When using a Pioneer head unit you'd want to install the meter with the magnets so that you can view the force vector data from your pedal stroke... this is the install specifically for no magnets using Ant+ mode instead of pedaling monitor mode with a third party head unit.
If you have a Pioneer head unit, you get more features, and for those features you need magnets, which are key to getting the 12 vector readings per side, per crank revolution. But if you just have an 3rd party head unit, which can only do ANT+ then you don't need magnets, but you also will only get one power reading per second, regardless of cadence, like any other ANT+ power meter. For this power meter, you can think as ANT+ as "dumbed down" mode and as such magnets are not required. For full functionality, do yourself a favor and get the Pioneer CA600, which a truly amazing head unit that unlocks all the features of this power meter, and has turn-by-turn navigation, and 3 live partner and/or coach on-screen bi-directional sharing of performance metrics. Had lots of head units over the last 30 years of riding and CA600 is definitely the most feature rich. Highly recommended.
You only need the magnets if you're using a Pioneer head unit and want to use it in "pedaling monitor" mode for the force vectoring display. If you're not running in "pedaling monitor" mode or don't care about the force vectoring display, or if you're not using a Pioneer head unit then you don't need to worry about the magnets.
Not using a Pioneer computer for the video??
When using a Pioneer head unit you'd want to install the meter with the magnets so that you can view the force vector data from your pedal stroke... this is the install specifically for no magnets using Ant+ mode instead of pedaling monitor mode with a third party head unit.
If you have a Pioneer head unit, you get more features, and for those features you need magnets, which are key to getting the 12 vector readings per side, per crank revolution. But if you just have an 3rd party head unit, which can only do ANT+ then you don't need magnets, but you also will only get one power reading per second, regardless of cadence, like any other ANT+ power meter. For this power meter, you can think as ANT+ as "dumbed down" mode and as such magnets are not required. For full functionality, do yourself a favor and get the Pioneer CA600, which a truly amazing head unit that unlocks all the features of this power meter, and has turn-by-turn navigation, and 3 live partner and/or coach on-screen bi-directional sharing of performance metrics. Had lots of head units over the last 30 years of riding and CA600 is definitely the most feature rich. Highly recommended.
This wasn't very helpful. Maybe explain why we, pioneer power meter owners, need magnets or what is the difference installing without magnets?
You only need the magnets if you're using a Pioneer head unit and want to use it in "pedaling monitor" mode for the force vectoring display. If you're not running in "pedaling monitor" mode or don't care about the force vectoring display, or if you're not using a Pioneer head unit then you don't need to worry about the magnets.
Eric Rump see my reply to the @irgccg's comment. Hopefully my explanation is helpful. Cheers.