First go with the Motorrad Connected app…..

[Deleted account 250319001]

The Connected app and its associated TFT and a phone, allows the owner to dispense with the XT (or any other Garmin / Tom Tom device) entirely.

Personally I disagree with that. Over the last three years, I've used the TFT navigation a handful of times. The TFT Navigation doesn't take the place of the Nav , whatever is used, The full mapping page is a huge plus. Also the weather and traffic. Obviously this doesn't include the RT as that has a navigation page on the TFT screen. The TFT navigation on the GS , I don't think will make the Navigators obsolete.

 

[Wapping]

Aha, I have found that you can ‘manage’ the photographs within the app on my iPad, adding or deleting more.

That means you can add photographs sent by someone else, for example.

 

[Wapping]

Personally I disagree with that. Over the last three years, I've used the TFT navigation a handful of times. The TFT Navigation doesn't take the place of the Nav , whatever is used, The full mapping page is a huge plus. Also the weather and traffic. Obviously this doesn't include the RT as that has a navigation page on the TFT screen. The TFT navigation on the GS , I don't think will make the Navigators obsolete.

I think we are maybe talking at cross purposes.

The TFT screen, with its ability to link to the Connected app on a phone, can dispense with the separate GPS device entirely. I did exactly that between Walkers cafe at Mildenhall and Kimbolton, my Navigator VI just sitting in the top box.

It had its faults, as my opening post explained, in that the TFT screen did not render up a map of the route, only the turn by turn directions. That would, if the pictures are accurate, be fixed with the new ‘split screen’ larger TFT screens, connected to the app, running on a phone.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of Garmin GPS devices, having used them and their associated route creation software (MapSource and now BaseCamp) for years. I was surprised at how well the Connected app worked, in conjunction with my iPhone, subject to its limitations. I had never used the app before, nor seen a TFT screen before, nor used my phone as any kind of GPS device with my bike before, it was a fast learning curve and, thankfully, quite a good experience.

Maybe, the day of the dedicated GPS unit - for use on day-to-day motorcycles on day-to-day jaunts in the developed world - really is coming to an end? Or maybe they’ll change into something else? Maybe Garmin or someone else will just supply mapping or the algorithms or act as consultants? We shall see…… but in any case, I’ll still need my faithful Garmin device and BaseCamp to use on my 1600, which doesn’t have a TFT screen….. and I need to use it in my motorhome, though I could use a phone and Google maps there, too.


PS I am not in the slightest bit interested in the weather or traffic. Or my tyre pressures, lean angles or how many times I activated the horn in a built up area, for that matter.

 

[Wapping]

Bingo!

Following the tips from Omani and boxer, I have found that (at least on my phone) I can shape a route reasonably well by tapping on the map. It seems that I wasn’t tapping on the screen properly.

The phone’s small screen makes it a bit hit and miss but no doubt practice (or a screen pen) will help.

My thanks to both.

I have tried the same on my large iPad. I can drop a pin onto the map but it will not create a route until I have registered (if that is the right word) the iPad with the TFT screen on the motorbike. That’s what I’ll do next, assuming the bike will allow two separate Apple devices to be registered at once, without blowing up or the need to delete the earlier one.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Yes I think we have our wires crossed.
The TFT with maps on screen is only on the RT and the K1600 (from March 22) All other TFT don't have a map on screen. So a dedicated navigator will always be better.
Three years now running the TFT group, I've heard it all. One chap posted he was having issues with his TFT, he couldn't get the app to connect anywhere. And this is true. When he sent me a picture, he had an analogue dash

 

[Wapping]

Yes I think we have our wires crossed.
The TFT with maps on screen is only on the RT and the K1600 (from March 22) All other TFT don't have a map on screen. So a dedicated navigator will always be better.
Three years now running the TFT group, I've heard it all. One chap posted he was having issues with his TFT, he couldn't get the app to connect anywhere. And this is true. When he sent me a picture, he had an analogue dash

Aha, all is now clear and we are on the same page.

Sat Nav on my conventional clocks 1600.

TFT and BMW Connected app via the phone and a Sat Nav on my new 850.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Aha, all is now clear and we are on the same page.

Sat Nav on my conventional clocks 1600.

TFT and BMW Connected app via the phone and a Sat Nav on my new 850.

That's it.
Im considering the K1600 in March to go next to my GSA. That will have a Navigation TFT. So no need for a Stand alone GPS.

