Get "SPCd Fail" message when loading new profile

[Ratman]

I've been trying to tweek my Newton profile using the Issac software. When I choose to send the recommended changes to the Newton, I get a "Profile successfully sent to iBike" message on my Mac, but the Newton seems to retain the same friction and aero settings (actually, aero seemed to update after this last attempt, but friction hasn't changed since my original setup). About the time that you'd expect the profile update to be complete after clicking the "Send to iBike" button (i.e., several seconds), the Newton displays the message, "SPCd Fail," which I assume isn't what you're supposed to see.

Any advice as to what I can do to get the new profiles to load correctly?

[TriBike]

I have seen this happen before. Have you re-extracted the profile from the Newton after you have sent the changes, to verify that they were indeed accepted by the Newton. I have just tried to simulate the same occurrence, and edited some profile numbers, sent them to the iBike, deleted the profile from the software. When I directly re-extracted the profile from the Newton, the changed values were indeed accepted, so the editing is working, however, I didn't get the SPCD Fail screen. Not 100% sure why you are getting the SPCD message though. If you hit the center button after you see this, I have a feeling it may go away. I will continue to toy around with this a bit.

[Ratman]

I have seen this happen before. Have you re-extracted the profile from the Newton after you have sent the changes, to verify that they were indeed accepted by the Newton. I have just tried to simulate the same occurrence, and edited some profile numbers, sent them to the iBike, deleted the profile from the software. When I directly re-extracted the profile from the Newton, the changed values were indeed accepted, so the editing is working, however, I didn't get the SPCD Fail screen. Not 100% sure why you are getting the SPCD message though. If you hit the center button after you see this, I have a feeling it may go away. I will continue to toy around with this a bit.

Thanks for trying to give me some help, TriBike. After attempting to "Send to iBike" in Issac, I've been looking at the "friction" and "aero" values displayed by the iBike using the left button. In this most recent attempt to update the values, I can confirm that the "aero" value did change, but "fric" still shows its original value. If I use the iBike in this condition for a new ride, when I download it, the profile listed as "original" displays the pre-update fric number.

The "SPCd Fail" message still has me wondering because I don't understand how the speed and cadence sensors would be involved in the writing of the new profile data to the Newton. I'm using the Garmin GSC-10 dual speed/cadence sensor, and I brought the GT Firmware upgrade so that the Newton can receive data from the GSC-10, allowing me to run the 705 in full-screen map mode. I don't know how or if that's somehow connected to the problem, though.

You're right -- when I hit the center button, the message goes away and closes the Edit-Profile screen...but the fric number doesn't seem to update. I'll try re-extracting from the Newton to see what happens.

[cjonbike]

Maybe when you sent the new profile to the Newton it did not have the sensor ID, or it got corrupted. Maybe you need to do a re scan?

Just a thought!

[texmurphy]

Today, I connected the Newton+ to usb on my pc (Win7/64 Home) and pressed the center button to turn on. I started Isacc and the Newton showed "SPCD Fail", otherwise no problems. When I Exited Isacc, the Newton cleared SPCD FAIL and reverted to a normal ON screen. I could repeat this.

[aytchkay]

Perhaps the Newton is merely doing a scan for the wireless speed and cadence sensors and it failed because it's on your computer and not your bike!

[Russ]

I have similar results with my windoz pc. I have assumed it was because my sensors are out of range.

That said, would be nice if firmware was changed to suppress this when on USB connection!

Russ

[racerfern]

Perhaps the Newton is merely doing a scan for the wireless speed and cadence sensors and it failed because it's on your computer and not your bike!

Yup, I'm seeing the same thing, but I don't think it's a big deal. Basically the unit goes "live" but there's nothing around. Ignore it, some future FW release will supress the message.

[lungbuster]

I get the same message when loading profiles and intervals. No probs though. I see it as an indication that isaac is talking with Newton.

[Ratman]

Perhaps the Newton is merely doing a scan for the wireless speed and cadence sensors and it failed because it's on your computer and not your bike!

Yup, I'm seeing the same thing, but I don't think it's a big deal. Basically the unit goes "live" but there's nothing around. Ignore it, some future FW release will supress the message.

The issue is my inability to update my fric number. The message was simply something I was reporting as having appeared simultaneous to the failed update. I don't see the message as a big issue, but I do see the frozen fric number as one.

[racerfern]

The issue is my inability to update my fric number. The message was simply something I was reporting as having appeared simultaneous to the failed update. I don't see the message as a big issue, but I do see the frozen fric number as one.

Are you making very small changes? It's possible that the number displayed doesn't change because you're at the third or fourth decimal place. Why not try creating an absolutely crazy profile with some stupid numbers and send it to the Newton, perhaps a different profile number to see if it actually uploads properly.

Please confirm that under the "RACR" menu EST FRIC is set to off. Otherwise it will always use the EST FRIC number in the Newton.

[Ratman]

The issue is my inability to update my fric number. The message was simply something I was reporting as having appeared simultaneous to the failed update. I don't see the message as a big issue, but I do see the frozen fric number as one.

Are you making very small changes? It's possible that the number displayed doesn't change because you're at the third or fourth decimal place. Why not try creating an absolutely crazy profile with some stupid numbers and send it to the Newton, perhaps a different profile number to see if it actually uploads properly.

