WunderLINQ by Blackbox Embedded Review

[Stu]

I have just recently got one of these off the guys at https://blackboxembedded.com/ to have play with and to do a review on it

They have been out for a few years now and the main objective of this is to be able to operate your mobile phone/tablet via the Wonder Wheel on BMW motorbikes

I think originally it was created for the R1200GS but works on most bikes that are fitted with Navigation prep

It uses bluetooth to make a connection to your mobile phone which acts as a bluetooth keyboard and converts the inputs from the Wonder Wheel to keyboard actions that can then be used to select items on your phone/tablet

This works with Android and IOS

This is also user programmable too so you can choose other actions to add

This is what is in the box and as you can see its very small and compact the box of tricks that does all the talking and comes with 4 screw holes to accept AMP type mounts which is pretty much the standard these days.

I was also supplied with two charging cables for the phone micro usb and a micro C as the unit has a 5V 10w charging port on the side

I have also got 4 screws for mounting a Quadlock mount to mine as thats what I intend to use

PXL_20231018_163542548.jpg (200.45 KiB) Viewed 6677 times

I used a Quad Lock square base to mount the phone which comes with a spacer coupled with Quad Lock 360 Lever head

This spaces the phone out perfectly to mount it on to the R1200RT but if you are using your main phone then I would recommend the Quad Lock Motorcycle Vibration Dampener otherwise you could destroy your mobiles delicate camera.

PXL_20231023_183519338.jpg (172.72 KiB) Viewed 6677 times

PXL_20231023_183622760.jpg (132.43 KiB) Viewed 6677 times

PXL_20231023_183626890.jpg (127.92 KiB) Viewed 6677 times

PXL_20231023_183945099.jpg (146.51 KiB) Viewed 6677 times

PXL_20231023_184003238.jpg (136.15 KiB) Viewed 6677 times

Sorry no pics on the bike which I will update when I get chance

Once connected to the bike and turned on the bluetooth pairing mode will start and you can search for it with your phone and once connected thats pretty much it! it will start to work straight away

There is an app available which has all sorts of features too many to list really! but there is a mass of information available and if you have a 2017 model or above with onboard computer pro then you can see real time info via the app.

You can access contacts, navigation, waypoints, save waypoints and many more features

There is also a host of navigation app that allow you to use with WunderLINQ and control while on the go! I have been using MyRoute-app and it works really well it also works on:
Guru Maps
Scenic
Cartograph Maps
InRoute
Kurviger
Locus Map
OsmAnd
Oruxmaps
Organic Maps
and Cruiser

Furthermore you can also operate the insta 360 and Gopro cameras too

On the BMW R1200RT the inputs are controlled via the OE inputs via the navigation page on the LCD display

Here is a list of the standard inputs

Screenshot 2023-10-23 195403.png (250.79 KiB) Viewed 6677 times

I have been exploring as much of the settings in the app as possible to see if I can make this work the way I want it to

At first I was having some issues but it appears that it was down to settings in the phone with the keyboard I had installed once I removed this it was working better

I was also having some issues with the "speak" input not working correctly so I moved this to the "Display Off" I have also added some other functionality to suit my needs and it works extremely well

I can easily start and stop navigation while on the move and skip waypoints if I need to and also turn the phones volume on and off and access other maps too

One thing I did note was that when changing the settings it didn't seem to update properly but you have to restart the WunderLINQ once the settings are saved I figured that the best way for me to set it up was to change a setting save it and then restart the phone and the WunderLINQ this worked great for me although a little bit of a pain having to restart the phone which was probably not necessary but I felt that was the best way for me to do it.

The developers have also made this open source and also take all feedback onboard to help to develop the WunderLINQ

All In all I think the WunderLINQ is a great solution for anyone wanting to ditch their Navigator 5/6 and use your mobile phone especially as the BMW connected ride cradle doesn't fit the R1200RT

I will probably update this more as I go along the way with it and find more and more settings that work to operate my phone

Here is a video from the creators of the WunderLINQ



As an extra note I am also led to believe that this works with the Garmin Tread too but unfortunately not the XT

[Doctor T]

Here's a video from my old mate RikkyTang on the Linq

[jclaudej]

Hi,

I use this product since about 8000 km, and I love it because with Wunderlinq the possibilities are very important. If I compare with the BMW software I have the possibility to choose my GPS application and for example add CamSam plus as widget and obtain some information about speed radars.
At the beginning, I do learned to manage the command of Wunderlinq for dispaly my applications. But after some time this is easy.
If you want listen your music (Spotify) you must launch this application before Wunderlinq and after you could choose your favorite music. And top of that when your navigate inside different menu of your Wunderlinq, you keep all information about your GPS.

I hope that my explantion are clear for you, and if you need more information please ask me.

[Stu]

Yes the possibilities are endless

I need to explore more on what I can do with it and what other apps I can use with it too

[Stu]

Pics of my set up on the bike

[Doctor T]

Have you TPS as i cant see it connected in the pictures. If you haven't would it pick up the TPS if fitted?

[Stu]

Have you TPS as i cant see it connected in the pictures. If you haven't would it pick up the TPS if fitted?

As in tyre pressure?

Yes and yes top two boxes that have a strange figure of 8 on a side!

They only work once you have set off same as on the dash

[Stu]

I was also having some issues with the "speak" input not working correctly so I moved this to the "Display Off" I have also added some other functionality to suit my needs and it works extremely well

After speaking to Keith one of the developers about this and showing a video of the issue he soon got to work and fixed it and WunderLINQ have released firmware version 2.3 to fix the issue

Top marks from me so far

[jclaudej]

Just some picture of my new installation with systel against vibrations