Using a non-BRP GPS Part 1

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

IMPORTANT UPDATE: I discovered you cannot use a USB adapter connected to the power leads from the radio if you want to listen to FM radio. USB adapters emit RF noise to a varying degrees, but the few I tested all transmitted enough interference into the radio to really muck up FM reception.

Go down to post # 20 to see my solution for a USB adapter that works.

In the following posts I italicized and underlined text you should now ignore. I didn't want to delete it and there is no strikeout option available.

At a grand for the official BRP accessory GPS I figured there had to be a more wallet friendly option. After studying the wiring diagram for my 2013 RT I couldn't see any reason why any GPS, properly connected, would not work. My results proved me right.

There are two connections into the radio harness for the GPS, three wires for the audio and two wires for power. I thought at first that maybe the power leads had to be used so the radio would sense the presence of the GPS. I've been able to prove that is not the case. So, using the power leads is not required, but probably will be easiest. The Can Am GPS Adapter Harness is part # 710002182. A dealer can order it from Can Am parts for about $60. The gray painted GPS mount is part # 709400662 and is about $80. If you need or want to buy both pieces you're better off to buy the complete GPS Support Kit, part # 219400318, for about $155. A chrome support is available for more money. I bought this set on eBay for less.

Based on a comment in another thread it looks like the 2014 doesn't need the GPS adapter harness. The connections are already there. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.



If you are resourceful and comfortable working with the bike wiring you can get by without the Can Am harness. I can help you figure out where and what wires you need to tap into to do it, but the harness is a whole lot easier. You need two one more items to go between the GPS adapter harness, a USB power adapter (or other power cord if your GPS doesn't use a USB cable) and an audio extension cable. Here is the USB power adapter I used: [link deleted] Here is the audio extension cable I used: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OKKWDW/ref=oh_details_o01_s01_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

The USB cable is connected to the power leads of the harness. The solder/shrink tube connectors in the kit worked great.

I put a piece of shrink tube over the audio connection, both to protect it and to help keep the connectors together. Here are pics of the cable assembly and connections. Here's the assembly.

DO NOT install the USB adapter as I show it here. It causes FM radio interference.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Part 2

Next comes routing the harness. The overall length of the harness was none too long. The USB power adapter length was long enough, but no real excess. I routed the harness pretty much as described in the kit instructions. I routed them under the right speaker box and then tied the USB connector with a cable tie and mounting pad just to the lower left of the speaker. This will make it fairly easy to replace the USB cord to the GPS. The audio cable will be tougher! The instructions in the kit, which I think was a few years old, said to drill holes in the plastic above the tank for cable ties. The 2013 RT has cable tie anchors in place already! Snaking the wires up through the handlebar takes a little bit of doing, but it's not too hard.



Do I need to add notes and arrows to the photos, or is it clear enough how the harness is routed? In the fourth photo above you can see a little bit of white and a circuit board. That's the garage door opener I installed. The double pole switch that is connected to it is just under the right handlebar, not visible here.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Part 3

Here's my GPS mounting system. I used a Ram rectangular base, short arm, round base, and a cradle for my tablet. I should have mentioned my GPS is a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 with the Sygic GPS app. I used this on my Goldwing for over 15,000 miles last summer and it works great. The tablets are only about $200 or less, and Sygic is $30. One huge advantage of this setup over a purpose specific GPS, besides of course price, is I can take it into a restaurant with me while on the road, and if WiFi is available, take care of email. Naturally, I can keep up with Spyderlovers. Now try that with your $600 Zumo!hyea:



I made the metal cover myself. It's to protect the tablet from rain and help with visibility in bright sunlight. With an anti-glare screen protector on the tablet I have had no problem seeing the screen, even when the sun was directly behind me. Even in drenching downpour last fall the tablet stayed mostly dry while I was on my Goldwing. There were water drops on the screen but that was no problem.

Here's what it all looks like in use. The GPS is running in demo mode. Notice the 795 MPH in the upper right hand corner! I can move fast in demo mode!



Any questions or comments?

 

[tobor9]

Where does that hole in the hanldebars lead to? I would like to fish a USB cord there for my iPhone on a Ram X-mount but could not find how to run the wire up there.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Where does that hole in the hanldebars lead to? I would like to fish a USB cord there for my iPhone on a Ram X-mount but could not find how to run the wire up there.

Does this help?

 

[AbNormy]

Thanks!

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk

 

[Gray Ghost]

Good write up. Good idea about shrink wrapping the audio connector.

 

[PMK]

I have not researched this yet, and yes we have the BRP Garmin Zummo since the wife insisted upon it. But are there any waterproof IPads available?

Where we live it does rain and the Zummo is waterproof or resistant. I had also considered not buying the Zummo and using a one of my much smaller Garmin ETrex setups which are for outdoor and inclement weather use.

On a silly side, using the IPad and Card, you could probably read SpyderLovers while on the move...

PK

 

[tobor9]

Does this help?

View attachment 84076

Thanks,did not look in speaker holes,hope it also goes to the left side as my usb wire runs up left side(I can move it if not)

 

[finless]

So did you wire it to the radio? Or was that part built in the main harness?
Reason I ask is if this feeds into the radio I assume GPS sound comes out the speakers? If so this should work with the Bluetooth setup too. Or do you have the wired helmet harness as well (entertainment/comm harness)?

