So i want to use an older IPad mini mounted on the Wing and also set up my helmet to hear it. Mainly for GPS etc, i will use a Tmobile data plan so that i do not get stuck. How do i go about it, Pad mount is easy got that. Can i do this without having to use a phone as well? 1995 Honda Goldwing GL1500SE
Walk with Joy
Steve Ives
Is your helmet bluetooth equipped, or are you using hardwired speakers? If Bluetooth, all iPad Minis have Bluetooth so you'd just need to pair your iPad with your helmet. However, Bluetooth has evolved over the years so an older version may not behave perfectly with a newer version. You know, losing the connection, getting frustrated, having to re-pair. PITA But you can experiment by simply playing music or a YouTube vid on your iPad and see how well the sound works on your helmet speakers after pairing.
Not all iPads are capable of using a data plan. I suppose you know that already and you have the "cellular+wifi" version.
Now when you say you want to hear the iPad, are you talking about being able to hear instructions from the navigation app? So you want something like Waze or Google Maps or Apple Maps? They should work.
An alternative is to NOT use a data plan. Use a navigation app like Ride With GPS or Maps.me or Sygic. I personally like Pocket Earth and Guru Maps. The way these work is you get the app from the App Store, then from within the app you choose which maps you want to download. (I generally download all the Western states and a couple of Canadian provinces.) These maps get stored on your iPad. So you don't need internet or data to see the maps. The GPS chip in your iPad knows where you are, so when you open the nav app it puts you right in the middle of the correct map. I've ridden thousands of miles using Pocket Earth to find my way.
Have owned 5 rigs but Rig #2 is the one I drive!
I can add blue tooth to my helmet, i have a couple to try out. Yes cell and WiFi. Yes hear what is being said for navigation. Google is likely installed. getting a recon Mini from Amazon. I will plug that in via the cigerette lighter on the wing for the moment. Power pad is out of stock for tidying up wiring, took days for them to tell me!. =)
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Steve Ives
A simple GPS might be a better bet as they are mapped and can be updated, there are many that are blue tooth capable
easy to mount on the handlebars
@aceinsav Yeah i have one but i like the idea of a bigger screen and Face time allows me to keep in touch with UK family.
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Steve Ives
@aceinsav Yeah i have one but i like the idea of a bigger screen and Face time allows me to keep in touch with UK family.
Steve, before I fly off, into the wild blue yonder, also known as the Land of Eire, there is NO need at all to be doing "facetime" with your UK family...whilst driving your sidecar rig down the road.
On this trip I just did from Kentucky to Washington State, I simply used my "out-of-date" Olde-skool" smart phone, or as I call it, clever phone, because it is not as smart as I think it should be. Anyway, I digressed......I used my clever phone to do mapping for me, and to play all my music, as I had loaded up 1,100 songs to it. The mapping was not a precise as a Garmin Zumo GPS, but...it worked. I did bring a Samsung tablet with me, that stayed in my suitcase whilst I was riding, and only came out in the evenings, in hotel rooms.
It is far too easy to get distracted when operating a motorcycle, going down the road. For a long time I have counseled other riders to LEARN their new GPS whilst at home, walk around the neighborhood, learn all the buttons or touch screen, while walking, or just sitting......then when you "think" you have mastered it (ha ha), then put the same GPS in your 4 wheeled car, and drive around with it, and the foundation of 4 wheels under you, so that when you are distracted by "playing" with your new GPS, you don't fall over into a ditch.
Only when you truly believe you will no longer be distracted by the new "toy", then mount it to your motorcycle, and do your best to ignore it.
If you honestly have a serious need to have a electrical device with a screen that is larger than 8" diagonally, then hire a professional motorcycle rider to drive you around, whilst you SIT inside the sidecar, and play with all your electronic toys.
This is why I am very much against the so-called HUD helmets, the heads up display helmets, that show images on the faceshield of the helmet, as that is a distraction that 99 % of motorcycles don't need.
83.14159% of all motorcycle riders out there in the world today, need to LEARN to ride that motorcycle better than they do, before they start adding farkles of electronic stuff to their bikes.
Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort
Miles i have no intention of messing with Face time while i am driving. Do you honestly think i am that dumb! A GPS does me for most things. I prefer to just ride and enjoy. BUT if i want to talk to family when i am NOT riding i will have the capacity to do so with only one piece electronic hardware.
Walk with Joy
Steve Ives
Steve, that is why I quoted your post, because you didn't clarify the WHEN equation of you doing Face Time with your UK family. Whilst I could "assume" you would do Face Time when off the bike, your post didn't clarify it, and context is everything.
Frankly, there ARE motorcycle riders out there, on 2 wheeled motorcycles, that actually do that, whilst riding....and that is not a joke. It's seriously stupid, but I have seen it, and avoid that kind of rider.
If only..... you had posted....Face Time when off the bike, in a hotel room, or camping, with Sam THEE Dog, so your UK family could see Sam....THEE Dog.
Now, did you order any of that V8 energy drink I gave you ?
Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort
Then, yes, you should be fine. Power the iPad using a USB cigarette adapter, then simply pair the iPad to the helmet communicator. The phone is not needed. The only thing I wonder about is when you do get a phone call will your phone muscle its way into the helmet's bluetooth making the iPad unpair? Might happen. Just means you'll need to re-pair after the call is over.I can add blue tooth to my helmet, i have a couple to try out. Yes cell and WiFi. Yes hear what is being said for navigation. Google is likely installed. getting a recon Mini from Amazon. I will plug that in via the cigerette lighter on the wing for the moment. Power pad is out of stock for tidying up wiring, took days for them to tell me!. =)
But do look into some of the offline nav apps I mentioned. Google Maps is not much help when you're in the boonies with no cell signal!
Have owned 5 rigs but Rig #2 is the one I drive!
Ned
Not likely to get phone calls my cell phone will be in the topbox. I am more than happy to just enjoy the ride but know where i am going. i think an Ipad can be set up to receive calls not sure.
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Steve Ives
So Ipad plugged in and a Fodsports FX8 installed in my helmet and both are paired so i will see where it goes from here. Flint Hills rally location Tuesday for a couple of days; be nice to try out the gear on level ground. Just Google maps at the moment.
Walk with Joy
Steve Ives
Don't forget Apple Maps which is of course native to the iPad. A-Maps is getting better and better though it only updates when you update your operating system. Once you get used to the interface some people like it more than G-Maps. One thing I kinda like is that the folks from Cupertino are NOT trying to make their app mimic the one from Mountain View. There's definitely some differentiation.
You could plot a route to Flint Hills on both apps then switch back and forth as you go along to see if you develop a preference.
Have owned 5 rigs but Rig #2 is the one I drive!
Ned yeah its finding what works. Just looking at small Generators jackery etc; the things we do for a cuppa coffee =)
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Steve Ives
My preference for "first to buy" is the Cadillac Margarita maker. 🤩
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
@scott-h Chuckle. Just ordered a small generator from walmart, lets see how i get on with it. 90 day returns so that makes it easy.
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Steve Ives
