ANT+ Basics

Before you start working with ANT+ you will need to understand the basics of how the ANT protocol works. If you haven’t already gone through the ANT Basics section, then please do so now and then come back to this page. It will save you time!

What is ANT+?

ANT+ is a managed ANT network that uses ‘device profiles’ to define how to send data over the network in a consistent way. The target applications for the ANT+ managed network include sport, wellness, and home health. Of course in reality the ANT+ managed network is made up of many smaller networks spread around the world; these networks exist wherever a group of ANT+ sensors and receivers can be found, and are separated simply by the physical distance between them.

In a nutshell: ANT+ devices use the ANT+ network key to access the ANT+ network, and they implement at least one of the ANT+ device profiles. At a high level that’s really all there is to it.

>> So what is a Device Profile?

Each ANT+ device profile contains the network rules relevant to a specific use case e.g. Speed & Distance monitors. These include settings for the channel parameters, the format of the data transmitted, and other specific communication mechanisms for the interaction between two devices.

Explore Device Profiles >>

>> How do I obtain the ANT+ Network Key?

To obtain the ANT+ network key you need to be an ANT+ Adopter, and agree to the terms of use.

Please note that the ANT+ network key may only be used by ANT+ devices.

ANT+ Devices.

Any ANT+ device that implements a particular device profile could be interoperable with any other ANT+ device implementing the same device profile. This allows a potential ecosystem of interoperable devices to be formed, as illustrated below.

For example an ANT+ heart rate strap (using the ANT+ Heart Rate Monitor device profile) can be used with any ANT+ watch that also implements the ANT+ Heart Rate Monitor device profile. The heart rate monitor can be interchanged for any other ANT+ heart rate monitor, from any manufacturer.

It is common for display devices to implement several device profiles at once e.g. the watch might also implement the speed and distance monitor profile.