2024 RT. Connected Ride Issue

[Mart UK]

Hi,
I have the latest software version on my bike and last week, I reinstalled the Connected Ride app on my phone, so that'sup to date, along with local maps. I have my (Samsung Galaxy) phone paired with the bike. Ditto my Cardo headset in my helmet. Connected Ride has all the permissions in my phone settings. My phone doesn't fit in the little cubby, so it's in my jacket, just as I've always done on my previous 1250GS. My phone is around 2 years old and my Cardo is about the same. It is not a 'mesh' version. My RT does not have the BMW audio / radio system.

I'm experiencing some issues I suspect are related:
- I'm finding I can no longer play music through the bike to my headset. It plays for c.2 seconds, goes off for 2 seconds and repeats this. The music is moving forward, just the audio is interrupted.
- If I run a route in the Apps navigation, the audio is not good enough. It comes in part way into the instruction and is sometimes difficult to hear. Like it has interference or distortion.
- if I turn the Connected Ride's WiFi permission off on my phone, the music returns, but the maps are no longer available and the map icon on the bottom of the TFT blinks constantly. Irritating.
- Even with the WiFi connection off, the audio (music) signal to my Cardo seems to get occasional interference. This never happened on my previous GS.

I've resigned myself to going back to my TomTom. I spent yesterday installing a mount and power supply. I only use sat nav when I'm away on holiday, so it is not on the bike most of the time. When that's the case, it would be nice to show the maps on the TFT side bar via the Connnected Ride app. Not for navigation, but just because it seems a waste of the larger TFT not to! But I'm not willing to do that if that messes up my music audio.

Has anyone else experienced and solved any of these problems?

[jesim1]

Hi Bud, this is not a total answer to your issues, I have all that stuff, but ironically don't use it. My phone is connecter to my cardo and it works fine, but I don't connect my phone to the bike.

My connect app works 99% of the time, but I agree it can be a faff when setting off having to wait for it to start. It used the phones and bikes wifi and Bluetooth, so if you streaming music for instance the bikes connection is cutting that out as you can't use both wifi and mobile data for other things on top of the bike as it has priority, which I think may be why your getting apps "fighting" for the connection?, It's one or the other in this case, and your bike has taken that connection already for use with the sat nav - at least that's m understanding?

The bike pocket size is just too small for todays phones, but was fine when they designed it at conception, but tec moves on, and it's no longer fit for purpose, BMW could sort this but seem to just ignore customer comments, lets see what happens with the R1300RT?

I don't know what you can do other than prioritise what you want, and how it is connected and see what happens. As I've said, neither my phone or cardo is connected to the bike and the connect works fine, it may be worth trying to disconnect everything, and just try working the card/phone/sat nav without the bike and see if that solves your problem?

The above costs nothing, so worth a punt

[Mart UK]

Yes, I think you're right. At least, in my experience so far. Which is why I was wondering if I'm doing anything wrong. I'd have thought BMW would expect music streaming whilst the navigation is active?

As it is, with the problems I've found, I will use my trusty TomTom for navigation. On my phone, I'll turn off the WiFi and never turn the Connected Ride app on. Then just use the bike connection to phone and helmet, as I did with the GS, to stream music and see how that goes. If I still get interruptions, I'll have to just go straight between the phone and helmet, but I'll miss the ability to pause and skip tracks on the handlebar switches and to very occasionally make a phone call without stopping.

Seems like the 10.25" TFT RT could end up being a step backwards from the GS, in terms of its tech for long journeys. How disappointing. Not quite regretting my decision, but I'm not so sure now that I should have switched from my GS. Early days yet though.

Happy to hear if anyone else has these problems. Even better if you've solved them.

The dealer's been friendly and helpful, but after the software update and advice to reinstall the app on my phone, they now suggest I need to get a new helmet headset with Bluetooth 5.0 / mesh (rather than my current v.4.0) and a replacement (smaller) phone. No guarantees that will solve it and I'm not in a position to do that,

[michaelc2710]

Hiya
I use a Samsung S21+ which fits in the cubby (just) and a packtalk bold.

I pair the helmet and phone to the bike which does work perfect for everything calls ect. I don't stream music just listen to the radio through the packtalk.
Use the same setup on the XR with the BMW craddle and same again all fine, the connected app (now Make life a ride app) did pee me off, but once I got it all working and connected correctly, I'd never go back to a stand alone satnav.

Main problem I had at the beginning was the phone permissions and other back ground apps.

[Mart UK]

Hi, thanks. I have given the app priority and all the permissions. I've not got any info on other background apps which might be interfering. Any guidance on what you found or did to improve it for you?

I don't have the radio system on my bike and no radio receiver on my headset. Plus, I would like my music when I'm abroad, so streaming from the phone is the easiest thing, if it can be made to work....

[jesim1]

You could also try keeping the app in the foreground by turning your lock screen to never shut down? I've heard that can help some issues, and it's also possible to play music from your phone which you have saved as a playlist

[Loopers]

I have a Samsung S22 and Sena headset in a Schuberth C5, Sorry to say but I have no issue with listening to music through the headset from the phone via the bike. Both phone and headset are connected to the bike and when it's working the connected ride satnav is functioning as it should. I also have a Garmin XT connected as "second phone/gps" to the helmet and this is the only interruption I get to the music when it give warning tones or directions.
I do however have issues with the connected ride being very unreliable in connecting or booting up in the TFT display, I do have the audio package installed on the bike which may be a contributing factor in being able to listen to the music though. The only other issue is that as well as like most people my phone won't fit in the cubby hole having the navigation and music on absolutely hammers the battery so I have to have it connected to a charger when on tour or long ride.

[Mart UK]

That's interesting. I initially had intermittent connection problems, but the music into my headset worked fine, like you are experiencing.

My bike's software was updated, I uninstalled and reinstalled the BMW app and reset settings on my phone to give the app permissions and priority. Now no problem connecting each time (at the moment), but I have the music feed from my phone being interrupted, unless I stop the maps through the TFT screen.

Seems like:
- to get a consistent connection, the app must have uninterrupted control over my phone and priority over other apps on my phone;
- when map view is active, the app is receiving an update from my phone for the map display. It seems to be a signal or a burst around every second; and
- this burst is enough to interrupt the music signal also coming from my phone via the bike / TFT to my headset.
I think the map display uses signal over the wifi connection to my phone. The audio uses Bluetooth. So, is the app interrupting the Bluetooth signal, or is my phone struggling to cope with both demands and prioritising the WiFi?

Turning the map view off in the TFT's Nav screen, restores the music to play without interruption. Not brilliant, but OK. However, I don't get why it is slightly poorer quality connection than I had before on my GS. Sounding a bit like an occasional weak FM radio signal.

PITA!

[Mart UK]

Out for a day's ride today. I have changed my phone to a smaller Samsung, so it can go in the front compartment. That seems to have sorted it. I don't know whether it's being closer to the bike (previously in my jacket pocket), or possibly, being charged in the compartment, but the phone now seems to have a stronger Bluetooth/ WiFi connection.

The app connected each time, maps stayed active and music was uninterrupted whilst the TFT displayed maps.

Hopefully sorted. I also set up some routes and it navigated me fine. The first syllable of instructions tended to get clipped, suggesting the connection was not responding quickly enough. But it alerted me to check the directions displayed on the screen, so can live with that.