Sena SMH10 + smart phone + radar detector audio

[Jameseo]

I recently bought the SMH10. It performed amazingly from the start. Pulled it out of the box, paired it with my smart phone (iPhone) and rode to Big Bend literally the next day with no problems. It played music the whole trip without a hitch. I also tested a couple phone calls (the few time I had coverage) and they worked spot on as well.

 

I thought I would then be able to pair with a second bluetooth device to transmit radar detector audio to the Sena so I purchased a Taotronics TT-BA01 off Amazon which supports A2DP. Despite the name and $22 price tag, it paired right up with the SMH10 and transmits audio just fine. However, it seems that I can only connect with either the iPhone OR the bluetooth transmitter; not both at the same time.

 

Sadly, I later noticed that paring with a smart phone only appears once in the Sena Connection Guide whereby it's the sole device. The Sena Bluetooth FAQ was of little to no assistance in this particular scenario.

 

Has anyone else attempted this particular configuration? Has anyone been able to pair the SMH10 with a smart phone and any other BT device? Please help. I'm on borrowed time without radar detector audio.

[mackerman]

Hang in their dude - Sena has recently announced a soon to be released firmware update for the SMH10 that should solve your connection problem. Here is a link to the review of the update on WebBikeWorld.com

 

http://goo.gl/rxsyH

 

I spoke with the folks at Sena last week about the updated firmware and they are on track for an end of March/early April release.

 

Be sure to have your headset registered on Sena's website so you'll be notified when the update becomes available.

 

 

[Jameseo]

Excellent news Mark and thanks for the fast reply! Multi-point BT Support looks promising. I was thinking a F/W upgrade may be the only solution (short of buying the $200 SR10 BT hub which ain't gonna happen). I just wasn't expecting it to be so soon. Guess I can stay on the dirt until the upgrade...

 

BTW, I tested the Taotronics on the way home. The audio exceeded that necessary for a radar detector. There was a very slight delay in transmission time (fraction of a second) but not enough that I think it's worth paying a lot more for a unit that may very well have the same delay. I can measure the delay more accurately if anyone is interested and concerned.

[OoPEZoO]

BTW, I tested the Taotronics on the way home. The audio exceeded that necessary for a radar detector. There was a very slight delay in transmission time (fraction of a second) but not enough that I think it's worth paying a lot more for a unit that may very well have the same delay. I can measure the delay more accurately if anyone is interested and concerned.

 

That delay was my number one concern about adding a radar detector to one of these Sena units. I have considered buying a radar detector before I head West for the UNrally, but wasn't sure how well it would integrate. I was thinking that my only other option was picking up one of those super bright LED lights that plug into the audio port of the detector. Only problem there is I don't think you can tell what you are being shot with. What detector are you using, and how well can you tell the difference between radar bands when you hear it go off?

[bobbybob]

BTW, I tested the Taotronics on the way home. The audio exceeded that necessary for a radar detector. There was a very slight delay in transmission time (fraction of a second) but not enough that I think it's worth paying a lot more for a unit that may very well have the same delay. I can measure the delay more accurately if anyone is interested and concerned.

 

My concern is, does it transmit a single short "beep" from the detector? The kind that you hear first when at a distance from a radar trap? Or does that short beep get lost in the "delay", or just not get transmitted because its too short? Or what? I guess the concept of using Bluetooth for RD's is new territory.

[Jameseo]

I have a Valentine One and their remote audio box. The box transmits all the frequencies unabbreviated that would come from the main unit. So I can easily differentiate between X, Y, Laser, etc. But even with other detectors it seems to me that any notification in a timely fashion would be acceptable. As long as it would trigger the rider to look down at the detector and identify the source. BTW, my detector is mounted a little low but in plain view on a ZTechnik mount.

 

Even if the detector audio is equal in priority to the smart phone, I'm hoping that setting the input level higher than the music will allow me to identify the recognize the alarm. Then I can mute the level on the main unit when I need to. What would really be nice is if the new Sena F/W allows the user to set input priority. But that's getting ahead of myself. I'll just be happy to have Multi-source BT. We'll see...

[mackerman]

My understanding of the firmware update at Sena is that the SMH-10 will be able to simultaneously "hear" both intercom/radar or music/radar/ or phone/radar or any combination of inputs at the same time. AFAIK, this whould take the place of the priority system currently in use.

 

I didn't think to ask if it could deal with more than two at the same time.

 

Maybe I can get Sena to let me help field test a couple of new units for the greater good of all BMWST members...

[Jameseo]

SMH10 version 4.0 released 4/2/2012!!! Didn't get an email despite registering my product. F/W is loaded and I'm testing now. Will advise on the results.

[Jameseo]

Results aren't encouraging. I successfully paired with the TaoTronics and my smart phone because it now says "Media connected. Phone connected." on startup of the Sena. However, I only have audio from the phone/mp3 player; nothing from the Taotronics.

