Multimedia system on V4???

Sounds like it’s getting better I’ve been holding back on purchasing the DMS Module.

Danger Close MFG said:

Sounds like it’s getting better I’ve been holding back on purchasing the DMS Module.

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Yeah somewhat.
I still consider the DMS <> iOS Link App connectivity a buggy bèta at best: fairly functional and handy if it works, yet annoyingly unstable if it doesn't.

The DMS <> iOS Music/Call/SMS functionality is pretty solid.

Don't try both at the same time, regardless of what our V4 manuals state nor your Sales-rep sells.

Fazit for now: if only for iOS Music/Call/SMS I can recommend DMS, for Link App use with V4: NOT (yet?)...

At a traffic light or when pulled over?

JHTmcrider said:

At a traffic light or when pulled over?

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What do you mean?

Besides, the current iOS Ducati Link App version 1.4.2 introduces a new annoying bug: while riding with iPhone on a constant charge the onscreen active Link app doesn't keep the iPhone from going into standby anymore!

This means Link app doesn't overrule the set Auto-lock (in my case set to 5min.) anymore, like all navigating apps manage by default!
With a blanc screen already after 5 minutes, this renders the usability of this app pretty useless while riding.

Only work around: turning Auto-lock to 'Never' under Settings/ Display & Brightness/

Ducati Link App team, please fix this asap!

Stability of Ducati Link app interacting with my V4* DMS module is still 'hit&miss' under current app version 1.4.2** on my iPhone7-128GB (iOS13.3.1), hereby a few examples:

V - Proper track-log



X - Empty zero'ed out track-log



As 2 detailed examples logs show, in this snapshot of my Itineraries listing you can see how 2 proper recorded tracks (V - with DMS data from V4 and GPS data from iPhone) and 2 empty loggings (X- with all fields zero'ed out and GPS track missing) look like:




'Funny' is that, similar as with properly 'V' logged tracks-logs, at the start of the ride for these empty 'X' logs, I started recording in Link app normally. Also the on-screen Bluetooth symbol to signal proper DMS connectivity with bike was showing indicating a 'paired active state' between bike and DMS:




If my track-logs become zero'ed out, the only thing I can do to regain proper logging of Link app for my V4 is to either:

a) clean restart Link app (after first closing it via iOS App Switcher first (double tab Home-button)) or
b) completely deleting Link App from iOS Springboard and cleanly reinstalling and logging into Link app again!

Effectively, with current state of Ducati Link app, it means for my V4S* that after every initial properly logged trip either a clean-restart or re-install of Link app is required to regain logging or even access to Link app altogether!!!

* - yesterday my Ducati dealer installed all new updates released by DMH after last service in November 2019. Even with the latest 'Display' software update under Service, the described Link app behaviour doesn't improve.
** - during these field-tests Link app is using DMS connectivity exclusively without iPhone7 pushing Music, Calls and SMS functions to V4S (i.e. 'Player off')

RdashP said:

What do you mean?

Besides, the current iOS Ducati Link App version 1.4.2 introduces a new annoying bug: while riding with iPhone on a constant charge the onscreen active Link app doesn't keep the iPhone from going into standby anymore!

This means Link app doesn't overrule the set Auto-lock (in my case set to 5min.) anymore, like all navigating apps manage by default!
With a blanc screen already after 5 minutes, this renders the usability of this app pretty useless while riding.

Only work around: turning Auto-lock to 'Never' under Settings/ Display & Brightness/

Ducati Link App team, please fix this asap!

Click to expand...

Yea, I was thinking when you pull over to familiarize yourself with the route, or when you are stopped at a light you can look down at the route to stay on track.

JHTmcrider said:

Yea, I was thinking when you pull over to familiarize yourself with the route, or when you are stopped at a light you can look down at the route to stay on track.

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Sure and don't you want to glance the upcoming planned route while riding too?
On a properly setup Sat Nav device or Smartphone app like Scenic or Kurviger you can. Since Link App does't do routing AND still has many quirks, just forget about this for now. Ducati's Link app only does basic track logging enriched with Canbus routed bike data and some Social options (sharing), íf even this baseline works at all.

