While at ArkanSTOC this year I saw Randy's aka @treemuncher audio set up. He has a uniden/cardo/zumo/phone setup that is all integrated with no delay in getting notifications.
I think I got a bad Sena 20s as it was drenched last year in pouring rain and stopped working, Sena replaced with a refurbished unit that was cutting out this year in dens fog. I don't know if they gave me a different/new unit or simply refurbished mine. Anyway, I decided to try Cardo so went with the Edge.
My previous setup was:
Phone --> Zumo XT <-- Sena 20s (splitter cable to connect earbuds and radar detector OUT cable to Sena mount)
This gave me phone/music (via mp3 or phone) gps instructions and instant RD alerts.
Cons:
- Still have a cord going to RD
- Sena not waterproof
- Music via XT would sometimes pause or stop, speed up or slow down (MP3) after gps instructions or phone calls
and when that happens it takes rebooting headset, gps or both and then getting back where you were which takes
lots of manual movements to do all of that. Sometimes the music would pause/stop for no reason.
- no OK Google unless you press the phone button on the headset - I think the 50k now allows that.
My current set up:
Zumo XT <--(as gps pairing)-- Edge -(as phone pairing)-> Phone <-- Uniden R4
For Uniden you need to download the Highway Radar app, I think for some Escort RDs you can use their Escort Live app
For the Edge - I added a 3.5mm splitter cord inside the helmet to attach the speakers and have a 3.5mm female connector for ear buds.
Pros:
- No more cord
- Waterproof
- Music comes from the phone for this setup and never stops or pauses
- Answer a call simply by saying 'Answer' or ignore w/'Ignore'
- OK Google works
- The Highway radar app allow crowdsourced integration like Waze
- RD alerts appear to be instant and w/app there are many settings and even the phone screen can flash different colors for high priority alerts.
Cons:
- During a phone call, GPS instructions mute out everything else and there is a gap of 2-3 seconds before the phone input is back. So, if on a call, you will not hear the conversation until the instructions are presented and the gap.
- The priority is GPS - Phone - Intercom so GPS will always be on top. Makes sense since staying on route should be the most important thing. I just wish it would overlay and not just cut off phone input. But, I can live with that.
I think there's a way around the Con if you don't use the BT Radar Detector as that uses up one of the phone's BT chanels. I've tried that before using a splitter like with my original setup but I think there were issues with that on the Cardo and since I've been trying to get rid of that RD cord for years, I prefer this setup.
I think I got a bad Sena 20s as it was drenched last year in pouring rain and stopped working, Sena replaced with a refurbished unit that was cutting out this year in dens fog. I don't know if they gave me a different/new unit or simply refurbished mine. Anyway, I decided to try Cardo so went with the Edge.
My previous setup was:
Phone --> Zumo XT <-- Sena 20s (splitter cable to connect earbuds and radar detector OUT cable to Sena mount)
This gave me phone/music (via mp3 or phone) gps instructions and instant RD alerts.
Cons:
- Still have a cord going to RD
- Sena not waterproof
- Music via XT would sometimes pause or stop, speed up or slow down (MP3) after gps instructions or phone calls
and when that happens it takes rebooting headset, gps or both and then getting back where you were which takes
lots of manual movements to do all of that. Sometimes the music would pause/stop for no reason.
- no OK Google unless you press the phone button on the headset - I think the 50k now allows that.
My current set up:
Zumo XT <--(as gps pairing)-- Edge -(as phone pairing)-> Phone <-- Uniden R4
For Uniden you need to download the Highway Radar app, I think for some Escort RDs you can use their Escort Live app
For the Edge - I added a 3.5mm splitter cord inside the helmet to attach the speakers and have a 3.5mm female connector for ear buds.
Pros:
- No more cord
- Waterproof
- Music comes from the phone for this setup and never stops or pauses
- Answer a call simply by saying 'Answer' or ignore w/'Ignore'
- OK Google works
- The Highway radar app allow crowdsourced integration like Waze
- RD alerts appear to be instant and w/app there are many settings and even the phone screen can flash different colors for high priority alerts.
Cons:
- During a phone call, GPS instructions mute out everything else and there is a gap of 2-3 seconds before the phone input is back. So, if on a call, you will not hear the conversation until the instructions are presented and the gap.
- The priority is GPS - Phone - Intercom so GPS will always be on top. Makes sense since staying on route should be the most important thing. I just wish it would overlay and not just cut off phone input. But, I can live with that.
I think there's a way around the Con if you don't use the BT Radar Detector as that uses up one of the phone's BT chanels. I've tried that before using a splitter like with my original setup but I think there were issues with that on the Cardo and since I've been trying to get rid of that RD cord for years, I prefer this setup.
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