USB Connections : VirtuPro Support

Over a period of time we have discovered many different Ant+ connectors and dongles that work with VirtuPro and if you wish to know more about those brands that work then check out this article HERE

The most important thing to remember is that our system only works with 64bit devices. The only exception to this rule is the Garmin Ant+ Connector which has a built in protocol which will work with 32bit and 64bit

It is important that you read the manufacturers specifications of the connector/dongle to ensure it is 64bit and USB2.

PLEASE DO NOT BE CONFUSED

USB ports on your computer are a different matter but are of significant interest for the transmitting of data:

If you're using VirtuPro on a desktop or laptop computer with ANT+ devices, you probably already know that you need an ANT+ USB stick. There are two types of ANT+ USB sticks: the USB1 and USB2 stick. Depending on your computer and device setup, the type of USB stick you use can matter.

Differences between USB1 and USB2

The primary difference between USB1 and USB2 is the number of ANT channels the stick supports. The number of channels determines how many devices the stick can handle, as each connected device operates on a single channel. USB1 has 4 channels (and can thus connect up to 4 devices) whereas USB2 offers 8 channels (and can thus connect up to 8 devices).

USB2 not only offers the ability to pair more devices, but it also features more robust connections once devices are connected.

Determining what kind of USB stick you have

ANT+ USB1 sticks are no longer in production. All recently purchased ANT+ sticks will be of the USB2 variety. However, if you're using an older ANT+ stick, there's a chance it may be USB1.

You can tell if your ANT+ stick is a USB1 model in two ways:

1. The stick will be labelled "USB1-Wireless USB Stick" on the reverse side of the stick.

2. If you have a Garmin-manufactured stick, the inner portion of the plug-in point will be white.

If neither of the above are applicable to your ANT+ stick, it's probably USB2. Additionally, all mini ANT+ USB sticks are USB2.

When do I need a USB2 ANT+ stick?

The above ANT+ USB sticks are all examples of USB2 products.

VirtuPro Windows : USB1 sticks are not supported on either our Windows Desktop or new Mac Desktop software (when Introduced). You'll need a USB2 stick no matter what devices you're pairing.