Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested

[RetiredWingMan]

I just use an older phone with no service. Just use WiFi and GPS. Don't have to worry about damage to the phone. My other phone stays in my pocket.

[Jure Sirena 0]

@Tim-Thompson that I totally agree. You cant trust a wiring being direct….also I am not sure if it does not burn any current even when off. OK you can remove it from cradle but still it would mean power on pins in the cradle. Moisture could be a b….h. 5V is not big but 2A is not so innocent.

The device (i received) has no fuse, only 2 options

• 12V to 5v converter (a thing you need to hide somewhere cca 7x4x2cm)
• direct USB option (can be used if USB port is somewhere nearby) but again question in rain would be there

So I added one temp fuse on cable for test.

Plus then you have to use on off button constantly.
If someone would be creative it could easily put a small powerbank in between, between contact and device (not direct on bike battery) it can be an option. But I dont want to bother.

[Jure Sirena 0]

@Tim-Thompson true - but I did not do or check for any updates, just straight to test

[Jörgen]

Interesting discussion, I will follow it.
Some points (like the reconnect issue) will be a problem for me as well.

[Tim Thompson]

@Jure-Sirena-0 said in Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested:

@Jure-Sirena-0 some pics. Today is no longer on bike, its packed for return.
With side by side with Rider550 and exactly same route started on both

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mt9H1KiNNTsCUrdSA

This one I don't get. Sure I understand if you don't like it, send it back.

But why get it in the first place if you already have a Rider 550? Doesn't the TomTom already do everything you need?

One benefit of this device is that it's a fraction of the cost of a TomTom or Garmin. The one I picked up was only $125.00. Plus, my preference is to use either MRA Navigation/Next or Scenic as my navigation tool of choice. This device should facilitate that in AA or CP well enough. Don't think you can do that on either a TT or Garmin.

Here are a couple of issues that I foresee...

One will still have to put a power hit on their phone to navigate with a device like this. Wireless AA or CP will draw a fair amount of power even with the phone's screen off. For full day travel, I believe the phone will still need to have a power source, so one still has to account for that in their setup. My Heritage has a USB port up on the steering head to facilitate this if needed. The phone will either have to remain mounted next to this device on it's Ram Mount or get stuffed into the windshield bag (maybe better so that the phone remains out of the elements and doesn't get vibrated as much). Neither option is ideal.

Which brings me to the next issue. The thing is huge. Putting it next to the mounted phone makes for what might be a massive wall of gadgetry up on my handlebars. Not ideal.

These are reasons why I'm also evaluating a Beeline Moto. I don't believe the Beeline will put nearly the hit on a phone (just a BT connection) that wireless AA or CP will. Running the phone unpowered for navigation in this scenario may be perfectly acceptable. Then there is the diminutive size of the Beeline... It can pretty much make all the mounted junk disappear. Worst case... You need to power the phone (perhaps unlikely) and mount it in it's Ram Mount while doing so. The Beeline mounted with the phone will still be much less intrusive.

Granted, the Beeline would have it's own issues. Handling complex navigation situations may be one. Everything is a compromise. Still, for my Nightster at least, the Beeline might just fill the bill.

[Jure Sirena 0]

@Tim-Thompson well if you ask, I am a bike tour guide, lot of customers come with own phones and demand for such things has raised recently.

I am always interested in testing new things, being on bike all over the world. Tomtom rider 550 is very good device, but kind a small.
I also tested heavily garmin zumo xt. Nice device but management of device is very difficult, you need laptop with you….

Customers get of course bikes with pre-prepared routes but 80% of them dont know how to use garmin, tomtoms etc….
Sharing rout in advance with them over phone makes it easy, they manage it on phone they know, CP could be option
Me personaly I cant use always my bike if tour is in exotic place etc etc
Preparation in advance is key and its why I am also testing MRAN - it is best app regarding detailed planning (waypoints and its details)

But the test of this device review was mainly from my personal experience point of view. I struggled on domestic road but I know this roads..

Example:

1. i started from fuel station, had to wait for device to build up and show me way for cca 30 seconds (ok I knew where I had to go) but if I dont i would wait and block road

2. Similar I started from coffe break, wasnt aware of the device (because this does not happen with tomtom) and I entered in roundabout where device was still not ready

3. I forgot the side stand, and yes put in first gear bike cut, gps cut, needed again few streets to come back and this is when it had problem not automatically connecting to phone….had to stop, take out phone….

[Tim Thompson]

@Jure-Sirena-0 said in Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested:

@Tim-Thompson well if you ask, I am a bike tour guide, lot of customers come with own phones and demand for such things has raised recently.