Please confirm that under the "RACR" menu EST FRIC is set to off. Otherwise it will always use the EST FRIC number in the Newton.

I checked the RACR-EST FRIC setting and it was set to "yes," so I changed it to "no" (after making the change, the Newton flashed "Done"). I went back into the Issac software and sent the profile I want to the Newton. I disconnected the Newton and checked the current fric setting by pushing the left arrow button: it was still 6.665 (i.e., hadn't been changed per the sent profile); I then went into Setup-RACR-EST FRIC, and it was set back to "yes." I've confirmed this sequence of steps and outcomes several times now.

Also, the fric changes that I'm trying to load are in the integer digit, not in the tiny third or fourth decimal places.

[racerfern]

I see what you're saying but I didn't experience it since I happened to have the same Crr setting in the profile as in the unit under Est Fric. The setting is apparently part of the profile and here's how I got it to work:

Open edit profiles and select the profile you want to use. With the unit plugged in, set Est Fric to "No". Now with the profile you are working with click on the Advanced Tab and click on "Get from iBike" directly above Tilt Cal.
All you did was get the current tilt calibration from the Newton. Now without doing anything else simply click the "Send to iBike" button. The new settings with Est Fric = No will be saved as part of the profile and will remain properly set in the Newton.

We see tons of profile information but we don't get to see things that do get transferred such as Est Fric. Every time you were sending a profile you were enabling the Est Fric once again. However now that you clicked on get Tilt Cal from the iBike it also grabbed some other settings one of which was the Est Fric setting. Now that is part of your profile.

I now have all my profiles with Est Fric OFF. Let me know how you make out.

[Ratman]

I see what you're saying but I didn't experience it since I happened to have the same Crr setting in the profile as in the unit under Est Fric. The setting is apparently part of the profile and here's how I got it to work:

Open edit profiles and select the profile you want to use. With the unit plugged in, set Est Fric to "No". Now with the profile you are working with click on the Advanced Tab and click on "Get from iBike" directly above Tilt Cal.
All you did was get the current tilt calibration from the Newton. Now without doing anything else simply click the "Send to iBike" button. The new settings with Est Fric = No will be saved as part of the profile and will remain properly set in the Newton.

We see tons of profile information but we don't get to see things that do get transferred such as Est Fric. Every time you were sending a profile you were enabling the Est Fric once again. However now that you clicked on get Tilt Cal from the iBike it also grabbed some other settings one of which was the Est Fric setting. Now that is part of your profile.

I now have all my profiles with Est Fric OFF. Let me know how you make out.

Fernando,
I followed your instructions and they did allow the Est Fric to be set and stay "No" -- Thanks! However, I've discovered another twist. When uploading a profile to the Newton, if Fric>25.0, the Newton will be loaded with the default Fric value (in my case, 6.555, I believe). This is true even if Issac's Check Calibration of an Out & Back ride recommends the change (knobby tires will do that, I guess). Is there some reason why Fric is limited to <=25?

[racerfern]

I doubt anything has Crr of 25.0! My guess would be knobby tires somewhere in the .025 range and that's really high. Then again I don't have experience with knobby tires. Maybe .1 or .2 but certainly not 25.

[Ratman]

I doubt anything has Crr of 25.0! My guess would be knobby tires somewhere in the .025 range and that's really high. Then again I don't have experience with knobby tires. Maybe .1 or .2 but certainly not 25.

Fern,
That was a fric value greater than 25, not a crr. My main computer is being serviced, so I can't check this in Issac directly, but if I recall correctly, a crr of >.012 or .013 (maybe even lower) can yield a fric >25. A post has previously been made to this forum in which an mtb rider found that an iBike crr of .016 yielded the best wattage measurement overall when compared simultaneously to a PowerTap hub (data collected while riding "fireroads," a common mtb surface. On more rocky, technical terrain, one could legitimately expect even higher rolling resistance...).

Modern mtb tubeless tires can be run as low as 20 psi by lower-weight riders, and below 30 psi is not uncommon -- all with a prominent tread pattern...which would seem to make crr's of .012-.016 or perhaps even higher "theoretically possible." The increase in rolling resistance from low tire pressures is offset by greater traction, especially during steep, loose climbs, and a smoother ride/better handling that results from the tires absorbing bumps better.

I'm certainly not expecting perfection out of the Newton under the unique conditions in which I'm operating. And I bought the Newton upgrade mainly to get better/faster grade% estimates vs my Garmin 705 in addition to allowing me to view numeric ride data on the Newton while displaying maps fullscreen on the Garmin. But if the device simply won't let you input what seem to be legitimate crr values (values, to repeat, that the Issac software "Check Calibration" analysis also recommends) to get even a "ballpark" estimate of power (which, from my testing to date, I have a general sense that it could do if allowed to) -- well, I just don't get it.

[GWPOS]

I have my xc race bike crr set to .013. Stans Notubuse actaually test low tire pressures and found that lower pressures did not affect rolling resistance until you got under 18lbs I think. I run right at about 22lbs.

[racerfern]

I see... Fric is just a number so it is possible to get all sorts of high or low numbers based on other criteria. I do agree that you need to end up with Crr of .016ish, and let the Crr fall where it may.