 

When I disable bluetooth on the phone and restart the Sena I receive the "Media connected" prompt and can hear audio from the Taotronics. If I then enable BT on the phone it appears to connect but no audio from the phone.

 

So results in my specific application are not good. Functionally, nothing has changed. Theoretically, I now have two devices connected. How are others doing with the new F/W? Anybody trying a similar setup?

[sgoat51]

I've got a Garmin 660 and Sena SMH10. I just updated to the 4.0 software and new firmware upgrade. All works well including the intercom system which I use with a good riding buddy. I bought a Taotronics TT-BA01 awhile back to be able to use my Escort 8500 and have just now began to attempt to interface it to my Sena. As reported earlier, it paired up to the Sena without drama and works well with minimal delay. I don't care about having an actual phone hooked up so no problem there. What I have found is my audio quality from the Garmin (spoken directions and music) sounds "crackly". I may try letting the Zumo/Sena combo pair up first, then turn on the Escort/Taotronics and see if that makes a difference. Might also try re-pairing the Zumo and SMH10 again now that I have the new 4.0 software. Haven't had any luck pairing the Taotronics TT-BA01 to the Zumo, but may try that again with the new software. I'm pretty sure I'll get this sorted

out eventually. Any ideas? Thanks!

[OoPEZoO]

I use the earbud mount for my SENA, so I was considering this.......I'm planning to make a simple audio mixer with two inputs and one output. Then put it in-line between the SENA and my earbuds. Then I could run a single audio cable from the radar detector audio out to the 2nd input of the mixer. That should allow me to adjust the volume independently of the audio coming from the SENA. As far as I know, no one makes something like this because I would need one male input, one female input, and then a female output. Not a big deal if you are making it yourself, but I've never seen something in that configuration for sale.

 

The downside is that I'm once again tied to the bike, but losing any functionality of my iPhone while riding is not appealing to me. I use the phone functions and stream music all the time and don't want to compromise that.

 

I don't use a radar detector much because it is almost useless in my daily riding due to PA local cops not being allowed to use radar, but it would be nice to easily add it into the mix for an out of state trip.

[Bigfish]

After reading thru this thread, I still get the impression nobody has successfully paired a V1 to their SMH10 via the SM10.

I have all the parts and will be trying to figure this out in the next few days.

 

My Parts:

Sena SMH10 (x2) w/ earbud base (currently updated firmware v5.01)

Sena SM10 (currently updated firmware v1.01)

Valentine One

V1 audio thingy

iphone 4S

Garmin 2720 ( would like to hear directions if possible )

Arizona Al Custom Earbuds

 

Already have an auxiliary fuse block to power V1, GPS and SM10.

 

 

Any suggestions welcome.

I will be posting pics / video of this attempt.

Hopefully it will help many of us.

[Jameseo]

It's been done. Read here:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=762528&page=3

Particularly post 33.

[Bigfish]

It's been done. Read here:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=762528&page=3

Particularly post 33.

 

Thanks James.

I still need to figure out how to hard wire the V1 and connect what to what to get the audio of radar into my earbuds. I remember trying all this with an autocomm system a couple years back and never got it working like I wanted.

 

This stuff frustrates the crap out of me because it seems like it should be more simple.

 

I may continue this thread for my personal setup in hopes to find help during my setup.

 

I tried for 2 hours last night to connect multi port between SMH10 to SM10

Never got it, but it did connect via phone pairing. After reading the avdrdr post, it seems like I still need to get the sm10 synced using multi port.

 

That would be my first issue.

[OoPEZoO]

Here was what I ended up doing. When I want to use my radar detector, I add this inline between my Sena and earbuds. Then plug my radar detector into one of the other ports on the splitter

 

LINK

 

I use my Sena like normal, and anytime the detector goes off, I hear it mixed in. I can adjust the audio level of the detector independently of my Sena by using the audio dial on the detector just like normal. The only thing I needed to do was make an audio adapter cable that goes from mono to stereo to run between the detector and splitter. It was simple, cheap, and works great. I've been running it like this for almost two years now

[TF1200RT]

I run an iPhone 4S, Zumo 660 and Passport 8500. I use a Mixit2 amp also with the four inputs. I pair the iPhone to the SMH10 with Phone Selective pairing and run the headphone jack from the iPhone into the amp. I run the radar and GPS into the Mixit2 and from the amp output, there is a Bluetooth dongle that I pair to the SMH10 with Media Selective pairing. I can make and receive phone calls and stream Pandora from the iPhone, and my GPS gives me MP3 audio. The radar is set on the priority input for the amp so it gives me audio over music. I just don't get priority over the phone when it is in use because the Sena has priority at that time. I also have one more stereo input left to add another device if I need to. If you want a diagram and instructions, send me a message.