How to connect radar detector audio to Sena 20S

[twilmotte]

I'm looking for advice from someone who has figured out how to connect their Sena 20S to the audio out of a radar detector. Here's my set up: Sena 20S paired to Zumo 590 for phone, music, GPS directions. Phone paired to Zumo, not the Sena. I should be able to pair another BT transmitter (with 3.5 mm plugged into radar detector audio out jack) to transmit the audio alarm from radar detector to the Sena 20S, right? Has anyone done this successfully? What type/brand of BT transmitter did you use? If it won't work, has anyone figured out a "work around" to get the audio alarm from the radar detector without interfering with the other BT signals between the Zumo and Sena? BT sure is nice, but confusing.

[Paul In Australia]

Suggest you utilise the Sm10 bluetooth dongle from Sena. It is designed for that job.

regards

[twilmotte]

Paul, do you get a noticeable delay in transmission of the audio signal from the radar detector to the Sena headset (thru the SR10)? I've read on other forums about the 2-second delay in reception/transmission using the 2-way radios thru the SR10. I would be assuming (maybe incorrectly) that the circuitry of the SM10 and SR10 are similar except for 2-way radio.

[Paul In Australia]

Don't know about that on a SR!). I have a SM10, which doesn't seem to have any delay on anything, but I don't have hooked up to a radar detector. can't see why it would?

regards

[Ron-M]

I have a Sena SMH-10 and a Zumo 550 with XM. Although I can bluetooth the Zumo for directions and phone, it does not allow for XM sound. In order to have sound on the Zumo 550 it must be in the power cradle and hardwired through the 3.5 jack recepticle in the power cradle. To get bluetooth sound, I purchased on-line a Taotronics TT-BAO1 bluetooth transmitter, I think it was around $29. I plug the transmitter into the 3.5 sound jack in the power cradle. I paired the transmitter with the Sena and I have XM sound. Don't forget that Once you have all your devices paired how you want them, each time you go to ride, you must turn on all your bluetooth devices first, such as phone, transmitter, Zumo, and once those items are powered up, then turn on your Sena unit. It take about 5-10 seconds but the Sena unit will tell you that your devices are connected. you will know your transmitter is paired by the Sena saying "media device connected." This should work for the radar detector in the same manner. Oh, when you first pair the transmitter to the Sena, it must be connected to the audio jack in your radar detector and turned on. Hope this helps.

[chrisolson]

With my old Zumo 550 I used a dongle, but the issue I had was I couldn't find a dongle that would connect to bike power and transmit at the same time. So I was limited to the battery time available in the dongle.

 

Currently I have a Zumo 660, a Sena SMH10R and a Sena SR10. An Escort radar detector and a Kenwood GMRS radio are plugged into the SR10.

 

I don't have a 2 second delay. Radar and two way radio interrupt music as expected. Overall its very good and functions like my old wired setup.

 

Some differences between the SR10 and SM10 besides the radio capability of the SR are : SR is mono audio only, SR powers on and off automatically if connected to 'keyed' power and SR is more expensive. I've read that even if connected to keyed bike power that the SM10 must still be turned on and off manually using the button on the unit ... maybe an SM10 owner can confirm or deny .

[Ron-M]

Chris, you are right being limited to the battery life of the dongle, but the Taotonics dongle that I have lasts about five hours. To solve the battery problem on longer trips, i installed a double USB power port that I spliced into a parking light for power. Works great.