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Shimano launches new E-Tube app for Di2 customisation

Personalise an electronic shift system via Bluetooth-enabled tablets and mobile devices

Shimano has released the latest version of its E-Tube Di2 programming app for Android and iOS platforms, allowing you to customise Di2 functions wirelessly through Bluetooth-enabled tablets and mobile devices. To connect to the app you need Shimano’s new internal battery (BT-DN110) and, on the road, Shimano’s new EW-WU111 wireless unit.

Last year, Shimano introduced its iOS app for phones and tablets, compatible with XTR and XT Di2 mountain biking components. Now Android users can also download the apps which have been updated to be compatible with all Di2 components, including the latest Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9150) components.

Check out our First Ride: Shimano Dura-Ace 9150 Di2. 

Shimano ETube 2017 - 3.jpg

You control Shimano’s Dura-Ace and Ultegra Di2 road groupsets either by the shifter buttons behind the brake levers or via satellite TT/triathlon, sprinting and climbing buttons. Additionally, you can use buttons hidden in the top of the Dura-Ace Di2 shifters.

These top hood buttons can also be programmed to control third party devices. For example, you can use them to scroll through Garmin bike computer menus. This functionality on third party computers also allows you to see Di2 system information such as the battery level and the gear you’re in. These functions can be programmed through the app or through the PC software.

Shimano ETube 2017 - 1.jpg

The app also allows you to swap the functions of the buttons if you wanted a customised setup. Mountain bikers can use the app or software to instruct their Di2 buttons to operate compatible suspension systems.

You can customise shift speed, multi-shift options and Synchro Shift through the app too. 

Find out about Synchro Shift here.

The new E-Tube app is available from Shimano’s website

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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12 comments

Avatar
CharlieTwoWheels | 7 years ago
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I was gonna play with this on Saturday. I have a Di2 Ultegra Orro bought last year. 

I wanted to see if I could have shifting similar to Sram E Tap with up and down rear derailleur shifts done left and right on the bobbled levers, with front derailleur moving on a pre selected gear on rear cassette, with rear cassette then changing 1 gear to make the change easier. 

Would this be possible or would I need to be buying additional stuff?

Also, I was hoping to program the now redundant buttons behind the bobbly ones to control my Garmin, but am I right in thinking this is only on the top hood buttons on the Dura Ace shifters?

Cheers 

Charlie

Avatar
watlina replied to CharlieTwoWheels | 7 years ago
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CharlieTwoWheels wrote:

I was gonna play with this on Saturday. I have a Di2 Ultegra Orro bought last year. 

I wanted to see if I could have shifting similar to Sram E Tap with up and down rear derailleur shifts done left and right on the bobbled levers, with front derailleur moving on a pre selected gear on rear cassette, with rear cassette then changing 1 gear to make the change easier. 

Would this be possible or would I need to be buying additional stuff?

Also, I was hoping to program the now redundant buttons behind the bobbly ones to control my Garmin, but am I right in thinking this is only on the top hood buttons on the Dura Ace shifters?

Cheers 

Charlie

First off you'll need to check which version of the Di2 battery you have. You need the latest BT-DN110, this is the main requirement  to enable Syncro-Shift. It's not just a battery it contains the main processor and the BT-DN110 has increased processing power to handle Sycro-Shift.

You can't quite make it work like e-Tap but not far off, you could set full Syncro-Shift then have one button on one side go up a gear and the same button on the opposite side go down. The Syncro-Shift software handles changes on the FD as required as you move up or down the full range of gears with just the two buttons (one each side).

I don't think you can repurpose the other buttons for use with the Garmin. Certainly not at the moment. There nothing to stop it happening with new software. Looking at my Edge 1000 it only talks about functions tied to the DA top buttons. You can adjust what the Garmin does with the buttons.

 

Avatar
watlina | 7 years ago
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I did indeed mean EW-WU101 this is the new Bluetooth enabled version of the old SM-EWW01. It's the only Bluetooth version you can currently buy. The new slimmer in-line version the EW-WU111 is not yet available (it's out any day) . On my S-Works Roubaix Disc Di2 it goes under the little cover underneath the bottom bracket, up inside the downtube rather than externally. 

Waynej4 is correct it only allows the Di2 to talk to my iPhone/iPad for updating firmware and making adjustments. All the gear data still passes to my Garmin via ANT+. It's just easier than connecting the SM-BCR2 and a laptop.

