I love my Vortex Smart, but one morning I woke up and found that it had zero resistance and a solid amber-colored light instead of the happy blinking green. Fortunately a little research helped me solve my problem–now I’m sharing that solution with you.
Firmware for your Tacx Vortex Smart’s brake unit is updated using a different process from updating the main computer firmware. While the main computer firmware can be updated easily via the Tacx utility app (iPhone and Android), to my knowledge the brake firmware can only be updated using the process below.
You do not need to upgrade your brake firmware unless the unit isn’t operating properly. If the light on the unit is an amber (orange) color, this indicates a brake issue. Typically this can be fixed with a brake firmware upgrade. Below are instructions for upgrading the brake firmware using a Windows PC.
Note: you must have an ANT+ USB dongle installed on your PC to perform this update.
- If you do not have TTS4 (Tacx trainer software), please download and install it here (it’s a big file which downloads slowly, so it’ll take an hour or two).
- Unzip the folder/extract the folder and save on your computer. Now you have the complete installation disc on your PC.
- Run the setup.exe in the root folder. The TTS4 software will be installed.
- Run the “Tacx Trainer Software 4” that is installed.
- Update to the latest software using the UPDATE button in the Launcher (you will see this at the start)–this will take another 15 minutes or so.
- Then go to
C:\Program Files x86)\Tacx\TacxTrainersoftware4\updater\ and run Tacxupdate.exe (at least on my Windows PC that’s where it is) - Select “Vortex” then “Update Vortex Brake Firmware” and do the update. This is where problems typically pop up. Uploading the firmware to the unit often fails, and you just need to keep trying. Possible solutions include rebooting the trainer, moving it closer or further from your computer’s ant+ dongle, moving your ant+ dongle to another USB port, and rebooting your PC.
If you are unable to resolve your issue, I recommend contacting Tacx support and/or posting in the Tacx forums.
Here’s the typical screen you’ll see after connecting to your Vortex, before upgrading brake firmware.
I’ve had my Vortex less than one month. Only used once to calibrate, then again for 15 mins to test out.
Amber light of death already. Prior to this jut wouldn’t calibrate or offer any resistance.
Well, hopefully you can apply the brake firmware update and be up and running. Let me know how it turns out!
The new updates have killed off my laptop.
Looks like using a Tacx to get fit is becoming an expensive mission.
The good people at Amazon are taking the unit back.
I have not been able to update the firmware. I got the amber light straight out of the box, contacted support, and they have been helpful, said they will send me a replacement brake. It sure has been frustrating so far. More than a month trying to solve this.
Yeah I followed your step and it works. thank you so much
I blissfully used my Vortex Smart for about five months before I encountered the solid amber light. I contacted Tacx Customer Support who told me it was hardware, not software, related, and referred me to the dealer. I contacted Clever Training, who told me they’re trying to work with the distributor to see if only part of the trainer needs to be returned. Still waiting for resolution a month after initiating request.
This article just fixed my Vortex too, a year after I purchased it (just out of warranty)!
Unfortunately, I purchased from a shop far away via Amazon.com, and Tacx seems to have little interest in supporting their product directly — they sent me an email telling me to try an iphone (I don’t have an iphone) but otherwise told me to go back to my dealer for support. When I am finally forced to buy a new unit, I will probably buy from a local bike shop (I like to support them anyway) and I will almost certainly avoid Tacx because I expect my expensive smart trainer to last 5 years, or at least be repairable!
I love the look of the Neo if it lives up to the hype, but there’s no way I trust Tacx products will last long enough to be worth the investment!
Just fixed a friend’s trainer in under 5 minutes using these instructions. Glad to know they still work!
Thanks a bunch for a very helpful walkthrhough to get rid of the amber light – Worked perfectly for me!
That software download is asking me for an activation code that costs €65.
Are these guys having a laugh? I have to pay them more money to correct a fault on their product?
Hi, Tacx Vortex is giving me a headache. it wont stay connected, runs great for a few minutes, then disconnects, 5 – 10 seconds later it reconnects. and so it continues.
any ideas?
This fixed it for me when I was giving up all hope. And I got the software too. Thank you so much!
So, how do you fix this if all you have is a mac? Any ideas? All the reviews I read said Tacx vortex smart was the best. I guess not.
Talk to a friend with a PC, I guess! Sorry, but that’s the best I can offer. I’m not Tacx. 🙂
Thanks for the response. I was able to run an update using the Tacx utility app. Took a couple tries, but finally worked and once update was run, the light went back to green. (I left the comment after the update failed the first time). I find your blog to be quite helpful! Thanks!
Dug out a Surface Pro this morning in order to do this update (main computers are Macs). Worked as described. Troubling this is why does it do this to begin with? Been using the Vortex smart for well over a year before the amber light of death this morning. Back to green for now though!
Legend. This thing worked.
Thank you!
Help! I downloaded the file but I can’t unzip it as it asks for the next disk in the collection? Have done something wrong?
Amazing thank you. Worked a treat.
In case these procedure don’t work, check my post here: https://blog.nihilisme.ca/amber-orange-light-on-tacx-vortex/
The Tacx support provide me the restoration firmware for the Vortex.
I ran the update, and at the very end it stated error occurred. Unplug the trainer, and plugged it in again, ran the update one more time, and same message came up at the end of the update, but it did reset the trainer and the LED changed from solid amber back to blinking green. Launch the tacx utility and verified the trainer was working. Was able calibrate and use the dashboard to verify power readings. Connected to zwift as I use the trainer only as a controllable trainer, and the changes in gradient worked fine. Thank you for the information, would have hated going back to my dumb trainer.
Yes total install time of the software is pretty lengthy. I ran the update but at the end gave an “error occur” message. Attempted one more time same message. But the LED did change from amber to green and blinking. It’s alive!!. Tested calibration and on zwift to be sure the brake was working. All systems go. Thanks for the info.
Thanks for documenting this here. My Vortex stopped working and had an orange LED showing but after downloading the software as described here and trying a few attempts to reload the firmware it’s working again.
I can set my alarm early again for a pre work Zwift session after missing a few days because of the orange led.
I didn’t want to pay for the Zwift Ant+ dongle so I purchased the following from eBay in the UK for £21 and it worked fine, I moved the trainer next to it in order to perform the update.
CooSpo ANT+ USB Stick Dongle Adapter with Extended USB 2.0 Cable
This information is GOLD! My Vortex displayed the amber light of doom right after I took delivery of, unpacked and calibrated the unit! I contacted customer support and their response was to send me a restore file (which didn’t work). The only downside to downloading the TTS is the lengthy download and update time. After that, updating the firmware on the brake unit was easy. Many thanks for the info!
Thanks Eric my wife follow your instructions on PC and was able to get it all up and running again did about 8000 miles on my trainer before amber light appeared, thanks again Frank and Carla.