Yet Another WHIM/Bluetooth Problem

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Oct 2, 2018 | 08:01 AM

howard829

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Joined: Sep 2018

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From: South Jersey

Yet Another WHIM/Bluetooth Problem

Hi all, a newbie to the forums so please be gentle. I am a longtime Harley Davidson owner and am presently having an issue with the WHIM/Bluetooth Headset setup on a 2019 Street Glide Special. I have paid the "Harley Tax" and bit the bullet and made this costly purchase. Anyway, the main issue I have is with communicating with the Harley Sena 20s EVO headset to the Boom Box GTS system at Highway Speeds. I can hear music, navigation commands and phone conversations to the headset just fine. The issue is at Highway speeds using the handlebar button the Sena has extreme difficulty accepting any commands, ex. Tune To (channel on radio) or Show Map etc. At slow speeds lower than 30mph or at a stop there is no issue at all. All commands accepted just fine. I have contacted both Sena and Harley about this issue. Some very basic trouble shooting has taken place by both companies. I have gone into the wireless configuration on the bike and also the Sena with still no good results. I have cupped my hand around the mic to try and cut down the wind noise without success. My phone calls using the headset are perfect. The person I'm talking with could hardly tell I am on a bike at highway speeds. Naturally, I have positioned the boom mic correctly according to Sena. I am using a 3/4 open face helmet. I have used this helmet with the "wired" version of Harley's headset in the past with no issues.

I would appreciate any first hand knowledge or experience with this annoying issue.

Thanks...Howard...2019 Harley Davidson Street Glide Special....

Oct 2, 2018 | 11:52 AM

btsom

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Joined: Jan 2012

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From: Oklahoma

Is the problem with VOICE COMMAND or the push button function? How far away is your dealer and why haven't you taken it in for a tech FAMILIAR with the system to check out? Could be as simple as a 3/4 helmet not providing enough wind protection for the microphone, but could also be a microphone not functioning properly, WHIM interface problem, or Boom system problem. Trouble shooting by phone or Email will be long, difficult and frustrating while a hands on analysis by a technician should be quick and easy.

Last edited by btsom; Oct 2, 2018 at 11:55 AM.

Oct 2, 2018 | 12:02 PM

howard829

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Joined: Sep 2018

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From: South Jersey

Quote:

Originally Posted by btsom

Thanks for the reply. All your points are valid ones. So my 3/4 helmet was used on my previous Ultra without issue. The microphone functions just fine at stop or at speeds below 30mph. I’m relatively close to my H-D dealer but from first hand experience they have not much of a clue how these systems work. They can replace things if broken but trouble shooting issues like this they come up short. I’m in an email communication with the Motor Company and that is painful. You can’t communicate directly to a tech there and some of the questions they send to me are elementary ones. Not helpful yet.

Thanks...Howard

Oct 2, 2018 | 03:34 PM

FurryOne

Road Master

Joined: Jun 2013

Posts: 953

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From: Rome, NY

One thing of note - if you look up the YouTube videos of Cardo Packtalk vs Sena, you'll find a test that purports to show that Sena's noise cancelling sucks when you get up to speed. That could be your problem. I have the Sena 30K and the Freewire coupled to my 6.5GT and still have some problems when I'm at speed.

Oct 2, 2018 | 03:54 PM

steve04

Cruiser

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 144

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From: Mickleton, NJ

Howard,
Check out this link below. Let me know if it helps you out. See you next week I hope.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/new-r...-davidson.html

Oct 2, 2018 | 04:28 PM

howard829

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Joined: Sep 2018

Posts: 69

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From: South Jersey

Quote:

Originally Posted by FurryOne

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I have chosen the road I am on by purchasing the approved H-D products with the WHIM and Sena 20s EVO.

Thanks...Howard