Sena 30K - Trying To Connect Music Source AND GPS At The Same Time

[Uncle Phil]

I have tried multiple times - following the 'owners manual' instructions for the BlueTooth connection.
I can get the GPS connected via the 'GPS' setting they recommend via 'second mobile phone pairing'.
And I can get the MP3 player via a BT dongle to connect via 'media selective pairing'.
What I can't get done is to have both audible at the same time having checked all the device settings available.
Anybody ever pull this off without using a cellphone?
What I want is for the music to play and the GPS to give instructions as need be.
Whether the GPS 'temporarily' silences the music or not does not matter.
This will make my setup on the UK rental bike a lot easier.
Ideas?

 

[ST1100Y]

Methinks that's the issue with having only two BT-chipsets (hence only two channels/pairings)...
One pairing is reserved for intercom/bike2bike (or the Mesh adapter?)
The other for one additional source...
I run the Sena Freewire to transmit the hardwired tunes + GPS audio (all 3 bike-powered) to the SLR-II(I)...
If I unintentionally leave the phone's BT on, will that override/terminate the Freewire pairing entirely...
(yeah, and then I have to "reboot" the whole system: ignition OFF, helmet OFF, phone BT OFF, helmet ON, ignition ON -> "media connected", OK now I can take off... )

Maybe (and if you don't need intercom/mesh) you can pair one source (like the GPS) as "universal intercom" instead?

 

[Uncle Phil]

Methinks that's the issue with having only two BT-chipsets (hence only two channels/pairings)...
One pairing is reserved for intercom/bike2bike (or the Mesh adapter?)
The other for one additional source...
I run the Sena Freewire to transmit the hardwired tunes + GPS audio (all 3 bike-powered) to the SLR-II(I)...
If I unintentionally leave the phone's BT on, will that override/terminate the Freewire pairing entirely...
(yeah, and then I have to "reboot" the whole system: ignition OFF, helmet OFF, phone BT OFF, helmet ON, ignition ON -> "media connected", OK now I can take off... )

Maybe (and if you don't need intercom/mesh) you can pair one source (like the GPS) as "universal intercom" instead?

I've tried that - I can get both 'paired' but I cannot hear both at the same time.
I've even played with the 'Audio Multitasking' setting with no success.
IIRC, with the 30K it appears that mesh is a different 'deal' from the Bluetooth connections.

 

[tonythecarguy]

In Sena land it seems the only mixing that can happen is between intercom and one (at a time) bluetooth channel. ( that is what is controlled by the audio multitasking settings) Exactly what you are experiencing. On very rare occasions I have been able to get two bluetooth audio streams to switch back and forth but never constantly. I think pairing the dongle as the primary phone and the gps as the gps would be your best hope. But from what I've tried its going to be frustratingly flaky. I've solved this by using the gps as the music player. I don't remember what OS the chinavison GPS uses. Maybe there is a music player app for it.

 

[Uncle Phil]

In Sena land it seems the only mixing that can happen is between intercom and one (at a time) bluetooth channel. ( that is what is controlled by the audio multitasking settings) Exactly what you are experiencing. On very rare occasions I have been able to get two bluetooth audio streams to switch back and forth but never constantly. I think pairing the dongle as the primary phone and the gps as the gps would be your best hope. But from what I've tried its going to be frustratingly flaky. I've solved this by using the gps as the music player. I don't remember what OS the chinavison GPS uses. Maybe there is a music player app for it.

That appears to be the issue so it is designed that way I suppose.
The original model 30K (old USB micro) allows the aux input jack from the base to work.
The newer 30Ks (USB C) dropped the FM function and inactivate the input jack though it is still in the base.
So worse case, I BT the GPS and carry the MP3 in my 'pocket' with the Sena wire from it into the base.
I was hoping to eliminate the headset cord on the UK rental bike but looks like that can't happen.
I found a very good BT dongle on Amazon that works well with my ancient MP3 player through the process.
With it, I could plug it into my audio mixer on my ST1100s and do away with the helmet cord.
The battery in it is supposed to be good for 15 hours and has a volume control and a small screen that lists BT devices available.
Thanks to all for the inputs!