 

[Wapping]

A cunning plan.

Two very different bikes.

The new model 1600 does look interesting.

 

[Wapping]

I have tried to pair my iPad Pro to the TFT on the 850 but with no joy.

The iPad can find the TFT and (very briefly) display a pairing code but then it just crashes. I can’t help but think that BMW have missed a trick here, as it would allow the creation of routes or whatever through use of the iPad’s larger screen. Having say, two devices share the single bike connection would make good sense. Or, failing that, allow someone with a registered My BMW account, log onto the app for the purposes of route creation.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Richard. This is a well known issue. IOS (apple) permission settings. Currently BMW are working with Apple to resolve this issue. I, sonce March 2018 have had zero issues with my TFT ref connections. I use a samsung Note 9, & Sena 50S.
good luck.

 

[Wapping]

My iPhone 12 links really well. I had guessed that the iPad is not a phone, so maybe the protocols (or whatever they are called) stops the ‘handshake’ going through to completion.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

My iPhone 12 links really well. I had guessed that the iPad is not a phone, so maybe the protocols (or whatever they are called) stops the ‘handshake’ going through to completion.

Yes, you are quite right.

 

[stever1]

I’m finding this thread quite interesting. You seem to have it all sorted and running reliably. Another thread on here seems to be having a completely different experience.
It makes me wonder if people are not getting an in depth appreciation of what exactly is needed for a good reliable/connection.

 

[Wapping]

I’m finding this thread quite interesting. You seem to have it all sorted and running reliably. Another thread on here seems to be having a completely different experience.
It makes me wonder if people are not getting an in depth appreciation of what exactly is needed for a good reliable/connection.

Thank you.

As with my Mac and anything computer related, I just follow the very basic instructions, not least because I have no idea what much of the mumbojumbo means.

To be fair I haven’t tried to add music or voice commands or any of that sort of stuff. When and I do I’ll just follow the most basic instructions I can find.

For example, I’ll follow the beginning part of this amateur but quite simple video. The second half of the video shows the wider TFT screen and its ability to display the maps loaded on the Garmin Connected app in an iPhone. The days of the separate dedicated GPS for non-specialist use are clearly upon us.

I guess what Garmin or someone could do is to build a unit that mimicked a phone, which could be loaded with maps but didn’t make calls or take pictures. Then link that to a bike’s TFT screen. In other words, a GPS but without a screen or just a basic screen to aid connection.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JqfwpgQCqZI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Wapping]

I am going for a test ride at the weekend on an RT, equipped with the new 10.25 inch TFT screen, with its ability to ‘split screen’ and show the maps.

Talking to the bods at Park Lane, the updated TFT screen is able to display the maps (which clearly carry a lot of data) only because it uses an internet connection, in parallel to its Bluetooth connection. I’ll be interested, not in the bike but seeing and using the screen in action. I’ll create a route in BaseCamp to try it out properly.

 

[stever1]

I am going for a test ride at the weekend on an RT, equipped with the new 10.25 inch TFT screen, with its ability to ‘split screen’ and show the maps.

Talking to the bods at Park Lane, the updated TFT screen is able to display the maps (which clearly carry a lot of data) only because it uses an internet connection, in parallel to its Bluetooth connection. I’ll be interested, not in the bike but seeing and using the screen in action. I’ll create a route in BaseCamp to try it out properly.

That’s interesting. In that case it loses its advantage over a stand alone satnav device then if it needs an internet connection.

 

[Wapping]

That’s interesting. In that case it loses its advantage over a stand alone satnav device then if it needs an internet connection.

The internet connection between the phone and the TFT is created by the bike itself, just as it is in many cars. It’s not an external internet connection, such as you might have at home.

 

[Wapping]

I have contacted BMW’s app guru, to ask if it might be possible for registered BMW Connected app users, to log into the app via an iPad. Something that is currently impossible to do. I have received an automated reply that they have at least received my mail.

Let’s wait to see what they say.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

The internet connection between the phone and the TFT is created by the bike itself, just as it is in many cars. It’s not an external internet connection, such as you might have at home.

So the on board sim (RT) is connected to the intraweb, rather than the GS TFT internet is via the mobile device ?

 

[Boxed-in]

I have very little use on my mobile phone, so I just have a pay as you go scheme, it strikes me I don’t pay anything for a standalone GPS, if the TFT uses my mobile as the internet connection, it will just chew data, and add an additional cost that I don’t want or need?