Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?

[Jörgen]

My Setup,

Oukitel Android Outdoor Tablet (a third of a Garmin price), working perfect with MRA and super display, bright enough in sunshine. I can only recommend.

[Dave J 0]

@Jörgen how have you mounted the tablet to the bike?

[Jörgen]

@Dave-J-0 this is a DIY holder, made from Aluminum profile. But there is a very good Version of RAM frame. I will look for the link.

[Jörgen]

https://www.emounting.nl/tab-tite-houder-7-8-tablets-with-cases-tab23.html?fbclid=IwAR29kd4hOxCSXqrrutM0wGiStN17KxUSmjZDg9Q-gBWk0dsRIXzLtEkC1JM

[Dave J 0]

@Jörgen Thank you

[HighPeakRider]

@Jörgen How is this wired in? It’s one of the tablets on my list.

[Jörgen]

@HighPeakRider Just USB-C Power from a (12-5Volt) converter. But it runs half a day with battery power. I use it since April for more than 7000km and for me, it was the best and cheapest buy. And you have the option of other useful Apps during travel.

[HighPeakRider]

@Jörgen Thanks

[richtea999]

Setup:

• Quadlock phone case or adapter
• Quadlock wireless charger
• Quadlock anti-vibration damper
• basic 12V -> dual USB connector
• BarButtons for control
• a phone, which may be one of:
  • Samsung A54
  • OnePlus Nord
  • iPhone 8

Pros of the above:

• I never need to buy a satnav. It's madness. I have a palm-sized computer that does the job, and a lot more.
• one device can navigate and plan on the fly (small screens of 6-7" are fine for creating and amending routes the night before). No need for import/export, etc.
• a group can share a route and within a minute everyone using MRA Navigate is ready. No faffing around, no download the night before, etc.
• all the Quadlock kit is reusable, except for the phone case/adapter. New phone? Just buy a suitable case or adapter.

And the cons (versus a satnav):

• very bright days can wash out some phone screens
• very high current + a hot day combined (30C) can force the screen to blank (MRA are working hard on this, so let's not discuss that here. I'm sure it will be fixed)
• online/offline issues still happen occassionally during a ride which can cause me to stop, reset, start riding again (see elsewhere for discussions, MRA are looking into it. As above, I'm sure it will be fixed)
• Quadlock wireless charger is overly expensive, but I was given one by a generous friend. USB cable works just as well - possibly better, but wireless is guaranteed waterproof whereas USB cable is 'probably' waterproof. I've had no problems yet.
• the cheap 12V-> USB doesn't disconnect after a period of use. With the one I bought you have to disconnect when leaving the bike for a long time (i.e. days), or you may drain the motorbike battery. If it ever gives up I'll buy a better one.
• a rat's nest of cables now adorns my bars for different phones, but whatever. Other people manage to create very tidy setups, I just ride.
• I expect to get problems with rain giving false presses, but it hasn't happened. Yet.

[Lynchy67]

@Jörgen

How does your set up cope in light or heavy rain?

I use a Samsung S21+ with the full Quadlock set up for Wireless charging and Vibration dampening.
As someone else mentioned the Quadlock Poncho is a cruel joke!

[HighPeakRider]

For the phone users are you mounting in a vertical or horizontal format.
I’m currently using my iphone vertically mainly to also navigate Apple Music.

[Jörgen]

@Lynchy67 "No problemo". In sunlight, I can see the display good enough, even with sunglasses, the tablet will not heat up from sunlight and because it is an outdoor tablet, rain is not an issue.

[richtea999]

@Lynchy67 said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

As someone else mentioned the Quadlock Poncho is a cruel joke!

They are taking the mickey. Most modern phones are IP68, including the S21+. See here for a Samsung list, as an example: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00077679/

And Apple: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207043

In addition many modern phones are smart enough to know there's water in the USB port. And people want to sell you a poncho. Tch.

[Con Hennekens]

@HighPeakRider, I usually use the phone in landscape mode, because that's just how people see the world anyway.

[Jack van Tilburg]

@Con-Hennekens said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

@HighPeakRider, I usually use the phone in landscape mode, because that's just how people see the world anyway.

That world changes at that point. Look at Instagram, TikTok or Facebook. The portrait mode is used most often there. And many video and photo applications have already adapted their technology to this. That's the way it is supposed to be. The consumer decides and the technology must serve this purpose (where possible).
And you are right that humans have a broad view. But if you want to focus on a particular faction, you may have to narrow that broad view.

