RE: Is the BMW Nav 5/6 really relevant today - 3

Just binned my nav5 and removed the mount completely replaced with BMW app for iPhone (Held in ram claw mount) transfers the nav to the tft. Sorted. Also stopped the interference to helmet Bluetooth.

Speaking of which, anyone want tot buy an MV cradle mount for the 1250rs??

Yes!

BMW Motorrad Connected App and phone are the best combination!

BMW does not need to develop a successor for Nav VI anymore.

Have just read through this thread. For the benefit of anybody thinking of shelling out £550 or more for the Navigator VI who has a Garmin Zumo 660 please note that the 660 fits and works in the mount on my 1250RS without complications. OK the whizzy wheel does not work but it charges on the base and is secure. So I have the same functionality as I have had for years and has got me around the UK and Europe.

The processor on the 660 is a bit slow but I am used to it. I might look for a cheap Navigator VI over the coming winter but the price will have to be rock bottom if I am going to bite.

Can somebody comment on relative speed of the Navigator VI and the 660? That might help me decide how much to pay.

My money would be much better spent on a mount to site the sat-nav over the top of the TFT - same as the 1250GS. Crazy positioning of the mount on the RS. Very poor ergonomics and very unsafe in my case made even worse by my bar risers which bring the screen even closer to my stomach. Did the design team working on the mount forget to have a meet? It has all the hallmarks of a temporary fix!!

Chris

The processing speed difference is noticeable, but the Navigator is pathetically slow considering of what it should be capable. I’m not an expert on this, but I know how phones have changed from generation to generation, so I don’t see why a GPS 10 years newer isn’t massively better in performance. To be fair, this is a hard call. Less processing speed = less power consumption, and rarely does the GPS encounter heavy CPU loads while running. So, they probably think it’s best to not put too strong a CPU into the unit.

That said, the Navigator is PATHETIC when it comes to media management and playback. The 660 is wya better, which is unacceptable. I suspect the issue is no onboard speaker or audio out port on the cradle/harness...it’s all Bluetooth, and I think the issue is the GPS conserving power by opening the Bluetooth channel only when in use. So, it may be disengaging Bluetooth between each song...causing a momentary dropping of playback. Still, you add an album to a playlist and it doesn’t auto arrange by track number...that’s just unacceptable in 2010...nonetheless 2020.

Given the deficiencies of the Navigator and Garmin’s/BMW’s unwillingness to “fix” them (likely possible through a software/firmware upgrade), I’d avoid paying more for a Navigator VI than you’d spend for a 660 in near-mint condition.

Oh, an interesting anecdote. Tech came out to repair satellite internet. He’s required to note the GPS coordinates, but his smart phone couldn’t get a good lock. So, I turned on the RS and waited for the GPS to lock on. THIS is why I travel with a GPS and not just a smartphone in a cradle.

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #31

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Zitat von Vtbob im Beitrag #30

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I'm no where near as organized as most of you. When I do long trips, 2 or 3 thousand miles, i just use google maps on my PC to pick out the high points, get a feel for the distance time involve, and sort of plan where I'll end up each day. I tried base camp and my attention deficit problems precluded me for really getting into that. I have never downloaded a route!
I use the GPS to find out where I am, find a gas station, nearby attractions, and back roads that look interesting. I do this in real time.
Yes I do use the Cell phone, google maps has a much better detail in choosing hotels, restaurant of points of interest. I do his when I'm stopped as my old eyes have to have good glasses on to read the phone.
On my day trip or short week end trip I'm really just wandering around, enjoying good roads or some special stops.
I my part of the world cell coverage is poor. To many mountains or just not enough population to have cell tower (really only on the interstates or fair sized towns).

Google maps /cell phone just does not cut it for coverage for my riding local. Down loading ahead of time demands a level planning I'm just not capable of.

I will still rely on GPS. I still have mu Nav 5, did not feel Nav 6 was enough improved to spend the money. I am investigating other Garmin map data bases, trucking/hiking/ etc.

I hope Garmin will offer a BMW computable larger screen (which they have) with the wobble wheel as that works well when on the bike.

So for me real GPS is very relevant!

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You only need to download local maps once and then Google reminds you to update them every now and then. Do it now and be surprised next time you are in the sticks.

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I have always wondered how it can be that one can navigate with a phone in an area without cell coverage.

I know one can "supposedly" download the map to the phone- and by the way I am speaking of an i-phone here-
(how does one do that by the way?)

But without connectivity, how can one's position be relayed to the GPS? No position and thus how could you
possibly know where to turn?

And by the way:
The Apple iPhone has been “waterproof” for a few generations, but the iPhone 11 isn’t worry-free in all situations. It is highly water-resistant to the point that, under normal circumstances and regular use, it might as well be waterproof. But IP68 is still considered water-resistant according to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards – read on to learn more...

Zitat von M3M im Beitrag #39

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I have always wondered how it can be that one can navigate with a phone in an area without cell coverage.

I know one can "supposedly" download the map to the phone- and by the way I am speaking of an i-phone here-
(how does one do that by the way?)

But without connectivity, how can one's position be relayed to the GPS? No position and thus how could you
possibly know where to turn?

And by the way:
The Apple iPhone has been “waterproof” for a few generations, but the iPhone 11 isn’t worry-free in all situations. It is highly water-resistant to the point that, under normal circumstances and regular use, it might as well be waterproof. But IP68 is still considered water-resistant according to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards – read on to learn more...

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Cell phone have a marginal GPS receiver and a more marginal GPS antenna. But they also "fuse"/use AI data from the local cell towers (piggy back on the logic that decides which tower to switch the data /phone link from as one moves along). cell tower positions are know and inference approximates position between towers. So the GPS function is approximated for these different sources of info.

Zitat von Vtbob im Beitrag #42

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Cell phone have a marginal GPS receiver and a more marginal GPS antenna. But they also "fuse"/use AI data from the local cell towers (piggy back on the logic that decides which tower to switch the data /phone link from as one moves along). cell tower positions are know and inference approximates position between towers. So the GPS function is approximated for these different sources of info.

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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #40

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.... I use it when on foot in an urban area. Just download the local map tile via the hotel wifi then use this and Tripadvsor to find a restaurant or other attraction. That way, google maps is not using your roaming data connection as it has the map data cached.

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We are in technology convergence with many ways to do the same thing. This means that no solution is perfect, but leaves lots of options so that we can all choose our preference. Nothing is "best".

The BMW app is way behind other Nav apps in that it only shows directions. That is old school. If the BMW connected app showed maps with crowdsourced info (speed traps, traffic, etc.) then I would use it. As it is, as long as I'm using a phone I want that info and so will run Waze and accept that there will not be indicated turns on the TFT. Nav VI does a much better job with detail (especially minor roads) display than phone apps. I am also a sucker for the round trip planning provided by the VI. I have found some cool roads with that function.