Using the Nav 6, I'm not familiar working with offline navigation, meaning being in areas without cell coverage. How does that work?
BMW TFT and Connected App
If anyone has specific questions about this technology, myself and hopefully others will try and answer them.
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Maps are downloaded to the App (just the same as the Nav 6), so you do not need cell coverage.Using the Nav 6, I'm not familiar working with offline navigation, meaning being in areas without cell coverage. How does that work?
The App is not the best for planning routes, they are best done on a Route planning application and sent to the App. If for example, you send an email to yourself with the GPX file you can easily open it on your phone and the App will recognise it and import it.
Updates to maps are notified to you (say every 3 months or so) and you download them.
I recommend Map data is stored local on the phone memory, I have two phones, maps are on phone memory on one and a fast SD card on the other. On the phone with the SD card it takes about 30-40 seconds to display the map on the App and identify my location. After that the maps work normally.
On the phone using internal memory the display is more or less instantaneous.
I get that piece. I want a better understanding of what happens while you're on a downloaded route, you're riding, and then you find yourself in an area without cell coverage.Maps are downloaded to the App (just the same as the Nav 6), so you do not need cell coverage.
Specifically, the Garmin Nav keeps track of miles to destination. I'm assuming that's happening through the GPS function. What happens on the TFT?
John, you do not need cell coverage. If your phone drops out of cell coverage you can't make calls etc. but the navigation will continue as normal.
Think of the App as a Garmin, the App will track miles to destination or miles to next waypoint etc. The TFT will display the route exactly as the Garmin would.
What you would loose is online traffic information, but that is the same as the Garmin. The other thing (I think) you would loose is POI information. on the bike you can search for fuel, parking etc. The App gets that data from Tom Tom, I think that info is stored in the Garmin, but I am not sure. That would be a question for the BMW guys to answer.
Think of the App as a Garmin, the App will track miles to destination or miles to next waypoint etc. The TFT will display the route exactly as the Garmin would.
What you would loose is online traffic information, but that is the same as the Garmin. The other thing (I think) you would loose is POI information. on the bike you can search for fuel, parking etc. The App gets that data from Tom Tom, I think that info is stored in the Garmin, but I am not sure. That would be a question for the BMW guys to answer.
No. The POI is stored within the map.
Ok, for the time being I'll take your word for it that there is some magic in the App where it always knows where you are, even if you take a detour and get back on, and still be able calculate mileage to destination.
But without cell, I don't know what happens if you become lost and need to drill down into an area where you don't have a downloaded map. It doesn't happen often (to me) but it's indispensable when you need it. This would also apply to dynamically searching for stuff in an area where a map isn't downloaded. These would be my main concerns.
But without cell, I don't know what happens if you become lost and need to drill down into an area where you don't have a downloaded map. It doesn't happen often (to me) but it's indispensable when you need it. This would also apply to dynamically searching for stuff in an area where a map isn't downloaded. These would be my main concerns.
I use Google maps to plan my next days route on my laptop in the hotel. I convert it using Mapstogpx.com then move it to my phone. I open the app make sure the app has loaded it correctly.
While I'm riding I can go to "create a new route" and then to POI's to find the next gas station. I travel on very lonly roads here in the western part of the US without any sort of cell coverage and it works just fine.
While I'm riding I can go to "create a new route" and then to POI's to find the next gas station. I travel on very lonly roads here in the western part of the US without any sort of cell coverage and it works just fine.
I have the entire US map downloaded into my phone va the app. It uses satellites to keep track of where you are.
All the maps are stored locally on the phone and you phone needs to have location services switched on so there is no magic.
You will have to download maps for whatever area you are likely to travel in. I have all of Europe downloaded.
You will have to download maps for whatever area you are likely to travel in. I have all of Europe downloaded.
Just bolting on John, there need not be any anxiety about cell coverage as it relates to the app navigation. You download the maps to your phone's memory. Right now I just have California downloaded, but would obviously download additional maps if I were headed out of state.I get that piece. I want a better understanding of what happens while you're on a downloaded route, you're riding, and then you find yourself in an area without cell coverage.
Specifically, the Garmin Nav keeps track of miles to destination. I'm assuming that's happening through the GPS function. What happens on the TFT?
My only experience navigation wise is with the Nav 5/6. I don't mean to sound ignorant about downloading maps to my phone, but I am.Just bolting on John, there need not be any anxiety about cell coverage as it relates to the app navigation. You download the maps to your phone's memory. Right now I just have California downloaded, but would obviously download additional maps if I were headed out of state.
I almost think I'm hearing there is no difference in navigation capabilities between the Nav and the TFT. If there are differences, I'd appreciate understanding what they are.
The Nav unit has more in-depth functions (that most don't use) and the app using the TFT is easier to read but has a few bugs. Still I would rather use the TFT and the app. What ever I use I like to carry a paper map to get the entire picture of what I want to do. I have a GS with the TFT and it works well. People on the RT forum have had difficulties.. There is a new update for the RT TFT that understand has fixed a lot of things. I've been on several trips in the last year only using the TFT and app. For the most part I haven't had problems. Construction confused it once and once it hung up and I had to reboot my phone. I have the Nav6 on my bike and I no longer use it. I would sell it but the bike has a spot that was made for it and it would look funny without it.
So what I'm understanding is that my routes are now loaded into my Nav VI before I leave home, so as long as the Nav keeps working I'm good. For the new TFT display I can't lose my phone or break it because my Navigation will be lost? What if I want to share my route with someone that has a Garmin Nav unit? While Basecamp took me awhile to learn I have lots of routes saved to it. I can quickly modify these routes routes for yearly rides when necessary. Does the app allow for this?
