Does anybody make an Android-compatible bluetooth cadence sender?
 

There seem to be a ton of them that work with iPhones but after searching around I can't seem to find anything that will work with an Android.

I'm running a Nexus 4 with the latest release of KitKat. It has Bluetooth 4.0 compatibility. Battery life is not a problem with a battery pack in my handlebar bag and also with having a hub dyno and a USB power converter. Having route guidance (visual and voice turn-by-turn) as well the ability to run my own maps and ride directions on a big readable screen on a piece of equipment I already have and will be bringing along anyhow is the future IMHO.

Currently I'm using a Zephyr HxM Bluetooth wireless heartrate sensor and it works great with Android and plays nice with Endomondo. But it seems that if I want to record cadence information I either have to go back to a dumb Garmin or other ANT+ system or drink the Jobs Kool-aid -neither of which I'm willing to do. I really like having all the features of a smartphone as my cycle computer but would like to add something as simple as a cadence sensor. So far there seems to be nothing. Topeak seems to say their unit will someday have Android functionality but so far, nothing...

The issue is finding an app that supports it. You might have to wait.

The "runtastic" app might support it.

http://www.amazon.com/Runtastic-Cade.../dp/B00BVY4HCG

Wahoo does make a bluetooth speed and cadence sensors. Check them out.
http://www.wahoofitness.com/devices/...ce-sensor.html

FWIW: It's a bit complicated: There's Bluetooth and the new Bluetooth LE (blue tooth "smart"). BTLE is good because it uses very little power for the sensors. And, some Android phones are ANT+ compatible (e.g. Galaxy S4 with 4.3) so can work with ANT+ sensors with the right app.

only work with iDevices. OP is asking about Android!

It should work on Android as long as phone supports Bluetooth 4.0. The sensor is not programmed to look for iPhone devices.

It took me a while to learn the details. Here's my understanding of it.

Recognizing of BT-LE devices is left to the app and not the phone or OS (as long as it supports BT-LE). One has to go into the app to scan for and connect the device.

You need to search for apps that support BT-LE devices and those seem to be in short supply. ipbike has a beta version for Android + BT-LE.

For some reason the market seems to have no interest in producing BT (not LE) monitors--even though it can be used with all legacy/current/future Android phones. Short battery life cannot be the only reason--think of all the devices we charge regularly, starting with phones, laptops, ....

To use Android phones (w/o built-in ANT+ chip) as a bike computer as of today, buy a ANT+ USB dongle (make sure that your phone supports USB host mode, i.e., USB on-the-go cable--Moto G seems to be the least expensive one). This is the route I am taking.

Feel free to correct/update/critique what I said.

If it isn't a Nexus phone I'm not going to own it.

Phones need their freedom too. No walled gardens, no bloatware.

Moto G is available contract-free with vanilla Android. You are welcome to go with Nexus too. My choice is Moto G.
Any case, here is a speed/cadence sensor + app combination that claims Android compatibility.
http://global.mobileaction.com/produ...-gotU_CS20.jsp

I have some hope for someday an Ubuntu phone that can rival the Android but that isn't going to be happening in the next couple of years I don't think.

I owned a Motorola phone once. Never again. Moto is on The List, along with Sony, for companies I will never deal with ever again. I thought maybe after Google bought them it might change things but even Google gave up trying to shake up that disease vector and dumped them off to Lenovo.

You are welcome to choose any phone you like.

The kyocera hydro comes with an extremely vanilla android 4.0, bloatware is avoidable without brand loyalty.

Why not try the app at the link I provided and check whether it works with your HRM? If it does, then it may work with a BT-LE speed/cadence sensor as well.

I like Endomondo. It's the app I've been using (and participating online with friends) and am not interested in using a different app that doesn't have the features I want/need.

You should restate your requirements.

You want a BT-LE (or is it just BT) speed/cadence sensor that works with Endomondo on Android.

Asking Endomondo may be more productive.

There are three types of Motorola phones:

1. Motorola phones before the Google acquisition
2. "Droid" branded Verizon phones
3. Phones built after the Google acquisition: the Moto X and Moto G

Like you, I've been burned by Motorola before (Atrix 4G), and I would never buy phones from points #1 and #2 . But as an I.T. nerd/gadget junkie/Android-from-the-beginning veteran, I would strongly recommend looking at phones from the latter point, the Moto X and Moto G. Forget the word "Motorola" is even associated with them.

Historically, Motorola's build quality has always been at the top of the pack for Android phones. It was was their software and ass-backwards bootloader locking crap that ruined the phones. Neither of these problems exist with the "Moto" series, and they're 95% stock, with the remaining 5% being great enhancements.

Sincerely,

3 time "Nexus" owner

OK, how to say this. The Nexus 4 is a great phone.
As you've noted, post 4.3, you've got the HW/SW to talk to a Bluetooth 4.0 LE device, aka Bluetooth Smart, device. Awesome.

And you've decided that you will only use ONE app, Endomondo.

And you aren't happy that that app on that platform only supports a heart rate monitor, you want it to support a speed/cadence sensor too.

Terrific.

Then you'll want to ask in an Endomondo support forum which speed/cadence device they might support on Android someday.

You locked yourself in. Good luck.

-mr. bill

What HRM and speed/cadence sensors do you use?

Thanks--I know it is complicated with BLE. Thought you had BLE setup and wanted to start with a working configuration.

Can the ANT+ dongle work without the Y-cable?