Powertap
From Peaksware Help Center
Please contact Powertap, http://www.power-tap.com/ , for specific questions about Powertap products.
- Here is a list of Powertap devices that are compatible with Peaksware software products; below are the upload and download options and instructions, as well as troubleshooting steps.
- Powertap SL2.4 Wireless
- Powertap SL (wired)
- Powertap Pro
- Powertap Standard
- Powertap Pro 300PT
Please contact Saris (parent company of Powertap), http://www.saris.com/, for specific questions about Powertap hardware.
Upload / Download / Import Options and Instructions
- Upload to your TrainingPeaks account directly using Device Agent, or download directly to WKO+... see below for more details on these two options.
- Upload from Daily Log using an exported .csv file from PowerAgent that came with your Powertap. If you are wanting to use this method, here are the steps-
- First, make sure that you have the latest version of PowerAgent (the older versions have some bugs in them), which you can get at http://www.saris.com/c-12-software.aspx?skinid=2.
- Take a look at the following screenshot of the PowerAgent Help section; go into your own copy of PowerAgent and read the actual sections in the Help menu that the screen shot points out. This explains how to merge multiple segments of a single ride that PowerAgent separated out; it is important that a single ride leaves PowerAgent as a single file.
- Once you have completed the steps as explained above, you will have a .CSV file created and saved on your computer (we recommend saving it to an easy to remember location, like your desktop).
- Now go to your Daily Log, create a new workout if one is not already planned, and click the "Upload Data!" button found in the middle towards the bottom of the workout entry you would like to upload a file for.
- Click the Browse button in the screen that appears, find the .CSV file that you exported from PowerAgent, and then click Upload Now.
- Or, if importing to WKO+, drag and drop the file into WKO+ (or use the Open File function in WKO+)
Powertap Trouble Shooting
Troubles downloading PowerTap to WKO+ or Device Agent with a USB download cradle?
The USB cradle looks like this:
These instructions are the same for both WKO+ and Windows Device Agent:
If you are having troubles downloading to WKO+ or Device Agent from your Powertap via the USB cradle, you may need to install a driver. WKO+ or Device Agent neither ships nor installs any device drivers (drivers are little software packets that allow external devices, like the download cradle, to "talk the same language" as your computer) for the PowerTap.
Therefore, in order to download your Powertap to WKO+ or Device Agent:
- You need to go download and install the Powertap Poweragent software from the powertap website (http://www.saris.com/t-powerAgentDownload.aspx), as it contains the drivers for the download cradle.
- Make sure that all programs are closed and that you disconnect the USB cable when installing Poweragent; Once installed you do not need to run Poweragent.
- Next, make sure all training related software is closed (including the Powertap Poweragent software).
- Open WKO+ or Device Agent.
- If using WKO+, go to the WKO+ Home section of the WKO+ application.
- Plug in your Powertap download cradle to your computer.
- If using WKO+, in Application Settings in the WKO+ Home section of your WKO+ program, select Powertap as the Training Device Type (by clicking once on the white space to the right of Training Device Port, then use the drop down menu that appears).
- If using Device Agent, select Powertap as the Training Device Type.
- Then select the correct Training Device Port (the right one will have text in parenthesis off to the right of the com number).
- If using WKO+, open the athlete profile you want to download to (the name should appear highlighted in the Navigation box).
- Turn on your Powertap headunit and plug it ALL THE WAY in to your download cradle (the Powertap screen should say "Host").
- If using WKO+, open the file menu and click "Training Device Download", then click "Start Download".
- If using Device Agent, click Download, then click "Start Download"
To see if your USB download cradle driver is installed correctly, plug your download cradle into your computer, then go to the Windows Control Panel, go to the section about Hardware, and open the Device Manager. Open "Universal Serial Bus controllers", then double click on "USB Serial Converter". Click on the Advanced tab, and make sure the Load VCP box is checked. See the below picture:
Troubles downloading PowerTap to WKO+ or Device Agent with a Serial download cradle?
