strava, but any data logging and analysis site and sites used for laying out and sharing routes. There are many that pre-date and are better than Strava for logging, training, and routing purposes.

And it may be a minor pita as long as you have a platform that will run the software, but it's a needless one and it restricts you to those platforms. Why not make it a simple straightforward matter to transfer/copy recognized file types as others have done?

Snapperhead

Once again I see your point, but there are plenty of folks that don't care about "sharing" this data or using any tools for analysis other than the ones the product comes with.

I thought the export was made via the Sigma web tool so it wasn't platform dependent? I'm not 100% sure of that.

Regardless, hopefully your suggestion, which I'm sure others have made to Sigma, will prompt them to make it even easier in the future (i.e. no export required).

sierrabob

Sigma Data Center has always been a work in progress. The original version had gradient calculation errors that I traced to a bug in their algorithm. The latest version is good. I would think that most people use the software as i do: zoom in on a graphic of the ride to see your performance on a particular climb, descent, or longer segment. Heart rate, watts, climb rate, slope, time, speed, it's all there.

But wouldn't it be nice to compare your performance to every other time you've ridden that segment? You can do this with SDC, but it's a major PITA (as I recall, because it's been awhile). With Strava you see the comparison with just a few keystrokes, not just to yourself but to everyone else who's recorded that tough climb you just did. And you see this on any device from anywhere, within minutes of completing your ride. You also see who you've just ridden with. Kind of nice to know who was on your wheel those last 20 miles. Doesn't this functionality trump anything you can do with Sigma Data Center?

Eventually, the bike computer will uplink all by itself just like smartphones do. Sounds like you're almost there with the adapter cable between Garmin and your smartphone. Could this method also work with the ROX 10.0?

mstraus

Thanks for the initial report, kingsqueak. Look forward to updates as you get more time on it.

If uploading to Strava is to hard that could push me towards a Garmin, as I don't want to have to run my phone and the computer all the time, however if other features on the Sigma and price might make me look past it if it works well enough.

kingsqueak

Strava upload is simple, you just need to be sure you have the most current version of the Sigma Datacenter software is all.

You log a ride and save it.

Get home, attach the computer to the USB cable for charging and sync to the Datacenter software...you would likely plug in for charging anyway.

Click on the import dialog, it pulls in your new ride data, now you can view it in Datacenter...which is reasonably nice in itself.

To export/convert the data for other sites like Strava, you simply click on Export and select the data type, FIT (Strava and others) or GPX (other sites) and it makes the file for you.

With Strava, you log in, and click on the Import Data link, point at the FIT file you created and you are done.

The main issue with integrating the apps is that all the companies involved want to encumber and tie each other up in fees for integrations, or they want to try and tie a customer/user's data to their own app. It is trivial to do an import plugin if a site makes an open API to do so. i.e. having a "Strava" button in the Sigma software would take a developer about 4hrs max to implement and release...if all parties were actually interested in doing it.

The frustrating part to me is that this device doesn't seem to have an SDK/spec published to write your own apps to pull the data....or I might be able to write a Python app to directly pull and upload to Strava (if they have an API...haven't looked). It would also be awesome if you plugged any of these devices in and they just showed up as a USB Mass Storage device where the track data was just sitting in directories so you could do as you pleased with the data, moving it in/out at will.

That last part there, has nothing to do with a technical difficulty to do it, it has everything to do with the device manufacturers wanting to make things proprietary to glue the owner to their own software and control over the data as a result.

This device so far, is yet another of many that require me to keep a copy of Windows around when I *never* use Windows for any other purpose. I can't eliminate it entirely from my house because I wouldn't be able to use things like this computer, my other GPS units or do firmware updates for a myriad of other devices I own that don't provide open specifications or interfaces otherwise.

sierrabob

Could you explain this in more detail please? Seems like for this this to work with Sigma we'd need an app or website to augment the offline Sigma Data Center.

donalson

as long as you have a newer version of android (4.1 or newer I think) it should have USB host mode, so with the OTG (on the go) cable the phone will see that you plugged in a USB drive of some sort, plug in a USB jump drive or external HDD and it will read it, an ant+ usb2 sensor and it will read that... so I'd assume when you plug in the garmin that the garmin looks just like another USB drive of some sort, pull the data off that and put it where you want on your phone and being that it is native TCX no hubub with converting stuff... its honestly the only point that I can see as a real advantage for the garmin over the sigma so far... wanting to buy a GPS ant+ cycle computer in the spring... so I'm interested in reading more and more on this unit

and your thought about an app, it seems that a properly written app to extract and convert the sigma data would be all that is needed

kingsqueak

Riding into a nasty head wind the other day I wondered...

