Bluetooth external controller on ios

big-vern

https://youtu.be/ChkjdR2fLdI?si=0eaTYp_e7YUhRqfH Is what im looking to achieve on an iphone.

Done 1300 miles last week around scotland, using mra on iphone mounted above motorbike dashboard. A couple of issues were the app crashing when taking a photo (recording route), no biggie as just restarted and it recovered fine, bar once which lost the entire day from ullapool to inverness ( i was taking last photo near end of route). All in all superb though,

Back to post title, i really need an external bluetooth button controller to work with mra on ios. Is this achievable like the video above on android (custom mapping the buttons for example to open mra )

Has anyone done this, seems simple on android, thanks

Nick Carthew

@big-vern I use the SilverFox Bluetooth Controller with my iPhone 11. I’m currently touring Scotland and it adds another level of enjoyment being able to control MRA Navigation Next. Incredibly well made and endorsed by MRA. Look them up in the MRA shop. https://shop.myrouteapp.com/en

big-vern

@Nick-Carthew hi Nick, thanks, yeah i saw that and looks great,, they mentioned it in a webinar,, but i couldn’t see a compatible ios app for it (just for android) does it not need one or have i missed it? Scotland is the best

Nick Carthew

@big-vern It doesn’t need an app, it’s plug and play.

cerfskysky.com

@Nick-Carthew
Nick hi, regarding the Silverfox controller for Navigation Next (NN) with their controller, do you get the same level of functionality if NN is being used in CarPlay?. Thanks Carl

Nick Carthew

@Carl-Flint A good question, sorry but I can’t answer as I don’t have CarPlay.

cerfskysky.com

@Nick-Carthew
Hi Nick, please could you pose the question to one of the other guys of the MyRouteApp team who have the Silverfox controller. Thanks Carl

Con Hennekens

@big-vern said in Bluetooth external controller on ios:

i couldn’t see a compatible ios app for it

It is connected like an external keyboard. The default keymappings are compatible with the MRA app, so there is no need for an extra app.

@Carl-Flint said in Bluetooth external controller on ios:

Hi Nick, please could you pose the question to one of the other guys of the MyRouteApp team who have the Silverfox controller.

I am sure one of the reading Silverfox users will comment on this.

Personally (without any experience in the matter though ) I don't think adding a keyboard to your phone does anything concerned to CP/AA. Of course if you start e.g a new route on your phone through the controller the CP/AA will show it, but you are still controlling your phone, not your CP/AA device. For such actions you need to be looking at your phone screen too.

cerfskysky.com

@Con-Hennekens
Hi, thanks for making the time to reply to my question. From your answer it would seem that if I am using the Silverfox controller to zoom in and out of the map while riding a route, this would not be seen in CarPlay mode. This is a pity, for using a CarPlay/Android Auto device reduces the battery drain on the phone when using Navigation Next, since one can turn the screen off on the Smartphone and the other benefit is safety of the Smartphone, not having to mount it directly on the motorbike. It could be in your jacket pocket or in a tank bag for example.

big-vern

@Con-Hennekens @Nick-Carthew thanks guys, makes sense now, Ill save up ..

Con Hennekens

@Carl-Flint said in Bluetooth external controller on ios:

From your answer it would seem that if I am using the Silverfox controller to zoom in and out of the map while riding a route, this would not be seen in CarPlay mode.

I really don't know if the zoomfactor of a CP/AA device is linked to the zoomfactor in the app itself. All I am saying is that the controller is still controlling your phone, not the carplay device. Someone who is using the combination of phone with BT controller and AA/CP device will have to answer your question

cerfskysky.com

@Con-Hennekens

Hi, I was being a bit dull, I have just turned on my Carpuride display started to navigate a route in Navigation Next on my iPhone, the route has loaded in CarPlay and using the on screen zoom buttons on the iPhone, zooming in and out, this does come through to the route in CarPlay, which is nice!

Con Hennekens

@Carl-Flint, That's great! Now it would be good to know if external controllers still work if you have your phone screen off inside your pocket

cerfskysky.com

@Con-Hennekens
I will have to buy a Silverfox and then I will let you know There must be someone out there already who has tried it and knows the answer!

Nick Carthew

@Carl-Flint said in Bluetooth external controller on ios:

@Nick-Carthew
Hi Nick, please could you pose the question to one of the other guys of the MyRouteApp team who have the Silverfox controller. Thanks Carl

The SilverFox or any other Bluetooth controller will have little effect on the CarPlay or AndroidAuto screen. You may be able to skip a route point but most of the other functions that can be used to control your phone screen like accessing the menu or zooming will not work.

cerfskysky.com

@Nick-Carthew

Nick thanks for your reply. I think you may have missed a post I made to @Con-Hennekens, where I mentioned that with my iPhone, I had tried in Navigation Next, using the zoom buttons, to zoom in and out on a route, to see if it came through to NN in CarPlay on my Carpuride display, and it does. This is just one function of course, but nevertheless a very useful one.

Con Hennekens

@Carl-Flint said in Bluetooth external controller on ios:

I think you may have missed a post I made to @Con-Hennekens, where I mentioned that with my iPhone, I had tried in Navigation Next, using the zoom buttons, to zoom in and out on a route, to see if it came through to NN in CarPlay on my Carpuride display, and it does.

Yes, but the question was about the Silverfox controller. I am a curious guy, so I went for it...

I am running the "Headunit Reloaded" app on my tablet, mimicking an AA device. I connected the BarButtons to my phone, and my phone to AA. The Silverfox and most other controllers are not much more than an external keyboard. Specific keypresses lead to an action in the App. Now what I see is the following:

like you mentioned, zooming in and out in the app reflects to the same action in AA.
Also pressing the zoom keys on the BarButton reflects to AA
Also pressing the skip WP button works reflects to AA
The problem arises when I bring another app in focus. The MRA app is no longer catching the keys, since the app is not in focus.
therefore the keys do not activate anything in the app anymore, and therefor no actions will reflect to AA
The same is happening when I put the phone into standby, screen off, to put it in my pocket. No action on the BarButton will reflect to AA.

I think it is pretty safe to conclude that the Silverfox will show the same problem. As long as the MRA app is in focus on your phone, zooming and skipping through any controller will work. But it stops when you put your phone in your pocket.

Corjan Meijerink

Correct - we won’t support bluetooth controllers for external CarPlay / Android Auto devices.

Things working on your phone can indeed be reflected on those devices but that is more of a side effect rather than intended purpose

Why won’t we? Official CP / AA devices will have their own dedicated (bluetooth) controller attached to the car / bike itself.

Additional bluetooth controllers connected to your phone are linked to the app and will stop working when phone is locked / another app is open.

cerfskysky.com

@Con-Hennekens

Hi @Con-Hennekens, what you have done is very interesting. This is disappointing regarding the focus, for obviously having the screen off is a good way to reduce battery drain. So the implication when using a controller such as the Silverfox, is that the smartphone might need to be connected to a powerbank on long journeys to maintain app focus.

Con Hennekens

@Carl-Flint, In my view it is better to stop exploring the possibility to use a controller in combination with CP/AA devices. It will only lead to frustration and dangerous situations when things stop working. It is clear that it controls your phone, and not your CP/AA device.