TCD2 or TCU mastermind on older Vado SL?
- Thread starter GriffMP
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
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- Europe
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- Mazovia, PL
Putting this thread to the list of Watched ones.
What would you like to get from the new MasterMind TCU, Griff? (The TCD2 is only available for the full power, Brose equipped Spec e-bikes, and it is wired; incompatible with the SL1.1 motor). The reason I'm asking is this:
With the same e-bike model as yours, I use a Wahoo ELEMNT bike GPS computer as a universal display/navigation device. It is mounted exactly where the e-bike display should be located. The MasterMind TCU won't give you such a functionality.
Additionally, I get a full online (and post-ride) access to my Vado SL from a smartphone running an inexpensive BLEvo app. It gives the level of information Specialized would have never shared with you. And the MasterMind TCU will not work with BLEvo.
What would you like to get from the new MasterMind TCU, Griff? (The TCD2 is only available for the full power, Brose equipped Spec e-bikes, and it is wired; incompatible with the SL1.1 motor). The reason I'm asking is this:
With the same e-bike model as yours, I use a Wahoo ELEMNT bike GPS computer as a universal display/navigation device. It is mounted exactly where the e-bike display should be located. The MasterMind TCU won't give you such a functionality.
Additionally, I get a full online (and post-ride) access to my Vado SL from a smartphone running an inexpensive BLEvo app. It gives the level of information Specialized would have never shared with you. And the MasterMind TCU will not work with BLEvo.
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Richard Stallard
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See
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
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- Mazovia, PL
"A little bad news? It is not available today".
Richard Stallard
Active Member
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I use ebike field app on Garmin Edge 1000.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
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- Europe
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- Mazovia, PL
That's really fine! (models 530, 830, and 1030+ do even not require the Ebike Field to connect to Spec e-bikes. That's because these models can see the e-bike as a single large Sensor).
Here's my Wahoo ELEMNT connected to the Vado SL 4.0 EQ.
And yet far more information in BLEvo.
While Garmin and Wahoo will work with the MasterMind TCU, the new TCU (and the TCD2) won't work with BLEvo.
rochrunner
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- Rochester Hills MI
What is the difference between "Battery" and "LEV Battery"?
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
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- Mazovia, PL
Battery is the GPS computer battery level. LEV Battery is the e-bike battery (Light Electric Vehicle).
rochrunner
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Thanks. I'm never concerned about my Edge's battery level so never thought to dedicate a field to it. Also, one advantage of the TCU is for monitoring a number of stats (now including estimated range) without having to clutter the bars with GPS units and/or a smartphone. I know how you like a "fully equipped" cockpit but I'm actually looking forward to doing some "unwired", unrecorded rides where I don't tend to fixate on the numbers on the displays in front of me.
The TCU is out of my line of sight so I'd only look at it if I really needed to know something.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Doug: I carry the BLEvo smartphone running in my jersey's back pocket during my Vado SL rides. The amount and format of stats beats anything Specialized can offer with the Mastermind TCU.Thanks. I'm never concerned about my Edge's battery level so never thought to dedicate a field to it. Also, one advantage of the TCU is for monitoring a number of stats (now including estimated range) without having to clutter the bars with GPS units and/or a smartphone. I know how you like a "fully equipped" cockpit but I'm actually looking forward to doing some "unwired", unrecorded rides where I don't tend to fixate on the numbers on the displays in front of me.
Besides, is it practical to peek between your legs as you are riding?
Richard Stallard
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- Australia
On the Edge 1000, the number and contents of data fields is configurable. In the past, the battery level of the GPS has been an issue on long rides approaching 100 km. I have noticed that the GPS battery level decreases more slowly when operating with the Vado SL compared to previous bikes with conventional speed and cadence sensors. I normally ride with the map screen (Open Cycle Map) on the GPS and flick to the data screen only as needed, so I don’t fixate on the numbers either.Thanks. I'm never concerned about my Edge's battery level so never thought to dedicate a field to it. Also, one advantage of the TCU is for monitoring a number of stats (now including estimated range) without having to clutter the bars with GPS units and/or a smartphone. I know how you like a "fully equipped" cockpit but I'm actually looking forward to doing some "unwired", unrecorded rides where I don't tend to fixate on the numbers on the displays in front of me.
rochrunner
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- Rochester Hills MI
I don't want to turn this into a Garmin thread, but I had some issues with my Edge 1000 on my 2020 Vado 4.0 when using the Vado's speed sensor. My activities are set to auto-pause and resume when I'm stopped, but as I was riding the Vado about once a minute or so the Edge would do an auto-pause followed immediately by a resume and the beeping was driving me nuts. The only thing I could conclude was that the signal was not being sent at a consistent rate or something and the Edge would think that I had actually stopped moving. I disconnected from that sensor and it started working normally again. If yours works on your SL, maybe it will work with my new SL and Edge (which is now a 1030+).
Richard Stallard
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- Australia
You can customise the speed at which the auto pause feature kicks in. I had to reduce the speed threshold on my non-ebike to cater for my slow speed uphill.
rochrunner
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I think it was more than that, and besides it works perfectly well on my other bikes with standard ANT+ speed sensors.
Richard Stallard
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- Australia
I just checked my Garmin and Auto-Pause is off and most likely has been off the whole time since I got my Vado SL. I can check how it behaves when on but it’s a bit late here to try now. I had set it to off as I have filmed a few rides for FulGaz virtual cycling app and they need it off to sync the GPS and GoPro files. The last couple of rides I filmed in the Margaret River area were done with the Vado SL, but they haven’t been published on FulGaz yet.
rochrunner
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- Rochester Hills MI
Cool! I'm a big FulGazzer but if I were ever to record one I'd have to use my SL or else it wouldn't be fast enough for all the elite riders on there. But I hope you don't use your SL on a trainer to ride routes virtually.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
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- Europe
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- Mazovia, PL
Guaranteed.
- Disable the Fake Channel
- Connect Vado SL (E-Bike) as a sensor
- Don't connect any other sensors (Power, Cadence...)
- Use standard Data Fields.
kahn
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- northWET washington
What does that last comment refer to? What "standard fields?" Anywhere in any Garmin screen or an e-bike screen?
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Standard Data Fields as opposed to specialized Data Fields such as E-Bike Field (that you download from the Garmin IQ).
For instance: Speed, Distance, Ride Time, LEV Battery, LEV Travel Mode, LEV Range, Time of Day, etc. are standard Garmin Edge Data Fields.
kahn
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- northWET washington
Before my ride I could not pair my 1030+ to my Creo. After the ride I found that I had two sensors with the same NUMERIC but different icons (cadence icon and a barbell icon). I deleted those and then found an "e-bike sensor" and did that. I guess I should head back down and see what fields are now available.
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