Two bike computers, one sensor?
 

I've been having a devil of a time finding a wireless bike computer so I can have a computer for both the captain and the stoker and a single speed/cadence sensor. It seems that all manufacturers use Bluetooth, and that can pair to only one computer at a time. I much prefer LCD displays that run on coin batteries rather than rechargeable batteries, without GPS, so they last months rather than hours. I don't need maps and other fancy stuff. I think it is the case that ANT+ doesn't have the same limitation as Bluetooth, but it seems to have fallen out of favor among manufacturers.

Any solutions? I'm wondering if I can mount two sensors on the left chainstay. Or maybe one on the left chainstay and one on the right chainstay? I suppose I could look into wired computers and split the wire from the sensor to both computers, but I'd rather not have to run the wire along the bike and am not sure if there would be a reduced electrical signal to the computers that would make them not work correctly.

Thanks for your comments.

See my post (#2)
https://www.bikeforums.net/tandem-cy...e-rd410dw.html

CC-RD420DW not available
 

According to the current Cateye web site, there is no model CC-RD420DW. Apparently this was the Strada Digital Wireless. It is no longer available. There is a Strada Wireless CC-RD310W-U, but it does not include cadence. It looks like the successor is the Padrone Digital CC-PA400B. That is the one I was looking at. I have sent an inquiry to Cateye about pairing 2 computers to 1 sensor but haven't received a response yet. I sent a similar inquiry to Wahoo about their bike computers, and was informed that they can only pair 1 to 1: a sensor can be paired only to one device at a time. It appears that the actual experience of folks is that it is possible to pair 2 computers to 1 sensor, so I guess I'll buy two computers and try it out. If it works, great.

410 is available
 

The Strada Wireless CC-RD410DW is available at REI and elsewhere. The Padrone Digital CC-PA400B seems to be new and isn't generally available many places yet. It has a larger screen and 3 lines of data, instead of 2 lines.

We use the Cateye CC-RD430DW and it has been flawless. One sensor, two computers, and we each have our heart rate monitor. We have an extra sensor and mounts on a 2nd tandem, and swap to that bike also. Prior to owning a 2nd tandem, it went to the single bikes. We still do use on the single, but the tire size setting is different and we need to re-pair. But they have been perfect for our application.

ANT+ computers (other than Garmins) were never that common.

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/e...olorCode=black

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/ne...eless-computer

These both use ANT+ sensors.

I think you have to buy the sensor separately. You might consider the ANT+/BT Wahoo sensor.

I have Bontrager Node 2 and a Garmin both displaying data from one speed/cadence sensor.

This is probably wrong.

It looks like the Element Mini supports ANT+. That mean it wouldn't be 1 to 1 (ANT+ doesn't work that way).

BT is 1 to 1.

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I find the Cateyes fussy to set up.

bobh123,

Just another data point, we run two Cateye computers off one sensor on our tandem as well. The captain has a CC RD430DW (cadence/heart rate/speed) and the stoker has an CC RD420DW (heart rate/speed). Cateye will tell you it can't be done because the computer comes paired to the sensor that it is sold with. Well, just set up the captains computer with it's sensor then pair the stoker'e computer to a "2nd" sensor...the captains!

Tailwinds,
Charlie
2016 S&S Santana Beyond

Both our tandems have 2 wired computers spliced together and running off a single sensor. It works fine as long as both computers are of the same make. I had no luck when I tried to mix different types......only one of them would work.

You might look at Lezyne GPS units. I have one on a single and it can read both ANT+ and Bluetooth. I use single HR and cadence sensors (speed comes from GPS) that both broadcast Bluetooth and ANT+. My Lezyne picks up the ANT+ and my phone (Ride With GPS) picks up the Bluetooh.

Howard L. Snell