Garmin 590 Bluetooth connection

[View from behind]

We have a Garmin 590, Sena 20S's and a Sena SM10. We would like to have the audio (directions) go through the SM10 via a Bluetooth connection using the 3.5 mm connection. We have tried a Bluetooth receiver however, it only will pass the media music and not the turn by turn directions. Has anyone found an adapter that the Garmin will allow the directions to pass through? Thanks in advance.

 

[ThreeWheels]

The Sena SM10 is bluetooth OUT. It receives signals by wire through the 3.5 mm connection and then transmits them out though bluetooth to your SENA 20S.
It doesn't receive the bluetooth signals at all.
I'm just curious, why don't you just use the Garmin 590 bluetooth and pair it directly to the SENA 20S ?
The SENA has allowances for an intercom, music source, a phone and a GPS.
If you pair all of that together, the SENA unit will allow the GPS instructions to pass through to your helmet, as well as prioritize that whole tangle of signals.

Just a thought, I could be wrong.

 

[View from behind]

ThreeWheels,
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Long story, bought an adapter from Motorcycle Dave's to connect to the RT radio which connects to the Sena SM10, which in turn allows all information from the GPS to be broadcast to two headsets. We want both of us to be able to hear the GPS directions and music. The idea is good but we have had intermittent problems with the gps fading or not being heard at all. We have checked the connections(which are a pain in the butt to get to) many times and cannot find an issue. Because it is intermittent it is very difficult to trouble shoot. If it would just stop all together it would be easier to find where the issue is. Sometimes we can go for days without a problem, other times it seems to quit anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. So our thought was to get a Bluetooth receiver that would plug into the Sena SM10 via 3.5 mm port and pair with the Garmin we could then both hear the information. We have tried such a device only to discover that the only thing the Garmin will pass is media (music) and no directions, which seems to make no sense. Apparently it needs to see the Bluetooh device as a headset, not sure if there is any way to fool it into thinking the Bluetooth receiver is a headset.

 

[JayBros]

Have you called Garmin Support,800-800-1020, about the problem? They have an OEM Support number too, 855-607-2536, although with the pandemic they are working remotely so you may have a situation where the tech you first speak to may have to do some research and call you back.

 

[View from behind]

Yes, on hold for over an hour and finally had to hang up. This has been our experience with Garmin right along. It appears that we need an adapter that the 590 thinks is a headset.

 

[JayBros]

On pg. 9 of the Zumo 590 Owner's Manual under "Pairing a Wireless Headset" there is a note: "Only one headset can receive navigation prompts and phone calls at a time. Up to two headsets can be used for multimedia audio."
To prove this note you might try this:
1. Clear all pairings.
2. Pair your partner's headset following para 5.1.1 of the 20S User's Guide.
3. Pair your headset following para 5.1.1 of the 20S User's Guide.
4. Run a short route and see who hears the navigation prompts.
5. clear all pairings and repeat steps 2-4 pairing your 20S first and see what happens.

Try Garmin fairly early in the morning. They also have a call back feature that I know from experience has worked this year during the pandemic.

You might try Sena also but that can be a slow, laborious process.

 

[ThreeWheels]

ThreeWheels,
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Long story, bought an adapter from Motorcycle Dave's to connect to the RT radio which connects to the Sena SM10, which in turn allows all information from the GPS to be broadcast to two headsets. We want both of us to be able to hear the GPS directions and music. The idea is good but we have had intermittent problems with the gps fading or not being heard at all. We have checked the connections(which are a pain in the butt to get to) many times and cannot find an issue. Because it is intermittent it is very difficult to trouble shoot. If it would just stop all together it would be easier to find where the issue is. Sometimes we can go for days without a problem, other times it seems to quit anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. So our thought was to get a Bluetooth receiver that would plug into the Sena SM10 via 3.5 mm port and pair with the Garmin we could then both hear the information. We have tried such a device only to discover that the only thing the Garmin will pass is media (music) and no directions, which seems to make no sense. Apparently it needs to see the Bluetooh device as a headset, not sure if there is any way to fool it into thinking the Bluetooth receiver is a headset.

Your issue is that you want to have both headsets hear the GPS instructions. If I understand you correctly, you are having a problem with the hardwire connection from the GPS to the Spyder audio.
I've found this happened to me with a garmin 660 and a garmin 590. It appears that sometimes the GPS gets confused when you mount it to the motorcycle cradle and it thinks it's mounted to the car cradle. The sound output is different.
When that happens, try resetting the GPS. Not simply turning the unit off, but there is a procedure of touching the screen and manipulating buttons. OR, you can simply remove the battery and replace it.

OOOPS Just read this. Let me clarify. You don't have to remove the battery and replace it with a new one. Simply break the power connection from the battery to totally de-power the gps. Then re-install the battery to re-power the gps.

 

[View from behind]

ThreeWheels,

Thanks once more for taking the time to reply. You are correct with your analysis of the issue. I will try your suggestion however, when this first starts to happen it typically sounds broken up like there is a bad connection somewhere. It doesn't happen all the time, sometimes we can go on a trip for 1,000 miles and not have an issue.

Thanks again.

 

[View from behind]

Problem solved, we found a Bluetooth receiver that the Garmin recognized as a headset.