Chigee AIO-5 Play for BMW First Impressions - Impressed!

UPDATE: Chigee have just offered a 10% discount if you order on their website - code is ANDYCOLEBMW, valid against the Play only I think but give it a try!
The Chigee AIO-5 PLAY for BMW is a brand new device currently on Kickstarter (but don't be afraid of this, they have a ton of products on the market already and I have the device in my hand and they have UK distributors).
The killer feature is the integration with CanBus which means it works with the jog wheel much like the BMW Navigator, can read data from the bike and display it etc.
For more information take a look at the Chigee website
www.chigee.com...
Or their Kickstarter page
www.kickstarte...
...and I have no doubt A Bike Thing will be stocking it soon if you want to order from the UK.
abikething.com...
I've not been paid to review this but they did send it to me to test (mainly because I asked!)

[@davidz8]

That is very impressive, it is amazing how they have pulled all that data from the bike onto the screen, and CarPlay is just excellent. I have the AIO-5 Lite on my Ninja 1000sx and love it. Have a great trip with Dave.

[@PhilG221]

I backed it on kickstarter a week ago. So excited about receiving the unit in August.

[@johnharrison9317]

Nice review. Prompted me to go to Kickstarter. I am using the Carpuride W502 but really want to use the jog wheel and extra features. Cheers

[@arabianjules]

Looking forward to getting mine from kickstart for my 2020 xr.

[@ericstephenson3607]

Nice bit of kit Andy, is that a peak design phone mount your using?

[@andybcole]

@@ericstephenson3607 yes it is, very good. Feels like it shouldn’t be robust enough but it is and its vibration damped so as not to ruin the camera on the phone.

[@alexanderschmidt7710]

Thanks for the review. How is the pairing setup in order to be able to talk to Siri, listen to music etc etc Phone to Chigee, Phone to TFT and headset to TFT? Does the music get stuck somewhere in the TFT and are you able to hear Siri and is she able to hear you? Hope you see where I’m getting at. Thanks mate!

[@andybcole]

There is only one reliable way to get pretty much any CarPlay device working with the BMW. Delete all TFT connections to your phone and get the bike to forget them. Then pair the helmet intercom to the phone and the phone to the CarPlay device. You will then have a reliable connection and all the sound ends up in the right place and Siri works. Doing it differently is a bit 'hit and miss' and you may well end up with the sound being sent to the TFT so you won't then hear it and Siri won't work.

[@alexanderschmidt7710]

@@andybcoleI was worried about that and it absolutely reverberates with my own user experience. My problem is that I like the connected app for the route data. It’s nice to sip a beer in the evening and look at the route and the data again. I presume I will sacrifice Siri for this as I have in the past. Now that you can have CarPlay and wizard wheel control Siri gets less important for me. Would be great though if some manufacturer would find a reliable workaround to integrate ALL of it. Thanks again!

[@andybcole]

@@alexanderschmidt7710 You won't just sacrifice Siri, you will probably struggle to get any audio in the headset from the audio device as the CarPlay will try and send it to the TFT where it will get lost. There are other ways to check the days route, for example using the tracklog function on MyRouteApp or equivalent or even the Google app will track your location if you allow it to.

[@alexanderschmidt7710]

@@andybcoleI hope not 😬 I heard from another user that the following pattern is stable: Phone to TFT, Phone to Chigee, Headset to TFT. That would make sense as this is my current setup for using BMW’s cradle for navigation. But I guess I will have to find out if it changes once CarPlay is in the mix. If all else fails then yes, I will not connect to the TFT and get the route data another way. Tech is cumbersome somewhat 😂

[@gsd32i]

Just wondering where the vertical scrolling option was? Couldn't find it in the settings...running version 1.1.9 Apple iPhone too.🙈 Oh and I have asked Chigee if its possible to change the km's to mph on the data screen. Nice bit of kit for those that don't want/need the lite version.

[@andybcole]

@@gsd32i likewise reported the same feature request for mph. The vertical scrolling option is in the settings/remote from memory but have a poke around it’s there is 1.1.9

[@gsd32i]

@@andybcole I’ve poked and prodded can’t find it😢 the data page with the icons at the bottom gives you indicator left and right and brake activation front and rear (wheel icons) fuel I guess comes on with reserve . I was hoping the whizz wheel would do volume up and down too . Oh well . 👍

[@andybcole]

On the main CHIGEE display, go to settings (bottom right), then ‘features’, then ‘RC’, make sure remote control type is set to NAV and the vertical scrolling tick box is underneath.

