The update to version 4.7 of the Tacx Trainer software is now available. This update can be downloaded for free and contains many new and improved functions.

OVERVIEW OF NEW AND IMPROVED FUNCTIONS

Catalyst and film functions

• New Video Player enables films to be played more smoothly.
• Customized training sessions for Catalyst heart rate and wattage programs (relative watt training) via a CP20 fitness test and the derived FTP value.
• Export function to .gpx file enables to export a score to for example the Garmin Connect website.
• Export function to Indoor Bike League. This German site regularly organizes various competitions for riders with a Tacx trainer and has its own ranking per rider and per team. Anyone can join for a fee: http://www.indoor-bike-league.de/en
• Improved Catalyst/Analyser graphs function.

Virtual Reality functions

• Realistic game play enables you to compete against virtual opponents in exciting races.
• Level of virtual opponents is linked to your FTP value, but also manually adjustable in 5 steps.
• New race training types: Points race, Elimination race, Pursuit, Flying sprint and Criterium.
• Six-Day atmosphere added in Velodrome.
• New and more walking characters and driving cars in the Metropolitan City terrain.
• New outfits of cycling teams 2013 added: Omega Pharma-Quick Step, Blanco Pro Cycling, Saxo-Tinkoff, Lotto-Belisol, Wiggle-Honda, Rabobank Liv/Giant and NetApp.

GPS and Google improvements

• Streetview function restored.
• Performance of all Google (Earth) functions and views has been improved.
• The completed route is visible again.
• The 3D rider scales according to the camera position.

RESOLVED BUGS

Devices and connections

• Fixed problems when the ANT connection got lost while training.
• Fixed problems with connecting and reconnecting ANT heart rate belt.
• Fixed problem with the Tacx Trainer software crashing when exporting and importing training data and scores to and from the Bushido.
• Fixed internet detection bug.
• Fixed problem with saving BlackTrack steering frame settings.
• Fixed problem with the inability to get the Bushido out of 'Live Mode' when the Tacx Trainer software had already been closed.
• Fixed problem with incorrect slope values in Catalyst and films with the i-Genius trainer.

Multiplayer

• Fixed problem when the position of the opponents was not always updated correctly while training.
• Fixed problem with false start.
• Corrected Power Mode display while cycling.

Google

• Fixed problem with Google Earth display while changing views.
• Fixed problem where the road was not correctly drawn during long training sessions in Google Earth.
• Corrected display of the 2D rider in Google Earth.
• Fixed problem with 'Show route' in the GPS Editor.

Film

• Fixed problem with refreshing Google Map view in video selection screen.
• Corrected incorrect height display in the video while training.
• Fixed problem with displaying incorrect info boxes after pausing and resuming a training session.

Virtual Reality

• Improved auto-steering for riding in the VR terrains.
• Improved the 360° VR camera position to avoid it from going through objects.

Various

• Fixed problem with Google and Multiplayer licenses for users that have installed various versions of the Tacx Trainer software.
• Fixed problem with downloading users.
• Fixed problem with right click menu in Analyser.

More detailed information about the new race training types can be found in the special Workshop article in the Tacx Trainer software.

The update to version 4.6 of the Tacx Trainer software is now available. This update can be downloaded for free and contains many enhanced features.

Complete overview of all the new functions and features
The Tacx Trainer software 4.6 includes the following new features and enhancements:

• New and more walking characters in the Metropolitan City terrain.
• The period to play films without license number is reduced from 7 to 2 days.

Resolved bugs

• When you start up Multiplayer and you ‘host’ the race, the heart rate is now visible.
• The course is no longer aborted prematurely in Metropolitan.
• The color of the helmet automatically becomes the main color of the shirt.
• After installation of the Tacx Trainer software 4.6 it is no longer needed to re-activate the license keys that had already been activated in previous versions of the software.
• Analyser doesn’t crash when you view a score of a training session that contains a pause.
• Improved functioning of the virtual opponents.

Furthermore, new preset Catalyst programs for heart rate and wattage are added. More information about the working of these personalised training sessions (relative power training) can be read in a special Workshop of the Tacx Trainer software.

The update to version 4.5 is now available. This important update can be downloaded for free and contains many new and improved functions. Below is an overview of the new and improved elements:

New Virtual Reality features (only for TTS 4 Advanced)

VR terrains
•    Wintery Christmas decoration for Metropolitan terrain
•    Night setting for Valeggio criterium terrain
•    Night setting for Metropolitan Criterium and Metropolitan City terrains

VR functions
•    In the ‘First person view’ camera position (also called ‘cockpit view’) the handlebar of the bike is now also being shown.
•    Virtual opponents: you can now race against artificial opponents who behave interactively, just like racing against real riders.

Beware! These new functions are still in bèta version. Remarks can be reported via Facebook in order to improve the next version of the software.

New functions
•    In GPS rides the direction can now be reversed.
•    Export of scores directly to Trainingspeaks analysis software.

Major bug fixes
•    Optimization of the Metropolitan VR terrain.
•    Bug fixed in automatic firmware update function.
•    Fix for Real Life Video crash when using Windows Vista.
•    Software no longer crashes when editing a training program with info boxes.
•    Improved graph display in Analyser overlay function.

Want to know more about the Tacx Trainer software? Check out the Tacx Workshop articles.

The update to version 4.4 is now available. This important update can be downloaded for free and contains many new and improved functions. Check out the full manual (PDF) with images and explanations.

