Di2 Ultegra and e-tube app questions
 

Hello all, I have been doing a lot of reading up on Di2 and the e-tube app for iPad and iPhone. I'm pretty sure I have the proper battery, but do I need the bluetooth transmitter to connect my iPad to the Di2, or can I use the USB cable? I want to tinker with synchro shifting, plus I want to tinker with some other settings. I am new to Di2 so forgive the newbie questions. I downloaded the e-tube app, and it appears that I can only connect by Bluetooth. But I have read that I can connect with the USB. Thanks for any help, and I would also appreciate any good links you may have.

I think you need the transmitter, yes, at least to use the mobile app you do. Either that or you use the USB cable with a Windows computer and use that version of the software. They don't have a Mac version.

Does the MT-800 Bluetooth display go in place of the junction box that I have mounted under my stem? Or is it an addition to it? I've found some more articles and I think you're right, you can only use the USB with a windows machine. I only have an iPhone and an iPad so it looks like I need the display for $140. Dang, and I thought Jeep mods were expensive.

[MENTION=3379]MikeOK[/MENTION] The SC-MT800 has three ports, one is uses to attach it to the Di2 bus the other two ports would be free to attach shifters or any other Di2 bus device.

2017-2018 SHIMANO Product Information Web
2017-2018 SHIMANO Product Information Web

The MT-800 will work fine. You missed all the DI2 sales. The MT800 was $80USD 2 months ago.

Dang! Seems that's my luck lately. The cheapest I could find was $109.

I looked at your links and it says Gear Indicator Front - 1/2/3. I have two chainrings, do I need another model?

No it works no matter what number of chain rings as long as it is at least one and no more than three.

Alternatively you can leave the junction box alone and pick up a EW-WU101, I paid about $80 for it. It connects in at the rear derailleur.

Synchro shifting requires the new dn110 battery

Yes this is correct. And Bluetooth. I stumbled onto a good article about Di2 here:

Shimano Ultegra and Dura-Ace Di2 Electronic Shifting ? Everything You Need to Know ? Carlton Bale .com

These gizmo's should be included in the group especially for the price. I accidentally cut the wire when unpacking that goes fron Junction A to the left shifter. A replacement cost $23! A 15" wire!

Putting aside the fact that the OP does not have a PC for a moment... Syncro shifting does not require bluetooth or wireless of any kind. The system can be installed and configured completely without wireless. Everything can be done using the wired USB connection from a PC.

The Carlton Bale article is good but it does have some omissions and mistakes. As an example:

This is not correct. The R785 levers work BR-RS805 calipers as well. Shimano even bundles them in a kit which comes in a single box. I run this on my bike.

Trust but verify.

Part of the problem is that his article does not have a published date, at least not that I saw, so it is impossible to tell if he is referencing older information or if Shimano has released newer parts, updates, etc.


-Tim-

Problem is the op doesn't have a pc... Only an iPad or iPhone.

<ack>

Even if MikeOK has a PC and wanted to update from there, he would need the programming interface SM-PCE1. That was one of the first items I bought for my Di2 bike. I knew I didn't want to drag my bike to the LBS every time Shimano updated some part of Di2. E-Tube for the PC does not support connecting through Bluetooth.

I have not tried to use E-Tube for iOS or Android, since I do not have any of the bluetooth enabled Di2 accessories. But he wouldn't need SM-PCE1 with the Tablet and Smartphone versions.

With the new junction box up front he would not need pce1, he could use the charger connected via USB to pc to update. Alternatively firmware can be updated via Bluetooth in Android or ios.

Pce1 is only really needed for debug purposes on individual components these days

[MENTION=388729]Marcus_Ti[/MENTION] thanks for that bit of info I have a newer, not new 5-port Junction A but since I started with Gen 1 Ultegra Di2, that Junction A didn't exist and you needed the SM-PCE1. Which charger allow USB connection to the Di2 Bus?

By the way, that Carlton Bale article is very old, he may have updated sections but it existed when you could still hack specific 10-speed Di2 into 11-speed Di2. (before Shimano plugged that hole)

You need one of the newer Junction A models, e.g. SM-EW90A (3-port) or SM-EW90B (5-port) or MT800 etc....and ofc compatible battery/parts..... Having one of those (and compatible battery etc.), the SM-BCR2 "charger" is ALSO a USB interface that allows E-Tube on PC to update firmware of anything on the Di2 network, as well as any programming of switches/synchro/multi-shift etc. It has a USB tail wired in on one end (proprietary? Di2 2-pin tpigtail on the other) and takes power from any USB wall wart or plug into any PC for power or E-Tube programming.


NOTE: the diagnostic portion of E-Tube only works with the SM-PCE1 (NOT BCR-2)and one part at a time. Hence my comment earlier about debugging, unless you're still running the old SM-EW79 junction box and other legacy hardware. Most of Carleton Bale's info is still correct. Not a whole lot has changed over the years since Di2 6770 came on the scene....aside from some franken-bike quirks with old hardwardware (like you mention with 10s and 11s not playing anymore), and new SKUs....The biggest things being multi-shifting and synchronized shifting (this later needs as noted the new DN110 battery with its bigger onboard memory and ofc one of those new Junction A boxes).

How much does the SM-PCE1 cost? I have an old windows machine around here somewhere I could probably get to work. Funny, this is the first time I've actually needed a pc in two years, ever since I got my iPad Pro. Anyway, with the SM-PCE1 software can I change things like shift speed, multiple gears shifted, etc?

I'll probably wait until I need a new battery. By then maybe the cost of the modules I have will be obsolete and cheaper.

The PCE1 is $130USD typically these days ($200 list price IIRC). Whereas the BCR-2 charger is $70-80USD depending on your luck with sales (list price is $110USD). If you have the EW-90A or EW-90B junction boxes...the BCR2 is what you want. It let's E-Tube on PC talk to the entire Di2 network at once....which well you need a charger anyway, or did BikesDirect send you a charger with the bike?

My front junction box is the one with the 2 led's, the charging port and the calibrate button along with 3 wire ports.

Edit- yes they supplied a charger.

Then you use the BCR-2.

Now I remember why I didn't do all of this. In order to use the BCR2 I needed to change batteries (I still have the SM-BTR1 and SM-BCR1 combo). I have the EW-90B Junction A so it is just the BT-DN110 and SM-BCR2 that would get me to current PC compatibility. $200 wasn't worth it to me then, and I am not sure it still isn't now.

[MENTION=3379]MikeOK[/MENTION] If that Motobecane has the internal seat post battery BT-DN110 and you already have the SM-BCR2 charger to charge it, then you simply don't need the SM-PCE1. Like [MENTION=388729]Marcus_Ti[/MENTION] said, the SM-PCE1 is only really useful for shop mechanics that need to run diagnostics on each component separately.

I had to buy the SM-PCE1 at the time since I have the 6700 series of Ultegra Di2 and there was no EW-90 at the time and no internal battery. The SM-PCE1 was the only choice at that time.

Thought, Actually I don't think I need the battery if the SM-BTR1 will charge with the SM-BCR2 then all I need is that Charger/USB? Maybe?

Actually I unfortunately have the wrong battery, I didn't get the BT-DN110 so I would have to buy the battery and the Bluetooth module. Like you said I don't think it's worth $200 just to have the thing shift for me. Besides, I was really more interested in the ability to customize the shift speed, the shifter buttons, etc. I always thought the front derailleur shifter was backwards.