Have you recently treated yourself to a new smartwatch? If you have, then you may have noticed that it offers ANT+ as part of its specification. However, do you know what it means and what it does? ANT stands for Advanced and Adaptive Network Technology, and we have explained exactly how it works to support you below. Find out more now.
Garmin owns the ANT+ Alliance. This is the body that designs and maintains ANT+, making it a popular and logical part of Garmin fitness devices. However, it can also be found on devices owned by Fitbit, Nike, Suunto, Adidas, and more! This compatibility means that you can add to your monitoring system without needing to stick to the same brand every time.
A Network of Sensors and Receivers
ANT+ is simply a network that has been made up of sensors and receivers that are separated by distances. Each node in the network works as a receiver, transmitter, or transceiver to help get traffic from one node to the next. They can work out when they need to transmit their information by checking neighboring nodes to see what they are doing first. This compatibility feature is the key to ANT+ being able to mix and match sensors and devices in the wearable industry.
The Original ANTs vs. ANT+
When ANTs were first created, they could not work with several products from competitors, reducing their impact. However, when ANT+ was later developed, they were made to the same spec as other ANT+ products. Consequently, the network could grow, and products could ‘talk’ to each other regardless of who created them and who owned them.
Why Was the Second Gen ANT+ So Anticipated?
The great thing about the ANT+ generation is that they use ultra-low-power compared to the first generation. This makes them an ideal solution for gadgets that are made for active usages, like smartwatches.
How Does it Work?
ANT+ works by using the same frequency as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth – 2.4GHz. However, the transfer of data is slower. The slow speed is not an issue for smartwatches and fitness trackers as they are not resource-intensive. ANT+ was designed to provide a low bit rate which is what makes it so great for trackers.
The protocol was designed so that each device can work without experiencing any interference from other devices. No matter how close together they are. This means that you could have an ANT+ device that can read heart rate, speed, and power data simultaneously and deliver information to the user with multiple displays.
What Do I Need to Know About ANT+?
One thing that many consumers want to know is whether it’s safe to use or not. The reality is that it’s as safe as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It does not pose any risks to users, no matter how young or old they are. This means you can purchase with confidence and look forward to using this protocol to help you on your mission to live a healthier and happier life.
The great thing about it is that it does not require the user to have any technical knowledge to use it. Furthermore, you do not need to spend hours reading about it to get it to work correctly. All you need to be aware of is that if you buy an ANT+ device, you will be able to use it alongside any other ANT+ device that you come across!
If you found this interesting, you may want to check out how smartwatch sensors work.
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Last Updated on June 28, 2021
A top of the line copywriter with more than a decade of writing experience with many high-end and diverse multinational clients. Lots of experience and interest in writing about and implementing technology. Scott manages the creation of content for us as a freelancer service and even though he is based in the UK, his writers can adapt and cater to our audience which is mostly US based.
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