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Apple CarPlay - the good, the bad, and the really ugly
- Thread starter racoon
- Start date
racoon
Well-known member
So I just got back from a visit to my dealer, and it was even uglier than you could possibly imagine! 
So when I left home this morning I could not get CarPlay to work.
I drove a couple of miles South to the nearest gas station and filled up my tank.
When I started the Spyder after filling up, CarPlay navigation immediately started up and accurately showed my location.
I stayed off the interstate on the way to the dealer, so was doing 50-55 MPH for the trip. It took about 2 hours.
Apple CarPlay worked the ENTIRE TIME!
Turned off the engine, went inside, and asked for the service manager. They called him and I was then asked to drive my Spyder around to the service bay entrance.
The service manager met me there, along with the tech.
I went through the explanation, and then told him it had started working this morning, and worked for the entire drive. I also told them again about the trip to the Spyders in the Delta event in Arkansas, and how it didn't work when I left Jonesboro, AR but started working from Memphis to Nashville, and then stopped working again.
The service manager looked me directly in my face and said "So now you know to stay away from Arkansas." And yes, we then all laughed. And I realized at that time that the salesman I bought my Spyder from had also followed me down into the service area and was paying attention to what was happening.
And then we went through several versions of starting up everything.
Sometimes starting the Spyder first, sometimes starting the headset first, sometimes plugging the iPhone into the USB port before doing anything else.
Every. Single. Effing. Time. It. Worked.
Sometimes CarPlay started up immediately and sometimes it took 5 or 6 seconds for CarPlay to start up.
So I asked about my wild theory about a connector issue for the USB cable, or frayed/damaged wire.
The tech listened to my explanation, and then said it wasn't likely, as the USB cable in the glove box was directly attached to the display, not to some other location on the Spyder.
And then the service manager stepped forward and said here's what we're going to do next.
They, as the dealer, will open a case with CAN-AM. CAN-AM will respond to the dealer, even if they won't directly support the customers.
He checked to make sure he had my correct phone number, and told me to expect a call in a couple of days.
He also asked about me bringing the Spyder back, and if it would be possible for me to leave it with them if necessary.
I told him I had a trailer, and could drop it off if they needed me too.
I did tell him I had a trip planned near the end of September, and I needed it back by then. And he acknowledged the date, even if he didn't actually confirm it would be fixed by then.
And I stopped at Jack-in-the-Box (a fast food restaurant) and ordered a couple of their tacos and an order of 3 egg rolls with sweet and sour dipping sauce. And I sat and ate my greasy tacos and sweet egg rolls and drank a Diet Dr Pepper.
Temps here are 90° F, so it was a warm ride.
And I had a few interesting encounters with other motorcycle riders.
I saw several groups of Harley riders and every time they gave me the wave.
I also encountered a lone rider on a BMW who ended up stopped right next to me in traffic, and when I looked over at him and started to wave he turned his head away so that the side of his helmet was blocking his view of me. :::sigh:::
So when I left home this morning I could not get CarPlay to work.
I drove a couple of miles South to the nearest gas station and filled up my tank.
When I started the Spyder after filling up, CarPlay navigation immediately started up and accurately showed my location.
I stayed off the interstate on the way to the dealer, so was doing 50-55 MPH for the trip. It took about 2 hours.
Apple CarPlay worked the ENTIRE TIME!
Turned off the engine, went inside, and asked for the service manager. They called him and I was then asked to drive my Spyder around to the service bay entrance.
The service manager met me there, along with the tech.
I went through the explanation, and then told him it had started working this morning, and worked for the entire drive. I also told them again about the trip to the Spyders in the Delta event in Arkansas, and how it didn't work when I left Jonesboro, AR but started working from Memphis to Nashville, and then stopped working again.
The service manager looked me directly in my face and said "So now you know to stay away from Arkansas." And yes, we then all laughed. And I realized at that time that the salesman I bought my Spyder from had also followed me down into the service area and was paying attention to what was happening.
And then we went through several versions of starting up everything.
Sometimes starting the Spyder first, sometimes starting the headset first, sometimes plugging the iPhone into the USB port before doing anything else.
Every. Single. Effing. Time. It. Worked.
Sometimes CarPlay started up immediately and sometimes it took 5 or 6 seconds for CarPlay to start up.
So I asked about my wild theory about a connector issue for the USB cable, or frayed/damaged wire.
The tech listened to my explanation, and then said it wasn't likely, as the USB cable in the glove box was directly attached to the display, not to some other location on the Spyder.
And then the service manager stepped forward and said here's what we're going to do next.
They, as the dealer, will open a case with CAN-AM. CAN-AM will respond to the dealer, even if they won't directly support the customers.
He checked to make sure he had my correct phone number, and told me to expect a call in a couple of days.
He also asked about me bringing the Spyder back, and if it would be possible for me to leave it with them if necessary.
I told him I had a trailer, and could drop it off if they needed me too.
I did tell him I had a trip planned near the end of September, and I needed it back by then. And he acknowledged the date, even if he didn't actually confirm it would be fixed by then.
And I stopped at Jack-in-the-Box (a fast food restaurant) and ordered a couple of their tacos and an order of 3 egg rolls with sweet and sour dipping sauce. And I sat and ate my greasy tacos and sweet egg rolls and drank a Diet Dr Pepper.
Temps here are 90° F, so it was a warm ride.