I am always interested in testing new things, being on bike all over the world. Tomtom rider 550 is very good device, but kind a small.
I also tested heavily garmin zumo xt. Nice device but management of device is very difficult, you need laptop with you….

Customers get of course bikes with pre-prepared routes but 80% of them dont know how to use garmin, tomtoms etc….
Sharing rout in advance with them over phone makes it easy, they manage it on phone they know, CP could be option
Me personaly I cant use always my bike if tour is in exotic place etc etc
Preparation in advance is key and its why I am also testing MRAN - it is best app regarding detailed planning (waypoints and its details)

But the test of this device review was mainly from my personal experience point of view. I struggled on domestic road but I know this roads..

Example:

1. i started from fuel station, had to wait for device to build up and show me way for cca 30 seconds (ok I knew where I had to go) but if I dont i would wait and block road

2. Similar I started from coffe break, wasnt aware of the device (because this does not happen with tomtom) and I entered in roundabout where device was still not ready

3. I forgot the side stand, and yes put in first gear bike cut, gps cut, needed again few streets to come back and this is when it had problem not automatically connecting to phone….had to stop, take out phone….

Ok... But general impression/question...

How does this differ for the user experience of using AA or CP in a car? Stop for gas and shut the car off... Got to wait for everything to boot back up when you get back in the car. Go into the store or restaurant, come back out and hop in the car. Yup. Got to wait for the system and AA/CP to boot and reconnect. This generally is seen as just part of the deal. Is what it is. I've never found it to be that problematic. I have to imagine millions of AA/CP users around the world don't either.

[Jure Sirena 0]

@Tim-Thompson nope not in my car. The media in car shits down only when opening the door (exiting) when I turn of car the media still works (about 10 min)

So it boots up again only when leaving the car conpletely. At any other case even standing long time with car turned off (or start stop) media works
When restarting car up it takes 10 seconds for media to start and 5 more for carplay (wireless carplay) if you use cable its even faster.

And you cannot compare car with bike, in car everything is at your hand, your hands are available, no gloves, even phone itself is available (i use quadlock holder) so transition is alwas smooth, temperature is always normal, and CP device is factory build and flawless. At least mine - VW group. And even if any problems again its managable in car.

I just had toyoda CHR in Spain as rent a car and it worked even better somehow media goes in CP in few seconds.

Bike is different world uncomparable and bike is not used for shops and similar

May I ask are you using CP today (car or anywhere)? It sounds like you ise primarly your phone. Am I wrong?

Inwill stop here, I appriciate your arguments, again I made real life test and this was to me unbearable during drive on bike

[Tim Thompson]

@Jure-Sirena-0 said in Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested:

@Tim-Thompson nope not in my car. The media in car shits down only when opening the door (exiting) when I turn of car the media still works (about 10 min)

So it boots up again only when leaving the car conpletely. At any other case even standing long time with car turned off (or start stop) media works

Did any of the examples that I stated not require you to get out of the car (IOWs open the door)? Clearly, I'm aware that you can shut off the engine in a car and the accessories will remain on for a limited time or until you open the door. Not something I would think would be particularly a factor on a bike (at least in my use cases).

When restarting car up it takes 10 seconds for media to start and 5 more for carplay (wireless carplay) if you use cable its even faster.

Great. I suspect most cars vary on reboot time etc. But they all do it. It is what it is. If you don't like how long this device takes is one thing. But the fact that it has to do it isn't really novel.

And you cannot compare car with bike, in car everything is at your hand, your hands are available, no gloves, even phone itself is available (i use quadlock holder) so transition is alwas smooth, temperature is always normal, and CP device is factory build and flawless. At least mine - VW group. And even if any problems again its managable in car.

Frankly I don't really notice much more burden imposed by the tech when starting out on a ride that isn't already inherent in the fact that I'm riding a motorcycle vs. driving a car. For example, I don't generally don a bunch of gear before driving a car. I do so when riding (helmet, gloves, glasses, ear plugs, etc.) regardless of what tech may be coming along for the ride.

I just had toyoda CHR in Spain as rent a car and it worked even better somehow media goes in CP in few seconds.

Bike is different world uncomparable and bike is not used for shops and similar

May I ask are you using CP today (car or anywhere)? It sounds like you ise primarly your phone. Am I wrong?

Every day... Every time I drive. I Use both - either AA or CP depending on which phone I want to use during the drive.