You can still use your existing routes on your phone or your nav unit. You can share any GPX file with anyone. You can still use Basecamp. If you lose your nav unit or break it your screwed, No different than your phone. You can also load all your routes in your phone before you leave home.So what I'm understanding is that my routes are now loaded into my Nav VI before I leave home, so as long as the Nav keeps working I'm good. For the new TFT display I can't lose my phone or break it because my Navigation will be lost? What if I want to share my route with someone that has a Garmin Nav unit? While Basecamp took me awhile to learn I have lots of routes saved to it. I can quickly modify these routes routes for yearly rides when necessary. Does the app allow for this?
My question with all these Apple and Android apps is do they calculate the route in the cloud or in the app? I know you can download maps but where is the route calculated? With Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps I believe all route calculation is done on the cloud servers. Waze will only let you set one waypoint and even then will reject any route more than 200 miles away as "too complex" for online calculation.
In Europe it may be okay with ubiquitous cell phone coverage but in the USA we have many areas with little or no coverage. Heading out to Big Bend on Saturday. Once I go past Del Rio on US90, cell phone coverage becomes very spotty but it is 250 miles (and only two gas stations) to the park.
I'll stick with my Nav V and backup Zumo XT.
In Europe it may be okay with ubiquitous cell phone coverage but in the USA we have many areas with little or no coverage. Heading out to Big Bend on Saturday. Once I go past Del Rio on US90, cell phone coverage becomes very spotty but it is 250 miles (and only two gas stations) to the park.
I'll stick with my Nav V and backup Zumo XT.
Well I guess you are correct I’ve had my R1200 for six months I’m finally playing with the gps feature and it seems very impressive as long as the phone is charged up. I guess after using the navigator for the last 6 years I’ll have to get used to the phone,
Even though there’s turn by turn direction, it’s nice to look directly at the map while traveling and see poi or other map features
Even though there’s turn by turn direction, it’s nice to look directly at the map while traveling and see poi or other map features
Hi John, there is no magic as such. As I'm sure you already know mobile phones these days have their own GPS receivers and consequently know where they are (provided you switch on the optional GPS location finding) which, is then displayed on DOWNLOADED maps IF there is NO GSM/CELL signal available. I capitalise the word 'downloaded' for effect. Unless the maps are on the hard drive this system still works but with very little or no map detail. Moreover downloading maps at home, if you have sufficient mobile phone memory available, is good practise regardless. It saves the phone downloading maps as it goes using expensive CELL/GSM data connection, dependent on where and what contract you may have.Ok, for the time being I'll take your word for it that there is some magic in the App where it always knows where you are, even if you take a detour and get back on, and still be able calculate mileage to destination.
But without cell, I don't know what happens if you become lost and need to drill down into an area where you don't have a downloaded map. It doesn't happen often (to me) but it's indispensable when you need it. This would also apply to dynamically searching for stuff in an area where a map isn't downloaded. These would be my main concerns.
As a for instance, I have just returned home after a long tour of Europe on my TFT equipped 2021 R1250 GS Adventure. Before leaving home I made sure ALL maps were downloaded into phone memory and or updated for both Google Maps and the BMW Connected App. Although the European Union allows free roaming there are limits to the monthly quantity of downloaded data. Downloading maps using home WiFi reduces data consumed on the road and therefore costs when the Cell/Gsm Data allowance is subsequently exceeded. I imagine there are similar restrictions in the USA?
To give you some idea of memory usage. I have downloaded ALL maps for Europe (the EU, which includes all European Ferry Routes), the UK, all of Russia to the Pacific Coast, all of the Balkans, and Scandinavia. That's a fair chunk of the globe and certainly more than the land area of the USA. This has taken up 21Gb of memory on my Samsung s21 Ultra (512Gb).
On this recent trip, whilst in the Alps, parts of Sardinia and Corsica no GSM/Cell coverage was available. The BMW Connected App's Nav worked seamlessly. Moreover it recorded each ride (route, speeds, temps, distance etc etc) regardless and accurately located photos taken on the maps.
As I understand it the 21 RT and new 22 K1600's have the same TFT system as the 1250 GS(A)'s but with a larger screen, which also displays maps without having to use your mobile phone screen in tandem with the TFT. If these systems are as good as the GS's TFT/Mobile combo its a definite win in my opinion and long, long overdue. To complete my setup I have an N-Com 902X Headset (which is a rebadged Sena unit) giving clear and loud (I'm a bit mutton ;-) media, telephone and turn by turn Nav from whichever is selected ie. BMW Connect/Google Maps/Nav 6.
Hope any of this help's, apologies for its length. Regards, Tony
The BMW App is self contained in that the maps are on your phone and the route is calculated on the App, you can have twisty roads options, avoid toll roads etc.
It has pretty much the same sort of settings your Nav 6 will have.
@Rick92040 are you sure the POI's are stored on the maps in the App, if so, we should be able to use them in the App for navigation. The only thing | see is a POI for fuel.
When on the bike you can select POI's and it will bring up Fuel, Parking, Hotels etc. but only fuel is available when planning a route.
It has pretty much the same sort of settings your Nav 6 will have.
@Rick92040 are you sure the POI's are stored on the maps in the App, if so, we should be able to use them in the App for navigation. The only thing | see is a POI for fuel.
When on the bike you can select POI's and it will bring up Fuel, Parking, Hotels etc. but only fuel is available when planning a route.
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