[Con Hennekens]

I don't think my setup is very interesting, but here's just my thoughts on it:

I use a CAT S52, which is a rugged phone marketed as Caterpillar. It is sturdy, waterproof, military specced, can be handled with gloves, runs the better part of a day on battery. I acquired it for €250,- but unluckily follow-up S53 is quite a bit more expensive. I use this specifically for navigation on my motorbike, and for geocaching purposes. Why not? it is a lot cheaper then a Zumo XT. Only backdraw so far is that its brightness is a bit less, but so far it sufficed. I am planning on designing a visor for it this upcoming winter.

For the mount I use this OptiLine stuff. It fits my existing RAM ball. Because I use the CAT not for a daily phone, I have no problem sticking the adaptor plate directly to it, without an extra bumper-cover, which is bad for heat-dissipation anyway. Optiline does not offer a vibration dampener as far as I know, but a military specced phone does not need any. I chose this OptiLine because it was way cheaper than a Quadlock or SP Connect. I am very content with it.

My charger is one like this. It's fitted directly to battery with an inline fuse. I did not want to mess with the BMW canbus, and this way I can charge my co-riders stuff or my own headset, while drinking coffee without the engine running. Also it does not make much sense to have a Voltmeter only running when ignition is on. The thing can be switch off and does not leak any current. Since I ride a naked, I had to invent some mount to make it look nice. I think my 3D printed mount does a great job in that regard

I did built a BarButtons and printed the case myself. I tried to upgrade it with a magnetic mount but that was not very succesful. It wobbles while pressing buttons . I have thoughts about a powered mount instead, so that you can easily detach the unit from the bike while leaving the the powercord neatly attached to the mount. But to be honest I use the BB seldomly, so I am not sure I will go on with this idea yet.

[richtea999]

@Jack-van-Tilburg said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

That world changes at that point. Look at Instagram, TikTok or Facebook. The portrait mode is used most often there. And many video and photo applications have already adapted their technology to this. That's the way it is supposed to be.

Phones get used in portrait for a few reasons:

1. Holding a phone is easier in portrait because the centre of gravity is down through your hand, not off to the side
2. You can't answer a phonecall without one end being near your ear and the other near your mouth
3. Reading text is easier in short widths because you don't lose your place so easily

But landscape generally works best for human eyes - they've evolved to scan sideways, not up and down. There's not much danger/food up and down.

Interestingly, satnavs have vertical/portrait information because that's where you're going, but to help people cope with that, the view is tipped to make it appear more 'landscape'. Funny old world!

But in terms of motorcycling setups, I suspect it's whatever doesn't block your view of the other controls.

[Nick Carthew]

@richtea999 said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

@Jack-van-Tilburg said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

But in terms of motorcycling setups, I suspect it's whatever doesn't block your view of the other controls.

This is the reason why I switched to landscape view after re-positioning my phone from the handlebars to above the dashboard.
Portrait view blocked some of my dashboard and therefore if I wanted my phone in a clear line of sight position for safer viewing it needed to be mounted in landscape.
I first thought and therefore preferred portrait view because more of the road ahead could be viewed and factually that is correct but the difference is negligible and makes next to no difference. I now prefer landscape view.
It's a funny old world!

[Jack van Tilburg]

I make no judgment about the right or wrong of portrait or landscape mode. And I'm not trying to convince anyone to use one or the other. I point to a trend that ultimately influences the user and their habits, causing portrait mode to become mainstream.
It is up to the app providers to adapt to this, or not. But ultimately the customer decides and the technology adapts (or not).
By the way, I think that suits Corjan and Joost well

[Con Hennekens]

@Jack-van-Tilburg said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

That world changes at that point.

That world doesn't change at all. It's the smartphone that changes people. Those applications you mention work as easy in landscape as in portrait orientation, if not even better. You don't have a vertical monitor setup I suppose? And how have you positioned your TV? I don't think it's the consumer that decided this. It's the GUI makers of the first smartphones that went about it the wrong way and have set the benchmark for it. That's why we are watching amateur portrait video clips on TV with those horrible colored side panels to fill up the TV screen.

@richtea999 said in Has anyone seen a “What’s your setup” thread?:

Interestingly, satnavs have vertical/portrait information because that's where you're going

Well, every satnav I know has had landscape orientation. The sides are used to display information panels without obstructing the view on the map. It's only since the later smartphone era that the XT is designed to be able to be used in portrait. And that was only after people were reprogrammed by their smartphones And the XT is the only one (I know of).

It's a funny old world indeed!