With the current Bluetooth2.0 'powered' DMS module and Link app combo, I doubt if Ducati is even working to integrate dashboard displayed point2point navigation anytime soon for the current gen MTS, Diavel and V4 like BMW now does for its S1000R(R) line...

^ Good points. I was originally responding to the OP who suggested that looks at a Nav app while riding is dangerous/ or frivolous/ not needed. I would assume that he is correct to a degree and again, you can glance down from time to time if the situation allowed.

JHTmcrider said:

"... the OP who suggested that looks at a Nav app while riding is dangerous/ or frivolous/ not needed. I would assume that he is correct to a degree and again, you can glance down from time to time ..."

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Who/ what is "OP"? Sorry, not a native.

[a tad off-topic?]
Well, especially on multi-day trips in unfamiliar territory - impossible to memorise - being able to constantly validate the curve-types ahead on a sat-nav/ nav-app 'in flight' has proven to be vital to our health on multiple occasions.

Contrary to traditional fold-out paper maps (i.e. large scales and low curvy road detail), only rally style pace-notes and dynamic 3D representations by a sat-nav or similar Smartphone apps can inform us properly of the curviness and (traffic-)situation a few hundred yards ahead.
It is like a digital co-driver when this device tells me, as front rider spearheading the group, if we can continue to push or should slow down the pace proportionally to stay safe. Especially in unknown hilly and mountainous terrain unexpected blind-corners and hair-pins can be deadly, when still speeding 'a little' for fun, if you visually can't judge the road-profile from the road itself and aren't constantly informed about it up-front.



If you ARE constantly updated about the nature of the curves coming up before you arrive from such a device, the only worry remains is unknown/ unpredictable traffic on route. For the rest we can nJoy and concentrate on 'dancing the curves' at a fun high pace getting similar adrenaline pumping joy as -even faster- track racing!

Last but not least, traffic legislation allows using our smartphone as a digital navigation aid while riding, as long we don't consult twitter, insta, snapchat, any other 'Social' BS app or Call 'hands-on' at the same time! [/]

Hi Guys, new 2020 owner. i had my dealer install the dms as it sounds like a cool gadget. i'm having problems getting it working.

i saw on the multistrada forums that you need to not pair the phone to the headset. just pair the phone to the bike, and the headset to the bike.

that's what i've done (scala freecom 1). it seems to 'work' (controls show same song playing on phone and on bike), but there's no sound coming from the headset.

any ideas?

'scala'...cardo meant to say.

Me too, GPS would be a killer

jkeown said:

there's no sound coming from the headset.

any ideas?

Click to expand...

Obvious suggestion maybe but was the volume all the way down?

Andy7 said:

Obvious suggestion maybe but was the volume all the way down?

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thanks Andy, my phone's volume is all of the way up. my headset usually beeps when i press the volume up/down buttons, but when it's paired with the bike those buttons don't beep. i didn't see any way to control the volume on the bike. is that a thing?

i also tried with some other bluetooth headphones. same behavior. i'll check with my dealer to see if they updated the ecu/bluetooth firmware/whatever when they installed it.

Wondering if it only works with certain headsets

jkeown said:

...cool gadget. i'm having problems getting it working.
...just pair the phone to the bike, and the headset to the bike.

Click to expand...

DMS - by 2020 standards - enables kinda basic 'multimedia' functionality and is somewhat 'troubled' too, in the sense that it doesn't live up to the premium sales pitch and continuous to suffer from performance- and stability-issues:

Music/Calls does work basically ok-ish between smartphone<>bike<>headset as long as you do NOT also try to connect DMS to Ducati's Link app for V4 Canbus data off-load at the same time.
This will either kill the Music/Call audio or if you get the audio to work it will kill DMS<>Link App connection. Often this even crashes the app so badly that you need to re-install it to make it work again.
Streaming Audio for Calls/Music and Link App at same time just seems too much of the good for the DMS module which still based on 'ancient' 15 year old BlueTooth2.0 tech.
While your phone+headset are probably driven by modern BT5.0+ chips which are downward compatible with BT2.0 to the point that the oldest version paired determines level of (under-)performance and (un-)available features.

jkeown said:

...it seems to 'work' (controls show same song playing on phone and on bike), but there's no sound coming from the headset.

