Mission Control Official List of Supported Heart Rate Monitors

Damin

Member
May 17, 2023
29
34
USA
TL:DR; What are the most reliable and officially supported heart rate monitors that work with the Mastermind controller?

Hello,
Is there an OFFICIAL list of supported heart rate monitors? Kind of aggravated that I can't find this information easily and even more ticked off that my Fitbit Sense watch isn't integrated / supported with Mastermind. I've resolved that I am going to have to buy eiither a chest strap or an armband heart rate monitor, but this is just going to create more "device" and "app" sprawl. Currently, I use my Fitbit to track my GPS and Heart Rate for rides. I have this uploading data to Strava, but the heart rate information does not come through and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to make it work properly.

My real goal here is to get Mastermind to monitor heart rate and adjust assistance levels accordingly, so I can maximize fat-burn while riding. It looks like the only way I'll get this to work is to now add a second device (heart rate strap or armband) and link it to the bike. I'm going to start looking like a Borg when I ride; Fitbit watch, Contour camera and now a hear rate monitor.

Please, Specialized.. just make the Mastermind work with Fitbit?????
 

Haveland

Active member
Apr 21, 2022
218
152
New Brunswick, Canada
My Garmin Epix2 worked just fine

The fault falls on Fitbit and Apple for not making their devices Ant+ compatible. I didn't buy a Fitbit because it not being Ant+


Edit: From Specialized documentation -- Wireless Connectivity
"

GENERAL NOTES ON ANT+ CONNECTIVITY​

All Turbo motors feature sensors for Speed, Rider Power, and Cadence. The sensor data can be received via the ANT+ modules of the bike. Basically, all ANT+ devices can connect to these sensors. Additionally, many bicycle-specific GPS devices feature e-bike specific protocols, often called LEV protocol (Light Electric Vehicle) to simplify sensor connection and to show specific display screens for e-bike data.

"
 
Last edited:

Damin

Member
May 17, 2023
29
34
USA
My Garmin Epix2 worked just fine

The fault falls on Fitbit and Apple for not making their devices Ant+ compatible. I didn't buy a Fitbit because it not being Ant+


Edit: From Specialized documentation -- Wireless Connectivity
"

GENERAL NOTES ON ANT+ CONNECTIVITY​

All Turbo motors feature sensors for Speed, Rider Power, and Cadence. The sensor data can be received via the ANT+ modules of the bike. Basically, all ANT+ devices can connect to these sensors. Additionally, many bicycle-specific GPS devices feature e-bike specific protocols, often called LEV protocol (Light Electric Vehicle) to simplify sensor connection and to show specific display screens for e-bike data.

"
I broke down and bought a Garmin HRM Pro-Plus chest strap monitor to integrate w/ the Levo for the HR based assistance tuning. That should allow me to integrate heart rate data w/ Strava as well.

I guess I'm just going to have to stop trying to fight assimilation and will become full borg by the end of the season! I've added a cube to the bike to speed the process ;)

1685096805988.png
 

p3eps

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
Dec 14, 2019
1,982
2,398
Scotland
My Garmin Epix2 worked just fine

The fault falls on Fitbit and Apple for not making their devices Ant+ compatible. I didn't buy a Fitbit because it not being Ant+


Edit: From Specialized documentation -- Wireless Connectivity
"

GENERAL NOTES ON ANT+ CONNECTIVITY​

All Turbo motors feature sensors for Speed, Rider Power, and Cadence. The sensor data can be received via the ANT+ modules of the bike. Basically, all ANT+ devices can connect to these sensors. Additionally, many bicycle-specific GPS devices feature e-bike specific protocols, often called LEV protocol (Light Electric Vehicle) to simplify sensor connection and to show specific display screens for e-bike data.

"
Does ANT+ allow multiple connections to the same device?
I have a Garmin HRM band that I connect to my Garmin Edge 840. Just wondered if it can connect to my Mastermind at the same time... or if it would then disconnect from the Garmin?
 

