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Ultegra Di2 - where's the "brain"?

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Ultegra Di2 - where's the "brain"?

Old 03-09-20, 11:00 AM
  #1  
ronin4740
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Ultegra Di2 - where's the "brain"?

I have an older Ultegra 6800 series Di2 groupset which is mated to an 8000 series long cage rear derailer (replaced the 6800 series short cage so I can run a 34-11 cassette) and a 6800 series front deraileur.

I think there's some shifting features that I could customize in the 8000 series groupset that I can't in the older 6800 series groupset...

...is the "brain" for shifting in the levers? or the junction box? Kinda curious about swapping the correct part out so I can better customize the syncro shifting...

...or is this just not worth the effort/cost?

Thanks!
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Old 03-09-20, 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by ronin4740
I have an older Ultegra 6800 series Di2 groupset which is mated to an 8000 series long cage rear derailer (replaced the 6800 series short cage so I can run a 34-11 cassette) and a 6800 series front deraileur.

I think there's some shifting features that I could customize in the 8000 series groupset that I can't in the older 6800 series groupset...

...is the "brain" for shifting in the levers? or the junction box? Kinda curious about swapping the correct part out so I can better customize the syncro shifting...

...or is this just not worth the effort/cost?

Thanks!
download the app https://e-tubeproject.shimano.com/guide/ to your computer, and you should be able to customize your 6800 groupset while charging system. The "brain" is in the battery.
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Old 03-09-20, 11:11 AM
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Thanks! I have the app. I'll fiddle with the syncro shifting again...
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Old 03-09-20, 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted by noodle soup
download the app https://e-tubeproject.shimano.com/guide/ to your computer, and you should be able to customize your 6800 groupset while charging system. The "brain" is in the battery.
This. Brian is in the battery. Won't know what you can or can't do until you set up the app and see what you can customize. It's en ever-changing landscape with Shimano.
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Old 03-09-20, 03:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Psimet2001
This. Brian is in the battery.
Who is Brian, and what is he doing in the battery? ;-)

I believe Synchro shift is only available with a BT-DN110 or BM-DN100 unit. At least it was the case when I tried it.
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Old 03-12-20, 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by ChinookTx
Who is Brian, and what is he doing in the battery? ;-)

I believe Synchro shift is only available with a BT-DN110 or BM-DN100 unit. At least it was the case when I tried it.
This Brian guy got a bad rap. My apologies. He should probably be released.
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Old 03-12-20, 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by ChinookTx
Who is Brian, and what is he doing in the battery? ;-)

I believe Synchro shift is only available with a BT-DN110 or BM-DN100 unit. At least it was the case when I tried it.
Yep, only available with current gen DI2s.

OP: FYI, E-Tube is not available on MacOS. Don't ask me why. I had to borrow a friend's laptop last summer to update mine.
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Old 03-12-20, 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by eduskator
Yep, only available with current gen DI2s.

OP: FYI, E-Tube is not available on MacOS. Don't ask me why. I had to borrow a friend's laptop last summer to update mine.
Those batteries are backwards compatible to every etube generation though aren't they? meaning everything but first gen Dura Ace di2
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Old 03-12-20, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Psimet2001
Those batteries are backwards compatible to every etube generation though aren't they? meaning everything but first gen Dura Ace di2
Yep, my new battery works with the old stuff, but my old battery doesn't work with the new stuff.
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Old 03-25-20, 07:11 PM
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The brain is in the battery, be careful with the firmwares as they may disable certain part combinations.
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Old 03-26-20, 09:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Psimet2001
Those batteries are backwards compatible to every etube generation though aren't they? meaning everything but first gen Dura Ace di2
The external batteries MUST have the proper external battery mount. This suggests that external battery brains are in the mount and not the battery. It took me three tries to get the proper external battery mount. Finally broke down and actually asked a mechanic familiar with the stuff. He print me out the Shimano interchangeability chart. If you don't have the proper battery mount the system won't even turn on. Seems as dead as a doornail.
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Old 03-27-20, 02:29 AM
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Originally Posted by RiceAWay
The external batteries MUST have the proper external battery mount. This suggests that external battery brains are in the mount and not the battery.
Yeah, true - for example: the BM-DN100 external battery mount enables synchronized shifting, even if you have an older battery.
(as long as it's compatible with BM-DN100 it'll synchro shift)

I believe Synchro shift is only available with a BT-DN110 or BM-DN100 unit. At least it was the case when I tried it.
Yep, that is correct for road bikes. I asked Shimano about the MTB requirements a few months ago (a display is required on MTB, so I suppose a part of the MTB-brain is in the display).
This is what they said:

Originally Posted by Shimano
MTB synchroshift was possible before BT-DN110 and BM-DN100 was released, possible combinations are:

1) SC-M9051 + BT-DN110 (smart battery); 2) SC-M9051 + BM-DN100 (smart mount) + SM-BTR1 (battery)
3) SC-MT800 + BT-DN110 (smart battery); 4) SC-MT800 + BM-DN100 (smart mount) + SM-BTR1 (battery)
5) SC-M9050 + BT-DN110 (smart battery); 6) SC-M9050 + BM-DN100 (smart mount) + SM-BTR1 (battery)
7) SC-M9050 + SM-BTR2 (smart battery); 8) SC-M9050 + SM-BMR1/2 (smart mount) + SM-BTR1 (battery)

1)2)3)4) - enables mtb synchroshift, enables bluetooth setup
5)6) enables mtb synchroshift, disables bluetooth setup
7)8) enables mtb synchroshift, no bluetooth radio

Last edited by TerryDi2C; 03-27-20 at 02:33 AM.
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