Sena SM10 Dual Stream Bluetooth Transmitter

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Shortly after I bought a new (to me) bike. We decided to go wireless and I bought a dual pack of Sena SMH10 headsets. I run a Garmin Zumo 665 with XM Sat Radio and I wanted to pipe music to both of our headsets simultaneously. Well, that won't work...can't connect to the same BT music source...

 

So, had to use a splitter and add a BT dongle to my headset so music would be heard on Cindy's SMH10 headset. It worked but you had to do a special raindance to get everyone paired and connected. Plus the dongle battery wasn't a long life device...

 

Enter the Sena SM10 Dual Stream Bluetooth Transmitter!!! Wow!!! I got mine last Saturday and played around with it for a couple days...Excitement;then disappointment. I was under the mistaken impression that I could connect SM10 to my Zumo via BT. Not So! It is limited to hardwired inputs. But not to fear, the engineer in me appeared!

 

So I had to pull the tupperware on the bike and find the Zumo cabling that has the audio out from the Zumo. Not really a big deal (takes about 30min). Then I had to connect the output of the Zumo to the Audio In port of the SM10. Next the Radar Detector.

 

I have been using an Escort 8500 X50 Radar Detector with a Mark Parnes visual display (thanks Mark) since I was using BT for the headsets and my RadDet wasn't a BT device. Now it's a cakewalk since the SM10 has a port for an AUX input. However, you have to use a mono plug cable to make the alerts from the detector work. The Escort has a 3.5mm port but it is only two-wire mono jack. If you try to use a 3-wire stereo plug it will not work.

 

Now, I am a little concerned with the sound output from the SM10 via BT. It is a little lower than the BT by itself from the Zumo. I'm still investigating this issue and I have used a MixIt2 amplifier and acheived great sound (including RadDet braps). I'm just not sure where I want to install the MixIt2.

 

So in summary here are the steps required:

1. Mount the SM10 on the bike (handlebars or panel).

2. Connect Smartphone to my headset via BT. Has to used manually and can't be done w/ gloves on.

3. Pair and connect both headsets to SM10 via BT. RadDet braps feed to the first helmet paired...

4. Connect your audio source (XM, GPS, MP3, etc.) hardwired to the Audio In port and your Radar Detector to the AUX port on the SM10.

5. Headsets and the SM10 connect quickly and as soon as connected, music plays!

 

I like the SM10, it gets rid of the cheapo dongle and performs as stated...I'll let you know when I get the audio louder. PLUS, No wires between bike and helmet!

 

Any questions PM me, be glad to help...