Click to expand...

Again, smartphone<>bike<>headset works as well as headset<>smartphone<>bike.
First setup seems indeed more stable both for streaming music properly audible via headset and for controlling the music when played (i.e. play-pause +skip+ volume up/down)

I initially had the same 'no sound from headset' issue a few times. Honestly, still have occasionally.

What worked for me was either:
- delete pairings both in bike and phone and re-pair bike with (as) smartphone first and bike with (as) headset second;
- when music is visibly playing both on phone and V4 screen, double check check the headset1 icon is also displayed in V4 dash. Then shortly press the stop/play button on either of both earbuds of BT headset to get audio to play via BT headset.

One of these or both mostly resumes audio to my cheap QCY-T1R BT headset. Else I redo pairing procedure again.
Good luck

hi guys, thanks for all of the input.

i actually have another headset on another helmet that i haven't been using:


works like a champ. able to see/control music, see recent call, place calls.

the headset i was originally using just appears to be 'unsupported'. it would pair fine, but just not work:


i guess it's a bluetooth protocol support thing

it'd be great if ducati would publish what's required for support. oh well, won't hold my breath on that one

along the way i got some 'opinions' on the way pairing should be done. i was told to pair the phone to the headset, and the phone to the bike. this isn't correct.

as everyone on this thread stated: don't pair the headset to the phone. phone to bike, and headset to bike is the correct method.

RdashP said:

...After some searching and cross-referencing all DMS module information (partno.#96680711B), I found out more about the manufacturer COBO Group (p.29 V4S owners manual!) and their CAN-BT/ IN2 ROUTER (aka CAN-BLUETOOTH CONVERTER @p.68) with its BlueTooth 2.0 technology onboard...

Click to expand...

[UPDATE]

Cobogroup now marketing itself as a "Ducati Corse Technical Partner":


... has completely overhauled its site. Looks promising...

Sadly, their OEM manufactured and by DMH branded DMS module remains driven by 15 year old Bluetooth 2.0 technology:




(direct url: IN2 ROUTER: CAN-BLUETOOTH CONVERTER )


I'm wondering when DMH finally 'persuades' COBO to put a modern BT5.0+ -chip in this Ducati branded DMS module or breaks this lagging 'tech partnership' in favor of a company who can ánd will?...
IMO It's a bloody shame that Bologna makes itself dependant upon tech partners delivering OEM products based on ancient technology smudging their carefully build premium brand perception?!

I just had mine installed yesterday, it seems each "stream" works well on its own, but as mentioned, if you open both one dies.

In my case, I had music playing, opened Ducati Link app on my Android phone and the music stopped. I need to play with it more to see what I can come up with as I have a Samsung S20 Ultra(the newest) so maybe there is some settings in it to play with.

All in all, not as functional as on my BMW, as I can have BMW Connected app running info and GPS and music streaming at the same time. But on the Pani, I won't be looking at the Link app while riding, so only need the music/phone

If I remember, I'll report back when I do some testing... but that is currently not a high priority so could be some time down the road

WyldCFH said:

I just had mine installed yesterday, it seems each "stream" works well on its own, but as mentioned, if you open both one dies.

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Just read the Link app FAQ.
With current version 1.4.2, Ducati Link app Dev team recently explicitly added NOT to do both Music/Calls and Link app at the same time.
If you do you will experience connection loss behavior or worse, as you described yourselve.

As said before here: unlike BMW's multimedia implementation, the hardware in the DMS module is simply too slow and its embedded Bluetooth2.0 protocols are -by design- functionally unable to handle high volume multi-directional data-streams.
Contrary to their own marketing bla and MTS/V4/Diavel manuals, DMH is still not able to live up to their premium multimedia promise with this DMS version and their Link app is just another sorry example of this.
With the current viral crisis I can imagine they probably have better things to do then improve this situation?

On the other hand, if you keep things simple and just stick to just Music/Calls/SMS notifications the DMS functionality works fine.