Last week, JetBlack released updated firmware supporting new features for their Volt trainer. While the number of Volt users worldwide is relatively low, this firmware update is good news to Zwift Hub owners as well.
Why? Because the Hub was developed in partnership with JetBlack, so the Zwift Hub is essentially the same hardware as JetBlack’s Volt V2. They are “dressed” differently and sold with varying cassette options, but the hardware is the same.
As for the firmware – well, that’s where it gets interesting. JetBlack and Zwift manage the firmware for their respective trainers separately, but they’ve also worked together on firmware upgrades. So far this has led to JetBlack releasing firmware updates for the Volt first, with Zwift releasing similar updates weeks or months later.
As an example: JetBlack released autocalibration for the Volt back in December 2022, while Zwift just released this upgrade for the Hub last week.
New Feature Details
Version 3.1 of JetBlack’s Volt firmware includes three upgrades which apply to both the V1 and V2 versions of the Volt:
- Dual Bluetooth Connection
- ANT+ Spin Downs
- Trainer Reporting at 10Hz over BLE
Dual Bluetooth Connection
Supporting more than one Bluetooth connection to the trainer just makes life easier for owners. When a trainer only supports one Bluetooth connection you may be connected to it on your phone (for example), which means you can’t connect to it at the same time via Bluetooth on your PC when running Zwift.
Or you may want to run TrainerRoad alongside Zwift on the same Mac, using Bluetooth for both pieces of software. This isn’t possible if your trainer only supports one Bluetooth connection, but with two it’s a snap.
Manual ANT+ Spin Down Calibration
Previously a manual spin down was only possible using Bluetooth. Users with an ANT+ connections can now perform a manual spin down using the ANT+ FE-C protocol.
(This is a fairly minor upgrade, considering the Volt and Hub now have firmware that auto calibrates the trainer whenever you stop pedaling. It’s always having the option to do a manual calibration, though.)
Reporting at 10Hz over BLE
This may be the biggest new feature in JetBlack’s release – especially if you’re a Zwift racer!
The new Volt firmware supports reporting at 10Hz over Bluetooth connections, much like Wahoo’s “Race Mode” recently released for their KICKR trainer. This increases how often your power numbers are sent to Zwift, from once per second to ten times per second.
Is this actually advantageous for racing? Shane Miller certainly thinks so…
JetBlack says, “To make your training more efficient, we have turned this feature off while in Erg mode as the rate of reporting makes it very difficult to control a steady ERG session.”
Wrapping It Up
I reached out to Zwift for comment on JetBlack’s release, but they weren’t willing to offer anything official.
My guess, though, is that Zwift has the firmware code for these updates in hand, and is testing it extensively before releasing it on the Hub, possibly with Companion app or in-game integration to support toggling 10Hz reporting on or off.
So good news today for Volt owners… and probably good news soon for Hub owners.
Questions or Comments?
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As a Volt owner on 3.0, I’m sad so say I’m not getting the offer to update to 3.1. My app still tells me I’m on the latest version from Dec 22 🙁
Hi Max, Please update your Volt App form the app store, you need the new App release to enble 3.11 to download. Happy training.
Thanks Murray – RTFM sure helps! 😀 All set now, right before going on holiday so I can’t actually try it out. I somehow misunderstood the app situation to mean I’d need the new app after the update, not in order to get the update… should’ve just tried both.
Hi Murray,
What about those of us for whom 3.0 caused issues with power readings and were advised to roll back?
Should we jump straight to 3.1? If so, does that include the auto-calibration which we don’t currently have because we are still on 2.9?
David
Hi David, I was one of those affected by the power reading issues with the 3.0 update. It was awful, auto cal would kick in and I’d be doing 150w when pushing out easy 400w.
So far 3.1 seems to be working well but it will be interesting to see what happens at race pace when the thing gets roasting hot.
You can always roll back again.
Does anyone know if WAHOO have any plans to release the 10 Hz mode (even if only via Bluetooth) for older trainers such as the KICKR 4 (2018)?
If they can do 10Hz over BT, why can’t Wahoo? I thought the original claim from Wahoo was direct connect was necessary because of something in the BT spec, but doesn’t this show this is not true? Even if Wahoo could push a 5 Hz update (here I’m assuming possibility that the “dual” Bluetooth allows for twice as much throughput).
As a Kickr Core owner who races – I’m a little peeved at the prospect of fellow entry-level trainer owners getting race mode whilst only premium Wahoo owners are getting it?!
As John says – If Jet Black can do 10hz over BT – why cant Wahoo?
Imagine being an elite juusto customer like me… Premium new trainer and not a peep from elite on any such update 😕
The update broke my power readings again, reading 50-70 watts below my assiomas. Raised a ticket with Jetblack and they got back to pretty quickly asking if I updated through the new app or a link. Told them through the new app and havent heard back since. I will never buy Jetblack again
I’m having the same issue. Hope this is resolved quickly. I’ve tried to downgrade but have had no luck using the previous instructions and firmware.
This should be industry standard! Would love to see Garmin/Tacx and others follow the 10hz trend!
I believe the Neo can already do 4Hz…