Problem with Cat Eye double wireless in the cold

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21 replies [Last post]
Anonymous's picture
Anonymous

I have two bikes each with a Cat Eye Double Wireless computer, and both seem to lose functionality in the cold. Has anyone else experienced this, and if so, how did you deal with it? This was particularly frustrating during an overnight ride when I lost cadence, speed, and distance measurements while trying to navigate. As the temps climbed, the unit regained functionality. The sensor is on the rear wheel. This isn't a battery issue. Thank you in advance for any advice.

Anonymous's picture
Dennis Wiener (not verified)

Batteries lose power in the cold, and regain it as they warm up (chemical reaction).

Anonymous's picture
Marcella (not verified)

Makes sense; I meant that the batteries were new so replacement hadn't worked. Any ideas for combatting this? Others must have the same issue. Many thanks for responding.

Anonymous's picture
Dennis Wiener (not verified)

Just cause the batteries had been recently purchased, doesn't make them new. Make sure you buy them from a reputable shop that has a good turnover, so that you get fresh stock. Batteries also weaken sitting on a shelf for a long time.

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous (not verified)

Inexcusable. I've never seen a watch stop working outside just because it's really cold out. I doubt a cyclometer uses much more power.

Anonymous's picture
David S (not verified)
body temp

Unless there is frost bite on that wrist I'd say the surface temp of that wrist and therefor the temp of the watch is somewhere above 40F.

Anonymous's picture
Anonymous (not verified)

good point

Anonymous's picture
Steve (not verified)

How cold was it? Mine has worked fine into the low 20s.

Anonymous's picture
Marcella (not verified)

No colder than that, although there were significant winds. Perhaps I ought to try another set of new batteries. Thanks!

Anonymous's picture
David (not verified)

Hopefully you won't need to worry about this issue in the ensuing weeks. But in the future insulate your device with a small piece of neoprene, or wool to buffer the device from the wind and keep the battery from freezing.

Anonymous's picture
Ellen (not verified)

Both VDO and Shimano Flight Deck computers died nearly simulaneously on the NYC 200K.
Weird, I thought. Sunspots maybe?
Turned out to be a weak VDO battery.
A wiggle of the transmitter seemed to fix the Flight Deck problem ...although it died again on the Fleche ....and exactly after dark.
I can only surmise that everything takes a beating after dark due to lessened visibility, including transmitters on vibrating forks whose slight displacement can move them just far enough away from the magnet to lose contact.

Anonymous's picture
LynnB (not verified)
Flight Deck

My Flight Deck also dies in the middle of rides, then resumes. Can't figure out why, but the effect is horrible if you're following a cue sheet and leading a ride. I'll try changing the battery.

Anonymous's picture
Evan Marks (not verified)
Signal strength

"If the handlebar is blocking the line of sight from transmitter to receiver, that might be enough to block a signal weakened by reduced battery power in the cold. It may be possible to move the handlebar unit so it ""sees"" the sending unit and improve reception."

Anonymous's picture
Hank Schiffman (not verified)
Time for new batteries (nm)
Anonymous's picture
Bob Ross (not verified)
"""line of sight"" is only an issue for IR, not RF"

"All the CatEye wireless computers I've seen use RF (radio frequencies) to communicate between the transmitter and the receiver/display. Since radio frequencies are for the most part omnidirectional *and* quite effective at permeating obstructions (eg., your FM receiver in the living room doesn't lose reception when you close the apartment door), ""line of sight"" doesn't really come into play with these devices.

You're probably thinking of DISTANCE between transmitter and receiver. Since these devices do not use particularly powerful transmitters it's almost too easy to mount the display out of range of the transmitter (regardless of whether they can ""see"" one another), and it's also likely that power output would suffer as the battery weakened.

FWIW, my CateEye Double Wireless has never exhibited the symptoms Marcella described, and I've been out riding in the 20's more than a couple times this year."

Anonymous's picture
J (not verified)
CatEye Double Wireless = Junk

My two cents - CatEye wireless sucks. Had mine for a while; frequently 'lagged' in giving me readings, not giving readings at all, etc. Eventually put it on the bike I use as an indoor trainer and got wired computers for 'outside' bikes instead.

Anonymous's picture
Kay Gunn (not verified)
lowtech + hightech

I ride with an el cheapo cateye wired computer. No batteries necessary, and it's never failed me. I like the reliability needed when following a cuesheet.

I also ride with my Garmin Edge 305. I love seeing the altitude and gradient readings and having the graphs after the ride. Anything more than an 8 hr ride though and I need to carry a USB battery pack.

I haven't had problems with either computer in the cold or the rain. They've both been solid.

Anonymous's picture
Ron Thomson (not verified)

Which USB battery pack did you get Kay? Does it use conventional batteries like triple A size or similar?
I think I may need to get one for those days when I forget to charge the unit the night before.
Not planning doing rides more than 8 hours (at the moment).

Anonymous's picture
Dennis Wiener (not verified)
APS

I picked up one made by APS on Amazon. It uses 4 AAA batteries. I use NiMH (4.8V)batteries in it as read that alkaline batteries (6V)can smoke the circuitry. I haven't needed it yet though.

Anonymous's picture
grace (not verified)
USB power pack

Amazon sells Datexx Ultra Battery which is rechargable. About $26 and free shipping. Comes with various tips compatible w cell phone, iPod, cyclo computer, rehcargeable headlight. It's about size of a pack of cards.

Anonymous's picture
Kay Gunn (not verified)
USBGEEK

"I got a Li-Ion battery pack from usbgeek.com. It's about the size of a powerbar and will run the Garmin for about 60 hours. It sits in a bento bag next to my head tube. It will also charge my Blackberry and my Ipod. It plugs into a wall socket and takes about 2 hours to charge completely. It is either out of stock now or no longer available. Here is another (nicer) similar one that has gotten great reviews:

Socket Mobile Power Pack

These are really great for gadget geek traveling. I can watch movies on my Ipod without worrying about running out of juice, and I don't bother bringing all my other various power adaptors when going on short trips."

Anonymous's picture
[email protected] (not verified)
cold problems

I have the other Cateye doublewireless, the one with heart rate, but no caadence. Th eheart rate has never worked well in the cold, but I never had problems with the other functions. But I did find that unless I take the unit off the bike, it never sshuts off. Also, if the unit is near a cell phone, it doesn't shut off. The result is th ebatteries run down much sooner than you would expect. So even if your bbatteries were new, they might have been run down.

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