Turbo trainers melting my brain

steoroc

Hi,
I'm in the market for a decent turbo but my head is fried trying to choose between all the options out there.
Budget is €500.
Requirements -Automatic Resistance control from laptop, RLV video compatible, Ant+
I want to do interval training, power based preferably so Trainerroad compatibility would be great but would also like to get a bit of variation in so maybe cycling up the Tourmalet or Lagos de Covadonga or the like from my man cave. Zwift also looks like fun.
I've been looking at the Tacx Vortex Smart, Bkool and Elite Realtour B+ / Realtour Wireless Ant+
What's doing my head is trying to figure out which ones only operate using Tablet, which ones require further upgrades to run on laptop, what's the difference between the ANT+ and B+ models?
I don't have a suitable tablet and Internet is sketchy at times and low bandwidth where I live so I'd like the option of buying RLV DVDs until I get better Internet. That might rule out the Bkool, anyone know?
Finally am I overlooking other options?
Cheers in advance

napoleond

You're overlooking the wahoo kickr snap.

steoroc

Wahoo is way over budget. €500 is already more than my Divine Ruler is allowing me...

mamba80

the Vortex Smart needs the additional dongle and s/w to run on a laptop, rrp is 180 euro's, you need to tell her she agreed on a £500 limit

http://www.tacx.com/en/products/software/upgrade-smart

NeXXus

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19751009#p19751009]mamba80[/url] wrote:

the Vortex Smart needs the additional dongle and s/w to run on a laptop, rrp is 180 euro's, you need to tell her she agreed on a £500 limit

http://www.tacx.com/en/products/software/upgrade-smart

Not if you use Trainer Road,Zwift or Bkool. All you need is a usb ANT+ dongle and the loan of an ipad/iphone to apply a firmware update**

**some newer trainers come up-to-date

Elfed

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19751017#p19751017]NeXXus[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19751009#p19751009]mamba80[/url] wrote:

the Vortex Smart needs the additional dongle and s/w to run on a laptop, rrp is 180 euro's, you need to tell her she agreed on a £500 limit

http://www.tacx.com/en/products/software/upgrade-smart

Not if you use Trainer Road,Zwift or Bkool. All you need is a usb ANT+ dongle and the loan of an ipad/iphone to apply a firmware update**

**some newer trainers come up-to-date

Got my Vortex Smart two weeks ago, firmware up to date.
Used the ant plus dongle that came with my Vector 2 and I'm using Trainerroad, great so far.
Got Evans to price match Wiggle for £238 then used my Tesco clubcard vouchers.

banditvic

Wish I hadn't read this thread, bought a wahoo snap for £400 from Sigma sport £100 off when you spend £500.
I blame you Nap D.

steoroc

She said ¥500!!

OK. So if I buy the Vortex without the PC upgrade but use a 3Rd party program on the laptop, that program will automatically control resistance?
Vice versa, if I buy the Bkool can I run RLV DVDs instead of having to stream or are there offline options with Bkool?

NeXXus

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19751043#p19751043]steoroc[/url] wrote:

She said ¥500!!

OK. So if I buy the Vortex without the PC upgrade but use a 3Rd party program on the laptop, that program will automatically control resistance?

Yes

Vice versa, if I buy the Bkool can I run RLV DVDs instead of having to stream or are there offline options with Bkool?

No. Bkool is a massive 3d and video ride database, you'd never need to buy another video, £8 a month bargain

steoroc

What's the bandwidth usage on Bkool like? I read that Zwift is fairly low per hour but I'd imagine an hour of Video would take a fair bit more.
Is the Bkoo trainer completely limited to online use or can I use it independently for basic interval work?
Sorry for all the questions, I just need to get my head around what it is I'd actually be buying