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FSA PowerBox adds paid upgrades to unlock more analysis & connectivity

Written by Cory Benson Jan 17, 2018 1:32 p.m. ET

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FSA has just added optional new functionality to their PowerBox power meter cranksets via what appears to be an over-the-air software update. FSA PowerBox Upgrade is a program that activates the Bluetooth tech already built into their power meters. The Upgrade also employs new software to analyze your power data to show left/right balance, pedaling smoothness, and torque.

FSA Powerbox Upgrade unlock more power analysis

While it seems a bit odd that you have to pay more to unlock features that are already built into the hardware of FSA’s $1250/1250€ carbon & $650€ alloy PowerBox power meter cranks, it’s something we already knew was a potential since their introduction last model year. Built with power2max technologies, it was already clear that the Bluetooth hardware existed, but was not being utilized in the FSA iteration. We were under the assumption that the add-ons were originally free, but now even even updating the FSA power meters through power2max have this same pricing model.

Now with a 50€ pay-to-upgrade, you can unlock the ability to transmit data via Bluetooth LE or Bluetooth Smart. The PowerBoxes already include ANT+ connectivity, so this will just allow users to connect to a wider range of bike computers, as well as more mobile devices which could be especially useful for more indoor training options.

Beyond connectivity, the rest of the new pay-to-upgrade features use new software to offer more detailed data visualization while riding and deeper analysis post ride.

From there, add another 50€ for left/right balance. The power2max powered PowerBox cranks only actually measure power generation between the spider and the spindle, but update software estimates L/R balance based on the phase where power is generated. FSA is trying to be open about their data analysis, saying that for example Left Power = the combined downward pressure on the left pedal + the upward pull on the right pedal. Right Power then = pressure on the right pedal + pull on the left pedal.

There’s also a 50€ upgrade for pedaling smoothness analysis. The PowerBox can now use software to show how evenly power is applied throughout the entire pedal stroke, based on the calculated L/R data. Even with the Upgrade this function can still only be sent by ANT+.

The last 50€ software Upgrade is momentary torque reporting. Torque is essentially your power, detached from the speed at which the cranks are spinning (cadence.) This is simply a new data metric that can be optionally transmitted to compatible head units.

All of the new FSA PowerBox Upgrade functionality can be purchased individually (no discount if you want all 200€ of it). That means you only pay for the extra data you want to transmit to your cycling computer.

To buy any of the over-the-air upgrades, PowerBox owners have to head over to FSA’s support website (or power2max’s), enter in all of your power meter’s key data, and purchase the Upgrades directly. The Upgrade process currently requires an Android mobile device p2m Service App. An iOS version is not yet available, but expected by March 2018.

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Cory Benson

4,160 articles

Cory Benson is the EU Tech Editor of Bikerumor.com.

Cory has been writing about mountain bikes, enduro, cyclocross, all-road, gravel bikes & bikepacking for over 25 years, even before the industry created some of these names. Prior to Bikerumor, Cory was a practicing Architect specializing in environmental sustainability, has designed bike shops & bike components, and worked as a bike shop mechanic.

Based in the Czech Republic for 15+ years, he is a technical mountain biker, adventurous gravel rider, and short & medium-haul bikepacker. Cory travels extensively across Europe riding bikes, meeting with key European product developers, industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new, and what’s coming next.

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Paul S.

6 years ago

This approach to software capability isn’t new, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but I think FSA has got to be very careful about how they market it, or they will make themselves quite a target. If they offered a partial refund to customers who purchase the hardware before this announcement, they would head-off many possible complaints of bait-and-switch. (I know people will say it’s not bait-and-switch, and I’m not saying it is, just that many early adopters will feel that it is.)

My prediction: This is too subtle a message for an expensive product. They will end up with egg on their face, and either providing this functionality for free, or they will refund the initial purchasers the difference.

Nickolay D.

6 years ago

Reply to Paul S.