[@andybcole]

CarPlay has no ability to control volume, that’s done by the phone or headset so that’s not something they could enable as Apple doesn’t allow it.

[@gsd32i]

@@andybcole thanks Andy . I do enjoy your videos with the grumpy old bloke 😁. I eventually found the vertical thing 🙈 and have told Chigee they need to highlight this in any instructions on website . Shame about the volume .have a great week 👍

[@Freddels1]

Just wondering if it will conflict with the Hex-EZ can when using the Wizzy Wheel.

[@andybcole]

@@Freddels1 possibly, but if the Hex Ez-can can work with the Nav 6 then probably OK as the Chigee uses the same switch commands as the Nav

[@diavels1473]

Thanks for the review Andy. Do you know if it's waterproof? I presume it is not compatible with the BMW phone cradle, right (only with the navigation preparation)? Thanks and ride safe.

[@andybcole]

Definitely waterproof (and certified). Not sure about the BMW phone cradle, if that fits into the GPS mount you would need to remove it first,

[@Nox-06]

Tks for the video, the explanations would be more clear without the background music which is very annoying

[@andybcole]

@@Nox-06 sorry didn’t sound that loud on my monitors - noted for next time!

[@Nox-06]

No pb 👍

[@sydznl]

might sound like a dumb question but why is there an SD card slot?

[@andybcole]

Not a dumb question. I've taken a look at the card structure of folders and some of it is related to storing log files, and possibly the way their operating system is designed to work with SD cards on their other devices. The key thing it does allow is upgrading of the firmware if the over the air update doesn't work. You load the files onto the SD card and it updates automatically. This isn't the normal way to update but does give you an alternative if OTA becomes problematical. They may well add more features that allows storage of log files of trips etc on to the card in future (that's my guess not their roadmap!)

[@hewlett62]

mainly it's almost the same unit in hardware (there are only extra wires for connecting F+R cameras and for GPS module) as AIO5-Lite, where SD card is used as a storage of records from cameras. It would not be worthwhile for a manufacturer to make the same unit in principle with and without an SD slot.

[@dungbeetle.]

Thanks Andy. Does it play nicely with a Cardo/Sena setup?

[@andybcole]

@@dungbeetle. very nicely with a Cardo packtalk black which I have. To be honest it doesn’t touch it as the connection is between packtalk and iPhone, CHIGEE is just acting as the screen

[@romain487]

What does happen when you crank up the motorcycle's engine? Does the Chigee reset and briefly cut connexion with the phone? I had a Carplay device on my '23 GS Adventure which I sold, because it would always briefly reset while cranking up my engine, which caused some navigation apps that I use to lose track.

[@andybcole]

@@romain487 no issue for me, just done 220 miles using myrouteapp with 15 waypoints, one momentary loss of connection lasted about five seconds, then reconnected automatically but I think was because I drove right past an electricity substation!

[@romain487]

@@andybcole Thank you very much for your honest opinion. I might get one. Safe rides!

[@22Royston]

Hi bit of a basic question but does this require a phone or sim for connection or standalone? I ask as I use a sim less mobile for mapping to overcome BMW dreadful mapping. Cheers

[@andybcole]

CarPlay and Android Auto require either an iPhone or Android device connected to it to function. It is designed to act as an interface not standalone. Suggest googling what CarPlay is to get a full understanding.

[@davidallan-smith5683]

Can you tell me did you have your headset connected to the phone or to the bike, when you able to call up Siri?

[@andybcole]

The most stable way to use it is to connect the headset to the phone, and totally remove the connection from the phone to the bike. If you leave any kind of connection to the bike, the phone (not the Chigee's fault) often tries to run its audio through the bike which means you can't hear any audio in the headset. This does mean you don't get the ConnectedRide App info such as route mapping but you gain all the features of CarPlay without the hassle of not having audio, and Siri then works just fine from both the ChiGee and the headset. Hope that helps!

[@davidallan-smith5683]

Yes I suspected that, thank you!

[@unys8837]

I'm not sure if it works with my 2016 R1200Gs model 🤔

[@andybcole]

Email CHIGEE and they will let you know. If it has the CanBus system and jog wheel controller it should do.

