BRP Connect issues

[Peteoz]

Yeah, rock n roll. I gave BRP Connect a fair trial, and my background is in IT.
It appears you can only guarantee an ongoing connection during a full moon, while standing on your head. Seriously though, I read everything possible about it, and even asked questions on the specialist FB page for it, and still get constant drop outs. I now plug my iPhone into the glove box power, where it syncs automatically to my headset, and my Zumo XT syncs automatically to my headset at power on, regardless of sequencing, and get all the functionality of BRP Connect, (music, phone, full GPS features, FOBO) but on a much larger screen, run via Siri. Hopefully they will develop BRP Connect further, but it still needs work in my opinion.

Pete

 

[DanDanTMM]

@peteoz I am an IT nerd myself and also have a Zumo XT on my 2021 RTL. I have my iPhone plugged into the USB port in the glove box and my Scala G9 headset paired to BRPC. I am using the bluetooth adapter that Lamonster sells to connect the Zumo XT to BRPC via the aux plug. I don't have my Scala G9 paired to the Zumo XT in order to get all audio to my headset through BRPC so the volume controls on the bars control volume. I have my phone paired to the Zumo XT as well for weather and traffic and I output my music audio from Spotify to the Zumo so the GPS can mute the music for navigation instructions.

From your description it sounds like you have your headset paired to BRPC and the Zumo XT. How does that work for navigation and music at the same time if the music is coming from BRPC?

My biggest struggle is getting everything set just right so it all works together and I can hear both music and the GPS. It is especially frustrating when you have it all working great and you stop for gas and turn off the bike and then something doesn't work right and you have to troubleshoot what is wrong. I have sat at the pump for 5 minutes after starting everything back up trying to get my music audio back through BRPC.

 

[pidjones]

I wouldn't mind BRPC problems, if I could just turn it fully OFF and not have it bugging me to connect when I want to change sources.

 

[Airjohn]

BRP Connect = NO!

Hello Grunt,

I am an owner of a 2018 F3 Limited with BRP Connect. Also, I have a background in electronics and had a job for many years testing and integrating modern electronics in commercial aircraft. Basically, the BRP Connect has not been tested enough and has many unknowns and issues connecting with a wide variety of gadgets. I chose to merely bypass the BRP Connect entirely and use what is commonly available already and proven. The only thing I do use on the BRP Connect is the USB connector to keep my cell phone charging along the way, works great.

It's real simple, get a Blu-tooth helmet whether built in or after market add on (I chose the Cardo Blacktalk aftermarket) and use it to connect to your cell phone. Very easy and it will after initial pairing, automatically reconnect to the cell phone when you turn it on in your helmet. Also, most modern cell phones can pair to TWO different Blu-tooth devices at once. With that said, I added a Garmin Zumo GPS and let it pair to my cell phone. With the Garmin APP installed on the cell phone I got turn by turn updates through the cell phone audio from the APP to my Blu-tooth helmet. DONE, no BRP Connect whatsoever, and all lived happily ever after.

Just wanted to pass this along as to what worked for me. Maybe in the future when BRP Connect gets upgraded and more definitive instructions appear in a manual, we might consider a change. Anyway, motor on for now with tunes, Sirius Radio, and whatever else you want from your cell phone will be available when riding directly to the helmet via Blu-tooth. Also, if you just want to hear some music or your playlist, download an aftermarket APP to your phone that is stand alone and doesn't use the Internet, and you can hear music without using valuable "Data Time Usage" from your phone provider.

Just some observations from an "Old School" guy that uses what is known to work. Best of luck on getting to where you want.

Regards,
Airjohn

 

[RideOn]

@peteoz I am an IT nerd myself and also have a Zumo XT on my 2021 RTL. I have my iPhone plugged into the USB port in the glove box and my Scala G9 headset paired to BRPC. I am using the bluetooth adapter that Lamonster sells to connect the Zumo XT to BRPC via the aux plug. I don't have my Scala G9 paired to the Zumo XT in order to get all audio to my headset through BRPC so the volume controls on the bars control volume. I have my phone paired to the Zumo XT as well for weather and traffic and I output my music audio from Spotify to the Zumo so the GPS can mute the music for navigation instructions.

From your description it sounds like you have your headset paired to BRPC and the Zumo XT. How does that work for navigation and music at the same time if the music is coming from BRPC?

My biggest struggle is getting everything set just right so it all works together and I can hear both music and the GPS. It is especially frustrating when you have it all working great and you stop for gas and turn off the bike and then something doesn't work right and you have to troubleshoot what is wrong. I have sat at the pump for 5 minutes after starting everything back up trying to get my music audio back through BRPC.

I've found that when you shut the Spyder down, the phone will also lock its screen. The only cure I know is to start the Spyder, let the Connect system get started, unplug the phone, unlock the screen, then plug it back into the USB connector while unlocked - assuming that's how you're using it. PITA but I can't find an alternative.

Bob

 

[bigbadbrucie]

With all of the problems reported on here about BRPConnect, any thoughts that I’ve had about considering a new RT have all disappeared. I’m very happy with my ‘14 RTS. It runs good, gives me great wind therapy, annnnnd best of all.........
NO AGGRAVATION!

 

[Peteoz]

@peteoz I am an IT nerd myself and also have a Zumo XT on my 2021 RTL. I have my iPhone plugged into the USB port in the glove box and my Scala G9 headset paired to BRPC. I am using the bluetooth adapter that Lamonster sells to connect the Zumo XT to BRPC via the aux plug. I don't have my Scala G9 paired to the Zumo XT in order to get all audio to my headset through BRPC so the volume controls on the bars control volume. I have my phone paired to the Zumo XT as well for weather and traffic and I output my music audio from Spotify to the Zumo so the GPS can mute the music for navigation instructions.

From your description it sounds like you have your headset paired to BRPC and the Zumo XT. How does that work for navigation and music at the same time if the music is coming from BRPC?

My biggest struggle is getting everything set just right so it all works together and I can hear both music and the GPS. It is especially frustrating when you have it all working great and you stop for gas and turn off the bike and then something doesn't work right and you have to troubleshoot what is wrong. I have sat at the pump for 5 minutes after starting everything back up trying to get my music audio back through BRPC.

Hi Dan,
No, I am not using BRPC at all. I am using my XT as the “hub”, and my iPhone is BT to it, and my Uclear is BT to it.
To be fair to BRPC, I bought a new Apple cable yesterday, just in case, and it performed much better than my old one (which was also an Apple cable, but very old). Everything worked, but like others, it would drop out randomly when I moved to FOBO or somewhere else. The XT connects every time and does not drop out, so it will remain my go to for the moment. BRPC certainly has great potential, but I would definitely class it’s current readiness as “in Beta test”……it is certainly not ready to be classed as “live”.

Pete

 

[Flamewinger]

Great post!

Hello Vanessa, the real fix is for BRP to do an update that will allow the unit the unit to function with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, anything less is a bandaid on a gaping wound.

Apple Car Play and Android Auto require a larger screen. I just read where a Zumo user is having problems with their GPS unit. Learn how to work it and it works great.

 

[VStarRider]

2018 is the first year with BRPC, correct? That leaves 2017 as the newest model one can get without BRPC...and no Bluetooth.

Looks like others have had good results using only Bluetooth to stream music, and not connecting at all to BRPC.

Looks like the 2018+ have a better speaker setup also.

I would like the better speakers, and as long as BT connects fine to my phone, I can live with that and charge through a 12V receptacle...and steer clear of the cable that connects to BRPC.