Zumo 590, 595 and XT Bluetooth Headset and Smartphone

[jfheath]

An article that I put together to describe the process of pairing a BT headset to Zumo and then pairing the smartphone to the Zumo.

One the Zumos 590 and 595 this allows the Zumo to control access to the phone. On the 595, the zumo will also alert when a text or email message comes in. The same process is used if a BT intercom such as Sena, or a unit to enable BT connection to an Autocom unit is adopted. For the new (May 2020) Zumo XT, there are no wired connections. Headsets or autocom need to be connected via Bluetooth.

You may find this process helpful. Try not to take shortcuts when setting it up.

 

[STing]

I use a Zumo with iPhone and sena. I had all sort of issues initially getting everything to work through the Zumo. In the Zumo Bluetooth menu, it asks, connect phone? Next choice below is connect headset? I had issues constantly. I decided to reverse this order and choose connect headset first, then phone. Things worked much better but still had an occasional problem. I then checked “settings”, “ Bluetooth “on iPhone. I found both my Zumo and Sena were connected. I choose “Sena”, then choose disconnect. Every thing now works perfectly and is controlled by Zumo solely. GPS, phone calls, weather, traffic, music and voice prompts.

 

[Coop]

I had my phone routed through my 595 to the Sena 20s, and I was able to access my music initially, but soon that stopped and all I could receive was gps. I finally reset the Sena back to factory setting and linked the gps and the phone to the Sena. I still receive gps and can now listen to my tunes.

 

[SupraSabre]

Have a Zumo 660, Sena 30K(s) and android phone.

I have the Zumo connected to the phone and Sena. And for some reason, after the last updates, the Zumo and Sena won't auto connect, so after the phone connects to the Zumo (sometime manual intervention is required) I then remove the Sena connection from the Zumo, and then reconnect. For that, I use the Sena phone connection over the GPS connection and get a better connection. When I have used the Sena GPS connection, my music sounds like it's off station!

 

[CYYJ]

Here is a bit more information to compliment the article that John posted in his first post at the top of this discussion:

Sena Firmware Updater - Sena, the helmet headset manufacturer, is quite diligent about frequently updating the firmware in their devices to fix bugs that users have reported, or to support new developments in Bluetooth technology. Sena provides an application that you install on your computer to load the firmware update into your helmet headset.

You can download the Sena Firmware Updater from Sena's website at this URL: Sena Device Manager. It is a wee bit tricky to use this application, so, take care to carefully read and follow the instructions presented by the application. You will need to know what model of Sena device you have before you begin - the application is not smart enough to identify what kind of device you have, and the method of connecting and updating varies from one Sena device to another. Sena supplies an online (not downloadable) manual that explains how to use the Device Manager - click this link to read the manual: Sena Device Manager User Manual. Don't load the software until you have read the manual (don't ask me how I learned this... )

Updating the firmware usually erases all of the pairing information, which means you will need to re-pair your helmet with whatever device you had it paired with before (phone, GPS, etc.). So, check to see if you have up-to-date firmware before following the procedures that John outlined in his article (post #1).

Generally speaking, you can expect several firmware updates during the first year a new Sena device has been on the market, and perhaps one update during the next two years. If you have a Sena device older than three years, you only need to run the Device Manager once - after you have confirmed that you have the most recent firmware in your Sena headset, it is very unlikely that further updates will be issued for headsets older than three years.

Strangely, for a company that is as meticulous as Sena is, the third-party Cambridge driver for the Device Manager is not signed (authenticated) in accordance with Microsoft protocols for signing drivers. Hence you will get a warning message when you are installing the program telling you that the driver is not signed. Not much you can do about it except go ahead and install it anyway. By default, Windows 10 security settings don't allow unsigned drivers to be installed, so you may have to make an adjustment to your security settings to tell your computer to "ask" for permission to install an unsigned driver, rather than flat-out refusing to install it. Google "install unsigned drivers windows 10" to find out what you need to do.

Garmin's Headset Compatibility List & Video - Garmin has compiled a (partial) list of headsets known to be compatible with the Zumo 590 / 595 devices, and has produced a small video describing the pairing process. This information is available here: Bluetooth Headset Compatibility for zumo 590 and 595

Michael

 

[sennister]

Thankyou - So that reproduces exactly what I found - and why I set out two pages ensuring that everything was unpaired - on the Zumo and on all of your other BT devices in the house which may know about your Zumo / Sena. Pair the headset first to the Zumo. Then pair the phone to the Zumo. If nothing else is paired (ever), then the Zumo should connect successfully with headset and phone every time. It takes a few seconds for each part of the connection to be recognised.

Of course the Sena is a much more complex unit than my cheapo necklace headset - and Michael has kindly added some crucial links to documentation specifically about the Sena.

I should send an update. I might have sorted out all my issues.

A couple weeks ago I got fed up. I factory reset everything. Well not my cell phone. I am not crazy but I did uninstall the Garmin SmartLink app and remove the bluetooth pairings.

I then paired my phone to my phone to the 20S as a phone. I paired my phone to the Garmin and installed Smartlink again. I then paired my Sena to the Garmin as a 2nd device. Not a 2nd phone. There is a different paring method.

So far, knock on wood, things seem a lot better. My Smartlink connects between the phone and Garmin automatically. I have had no issues with weather and traffic. The one issue I still have is bluetooth music for some reason is really low on the volume. I can only hear it at speeds below 30MPH. Still messing with that. I am trying to remember for sure, I want to say it is the music from the Garmin being played over Smartlink from my phone that was too quiet. I haven't messed with that. Locally a lot of times I just listed to FM internally on the Sena.

Long story short, simply starting over with everything seemed to do the trick to sort out most of my issues. Actually doing a full factory reset on the Sena and Garmin.