FlashBazbo

Earlier in the year, it was said that Shimano would have "Synchro Shifting" available as part of a software upgrade for e-tube Di2 systems by November 2016. I'm not sure I want it, but I would like to give it a try. Has anyone heard anything more about this upgrade? Is it already available? Does it require any hardware changes from 6800/9000?

nuclear_biker

It wasn't an option when I was looking at e-tube earlier today. I have Ultegra 6870. I believe I read that you need the newer DN-110 battery as well, but don't hold me to it. I didn't actually know syncro shifting was coming. Exciting!

FlashBazbo

I've found that it requires the new battery and the new wireless transmitter -- available now. I'm still not sure if the synchro shift software is available yet for 6870. (Although I should know by mid-week.)

nuclear_biker

I looked long and hard and didn't see it in the e-tube software anywhere (supposidly the latest, downloaded yesterday). These things do get delayed though, I still haven't seen the Android app for D-Fly promised in 2016 (I guess they have a bit under 1 month to deliver). Let me know if you see it, its one of the draws of Di2 for me.

nuclear_biker

I asked them about it on Twitter. They said no ETA on Ultegra synchro shifting, Android app first quarter 2017.

sund

I have the new battery and with etube PC software, it shows the synchro shifting option, but says I need new firmware for RD-6870 and FD-6870. It doesn't mention anything about needing the new wireless transmitter. Their etube site shows a firmware update for 9150, so I would assume they could have synchro shifting.

nuclear_biker

I got an update that allows my battery to do synchro shifting and an update to my D-Fly module (battery life patch) and junction box, but I also didn't get any update for my derailleurs. Hopefully the next time around.

rm -rf

I'd maybe try it out, but it doesn't seem as useful on a road bike.

See the attached Mike Sherman Speed over RPM Range chart for the typical 34/50 & 11-28 Di2 road bike.

Di2 and 11-28
I'd want to keep control of the front ring shifts. I will often stay in the small chain ring up to about 20 mph, especially if I'm on small rolling hills. But if the road ahead is slightly downhill, I'd shift to the big ring much earlier. And I've dropped back to the small ring when I'm still going fast and a short, steep hill is approaching.

I really like my setup with the "long press" on both bottom paddles to shift to the 34 ring and shift three smaller cogs, then a long press of both top paddles at the crest of the hill to go 50 ring and three larger cogs. Simple and fast, and no thinking needed.

Synchro Shifts
See the Synchro screen below, from this review. From the Di2 XTR reviews, it appears that the change between rings is mapped once in each direction, and there is a choice of two different shift programs. So you only need one shifter with an up and a down paddle. I can see that this would be nice on a trail that's changing all the time, and the rider has to handle all the obstacles while also shifting and pedaling.

(I had kind of assumed Synchro would be like a "half step" bike, where the front and back both shift almost every time, to jump to the "in between" gears. But with 11 speeds, that's not nearly as useful as it was when there were 5 cogs.)

nuclear_biker

I hate to ask such a stupid question but is this feature on all the Di2 group sets right now?

Mark Manner

Hi, I have an Ultegra 6870 di2 setup with the new Bluetooth enabled battery and wireless unit. I have the e-tube IOS app running on an ipad, and appear to be up to date on device firmware and the e-tube app. Unfortunately I still do not see Synchro shift as an option. Maybe it will only be for the new Dura-ace, but I am hopeful it will work on Ultegra di2 also. If anyone gets an update on this I would appreciate hearing about it.
Thanks,
Mark

velociraptor

He talks about Synchro Shift at around 3:23:

BenPS

To kind of add to what everyone else is saying -- synchro shift will be available for ultegra di2. You will need the new battery and d-fly (wireless transmitter), which was said above both of which are available now. However, you will also need a new version of e-tube firmware for your front and rear derailleurs, which has not been released to the public yet. Estimated release is "Spring 2017"

vze23c3q

Any idea which battery is needed...BT-DN110 or DT-DN110?

When I first saw DT I thought maybe a typo but some sites do show a DT for sale.

And then from the Dura-Ace DM:

When using EW-WU111, combine it with one of the following units.
External type: BM-DN100, Built-in type: BT-DN110

Mark Manner

BT-DN110 internal or BM-DN100 external are the blue tooth compatible ones, I have both and they do in fact with the new wireless units communicate with my IOS e-tube app. Just not Synchro shift option showing yet. Glad to hear from the post above that it is coming for Ultegra.

peterX

E-TUBE Project for Smartphone was updated today and firmware for FD-6870 and RD-6870-GS updated to Version 3!
Will need a good tutorial to finish setting up synchro shifting.

HTupolev

The thing is, for synchro shift, I would think it *would* be useful. For synchro-shift to actually get the most of a current road setup, you'd occasionally get hit out of nowhere with a clunky huge shift, and there's a lot of wasted ratios. With a half-step system, although you'd get more front shifts, they'd be pretty clean due to the small tooth count difference*. So the shifting would be more consistent, likely still have a very good range (thanks to the wider cassette you'd use), and you'd get nearly perfect step sizes through the entire range.

*With a small difference you don't need a pins&ramps system to bring the chain to an angle where it'll easily engage the big ring, so it's possible to get fairly quick and consistent shifts.

boxerfahrer

I did the firmware updates today on my Ultegra Di2 and used E-TUBE to create two synchro modes to choose from. However, I cannot see how to activate any of these shift modes

I updated my Garmin Edge because it now also has a Di2 shift mode data field. That shows "M" all the time (probably meaning "manual"), and that's what I get - no synchro shift.

I have tried pushing the button on the SM-EW90-A - it makes the shift mode data on the edge display move to "--" but from there I cannot activate any of the two shift modes I defined in E-TUBE.

Any ideas?

vinuneuro

This thread is very informative, and generally WW seems to have more Di2 expertise.

Setting up Di2 Synchro shifting? - Weight Weenies

FlashBazbo

I'm a little bit behind you. I updated E-TUBE and all the firmware on my components during lunch. But . . . I noticed that it also downloaded a manual. Has anyone opened the manual? Is it helpful?

boxerfahrer

I looked at the manual - it explains how to edit the syncho modes, but not a single word about how to activate them when riding the bike.
Are we supposed to find this out ourselves? What a lousy documentation

peterX

I went back to my Smartphone (iPhone) app this morning and verified the customized settings. When I disconnected the Bluetooth connection synchro shift worked on the ST-R785-R (right) shifter. I used the app to change the left shifter to do the same thing.

boxerfahrer

I have the ST-6870-R/L shifters and neither the android app nor E-TUBE offers any option to activate any of the shift modes. No iPhone here.

peterX

On my Junction A (SM-EW90-A) there is a button. Double-click that should cycle through Shift modes.

boxerfahrer

That was the trick and about the only combination I did not try. How stupid...
Thanks!

vze23c3q

It is pretty sick that there is no mention of that anywhere in either the e-tube documentation or the EW90 UM.

This answered another question I had...when checking the battery level, after the initial indication, both lights lit solid for a second. That is the current shift mode! S1 will blink twice and S2 three times after displaying the battery state.