Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested
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If Admins think this topic might be moved, please do, but I think its related to upcoming (highly awaited) Carplay function.
I am heavy user of CP with iphone13 and looking forward to this feature on MRA Next.
This review is not about MRA N but about device I tested, and I saw lots of questions here on it.
So I had a chance to test for 2 days this deviceWherever you want to buy this device it will be same principle no brand device
Plus:
Big screen, bright screen, clear screen
Removable device from cradle
USB power cable
12V power cable
Carplay works as expected with all apps supporting CP (Tomtom GO, YT music and google maps tested)
Fast and responsive thing
Very lightweigth (because of no battery)Minus and turn off:
The biggest upset with my deep surprise was that it has no battery…..it works directly with power from bike on/off
It means there is not backup power or similar - its just pure contact on/off. And nowhere you can find this being described on the item, I checked many sites.This was a turn off for me because everytime you need device you need at least a contact…no way to turn it on or held it in hand to use it as normal gps device.
Further more all bikes are now made that even if you give contact, and device starts, it will cut when you start the bike (electronics cuts power to consumables to make better start). The device again resets, and you need to wait for it to initialize and start CP again (up to 20 sec). This is anoying you fire up and boom, cant start need to wait…the navigation though will continue because it will remain on phoneThis is big bummer and shame because device is very good otherwise. After some search I realized all of thise devices are batteryless….thats very strange for bike usage…
Second minus, it does not switch automatically between night and day brightnes. Only manually (with icon on front screen present)
Third minus:
Its touch screen, and not ‘push screen’ so gloves can be a problem and therefore there is a plastic pen on back of device for assistance if needed. But thats again anoying to use.Its more to be used in car then on bike
I will post some pics tomorrow (when behind pc)
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@Jure-Sirena-0 said in Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested:
If Admins think this topic might be moved, please do, but I think its related to upcoming (highly awaited) Carplay function.
I am heavy user of CP with iphone13 and looking forward to this feature on MRA Next.
This review is not about MRA N but about device I tested, and I saw lots of questions here on it.
So I had a chance to test for 2 days this deviceWherever you want to buy this device it will be same principle no brand device
Plus:
Big screen, bright screen, clear screen
Removable device from cradle
USB power cable
12V power cable
Carplay works as expected with all apps supporting CP (Tomtom GO, YT music and google maps tested)
Fast and responsive thing
Very lightweigth (because of no battery)Minus and turn off:
The biggest upset with my deep surprise was that it has no battery…..it works directly with power from bike on/off
It means there is not backup power or similar - its just pure contact on/off. And nowhere you can find this being described on the item, I checked many sites.This was a turn off for me because everytime you need device you need at least a contact…no way to turn it on or held it in hand to use it as normal gps device.
I've found every add/description/spec on this product to be quite clear. It doesn't have a battery and requires either 12VDC from the vehicle or power from a USB port.
You cannot use it as a normal GPS device... Because it's not a normal - or otherwise - GPS device (GPS is actually provided by a phone).
It's not intended to be used as a hand held device. It's intended to be used solely mounted to the bike (where it should have power from the bike readily available). I don't know why one would even want to use it as a handheld GPS device. Probably better to just use one's phone for that.
IDK... Seems you may be missing a significant point or two about this device. A key point/benefit is that it doesn't require a battery. The fact that it requires power from the bike is a feature, not a bug. One of the ideas here is that you're not trashing your phone's battery (think heat in the summer and charging a cold battery in the winter) for navigation. If this thing had a battery, it would suffer the same fate as the phone's - making it kind of pointless. Other similar points... You don't need to have your expensive phone's screen frying in the sun, or the phone being in the rain, or having the hell shook out of it on the handle bars (which from what I gather can damage some phones - re. camera/image stabilization). This thing is designed to take the beating so your phone doesn't have to.
Further more all bikes are now made that even if you give contact, and device starts, it will cut when you start the bike (electronics cuts power to consumables to make better start). The device again resets, and you need to wait for it to initialize and start CP again (up to 20 sec). This is anoying you fire up and boom, cant start need to wait…the navigation though will continue because it will remain on phone
Yes. Accessory power works that way. Can't say it would be unexpected or even annoying.
This is big bummer and shame because device is very good otherwise. After some search I realized all of thise devices are batteryless….thats very strange for bike usage…
Again... It's kind of the point of the thing. At least one of them anyway. So not so strange.
Second minus, it does not switch automatically between night and day brightnes. Only manually (with icon on front screen present)
This is pretty minor.
Third minus:
Its touch screen, and not ‘push screen’ so gloves can be a problem and therefore there is a plastic pen on back of device for assistance if needed. But thats again anoying to use.Its more to be used in car then on bike
Pretty much an issue with just about any portable device with a screen these day. It's why they make touch screen sensitive riding gloves. Get a pair. Problem solve-ed.
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@Tim-Thompson have you tried it in real life? Try it and you will see. I know what you mean its just to display things from phone but battey is a must.
Imagine everytime you start you need to wait for it to come up and click brightness or similar then gloves again on and go.
Imagine you stall, same issue, imagine you stop at roadwork and turn off, same issue.
Its not just on off it always goes from 0, first ststem initialization, rhen phone connection and then carplay….i did not missubderstand the purpose i am describing usage on bike. Its not navigation device but must be there when needed
Why handheld? You can still start routing with it each app supports search, igo sippoorts my places, home etc. lot of things, so for every detail phone needed, gloves off….
In describtion i gave no mention of battery.
I guess for day to drive its ok but when doing 500-600/ day weekly trips its no go but thats personal thing -
@Tim-Thompson
Regarding touch screen all good devices have push screen, i wonder how will you use gloves at cold temp even if super touch supported. Believe me been there regularyI guess i might stand out riding 365 days
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@Jure-Sirena-0 said in Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested:
@Tim-Thompson have you tried it in real life? Try it and you will see. I know what you mean its just to display things from phone but battey is a must.