Complete overview of all new functions and features
The Tacx Trainer software 4.4 contains the following new and improved elements:

New VR terrains (only Advanced)
•    Metropolitan criterium race terrain in the USA.
•    New Metropolitan City world, a real American city to ride in.
•    Based on this City world we have also added a criterium world with race atmosphere.

New functions
•    Purchase Google and Multiplayer licenses not only online, but also through the bicycle shop.
•    Determine starting point function in Catalyst, films, Google and VR, you can now decide yourself where you want to start in the course.
•    Analyser graphs and charts overlay to compare scores of two training sessions.
•    Multisession to put partial courses of the same film one after another, for example for interval training (only TTS 4 Advanced).
•    Multisession to put Catalyst programs one after another (only TTS 4 Advanced).
•    Power Mode function to reduce or increase the brake resistance is now also available for the VR terrains.
•    For Catalyst, GPS courses and films info boxes can be created and edited in order to pop up on the screen while training. The software now supports several info boxes per training which can be set before the start (only TTS 4 Advanced).
•    Free riding in GPS courses (Google).
•    Altitude metres added to the training graph.
•    Videos with instructions and help, YouTube help in iFrame in the menus and also in the installation and hardware wizards.
•    Tooltips added to buttons for extra information.

Want to know more? Check out the full manual (PDF) with images and explanations.

This update fixes a problem with the 3D screen vizualisation (Virtual Reality rides & Avatar settings) for users who installed the full TTS 4.2 version from DVD. We recommend to perform this update at your earliest convenience.

The update to version 4.2 is now available. This important update can be downloaded for free and contains many new and improved functions. Check out the full manual (pdf) with images and explanations of the changed functions and features in version 4.2 compared to version 4.1.

Complete overview of all new functions and features
The Tacx Trainer software 4.2 contains the following new and improved elements:

Google

• Google only works with a valid license

• Google route planner

• Google Street View

• Choose between Google Maps and Google satellite in the menus

Due to an issue with one of the recent Windows Updates, the Google Streetview function has become unstable and can lead to program crash after 10 to 30 minutes (depending on the specs of your local PC). It is strongly advised to DISABLE the Streetview function until this issue has been fixed in one of the future Windows updates. The bug does not affect Google Maps/Earth views, so you can still use the Google GPS trainings, just make sure the Streetview is inactive.

New Virtual Reality features
VR terrain Velodrome

• Completely new Velodrome terrain with the length of 250 metres VR functions

• The hills in the VR worlds are flattened, this makes them easier to climb

• Slipstream symbol indicates how much you benefit from the rider in front of you while cycling

• New team outfits added of RadioShack-Nissan, Saxo Bank, Europcar and Rabobank women

• New Tacx outfit for VR rider

Beware! The scores and courses made in the Tacx Trainer software versions 4.0 and 4.1 are not compatible with version 4.2 and will be removed.

VR game modes in Multiplayer on the Velodrome and in the criterium race

• Points race

• Elimination race

• Flying sprint

• Criterium race mode with functions such as preme laps (random), 3 laps classification, leader price, fastest lap and winner, with final time and ranking

Beware! These new functions are still in bèta version. When you encounter problems while cycling, please report them to Tacx Support, in order to solve them for the following versions.

Software control more user-friendly because of:

• Custom made Mirage license wizard

• New intro screen styling and working

• Selection screens Virtual Reality, Catalyst, Video and GPS Rides adjusted

• Software login improved and clarified

• Hardware wizard for connecting devices and settings

• User wizard

• Improved avatar working

• Separate screen with instructions and demo clip about purchasing Multiplayer and Google licenses

• Symbols Catalyst list of choices training type

• Weather settings screen styling more clear in VR

• Purchase Google and Multiplayer licenses not only online, but also through the bicycle shops

New functions and solved bugs

• New Tacx ANT.dll which establishes the connection between Genius, Bushido and Vortex and the PC much faster and makes it more stable and reliable

• Left and right balance display with Genius

• Total value PowerBack display in Analyser

• Make profile also visible in Video simulation

• Display height metres in Analyser, Catalyst and menus graphs

• Resume function in video (to ride longer films in parts and be able to continue where you have paused the video)

• Menu also accessible through Enter key on keyboard while cycling

• New background photos TTS 3 and TTS 4

• Analyser now correctly saves the information the user has entered at Comment and Feeling and Temperature

• Wind-force settings slide doesn’t display a value

• Set the Stop training button to No by default

• Bushido import/export messages

New pre-programmed Catalyst training programs
New programs by Tacx coach Frank Senders. With six options per type of training: BRH + Bike Hill + BRA + BRP + BRI + BRR + BRT + BRS. Several tests are also included: PWC 130 + PWC 150 + PWC 170 and Fit Test Astrand 100, 130, 150, 180, 200 and 220. Coach Frank has added useful information to the pop-up boxes, which will appear while cycling. Information about the fitness tests can be found on the Tacx website.

Want to know more? Check out the full manual (pdf) with images and explanations of the changed functions and features in version 4.2 compared to version 4.1.

Important improvements in version 4.1

• Adjustments in heart rate settings screen

• Improvements in language files French and Dutch

• Heart rate display stays stable during use of ANT belts

New functionalities in version 4.1
Total value PowerBack display in the Analyser

Disruption of ANT USB Signal
Problems with the ANT connection between the trainer and the PC could be caused by:

• Mobile phones. Ensure that there are no mobile phones near the ANT USB stick.

• An error source in the PC. This can be fixed by placing the ANT USB stick further from the PC using a USB extension cable.