TABLE OF CONTENTS

Issue

Your power meter is not sending any power or rpm readings to your head unit or connected apps. 


Before troubleshooting

Check that you have a good CR2032 battery installed in your power meter and that the power meter is awake and broadcasting. For Gen 3 Stages Power meters, rotate the power meter 1-2 rotations and the LED indicator light will blink for the first 60 seconds after being woken up. 

LED indicator location at the center of the power meter's plastic housing


If the state of the battery is unknown, install a new battery to eliminate a dead battery as the cause of your issue. 


Troubleshooting

Confirm pairing

First, confirm that your head unit is currently connected to the power meter. Most head units will show a prompt on the display once the power meter connects and/or an icon (often a lightning bolt) on the status bar. 


Continue to the next step to confirm you are pairing to the correct power sensor. 


Verify ANT+ ID

Your Stages Power meter's ANT+ ID is listed on the silver sticker affixed to the inside of your left crank. Please note this number to verify that your head unit is paired with the correct unit and hasn't picked up a nearby sensor. For left/right power meters, connect to the Left power meter's ANT+ ID.  If you have paired the right sensor by mistake, please delete it from your saved sensors list. Only pair to the right power meter in a right-only power meter configuration. 


For Garmin products, the ANT+ ID can be verified in the Power Meter settings under Sensor Details (Or under "Sensors" on the Garmin 1000). It should show a 4 or 5-digit number that matches up with the sticker on your crank. For some head units, the ID# is not displayed and you may need to move at least 30 feet away from any other sensors and repeat the pairing process. For a reminder on how to pair the power meter, check our topic: How do I pair my Stages Power meter to my ANT+ or Bluetooth 4.0 enabled device?

 

For Bluetooth connections, the power meter can be identified as Stages 01234 (where the numbers represent the 4-5 digit ANT+ ID). Other Bluetooth devices may show up on your device when connecting, so it's important to narrow down that the connected item is the correct power meter sensor (as it can detect any power sensors nearby, trainers with power, etc).


Disconnect other Bluetooth devices

The power meter is limited to 2 Bluetooth connections* (and only 1 Bluetooth connection for Gen 1/2 power meters). If you have previously paired your power meter to another device via Bluetooth, it's possible this device is holding the connection. For mobile apps, the easiest way to do this is to toggle your Bluetooth off, then back on to reset connections. Close any apps or desktop applications that have previously been connected to the power meter. 


*Support for 2 Bluetooth connections added with power meter firmware version 1.8.0. 


Perform a zero reset

A zero reset is performed with no weight on the pedal with the left crank pointed straight down. If you previously calibrated with weight on the pedal, it will incorrectly set the 'zero' on the power meter and can result in your power numbers looking very low (including 0 W at low power levels). If you suspect it may have been done incorrectly, simply re-calibrate and if the number is in the correct range, it should return to giving correct readings. The calibration or zero offset value should be 890 +/- 50 points.


Related articles: 

How do I calibrate my Stages Power Meter?

My zero offset value changed. How do I know if it's correct?

I can't get my power meter to calibrate


Pedal the bike outside or on a trainer

Power in watts is calculated in an equation that includes the force in the crank multiplied by the pedaling speed, so it requires the crank to be turning in addition to force being placed on the crank arm. If you spin the crank in the work stand, it does not have enough resistance to provide a power reading, and putting force on the crank without riding it (i.e. on the floor while the brakes are applied) also will not provide any power values since the crank is not turning.


The crank also needs a minimum speed of 20 rpm to calculate power, so we recommend taking the bike for a full test ride or riding it on a trainer to verify if the power meter is giving proper readings.


Check your head unit display settings

If your head unit is set to display items like lap average or other non-instantaneous power metrics, power will not be displayed until a ride recording has been started.  We suggest having one of the following displayed when testing to see if the power meter is sending data:


Power - Instant or 1s

Power - 3s Average

Power - 10s Average


You may want to customize your screen with other metrics such as average power or average lap power, but for the sake of testing any of the above will work. It may also be helpful to include cadence on the home screen when testing the sensor since cadence is also sent by the power meter.


Check for data in the Stages Cycling app

The Stages Power meter broadcasts the power data via ANT+ and Bluetooth simultaneously, so if you are having issues with your head unit, you can easily narrow down if the power meter is sending a signal by using a Bluetooth device to connect to the power meter. The fastest way to test with a smartphone or tablet is to install the Stages Cycling app and connect it to your power meter, then take it for a test spin outdoors or indoors on a trainer.


Download: 

Stages Cycling app for Android

Stages Cycling app for iOS

  1. Open the Stages Cycling app.
  2. Rotate the Stages Power meter at least one full revolution to wake the meter.  Add your power meter to the app: Go to Devices and tap Add Device > Select Power Meter > Select your power meter from the list (for Left/Right power meters, select the left power meter) > Select Done.
  3. If you've already added your power meter, tap the link icon next to it on the devices list to connect.
  4. Once done syncing, the app will take you to the power meter device manager page.
  5. Tap the Data tab. 
  6. Begin pedaling and the app should show power and cadence data within 3-5 seconds of pedaling above 20 rpm. 

If you're seeing power in the Stages Cycling app, but not on your head unit, then the problem may lie with the head unit. 


Perform a hard reset

To perform a hard reset on your power meter:

  1. Remove the battery cover from your power meter. For a left-side power meter, rotate the cover counterclockwise to open. For a right-side power meter, remove the two Philips head screws. 
  2. Remove the battery from the unit or from the battery cover, then use the side of the battery to touch both the positive (on the side of the battery compartment) and negative (under the battery) battery terminal.
  3. Reinstall and battery and cover.


For more information on how to install your power meter battery, see Stages Power User Guide - Battery Installation. 


Still not seeing power/cadence?

If after performing all these steps, you're still not receiving power and cadence from your device, please create a new support ticket. Consider including a screenshot of the Advanced tab information from the Stages Cycling app to help expedite a diagnosis of your issue.