Bluetooth versus intercom

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danham
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Bluetooth versus intercom

Post by danham »

Today I did a short ride with a friend and discovered that every time the XT spoke directions, it would cut off the intercom connection between us (both using Sena devices). It would require us tapping a button on the Sena to reconnect, so we gave up after the umpteenth disconnect.

At a stop for gas, I tried to find a setting on the XT that would prevent this. Mute does not do it; every time it wanted to speak a direction, no sound was sent to my helmet, but the intercom connection disconnected. The only way I could find to stay connected is to disable Bluetooth altogether on the XT and just use the screen visually to navigate. This worked to keep intercom connected all the time, but it means giving up a number of other features, the most important being radar and traffic alerts and less important but still handy, phone calls.

Anyone here have a better suggestion?

Thanks,

-dan
Zumo XT, 660, nuvi 760 and many retired units dating back to the GPS III+
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Re: Bluetooth versus intercom

Post by Stu »

From the main screen click on volume and scroll down a bit and untick the "spoken navigation"

Quick and easy to turn on and off from there
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Re: Bluetooth versus intercom

Post by danham »

Stu wrote: 28 Apr 2023 20:56 From the main screen click on volume and scroll down a bit and untick the "spoken navigation"

Quick and easy to turn on and off from there
Stu, you are the man! I can't believe I missed that one. I hit the three dots lower right and used Mute, with no success. I will test this as soon as I ride again with someone who has intercom. Many thanks.

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Re: Bluetooth versus intercom

Post by Peobody »

It works dan. My wife rides pillion and got so frustrated with the XT interrupting her that I now ride with spoken navigation turned off. I do more u-turns than ever before but it has been worth it. I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out a way to give intercom communication precedence to no avail. We use Cardo Packtalk units but it sounds like the problem is the same with your Sena.
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Re: Bluetooth versus intercom

Post by danham »

The folks on this forum are the best. Thank you!

-dan
Zumo XT, 660, nuvi 760 and many retired units dating back to the GPS III+
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Re: Bluetooth versus intercom

Post by danham »

Peobody wrote: 28 Apr 2023 21:09 It works dan. My wife rides pillion and got so frustrated with the XT interrupting her that I now ride with spoken navigation turned off. I do more u-turns than ever before but it has been worth it. I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out a way to give intercom communication precedence to no avail. We use Cardo Packtalk units but it sounds like the problem is the same with your Sena.
On my zumo 660 I would only turn on Bluetooth when riding alone. Disabling it did not have any effect on phone, radar, or music but let me have uninterrupted intercom when riding with others. I don't love that the XT demands to be the hub, but now that I know to use the correct setting it shouldn't be a problem.

-dan
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Re: Bluetooth versus intercom

Post by MotoToph »

One of my biggest complaints! I wish the XT would "cut" out the intercom a lot smoother! Takes forever to get back to the intercom! I don't remember this happening on the Zumo 396 LMT-S
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Re: Bluetooth versus intercom

Post by Peobody »

MotoToph wrote: 28 Apr 2023 21:28 One of my biggest complaints! I wish the XT would "cut" out the intercom a lot smoother!
...and release control back to the intercom a lot sooner. Cardo Packtalk has a priority setting but giving priority to intercom does not make a difference. Don't know whether that failure is a Packtalk or XT shortcoming.
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Re: Bluetooth versus intercom

Post by danham »

Peobody wrote: 28 Apr 2023 22:04
MotoToph wrote: 28 Apr 2023 21:28 One of my biggest complaints! I wish the XT would "cut" out the intercom a lot smoother!
...and release control back to the intercom a lot sooner. Cardo Packtalk has a priority setting but giving priority to intercom does not make a difference. Don't know whether that failure is a Packtalk or XT shortcoming.
With only one ride so far with intercom this is a guess, but... it seems like the long delay returning to intercom makes the Sena units think the "call" is over. So no setting on the Sena will fix this. You can "call" again to establish comms, but you'd have to do it every time the XT speaks.

-dan
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Re: Bluetooth versus intercom

Post by MotoToph »

Peobody wrote: 28 Apr 2023 22:04
MotoToph wrote: 28 Apr 2023 21:28 One of my biggest complaints! I wish the XT would "cut" out the intercom a lot smoother!
...and release control back to the intercom a lot sooner. Cardo Packtalk has a priority setting but giving priority to intercom does not make a difference. Don't know whether that failure is a Packtalk or XT shortcoming.
Yup, that's what I was trying to say :)
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