I've got the new EW-RS910 Bar end Junction A and the new EW-JC130  Di2 Y-split cable on pre order. I don't think you need the RS910 to make Syncro-Shift work but it looks neater and will get rid of the current SM-EW90 Junction A under my stem. My BR-R785 shifters only have 1 e-tube port each (DA and Ultegra rim brake versions have two) and the EW-RS910 only has two so that's why I think I need the EW-JC130 to make a neat job of it. Both of those parts are due in any day according to Madison.

 

 

Avatar
MrMajic replied to watlina | 7 years ago
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The 910 unit is available from https://www.bike-components.de/en/ - I had mine delivered last week. Looks to be a nice solution. I didn't go for any of the bluetooth bits, I think I'm correct in saying that even with the BT battery there's no communication between the di2 kit and a Garmin without either the 101 or 111 units?

 

watlina wrote:

I did indeed mean EW-WU101 this is the new Bluetooth enabled version of the old SM-EWW01. It's the only Bluetooth version you can currently buy. The new slimmer in-line version the EW-WU111 is not yet available (it's out any day) . On my S-Works Roubaix Disc Di2 it goes under the little cover underneath the bottom bracket, up inside the downtube rather than externally. 

Waynej4 is correct it only allows the Di2 to talk to my iPhone/iPad for updating firmware and making adjustments. All the gear data still passes to my Garmin via ANT+. It's just easier than connecting the SM-BCR2 and a laptop.

I've got the new EW-RS910 Bar end Junction A and the new EW-JC130  Di2 Y-split cable on pre order. I don't think you need the RS910 to make Syncro-Shift work but it looks neater and will get rid of the current SM-EW90 Junction A under my stem. My BR-R785 shifters only have 1 e-tube port each (DA and Ultegra rim brake versions have two) and the EW-RS910 only has two so that's why I think I need the EW-JC130 to make a neat job of it. Both of those parts are due in any day according to Madison.

 

 

Avatar
MrMajic replied to MrMajic | 7 years ago
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Also, be aware it's a two port unit,  so if you're replacing your existing "standard" junction box A you'll need to get another junction box. I got a small 4 port SM-JC40 box to replac it, which sits within the handlebar on my bike.

 

MrMajic wrote:

 

The 910 unit is available from https://www.bike-components.de/en/ - I had mine delivered last week. Looks to be a nice solution. I didn't go for any of the bluetooth bits, I think I'm correct in saying that even with the BT battery there's no communication between the di2 kit and a Garmin without either the 101 or 111 units?

 

watlina wrote:

I did indeed mean EW-WU101 this is the new Bluetooth enabled version of the old SM-EWW01. It's the only Bluetooth version you can currently buy. The new slimmer in-line version the EW-WU111 is not yet available (it's out any day) . On my S-Works Roubaix Disc Di2 it goes under the little cover underneath the bottom bracket, up inside the downtube rather than externally. 

Waynej4 is correct it only allows the Di2 to talk to my iPhone/iPad for updating firmware and making adjustments. All the gear data still passes to my Garmin via ANT+. It's just easier than connecting the SM-BCR2 and a laptop.

I've got the new EW-RS910 Bar end Junction A and the new EW-JC130  Di2 Y-split cable on pre order. I don't think you need the RS910 to make Syncro-Shift work but it looks neater and will get rid of the current SM-EW90 Junction A under my stem. My BR-R785 shifters only have 1 e-tube port each (DA and Ultegra rim brake versions have two) and the EW-RS910 only has two so that's why I think I need the EW-JC130 to make a neat job of it. Both of those parts are due in any day according to Madison.

 

 

Avatar
kil0ran replied to MrMajic | 7 years ago
0 likes

MrMajic wrote:

Also, be aware it's a two port unit,  so if you're replacing your existing "standard" junction box A you'll need to get another junction box. I got a small 4 port SM-JC40 box to replac it, which sits within the handlebar on my bike.

 

MrMajic wrote:

 

The 910 unit is available from https://www.bike-components.de/en/ - I had mine delivered last week. Looks to be a nice solution. I didn't go for any of the bluetooth bits, I think I'm correct in saying that even with the BT battery there's no communication between the di2 kit and a Garmin without either the 101 or 111 units?

 

watlina wrote:

I did indeed mean EW-WU101 this is the new Bluetooth enabled version of the old SM-EWW01. It's the only Bluetooth version you can currently buy. The new slimmer in-line version the EW-WU111 is not yet available (it's out any day) . On my S-Works Roubaix Disc Di2 it goes under the little cover underneath the bottom bracket, up inside the downtube rather than externally. 

Waynej4 is correct it only allows the Di2 to talk to my iPhone/iPad for updating firmware and making adjustments. All the gear data still passes to my Garmin via ANT+. It's just easier than connecting the SM-BCR2 and a laptop.