Bob

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

So did you wire it to the radio? Or was that part built in the main harness?
Reason I ask is if this feeds into the radio I assume GPS sound comes out the speakers? If so this should work with the Bluetooth setup too. Or do you have the wired helmet harness as well (entertainment/comm harness)?

I used the BRP GPS adapter which is the same as the factory or dealer install. It plugs into the main harness. The 2014's are different in that the audio adapter and a 12 volt plug are now part of the main harness. To use a non-BRP GPS you will need to connect to the 12 volt power connector (AMP Superseal 1.5 2 pole). It's discussed in the thread about adding GPS to a 2014.

Yes, GPS sound comes out of the speakers and will work with BT. I do use helmet speakers because I want to use a CB and you can't have CB and BT both.

 

[finless]

What is confusing me is the BRP GPS harness support kit does not look long enough to go from the dash to the radio?
So there is another cable that is needed?

Bob

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

What is confusing me is the BRP GPS harness support kit does not look long enough to go from the dash to the radio?
So there is another cable that is needed?

Bob

It doesn't. The BRP GPS includes a long cable from GPS to the adapter. The audio and USB cables I used and show above substitute for those.

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk

 

[finless]

So I am talking in 2 different posts.

Take a look at my last questions here:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?63984-Aux-Audio-wire

About the harness and can I get a picture of the BRP GPS support harness so I can see what pins are audio and power.

Thanks,
bob

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

So I am talking in 2 different posts.

Take a look at my last questions here:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?63984-Aux-Audio-wire

About the harness and can I get a picture of the BRP GPS support harness so I can see what pins are audio and power.

Thanks,
bob

I answered in the other thread.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Uncovered a problem with my GPS installation

After I finished my mods and got the RT on the road for some real riding I discovered that my FM radio reception was somewhat lousy. This evening I set about to find out if the antenna was disconnected because that's kind of what it sounded like. Well, wouldn't you know it? Everything was connected and in place just like it's supposed to be.

So I did a search here in the forums and one comment I came across said that a USB power adapter that puts out a lot of RF noise would cause the radio to sound bad. I went out and took off some more plastic and disconnected the GPS harness that I put together that has the 12 volt USB adapter in it. Bingo! The radio immediately sounded better.

A different USB adapter I plugged into the trunk power outlet seems to create no problem at all. The question now is, is the adapter I used for the GPS noisy, or is it the fact that the adapter is in the power leads that come directly from the radio that is causing noise to be fed back into the radio?

Stay tuned for the results of more trouble shooting. It might be the great GPS solution I worked out, may not be so great after all. :shocked: pps:

 

[Frime78]

Very impressive.

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Very good write up.
I've been there done that and have the scars to prove it.
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?25161-RattiganRogers-Modsp#16

The one thing that, at least for me, is a rubbing point is the BRP blessed placement of the GPS.

Yes, you are not supposed to look at the screen while driving (see the disclaimers in the manual and embedded in the GPS itself).

But I do look at the screen.
And I found the head drop required takes too much time at 60mph to be safe.

The only proper place is on the top of the dash.
JMHO

Thanks for the compliment.

I relocated mine from the handlebar to the dash. I'll post pics later. I didn't mind looking down, but in my case the tablet was closer than what I was comfortable with. The real problem was the reflection of my white windbreaker, which I wear over my mesh jacket, was washing out the screen! It's now in about the same location as I had it on Goldwing which worked very well. Haven't had a chance to try it out on the road yet, though, to be sure it'll work.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Important revisions!!! Take note!!

After trying various USB adapters I have concluded that all USB adapters emit radio frequency noise that interferes with FM reception. All of the few adapters I tested, when connected to the GPS power leads from the radio transmitted strong enough RF noise back into the radio to really muck up the FM reception.

You need to find a different way to supply USB power to your GPS, if that is what your GPS needs. I bought a weather resistant 12 power outlet with a pigtail connector. I connected it directly to the battery jumper posts using a 5 amp fuse in the + lead. I plugged in a Schosche USB adapter and used a USB extension cable to go up to the speaker area. This adapter causes no noticeable radio interference. The extension cable goes to the same place by the speaker as in my original setup. Here's a pic of the adapter box and where I put the power plug and adapter under the right access panel.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

New Location for GPS

After a short ride the other day I discovered my white wind breaker, over my riding jacket, was reflecting off the GPS screen, washing it out. So I moved it to a location similar to where I had it on my Goldwing. I now have an unused BRP GPS mount!

Here's how I mounted it on the dash. The Ram ball mount fits nicely over the gauge hole. I don't have nor intend to have, the gauges. I used a piece of hardware T brace to fashion a somewhat Y piece with three threaded holes for M5 x 25 screws. The screws line up nicely with the notches in the gauge hole. The only downside is it's a bit of a challenge to tighten the knob on the Ram arm, and because of rotational limits of the balls and arms the GPS (actually a tablet) is tilted a bit. I would prefer it to be vertical so the cover provides maximum protection from rain. I pulled the cradle away from the dash for the second pic.