Paul, are you serious? The last July, BikeRumor shared an article where FSA says: “there’ll be a $50 upgrade to make it transmit via Bluetooth”. There’s also a $50 update that’ll let it send separate left and right power data”. In additional, FSA sells the powermeter complete the chainrings unlike the other brands (P2M, Rotor, SRM). Cheers 🙂

OldTimerCat1

6 years ago

FSA strikes out again.

Sexy Igor

6 years ago

>We were under the assumption that the add-ons were originally free

Bike Rumor did an article in July last year saying it was going to be a $50 fee, so this is not news.
https://bikerumor.com/2017/07/11/pc17-fsa-adds-boost-mtb-road-disc-wheels-updates-dropper-post-power-meter-cranks/

Ballard biker

6 years ago

Reply to Sexy Igor

Correct, FSA never said it was going to be free. I have a set of alloy Power box cranks and think they are a great value. I don’t need the add ons and I appreciate not having to pay for them.

myke2241

6 years ago

With FSA’s track record I think this is a failure. The Alla cart thing only works in a few industries. It almost insults the customer in the end as they are not the cheapest option which is where you typically see this kind of price scheme

Tom in MN

6 years ago

Torque is not *essentially* power. Power is torque times cadence (and this is how power meters work, they measure torque and multiply by cadence). Torque is the force you push with your foot (perpendicular to the crank to be technical) times the crank length. You can apply torque without moving, but not power. Just like car engines, you have limits both to the amount of power (typically at high cadence) and torque (usually at low cadence) you can put out. Torque output might be of interest for starting from a stop or climbing really steep grades, but most situations you are likely power limited hence the reason for the emphasis on power.

Ripnshread

6 years ago

Next they gonna tell us that they need to put advertisements on your screen…BUT for only another 50 you can cycle add-free… micro transactions for software updates, ones that arguably should have been included in the original build, are a bad idea.

Mitch

6 years ago

I think this works well. For $600 you can have the least expensive crankset power meter on the market, built with a solid Power2Max power meter, and if you can live without a left/right per ESTIMATION and torque that’s great, or you could add the goodies and have an $800 power meter (still a good deal) and have more tech.
I abhor FSA more than most but that’s the route I went, it’s worked great thus far.

Robin

6 years ago

Reply to Mitch

Actually, Power2Max has less expensive crank based power meters that measure total power (Some in the NG Eco series), and so does Watteam.

Dinger

6 years ago

I guess I can see upchargest for software capabilities, but having an onboard Bluetooth radio and charging extra to use it is a loser. I’d pay more for someone else’s equipment in opposition to this.

Johnny

6 years ago

This just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I wasn’t putting a lot of coin in FSA’s pocket, but now I’m going to make sure I don’t. Nothing makes me as mad as someone selling me something and then wanting me to pay an additional fee to use it…

Pippo Inzaghi

6 years ago

When I bought the FSA powerbox alloy in april 2017 there has been clearly stated that firmware upgrade for bluetooth (I have a Polar M450) would have been available in september so I bought a used Garmin 510 for 100 euro but left/right didn’t work …in september FSA support told me the new release date for the bluetooth and left/right balance would have been january 2018…now they say it’s only available for android and iOS will be available from march 2018, so what should I do now, buy a new smartphone?

Andi

6 years ago

Couldn’t agree more Pippo! I too purchased the Powerbox after the seller advertised it as being ANT and Bluetooth compatable. After my complaint they told me that Bluetooth compatibility would be available as an upgrade.
That was May last year. I spoke to FSA at their stand in the NEC bike show and was informed that the upgrade app would be ready end of
January. They are a complete shower. €50 for each upgrade item is a rip-off.

Pippo Inzaghi

4 years ago

Reply to Andi

In the meantime and after many complaints about not working bluetooth and battery problems FSA invited me to come to their production facilities where after a very warm welcome they did a substitution (free of charge) of my powermeter with a model they use for world tour pro teams and I must say that this has solved all my measuring and battery problems. They said for them it was a good opportunity to understand and finally solve certain issues, as I’m living not far away from their facilities I spent a morning to get there and it was a great experience to see what else they are doing beside powermeters. Hope that also for other users this has been helpful, I’m now totally satisfied and understood they are taking problems seriously.
best regards from Italy