I've got the new EW-RS910 Bar end Junction A and the new EW-JC130  Di2 Y-split cable on pre order. I don't think you need the RS910 to make Syncro-Shift work but it looks neater and will get rid of the current SM-EW90 Junction A under my stem. My BR-R785 shifters only have 1 e-tube port each (DA and Ultegra rim brake versions have two) and the EW-RS910 only has two so that's why I think I need the EW-JC130 to make a neat job of it. Both of those parts are due in any day according to Madison.

 

 

 

So, how do the RS910 & JC130 work? I'm assuming the bar end plug is designed to take the shifter cables? Surely you're then going to need an exit port somewhere near your stem? Not sure it offers any improvement over the original Junction A?

 

Avatar
watlina replied to kil0ran | 7 years ago
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kil0ran wrote:

So, how do the RS910 & JC130 work? I'm assuming the bar end plug is designed to take the shifter cables? Surely you're then going to need an exit port somewhere near your stem? Not sure it offers any improvement over the original Junction A?

The only real improvement is the current junction disappears from under the stem. I'll have a long e-tube wire (they are available up to 1400mm) that comes from down near my bottom bracket out at the top of the downtube like it does now but then goes straight into the bars and to the RS910 at the bar end. Then the JC130 Y-Cable plugs into other port of the RS910 (it only has two) with the two e-tube wires that come away going to the two shifters. 

Apparently the button on the RS910 can also be used to change Syncro-Shift mode while on the move or stopped for that matter (Off, Semi, Full) but I'm not sure that's going to be a big deal and sounds more likely to cause a mishap through not paying attention to the road while mucking about with a button on your bar end.

 

Avatar
watlina | 7 years ago
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The app has been out for a few weeks and talks fine to my D9070 with the BT-DN110 battery and an EW-EW101 (the new Bluetooth enabled version of the old ANT+ only D-Fly SM-EWW01).

What came out yesterday was a version of the app that now has the Syncro-Shift settings avalible but it's still useless for any of the older 11-speed e-tube setups as it requires front and rear  derailleurs firmware to be at least 3.0.0 to set Syncro-Shift but only 2.6.3 is currently available.

So still not there for a feature Shimano talked about in June 16 and said would be ready by Nov 16

Shimano Introduces New DURA-ACE R9100  Press Release June 30 2016
"Shimano Synchronized Shift will be available for all previous 11-speed Di2 road component groups with the use of new Di2 firmware and accessories in November 2016"

Avatar
Twowheelsaregreat replied to watlina | 7 years ago
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watlina wrote:

The app has been out for a few weeks and talks fine to my D9070 with the BT-DN110 battery and an EW-EW101 (the new Bluetooth enabled version of the old ANT+ only D-Fly SM-EWW01).

What came out yesterday was a version of the app that now has the Syncro-Shift settings avalible but it's still useless for any of the older 11-speed e-tube setups as it requires front and rear  derailleurs firmware to be at least 3.0.0 to set Syncro-Shift but only 2.6.3 is currently available.

So still not there for a feature Shimano talked about in June 16 and said would be ready by Nov 16

Shimano Introduces New DURA-ACE R9100  Press Release June 30 2016
"Shimano Synchronized Shift will be available for all previous 11-speed Di2 road component groups with the use of new Di2 firmware and accessories in November 2016"

 

Lets' just get this right...you did mean the EW-WU111 and not the "EW-EW101" didn't you. Still nice to know those components work with legacy hardware.

Does raise a question though. How long will Shimano be providing softwware/firmware support for their old electrical kit?

Avatar
waynej4 replied to Twowheelsaregreat | 7 years ago
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Twowheelsaregreat wrote:

Lets' just get this right...you did mean the EW-WU111 and not the "EW-EW101" didn't you...

 

I think he meant the EW-WU101, which looks like a newer version of the D-Fly transmitter. The original D-Fly sent gear info and battery level to a bike computer (this info wasn't transmitted with some DI2 components, certainly not Ultegra anyway).

Not sure if the newer one does anything extra, other than the Bluetooth functions.

I do hope the synchro features do filter down soon, as promised by Shimano. Does look expensive to get it though (new battery £120, New Junction box £80).

Avatar
Vili Er | 7 years ago
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No mention of Campagnolo EPS V3 being the first to utilise app based customisation about a year ago.

Avatar
danthomascyclist replied to Vili Er | 7 years ago
1 like

Bigringrider wrote:

No mention of Campagnolo EPS V3 being the first to utilise app based customisation about a year ago.

Interesting whine.

Why would they? There's no need to caveat every review with "this was done first by XYZ"

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