Connecting radio w/GPS and Radar detector

[pauly1]

I have a radio with one auxilliary stereo input. I'd like to plug in the audio output from two devices (radar detector and GPS). Currently the choice is one or the other, not both. Anyone know of a device I can plug in that would have two isolated inputs and one output to plug into my radio?

Wayne

 

[patdcop]

You may want to look at this item. Next up would be a system to hook everything together such as autocom or starcom1. Depending on if you have speaker system or headsets.

I use starcom1

http://www.mixitproducts.com/mixit2.html

 

[irish2themax]

I have a radio with one auxilliary stereo input. I'd like to plug in the audio output from two devices (radar detector and GPS). Currently the choice is one or the other, not both. Anyone know of a device I can plug in that would have two isolated inputs and one output to plug into my radio?

Wayne

Just posted on this the other day. Comes in white or black

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Headphone-Splitter-Adapter-classic-Players/dp/B0023R24SY"]Splitter[/ame]

 

[pauly1]

Thanks folks for the replies!

irishtothemax: the splitter jack connects devices with the right path: the output is split into two signals that go to two devices (headphones) which are to receive the signal. As I remember me doing something stupid that blew the FETs out of an amplifier, do I have to worry about the output of the radar detector going to the output jack of the GPS (or vice versa) as it's normally expecting no input signal/voltage?

patdcop: now I know what to look for although I don't really want to spend that amount, but now have something for comparison.

Wayne

 

[patdcop]

Escort radar detectors do not have an external ground. If you ground throught another system you will blow the sound amp. I tried to do the same thing with the same adapter and blew up the 9500xi twice. Escort does sell the ground isolater for bike systems with common ground.

If you are trying to play all the items at once (radar,gps, radio) through a single input you are asking for trouble. IMO That is why I suggested the mix-it2.

I am only speaking on my experiance so maybe an audio tech will speak up.

 

[pauly1]

... If you are trying to play all the items at once (radar,gps, radio) through a single input you are asking for trouble. IMO That is why I suggested the mix-it2...

You speak from experience - that's what I was seeking. The actual setup will be the two devices into my radio.

Thnx
Wayne

 

[patdcop]

Wayne, I wanted the same thing. I went with starcom1. The starcom1 is an interface unit that allows all com gear to be wired into the interface and only have the head set and mic in your helmet. I have bluetooth phone, garmin 478 chart plotter with next rad radar, Jensen heavy duty radio, and bike to bike communication via gtx radios. The Jensen and Garmin are both water proof. The passenger has the ability to have seperate music and phone source while keeping full duplex intercom system. I have a seperate volume control for the system so I can shut it down at stop signs etc. I have a seperate push to talk button for the bike to bike to isolate it from the vox for phone and intercom.

It can become expensive but once you have it you will never use anything else. The pic is from my bike and I am about to do the same thing for the spyder. The mix-it2 is 160.00 while the starcom1 is about 400.00

 

[bone crusher]

Wayne, I wanted the same thing. I went with starcom1. The starcom1 is an interface unit that allows all com gear to be wired into the interface and only have the head set and mic in your helmet. I have bluetooth phone, garmin 478 chart plotter with next rad radar, Jensen heavy duty radio, and bike to bike communication via gtx radios. The Jensen and Garmin are both water proof. The passenger has the ability to have seperate music and phone source while keeping full duplex intercom system. I have a seperate volume control for the system so I can shut it down at stop signs etc. I have a seperate push to talk button for the bike to bike to isolate it from the vox for phone and intercom.

It can become expensive but once you have it you will never use anything else. The pic is from my bike and I am about to do the same thing for the spyder. The mix-it2 is 160.00 while the starcom1 is about 400.00

Holy crud...that's some setup...I think I'd just sit around and play with it...who has time to ride with all those toys on a bike?!

 

[NancysToy]

Wayne, I wanted the same thing. I went with starcom1. The starcom1 is an interface unit that allows all com gear to be wired into the interface and only have the head set and mic in your helmet. I have bluetooth phone, garmin 478 chart plotter with next rad radar, Jensen heavy duty radio, and bike to bike communication via gtx radios. The Jensen and Garmin are both water proof. The passenger has the ability to have seperate music and phone source while keeping full duplex intercom system. I have a seperate volume control for the system so I can shut it down at stop signs etc. I have a seperate push to talk button for the bike to bike to isolate it from the vox for phone and intercom.

It can become expensive but once you have it you will never use anything else. The pic is from my bike and I am about to do the same thing for the spyder. The mix-it2 is 160.00 while the starcom1 is about 400.00

+1 on the Starcom1. We have two, and they are great. I've had the first one five years now. Buying a third unit for the new RT-S.

Patdcop, what are you using for bike-to bike-radio? We have had difficulty, and I think our particular radios don't isolate properly with the PTT-3 switches. I suspect different radios could be the cure.

 

[patdcop]

Midland GXT900. They have just a little ignition noise and I am not running any filters. The range is about 5 miles and that is NOT line of sight. I am very happy with them. Spoiledbiker.com has a sale going for the starcom1 digital and the new GTX1000 for less than 500.00
http://www.spoiledbiker.com/product1506.html

Joe at spoiledbiker knows as much about the starcom and what works with as anyone I have talked to.

 

[patdcop]

Holy crud...that's some setup...I think I'd just sit around and play with it...who has time to ride with all those toys on a bike?!

Bone, truth is, now that the new droid phones are out I can pretty much do away with most of this stuff because of all the apps it runs. I like audio books for traveling.

My body isn't what it used to be and I put in 14 hour days on my trips, the radio etc. keeps me from thinking about all the parts that start to hurt after awhile. I chuckeld at the extended gas tanks as my bladder runs out long before the tank does. LOL

 

[irish2themax]

I don't have a radar detector and my cell phone Zumo 600 are Bluetooth synched. So I'm using the splitter for the iPod and the radio... I don't envision a problem. Fingers crossed

 

[pauly1]

I found a Mix-It2 NIB for an acceptable price along with a SiriusXM radio. So I should be able to run the radar detector, the GPS and Sirius radio into the Aux input into my stock radio on a HD Ultra.

Might have to pass the radio onto SpyderDeb for her J&M set up, although I need to get that fixed this winter. The J&M unit had worked well for up to a mile and then during the fall it dropped back to about a 100' - I can hear her but she can't hear me. Seems to have coincided with one of the dealer services so I need to check under the hood for pinched antenna cable, etc.

Thanks for the info!
Wayne

 

[patdcop]

Wayne, interesting story on the J&M system. I have one with exactly the same issue. I discussed the issue with J&M at Daytona bike week and they told me I could send the unit back to them and they could replace the ic board and make it new for around 50.00 bucks. Not to bad a deal, I just never got around to it.

 

[pauly1]

patdcop: I'll give J&M a call next week; I believe they are located in Tuscon, AZ.

If one has two mono devices, such as a GPS or Radar Detector, it would seem plausible to a "two mono to stereo" adapter I viewed on line. Realize that the sound for each would only come across one ear or speaker. After blowing out the FET's in a guitar amplifier (and the resulting repair expense) after such experimentation, I got cautious about separation of inputs/outputs. A totally isolated output would still potentially have the floating ground issue.

My HD-branded (no brag, just explaining) Garmin GPS and HD-brand Escort radar detector will each plug into the auxilliary input to the radio. If I hadn't found the Mix-It2 and the Sirius radio combo, I would have looked into more detail with the adapter.

Wayne