The USB cradle looks like this (shown with a third party Serial-to-USB converter):
These instructions are the same for both WKO+ and Windows Device Agent:
If you are having troubles downloading to WKO+ from your Powertap via the Serial cradle with a third party USB adapter, the issue may be the drivers (or the lack there of). WKO+ neither ships nor installs any device drivers (drivers are little software packets that allow external devices, like the download cradle, to "talk the same language" as your computer) for the PowerTap or an third party USB adapters.
- !!Please note, this is straight from the Powertap website (sorry, but Powertap is forcing this change)-
- Serial Cradle Users
- PLEASE NOTE: PowerAgent 7.1.1 no longer supports Serial Device Communication. USB Download Cradles can be purchased on our website or over the phone. If you do not want to purchase a USB Cradle, you may continue to use PowerAgent 7.0.1.
That said, you do not need a driver to use just the Powertap Serial Cradle with WKO+. If, however, you have no serial ports on your computer then you may purchase a special cable referred to as a USB-to-Serial Converter cable from your local electronics or computer supply store. This special cable may require the installation of special driver software. You should follow the directions that came from the cable's manufacturer in order to successfully complete installation. Cables from Prolific (popularly sold by Best Buy and other computer stores) and KeySpan have been successfully used by many of our customers in the past. However, because the use of third party adapters inserts another layer of complexity, we can only provide a limited level of troubleshooting support.
- THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION IS TO PURCHASE A NEW POWERTAP USB DOWNLOAD CRADLE FROM POWERTAP (http://www.saris.com/p-192-powertap-usb-downloader.aspx).
Once you have the correct drivers installed, make sure all training related software is closed (including the Powertap Poweragent software), open WKO+, go to the WKO+ Home, plug in your Powertap download cradle, in Application Settings select Powertap as the Training Device Type (by clicking once on the white space to the right of Training Device Port, then use the drop down menu that appears), then select the correct Training Device Port (the right one will have text in parenthesis off to the right of the com number), now open the athlete profile you want to download to, turn on your Powertap headunit and plug it into your download cradle (the Powertap screen should say "Host"), open the file menu and click "Training Device Download", then click "Start Download".
General Tips
WKO+ is picky to which USB port you use. If you use a different port each time to plug in your USB device, you have to change the com port address to correspond.
Also, try un-attaching the PowerTap and reconnecting it while WKO+ is running, as sometimes that helps to make the connection.
Also, do not try to download to WKO+ when you have the Powertap PowerAgent software running.
Also if you can't download, it might be that the cradle is bad. You may need to contact Powertap regarding this if you are still having troubles getting your computer to recognize your download cradle after trying all of the above steps. If you cannot download to your installed version of Powertap's PowerAgent, it is highly likely that the issue is a bad cradle.
Establishing a connection with the Powertap (error = "Timeout Waiting for Response")
- If you receive an error that says "Timeout Waiting for Response" when trying to download your device, than try this-
- Please be sure to close and exit ALL programs that download training devices (ie, PowerAgent, Garmin Training Center, WinSRM, Polar ProTrainer Software, TrainingPeaks Device Agent, WKO+, etc...).
- Then try this (This is the same steps for Device Agent and WKO+): unplug your PT from the cradle, unplug the cradle from the computer, turn off Device Agent/WKO+ by right clicking in the Task Tray and clicking Exit (so that we know if is off, not just closed). Then, in this order, open Device Agent/WKO+, plug in the cradle, select the correct device and the correct com port, click download, turn on PT and plug PT ALL THE WAY into cradle until it is fully snapped in place and the screen says "HOST", click start download.
Troubleshooting tips for using a Powertap with Mac Device Agent
If you are using a Mac with Device Agent and PowerTap, you will need to install one of these drivers, depending on your Mac: Device Agent is Leopard (OS 10.5) and Tiger (OS 10.4) compatible.
Intel based Processors (OS X): http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP/MacOSX/UniBin/FTDIUSBSerialDriver_v2_2_7.dmg
PowerPC based Processors (OS X): http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP/MacOSX/FTDIUSBSerialDriver_v2_1_7.dmg