Has anyone ever put one of those anemometer modules on a bike computer? Gimmicky...but I bet people might buy it. Basically figure out the wind speed vs bike speed and find a headwind component for a data point.

Snapperhead

Why would you even want too?!

kingsqueak

My story started with the introduction of the Windows Registry in 1995. At the time, I wasn't making any money and the only definitive reference on the registry explaining all the keys was the MS Press book...and it was $110. So basically I had an OS I paid for, that wasn't working well and the fix required I spend another $110.

I've used linux at home and at work as my only desktop OS since...aside from "needing" Windows from time to time to service radio equipment, program remotes and deal with things like this GPS ;-).

The job I'm in now is the first one I've had where they wouldn't let me run linux, so I had to get a Mac...my first one and I'd swap for linux in a hot second when the chance comes along.

I know that was a rhetorical question, but I figured I'd share the tale.

Snapperhead

Cool. After 25+ years in IT, I'm always interested in hearing about why folks have a preference one way or the other. I'm personally anti-Apple!

mstraus

Without going into a Windows vs Mac vs Linux debate, I do think open support and public SDKs are important for products like this. I don't think that Sigma, Garmin, or anyone will create the perfect software for everyone, but if the products are easy to integrate with or extend the market can come up with some really cool stuff.

So it sounds like Sigma does not have an SDK to integrate with the device or data center software - is that correct? Does Garmin offer a free SDK option? What about anyone else?

kingsqueak

I haven't asked Sigma but I didn't see anything on their site either. Garmin years back said flatly no. I used to buy only Lowrance because they were open and welcoming for people to customize. I used to create custom skins for an old iWay 500c I had.

Snapperhead

Yes Garmin has an SDK.

kingsqueak

I just pinged Sigma finally to see if they have an SDK or at least a published spec to work from. Strava does have an API I just found out, so that's cool.

If Sigma plays ball and the spec is simple enough, maybe I'll figure out a one-shot in Python to pull the data and load to Strava in one step. Would be sweet to use it on my linux box vs having to boot into Windows after each ride.

donalson

I talked to DCrainmaker and he's got at least a bit of a review for it in que but won't be till Dec he said... I hope it's a full review as they tend to be rediculously in debth

kingsqueak

Yeah his reviews are excellent. I don't have the patience for that unless I really use all the features. So far the ROX has been great but I haven't uploaded a track to follow and likely won't... at least for some time. Basic logging and display of data for me is done with the main screen. I don't ride enough in adverse conditions to be a good review source there either.

Compared with a phone and Strava logging via the app, the numbers are at least ballpark comparable so far. Either I'm in better shape or the HRM reads a bit lower than my BT strap, not sure there but it isn't different by much.

The display in details can be hard to read. Various alerts pop up and I couldn't tell you what they say. All the main data is readable enough though.

Now that I have a few rides in, I need to read the manual again just to fill in any missing pieces.

mstraus

Glad to hear DCrainmaker is going to review. I think I may wait for that, or some more info, to make a decision. LBS tried to steer me towards Garmin Edge 510, but bundle costs $100 more, though I might be able to get a 10-20% discount on it making it closer. Still not sure if I want color touch screen on a bike computer.

cycledogg

Anyone have the latest comments of experience with the Sigma Rox 10.0 compared to the Edge 500? I am about to pull the trigger on the Sigma Rox 10.0.

Road Fan

I think the old Ciclo HAC-4 had it.

kingsqueak

Just checking back in on this. Still working well, been solid for me.

The concerns around the software have all been addressed with the new releases of Sigma Datacenter, 3.3 I think is the current one. It has direct upload to Strava in it now, which is nice. Sigma has a Facebook page that they seem to actually pay attention to for user feedback, which is great.

Good value bundle with all the sensors, recommended.

mstraus

Thanks for the update. I decided to hold off a bit longer myself and do something less expensive for now, though every now and then I see a deal and am tempted.