Imagine everytime you start you need to wait for it to come up and click brightness or similar then gloves again on and go.
Imagine you stall, same issue, imagine you stop at roadwork and turn off, same issue.
Its not just on off it always goes from 0, first ststem initialization, rhen phone connection and then carplay….i did not missubderstand the purpose i am describing usage on bike. Its not navigation device but must be there when needed
Why handheld? You can still start routing with it each app supports search, igo sippoorts my places, home etc. lot of things, so for every detail phone needed, gloves off….
In describtion i gave no mention of battery.
I guess for day to drive its ok but when doing 500-600/ day weekly trips its no go but thats personal thingAgain... Accessory power being turned off/on is what it is. I don't see it as being a big deal.
You seem hung up on the notion of having to take gloves on and off for everything you want to do. Why?
You are talking on a MRA forum. MRA Navigation/Next is typically used on an iPhone or Android phone. I don't know about anybody else, but I haven't had a smartphone in some time that doesn't have a capacitive display and/or requires touch screen sensitive gloves. I can tell you that using MRA or any other nav app on my phone requires the touch screen sensitive gloves. I ride year around. Heated gear in the winter with heated gloves and touch screen sensitive finger tips etc. They work fine - within reason - for manipulating the phone's screen.
From what I've heard from other owners of these devices, touch screen sensitive gloves work fine.
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@Tim-Thompson forget it, you dont get the point. Try it on bike.
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@Jure-Sirena-0 There is a solution but maybe not good for you. Connect it directly to the motorcycle battery. When you put it on the bike it's always on. It's not that power consuming when you are drinking your coffee. But I can understand that it is frustrating that every time you stop for fuel coffee or other the device must restart and making connection to your phone. Than have to restart your route that your are riding that moment.
You are talking about 20 sec but I think is much longer. -
@Bart-4
Be careful, its not to reconnect your phone. Phone stays connected, navigation on phone (app) staysIts the thing that every tine device starts from zero, it has to initialize, ita has to connect to phone, it has to start carplay etc….it is frustrating
And yes it happened 2x I had to manually connect carplay by manually connect BT on phone with device.And carplay devices are today very close to navigation devices, its not just a display device and yes you can prepare lots of things when device is in your hand.
Through CP I can manage:Tomtom GO app:
Choose destination- favorites
- home
- work
- recent
- or search what ever address or POI
- search for petrol stations during drive
- search for parking during drive
- choose alternative route during driving
- stop navigating / start navigating
- volume adjustment
Google maps:
- search for any address
- recent searches
- pois
- alternative route
and many more
Main Difference from AA is that CP alows usage of keyboard at any time
I guess MRA N will also support key functions / management through CP
Main purpusen of CP is not to have a need to take out phone. And I never do (in car) and purpose of test was to try to do same on bike. If you need to do every small thing over phone then such device is useless, even if it is IPX7.
Dont get me wrong its a good device and I am sharing my thoughts after spending a weekend and 200km with the device on bike
I agree it is not appropriate to call this feature to work only on AUX power as an issue, it might be mistaken, I would rather say not having any battery support is to me personaly after testing it in real life on bike a BiG NO GO.
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@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 -
@Jure-Sirena-0 said in Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested:
@Tim-Thompson forget it, you dont get the point. Try it on bike.
I will. I have a unit on it's way as we speak.
I can think of issues that I might expect when I test it out. But, those you mention are not on the list.
When I setup navigation to start a ride, I set it up correctly and expect to have to interact with my phone (or this device) very little if ever once navigation begins. I don't listen to music or have other reasons to play with gadgets while I ride. The buttons on this thing are huge, so I don't expect my touch screen sensitive gloves are going to be a problem if/when I do need to interact with it.
I can't remember the last time I stalled a bike. Nor do I really ever encounter situations where I need to turn the bike off mid route. So, I expect that an accessory power cycle during initial startup is probably not going to really be a big thing.
As to the device not having a battery. I probably wouldn't buy it if it did. If it did, you would probably just being exchanging one device that has heat and cold weather charging issues for another. It would defeat one of the main reasons for getting it.
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@Bart-4 said in Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested:
@Jure-Sirena-0 There is a solution but maybe not good for you. Connect it directly to the motorcycle battery. When you put it on the bike it's always on. It's not that power consuming when you are drinking your coffee. But I can understand that it is frustrating that every time you stop for fuel coffee or other the device must restart and making connection to your phone. Than have to restart your route that your are riding that moment.
You are talking about 20 sec but I think is much longer.Nah... I wouldn't recommend it. First, you definitely would want to wire in an inline fuse. Plus the power supply would be on all the time. Granted power draw might be minimal when the device is not in use, but there would still be some. Why add to parasitic draw? Plus what happens if the supply fails catastrophically and you are not there?
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@Jure-Sirena-0 said in Discussion: Carplay / Android Auto motorcycle device tested:
And yes it happened 2x I had to manually connect carplay by manually connect BT on phone with device.
Now that's the first thing you mentioned that I would consider an issue. Not a fatal one, but perhaps annoying. I've read other folk's experience with the thing and have noted they often state that the device does indeed reconnect automatically after initial pairing. If this failed on a regular basis, I might consider it a nit.
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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.
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@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. -
@Tim-Thompson true - but I did not do or check for any updates, just straight to test
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Interesting discussion, I will follow it.
Some points (like the reconnect issue) will be a problem for me as well. -
@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 bothThis 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.
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@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:
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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
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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
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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….
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@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:
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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
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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
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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.
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@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