[@kalo_z]

Hi, as i can see on your video, your phone is connected to aio and tft as well. Am i wrong? I can see aio working and i can see the phone sign on tft.... is it possible? Chigee says it is not possible. What is the true? I use sena. I can control audio volume with w.wheel. Will i lose this feature? I f i use aio, do i need to skip the tft from phone data music nav etc. audio line? Can tft get any audio from aio? Is it possible to connect phone to aio and tft at the same time? Or, is it possible to connect aio to tft? or i have to forget the tft and use only the aio to control the phone. Even if with the w.wheel... Chigee says bmw connected app is off if using aio. True? w.wheel is useful to control aio, or easier to use my finger and w.wheel is just a fancy plus but not really used? If easier, ( i guess), ordinary aio play is cheaper and do everything. Where am i wrong? Reading can bus is nice but necessary? I can see all on my tft. What i think is.... Aio is nice and usefull. For carplay. Easier to control aio in gloves than the phone and that's all. Ok. But. lose bmw connected app. Lose connection between phone and tft. Lose connection between headsets and tft. Lose one click music control and intercom volume control via tft witch are very easy methodes. I just think, but not sure. I am highly interested in your opinion. Thank you.

[@andybcole]

Hi, my phone is definitely not connected to the TFT, only to the Cardo Packtalk and ChiGee as sound will not work properly if you are connected with the phone to the TFT. For Sena you should connect Sena to the phone, phone to the Chigee and no other connections. You will not be able to control volume with wonder wheel as the Chigee does not control the volume, the phone and Sena do. It is possible to connect phone to TFT and AIO at the same time but the TFT will take audio control which means you will not hear anything in your Sena. AIO Play (not BMW) is cheaper because it does not fit straight into the GPS mount, does not have direct wonder wheel control and does not have information coming from the bike.

[@kalo_z]

@@andybcole thank you!

[@technicaljazz]

HOLA ESPERO puedas ayudarme, soy de chile sudamerica, tengo varias preguntas, mi modelo es BMW M1000R y le instale la cuna de gps mas pequeña la que no posee llave, servirá?, puedes utilizar los comandos de voz del intercomunicados, por ejemplo los del cardo edge ?, es necesario tener conectado el iPhone a la tft de la moto o solo se conecta el iPhone al chigee?. mi moto no tiene reconocimiento de tft / nav , lo lo cual tuve que instalarle una cuna de gas mas pequeña, la que no posee llave de bloqueo, se podrá encajar en es cuna de gps ?, te agradecería mucho pudieras ayudarme por favor

[@andybcole]

Hola, el M1000RR no puede conectarse directamente al controlador de volante sin el complemento CGRC CAN. Si el soporte GPS es compatible con el GPS BMW, entonces debería funcionar con Chigee, pero sería mejor enviar un correo electrónico al soporte de Chigee a [e-mail] para obtener sus consejos.. ¡Espero que puedas entender el Traductor de Google!

[@technicaljazz]

@@andybcole siiiiii muchas gracias por la información, ultimas preguntas, chigee viene con idioma español?, el control remoto que venden puede usarse con este dispositivo?

[@andybcole]

@@technicaljazz support.chigee.com/portal/en/kb/articles/which-languages-are-supported

[@andybcole]

Sí, el control remoto funciona si lo deseas y Chigee admite muchos idiomas, incluido el español.

[@technicaljazz]

@@andybcole muchas muchas muchas gracias por responder 🙏

[@ericjames7680]

Does it have GPS or do you need to have phone service?

[@andybcole]

Yes it has its own GPS but it also uses the phone GPS when using CarPlay. You don’t need a phone mobile signal for a phone to get GPS, it’s a different system (gets the signal from satellites not mobile phone masts)

[@ericjames7680]

@@andybcole Thank You!

[@paulv22]

Do you know if it can work on non-BMW bikes with an adapter?

[@andybcole]

@@paulv22 no I don’t think so - you need a different CHIGEE for that, such as the AIO Lite

[@paulv22]

@@andybcole Can you tell me if the BMW version can be powered by USB?

[@andybcole]

@@paulv22 it doesn’t seem to be powered by the USB socket which is for service only. You would need to rig a 12 supply and have a spare mount. This unit is very much designed for the GPS mount only.

[@paulv22]

@@andybcole Thanks. Plenty of people have removed nav preps from the BMWs so I can probably find one.

[@Ad__Rem]

**WARNING** Chigee does NOT support voice control when using Android Auto and a bluetooth headset!! Big disadvantage that you should know before bying the Chigee!

[@andybcole]

I believe this has been addressed and the latest firmware beta enables it, but you are right to flag it as it is not quite ready but imminent.

[@Ad__Rem]

​@@andybcole Thanks but you say you believe this but there is zero information about that at Chigee support site...

[@xjr13john]

Another freebie review!! pointless at the desk, would be of more interest in use! but longevity of the product will be question?

[@andybcole]

Did you only watch the first two minutes - I took it out on the road and am taking it on a trip to Wales tomorrow? Anything specific you’d like to see of it in use?