Haveland

Active member
Apr 21, 2022
218
152
New Brunswick, Canada
Does ANT+ allow multiple connections to the same device?
I have a Garmin HRM band that I connect to my Garmin Edge 840. Just wondered if it can connect to my Mastermind at the same time... or if it would then disconnect from the Garmin?
Yup, there is no problem with that I have it connected to my Garmin 530 and Mastermind. I still like to track my rides on the 530.
 

p3eps

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
Dec 14, 2019
1,982
2,398
Scotland
Yup, there is no problem with that I have it connected to my Garmin 530 and Mastermind. I still like to track my rides on the 530.
I track my rides on Garmin, and also have my Apple Watch tracking. The watch is only so I can achieve my monthly fitness achievement... and I never look at the data it produces!
I have no real interest in the Mastermind tracking my data either... but it would be interesting to try setting a route and have it try and not exceed a specific heart rate.
 

Damin

Member
May 17, 2023
29
34
USA
I track my rides on Garmin, and also have my Apple Watch tracking. The watch is only so I can achieve my monthly fitness achievement... and I never look at the data it produces!
I have no real interest in the Mastermind tracking my data either... but it would be interesting to try setting a route and have it try and not exceed a specific heart rate.
This is the entire reason that I bought the Garmin... I track GPS / Heart Rate in the FitBit app because I use -EVERY- feature of the Fitbit.. and I mean every feature... Food Logging, Sleep tracking, Exercise Tracking, Heart Monitoring, Weight and Measurements, Glucose tracking... my Dexcom CGM displays blood sugar readings in real time on my wrist. I have Strava importing my rides from Fitbit and it's effortless... except I can't get it to import the heart rate information. The Garmin will solve that as well as integrate w/ the MasterMind so I can do the HR based assistance and distance integration.

So I'm going to be heading out the trail running Strava, FitBit, Contour Camera etc... gear.. Hence the Borg Reference..

Side note, I've lost 125 lbs hacking my body and metabolism, and have completely managed my Type 2 Diabetes, so as much as people say "just go out and ride", I'm on a mission and that needs data regularly to adjust and improve.
 

Damin

Member
May 17, 2023
29
34
USA
Hmmm.. did my first ride with the HRM PRO heart yesterday. Master Control easily found it and connected to it.. but I am noticing that it will not stay connected. On my evening ride with my wife, I got zero heart rate information.

It stays connected fine to the Garmin app but almost as soon as I connect in Master Control, it shows disconnected a few seconds later.

Has anyone experienced this?
 

nB2000

Member
Jul 23, 2020
79
30
South coast UK
Hmmm.. did my first ride with the HRM PRO heart yesterday. Master Control easily found it and connected to it.. but I am noticing that it will not stay connected. On my evening ride with my wife, I got zero heart rate information.

It stays connected fine to the Garmin app but almost as soon as I connect in Master Control, it shows disconnected a few seconds later.

Has anyone experienced this?
Hey Damin. I’m in the same boat as you. I’m interested to connect a sensor to the Specialized app. I’d like to know your exoerience with that chest strap please despite the fact that most of us might now be forced into using the new “Specialized” app (black icon) now that Mission Control is no longer available (don’t delete Mission Control if you want it! It’s gone from the AppStore) - however, it’s perhaps not working yet as I did spot in the app inbuilt help that HR sensor data isnt available to everyone yet.

Heart Rate Sensors​

note-macro-icon.svg

Currently, this feature is only available for a select group of Specialized app users and is coming soon for all riders.”

Ain’t the world tech fun!! I’m beginning to swing towards the “just ride” crowds opinion.


Thanks
Be good to know how you got on. That sensor was on my list.
 

Damin

Member
May 17, 2023
29
34
USA
Hey Damin. I’m in the same boat as you. I’m interested to connect a sensor to the Specialized app. I’d like to know your exoerience with that chest strap please despite the fact that most of us might now be forced into using the new “Specialized” app (black icon) now that Mission Control is no longer available (don’t delete Mission Control if you want it! It’s gone from the AppStore) - however, it’s perhaps not working yet as I did spot in the app inbuilt help that HR sensor data isnt available to everyone yet.

Heart Rate Sensors​

note-macro-icon.svg

Currently, this feature is only available for a select group of Specialized app users and is coming soon for all riders.”

Ain’t the world tech fun!! I’m beginning to swing towards the “just ride” crowds opinion.


Thanks
Be good to know how you got on. That sensor was on my list.
Regarding the Garmin, it works great. I ride a lot with it, and have had no issues. It connects to the bike directly, to Mission Control and to the new Specialized app. I use it to track heart rate on my Creo and Levo and with the integration with Strava it helps me dial in training plans. It's probably not 100% accurate, but it seems to be RELATIVELY accurate between conditions and rides. I.E. it doesn't exactly match my FitBit heart rate numbers, but the graph curves look exactly the same.. so either my FitBit or my HRM+ is off but again it doesn't really matter all that much.