And I had a few interesting encounters with other motorcycle riders.
I saw several groups of Harley riders and every time they gave me the wave.
I also encountered a lone rider on a BMW who ended up stopped right next to me in traffic, and when I looked over at him and started to wave he turned his head away so that the side of his helmet was blocking his view of me. :::sigh:::
racoon
Well-known member
Actually, it doesn't need cell service, if you plan ahead. You can tell Apple Maps to download the maps for offline use. Google Maps on the iPhone has the same option.
And downloading the maps isn't any different than what I do with my Garmin Zumo XT GPS. I regularly connect it to my computer and use the Garmin Express application on my computer to check for both software and map updates for the Zumo XT.
Mikey
Well-known member
But it has to know where you are in the world, and without sat service, how would it do that? I update my maps all the time like you, but the system works off satellite location!
safecracker
Well-known member
I just saw a video by Shawn Smoak on this issue. He found by cleaning the USB cable it solved the issue on the Spyder he was working on. Bruce
racoon
Well-known member
I've seen that information, and did clean it and now have it covered with a tethered cap on the USB port when it doesn't have a cable plugged into the port.
I created my own cable using a cap for a USB port attached to a cell phone wrist strap.
McClendons
Member
Not sure of comment, but most (all?) smart cell phones today have internal GPS receivers... so if you download maps, you are GtG.
Mikey
Well-known member
I know down in Tenn my wife and I were up in the foothills and my Garmin never stopped working, my wife's phone on the other hand would time out, and all I could base that problem on was that niether one of us had any cell service at all, and as soon as we did, it refreshed and was working fine! SO, I don't know what to tell you, maybe I am all wet on this one, but what I can tell you is that there will be a GPS replacing the Apple Car Play on my ride. 
There seem to be too may bugs in the system for me. Just my 2 cents!
There seem to be too may bugs in the system for me. Just my 2 cents!McClendons
Member
I know down in Tenn my wife and I were up in the foothills and my Garmin never stopped working, my wife's phone on the other hand would time out, and all I could base that problem on was that niether one of us had any cell service at all, and as soon as we did, it refreshed and was working fine! SO, I don't know what to tell you, maybe I am all wet on this one, but what I can tell you is that there will be a GPS replacing the Apple Car Play on my ride.
Your phone would have been getting GPS signal just like a Garmin... but you'd not downloaded the maps that the phone needed to operate. In most phone "GPS" apps like Waze, Maps etc you can download maps and save them on your phone while you have signal, and in that case you would have no issues. If you do not download, systems like maps only download small portions at a time, updating as you drive.
As an alternative, there is a phone app called "Sygic" that downloads maps by entire state. It will operate just like a Garmin, cell signal or not, but with cell can add some traffic features. Sygic is what BRP recommended years back with BRP Connect. Sygic is much cheaper than a Garmin, and of course maps/waze with pre-downloaded maps is free.
I understand your point on the BRP implementation - terrible. I added a Carpuride on mine vice the Garmin, it works seamlessly with AA and CarPlay.
racoon
Well-known member
So after downloading the 4.1 update on Monday, I decided to take a ride today to see what the Carplay update did, if anything.
I had moved my Spyder to the left side of the garage, which is closest to my WiFi access point so the Spyder could connect to download the update. I did _not_ plug it back into the Battery Tender Jr. that I have been using.
And then when I turned on the Spyder and rolled the throttle forward it displayed an odd message. I should have paid more attention, but only remember that it said something about low voltage. The engine started up with no problem, so I didn't worry about the message.
And - Apple CarPlay would not activate! :::grumble:::
The fuel tank was a little low, so I rode down to the local station, a 10-15 minute ride. I turned the Spyder off, and then filled up the tank. While I was filling up my iPhone was still connected to the USB port in the glove box, and the headset in my helmet was still turned on. I finished filling up, put the seat back in place, climbed aboard and started the engine. And Apple Carplay immediately showed up as active on the display, correctly showing my location.
So I continued my ride, stopped twice for about 5 minutes each time, and each time Carplay was active as soon as I started the Spyder. I'm guessing Carplay won't work if you have a low battery.
When I got home I made sure to plug in the Battery Tender Jr, so I can ride tomorrow with a full battery and see if Carplay works.
I had moved my Spyder to the left side of the garage, which is closest to my WiFi access point so the Spyder could connect to download the update. I did _not_ plug it back into the Battery Tender Jr. that I have been using.
And then when I turned on the Spyder and rolled the throttle forward it displayed an odd message. I should have paid more attention, but only remember that it said something about low voltage. The engine started up with no problem, so I didn't worry about the message.
And - Apple CarPlay would not activate! :::grumble:::
The fuel tank was a little low, so I rode down to the local station, a 10-15 minute ride. I turned the Spyder off, and then filled up the tank. While I was filling up my iPhone was still connected to the USB port in the glove box, and the headset in my helmet was still turned on. I finished filling up, put the seat back in place, climbed aboard and started the engine. And Apple Carplay immediately showed up as active on the display, correctly showing my location.
So I continued my ride, stopped twice for about 5 minutes each time, and each time Carplay was active as soon as I started the Spyder. I'm guessing Carplay won't work if you have a low battery.
When I got home I made sure to plug in the Battery Tender Jr, so I can ride tomorrow with a full battery and see if Carplay works.
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