[Vlad Popovici 0]

If you really need a big screen for Android Auto you can do like I did:

• Galaxy Tab Active 3
• RAM mount specific for Galaxy Tab Active 3
• Headunit Reloaded app

Wireless Android Auto works like a charm and the best thing is the sound still comes from the phone, not from the tablet, so you don't need to switch pairings with your comm device. It has a companion app on the phone, so it doesn't use the BT to initiate connection. You can keep BT off for that matter.

Also Galaxy Tab Active 3 is water proof so you can ride with it without special cover that hinders touching it.

Other very nice features:

• can work with or without battery
• it has a big red button that is configurable to anything you like
• it has a sensitive touching mode, so you can touch it even with the thickest gloves
• you can put a sim card inside if you want to use it completely separate from your phone and you have a top notch tablet with you
• and the best feature, you can use MRA-app or Next RIGHT NOW without Android Auto (thou, if you use direct apps on it, you need to pair the BT with your comm device)

[Jure Sirena 0]

@Vlad-Popovici-0 sounds good! But actually as you said it can actually run everything directly.

[flamingm0e]

@Jure-Sirena-0 said in Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested:

I also tested heavily garmin zumo xt. Nice device but management of device is very difficult, you need laptop with you….

You don't need a laptop to use a Zumo XT. I haven't connected my Zumo XT to my computer in months. It works 100% wirelessly.

[Jure Sirena 0]

@Matt-Flaming
How do you mange large routes - especially on trip. Well MRA route planner is answer but with garmin itself?

[Con Hennekens]

This is a vivid discussion . I am sorry but I didn't read it completely. TL;DR and too much of the same arguments. I do however have a few comments, maybe it gives some extra brain fuel.

I think it would indeed be very handy to have a battery in the device, exactly to overcome the reset/re-initialization each time after starting your bike. Also I like to set my route often before putting it on the bike. A small battery would suffice for that. I owned a Streetpilot many years ago and the biggest frustration was: no-battery...

In my opinion the comment about hot/cold battery problems is a non-issue. ALL Zumo and Rider users would have problems with their batteries if it was, but instead most units survive more than 10 years of use.

I am in favor of connecting accessoires directly to battery. You can prevent power-leakage with a simple switch. You can depend on CANBUS to switch accessories off, but is a proven fail-sensitive method. I had an USB charger keeping CANBUS open, dead battery in 3 days. Besides that, direct attached and manually switched I can use my USB charger to charge my COM set while drinking coffee

I like the idea of an dedicated Android navigation device. For me it doesn't really add anything if it does that through Android Auto, screencast or whatever. An autonomous device (like a phone without phone-functions) with an decent integrated powered mount like a Zumo would be perfect. Basically a Zumo running Android with the Google playstore is perfect.

[Jure Sirena 0]

@Con-Hennekens I agree with you. Well in fact if you took the best from each vendor you would certanly get a perfect device

[Dave J 0]

@Con-Hennekens Agree with you. I am running a refurbished Google Pixel 6 Pro with an SPC+ case and SPC+ powered vibration mount. Loving the set up having moved away from my Garmin Zumo XT. Using a refurbished phone as I am not bothered if the camera breaks - vibration issue - although the mount should help.
SPC+ anti Vibration Charge Mount
SPC+ Pixel 6 Pro Case

[Jure Sirena 0]

@Dave-J-0

I believe GPS manufacturers have realised that AA and CP are setting the future for mobile apps only. Car manufacturers stopped integrating dedicated navi, even bikes started with CP/AA (honda, bmw)

So I guess noone will invest in devices in future, all goes ‘mobile’

[Dave J 0]

@Jure-Sirena-0 I agree with you. I became frustrated with the Garmin as I was constrained with what I could do. My Android and iPhone devices give me so much more flex with what I can do and the apps available.

[Con Hennekens]

@Jure-Sirena-0, Yes, for integrated devices that is the way to goo. It keeps manufacturers the hassle of having to update their embedded stuff, and keeps users from being fed up with old and uncompliant stuff. It simply moves functionality to a device the user already has and regularly renews.

@Dave-J-0, my personal experience with rugged and/or waterproof cases is that the phone stops functioning due to overheating, with al that extra insulation A normal rugged phone does not need an extra case.

[flamingm0e]

@Jure-Sirena-0 said in Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested:

How do you mange large routes - especially on trip. Well MRA route planner is answer but with garmin itself?

What do you mean?

Create the route. Open the route in Explore on your phone and it syncs automatically. Or open it with Drive and send it to the Zumo. I don't connect my Zumo to my computer at all unless I want to play around with Open Street Maps or themes.

In fact, my Zumo is locked on my bike nearly 100% of the time.