This isn't a debate about whether blue tooth or wired is best nor is it a debate about what headset is best nor is it a debate about what start up sequence is best.
Updated to include an "
Extra Nav" (Garmin, Tom Tom, ect) steps. If you don't have one, ignore any reference to them.
1) Keep the software on the three (four if applicable) pieces of tech (headset, bike, phone, Nav) updated. Check for updates periodically.
2) Reboot (turn off then turn on) your phone just before a ride or at least weekly (periodically rebooting is a best practice).
Make sure your phone's charging port is free of lint.
3) Decide on which comms set up you are going to use (see link below). Some folks go back and forth between Option 1 (wired enables ACP or AA) or Option 2 (wireless no ACP or AA unless using adapter)
Click Here:
Deciding on Comms Set Up
a. Critical: Make sure your phone is NOT connected to the headset and the bike at the same time. One or the other but not both. Turn off blue tooth on your phone or delete the pairing between your phone and the headset or bike
b. Caution: The cable from your phone to the bike MUST be high quality cable certified for USB-IF / USB 2.0 data, not the cheap junk cables on Amazon or Ebay.
c. Caution: Stay close to the bike during start up sequence, especially Cardo users.
d. Caution: Let each piece of tech fully complete start up before starting the next piece.
e. Caution: Make sure the VPN on your phone is turned OFF.
4) Define your start up sequence and follow it rigidly. Here are the two options:
Option 1 (Start Bike First)
[
Cardo Edge, Sena 50 series, SRL-Mesh, and 5 series users must use Option1]
a. turn off phone bluetooth to headset or bike
b. start bike (wait for alert to clear)
c. start headset (
wait for both "Hello" [Sena/Cardo] or "BTX Digital" [J&M]
and two beeps from bike)
d. plug in phone
e. start up extra nav system
Option 2 (Start Headset First)
[This seems to work better with Cardo Bold, Black, Slim; Freecom, Sena SRL, 20, 10; and J&M BT04]
a. turn off phone bluetooth to headset or bike
b. start headset (Wait for "Hello" [Sena/Cardo] or "BTX Digital" [J&M])
c. start bike (
wait for two beeps from bike or hearing music in headset)
d. plug in phone
e. start up extra nav system
Thanks to
@Dutch-Guy for figuring out all the headsets that need to use option 1.
Extra Important: Before plugging in the phone for ACP or AA wait for the SECOND beep.
Sometimes the two beeps are heard within a second of each other - other times can be 30 seconds or more apart. Or wait till you hear music in the headset.
If the headset and bike don’t connect after start up (happens occasionally), go through the bike's Audio Settings, Bluetooth, Rider or Passenger to prompt the connection.
5) Learn the capabilities and limitation of various intercom options especially if also using a CB (rider/passenger [all brands] vs Mesh 2.0 [Sena] vs DCM Mesh [Cardo]
BEST Practice: When making a quick stop for fuel, drink, or bio break turn the bike ignition to ACC. Don't turn the bike off. Everything will stay connected and working. NOTE: If you walk too far away form the bike, you might have to prompt the connection to the headset as mentioned above.
Sena users: Did you know that pairing your headset to a second bike improves the probability of connecting the first time at start up? How To: On the same channel (2nd phone or phone) as your bike is paired on, pair your headset to another bike. Delete the pairing from the other bike. Keep the pairing on the headset...it won't be used.
TROUBLE SHOOTING - It was working, not it isn't.
Check your phone to see if ACP or AA is still enabled.
Check the bike to see if ACP is still selected. It might have changed to iPOD.
Home screen -> Audio Settings -> General Settings -> ACP
If those are both set correctly, reset ACP or AA on your phone, then reset on your bike. Go back through the set up procedures.
TROUBLESHOOTING - Got a scrambled display on the bike - reboot your phone
TROUBLESHOOTING - Phone Won't Connect for ACP or AA? Make sure the VPN on your phone is turned off. ACP will not work with VPN active.
TROUBLESHOOTING -
Still disconnecting? Make sure the charging port on your phone (the hole you plug the cable into) is clean.
Click here for a video on how to do it.
TROUBLESHOOTING - Have a Gamin and still can't get calls or hear music from the phone or ACP or AA won't work?
Go into the Bluetooth settings on the Garmin and 1) check/select audio and 2) uncheck/unselect phone
Very important otherwise the calls and data from the phone goes to both the bike and zumo (two paths to your headset). The phone will get confused about which path to use, will try to use both at the same time, and you won't hear anything.
Next-
"On the Garmin Zumo XT Bluetooth setting screen. Make sure IDrive (Smart Phone Services) setting is Blue, indicating it is connected. The Phone and Music icon should be black, indicating they are not connected.
For some reason, sometimes these setting gets changed. Other times it stays where set. When music from the phone stops coming thru and Apple Car play stops working are prompts to check all these settings as well as the iPod / Apple Car Play setting on the Wing." - thanks Fred H.