I keep asking Rider Support about the feature but they won't commit to anything. For me, this is a huge issue. I have no idea why they would force users to switch apps without having parity of featureset to the new app. I would really like to talk to whoever is their head off app development and have a frank conversation about software release cycles, feature testing and customer expectations.

Here is the latest that I have gotten from them when I ask;
"Hi Greg,

Unfortunately I do not have an estimated time for when Smart Control based on heart rate will be available. The team is aware that we have riders who rely on it for their riding but I have not heard back from the app team on a timeline for that feature. I would recommend leaving a review for the app in the app store, the app team does seem to take those reviews seriously compared to the feedback we provide to them.

Thank you for reaching out to Rider Care!
All the best,
Sean | Specialized USA Rider Care"
 

nB2000

Member
Jul 23, 2020
79
30
South coast UK
Thanks, Damin, I will consider an HRM chest strap, once they get the feature added to the app. I agree it seems crazy to remove the old app so soon. When it comes I hope it does what you need.
I got this from Rider Care today:
"Regarding heart rate monitors, this should now be live in the app from version 1.17.0 onwards. This will be both for iPhones and Android phones."
but no date
 

Damin

Member
May 17, 2023
29
34
USA
Thanks, Damin, I will consider an HRM chest strap, once they get the feature added to the app. I agree it seems crazy to remove the old app so soon. When it comes I hope it does what you need.
I got this from Rider Care today:
"Regarding heart rate monitors, this should now be live in the app from version 1.17.0 onwards. This will be both for iPhones and Android phones."
but no date
Highly recommend you leave a review for the app on the app store. The squeaky wheel gets the grease and per their comments we are a "small but vocal" community of riders. Let's make that a "large" community of supporters.

Heart Rate based Smart Control a KEY differentiator for Specialized. NO OTHER BRAND HAS IT! Their software maturity configurability combined with excellent design and smart geometry is what sets their brand apart. The Levo is right in the sweet spot of the Venn diagram between Trail, Enduro and Downhill bikes. It's almost the perfect single quiver bike for my needs.
 

nB2000

Member
Jul 23, 2020
79
30
South coast UK
I agree about Specialized, I really like the natural feel of my KSL. Let’s hope HRM linking comes soon are you suggesting a critical review on the App Store?
 

Damin

Member
May 17, 2023
29
34
USA
I agree about Specialized, I really like the natural feel of my KSL. Let’s hope HRM linking comes soon are you suggesting a critical review on the App Store?
Yes. Per Rider Support public comments are taken more seriously than reports from the support team.

Public shaming appears to be effective! ;)
 

nB2000

Member
Jul 23, 2020
79
30
South coast UK
I did a review on the AppStore.
“Please bring back Mission Control”
The ability to set and save, then, perhaps at trailside, choose between, various custom tune settings from an informative list was super useful.

I saved many tune settings, but they are gone along with that option now Mission Control has been pulled.

Now the only way is to screenshot my custom tunes or those from others I want to try, then spend 5 minutes trailside referring to a screenshot and manually re entering the multiple tune values.

It breaks the flow of a ride.

You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.

Even the AppStore is frustrating. Whatever you do don’t write a long review and momentarily switch away (I looked at an SMS) because if you do, your carefully crafted text is gone! Above is a much shorter version of what I wrote first time around. Apple isn’t like it was in the days of Steve Jobs!!

I feel like a folk singers singing about how good the old lightbulb was when it needs changing.
 

Pete N

Active member
May 10, 2020
191
127
Surrey
I am struggling to get my Heartrate displayed on the Mastermind.
I have a Garmin Epix 2 which I have paired to the bike through the Specialized App(Mission Control Replacement). No HR is shown.
I have then tried to add the Garmin Epic 2 HR sensor via the Mastermind TCU but it won’t find it.
Bizarrely, when I record a ride on the Epix 2 when riding the Levo SL, the heartrate doesn’t display on the watch either, even though it’s one of the chosen data fields.
Works fine when I’m on my Epic, non e-bike.
Any tips?

Edit- I now understand that it stopped when the new app arrived. I’ll leave a review on the App store too. Pretty annoying as the HR smart training is very appealing.
 
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