need help with helmet audio please

[SuperG]

I have a scla Q2 multiset I sue for bike to bike and with bluetooth and with an MP3 player, all works fine.

 

I also have a passport 8500 which has an audio out port.

If I plug in an earbud I get mono -one speaker sound just fine from the radar detector.

 

The scala has a 2.5mm audio input port. If i connect my MP3 player to this port music works fine.

 

If I connect audio from the radar detector to the scala and when Ipress a button on the radar detector i only get a faint beep sound which fades away within a second.

 

I emailed scala Cardo tech support, no response yet.

 

I tried to use a mono audio plug, no change.

What can the problem be?

[EddyQ]

You may need a ground loop isolator.

See this thread: LINK

 

The radar detector may have a balanced output where signals are on the tip as well as on the barrel of the connector plug. In this situation, when you plug it into the scala, one side gets shorted and upsets the bias of the amplifier within the radar detector. Or, the radar detector has a DC bias on the output. Eitherway, one side gets shorted when it connects to the scala through the negative 12V (black wire) going to both units.

[SuperG]

Eddy,

 

The scala bluetooth helmet headset does not run on motorcycle 12V power. It has its own ~3.7V battery. do you still think a ground loop isolator will fix the issue?

[SuperG]

an other update: not sure if this will shine a light on the problem.

When I only insert the 3.5mm audio plug half way into the passport radar I do get the normal radar beeping sound. Was that the balanced signal you mentioned "may have a balanced output where signals are on the tip as well as on the barrel of the connector plug"

 

Is there an easy fix ?

 

[RedMac]

Yes.. the passport uses a mono ouput and has a monoconnector. Get a mono/stereo adapter. That should solve your issue...

 

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062469

 

I assume it's 3.5mm on both ends. If not you'll need the appropriate size.

[tobyzusa]

Yes.. the passport uses a mono ouput and has a monoconnector. Get a mono/stereo adapter. That should solve your issue...

 

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062469

 

I assume it's 3.5mm on both ends. If not you'll need the appropriate size.

 

Or better yet, a mono to stereo cable.

[SuperG]

I've already tried that, cut the end of a stereo cable and experimented with a mono 3.5mm plug. It was still a no go.

[RedMac]

Are you sure you wired it correctly?

 

It sure sounds like that is the issue. Esp if it works when you pull the stereo plug 1/2 way out. The mono adapter is like 2 and half bucks...

[Nesbocaj]

You may want to consider a BT 'dongle' to the detector's output.

 

I have a J&M BT helmet, and have the Zumo and the Radar output with a Y connector to a BT dongle, a thing called an iCombi. This way I get the Zumo music output in stereo and get to hear the radar.

 

Wireless to the helmet, and it all works great.

 

I plug the Y into the Zumo, run a short wire double male end to the radar, and plug the iCombi into the Y.

 

 

 

 

[SuperG]

Interesting concept, bluetooth could be a good. thanks

[bobbybob]

I know you said you experimented with this but its *exactly* the same problem I had with the 8500 in my Autocom. You need a mono cable (mono on both ends)coming from the 8500, plugging into a mono-to-stereo adapter plug, and then a stereo cable from the adapter to the unit. Got the parts at Radio Shack. That fixed mine--exctly the same sounds I heard.

[EddyQ]

The scala bluetooth helmet headset does not run on motorcycle 12V power. It has its own ~3.7V battery. do you still think a ground loop isolator will fix the issue?

 

Yes. Running the scala from a battery should eliminate the ground loop through the negative connections(ground) as long as neither of the two audio connections connect to the bike (ground). So, is the Scala mounted such that a ground connection occurs?

I assume the radar detector runs on the bike 12V.

 

Other than that, it sounds like the suggestions above could be your issue. The wrong connections may be occuring with sterio mixed with mono plugs/jacks.

[SuperG]

Yes, the scala bluetooth headset has its own rechargeable lithium battery pack, completely independent from bike's battery.

 

I will stop by radio shack and pick up some items and report back.

 

thanks all for your suggestions/help.

[SuperG]

Here is some update.

Scala replied to my email after about 3 days : stating to call their tech support. I told the tech what model radar detector it is, tech support said, "sorry... we only provide support for Scala headsets with mp3 players only. radar detectors are not supported by us". May be they know that there is some problems with it.

 

I got the mono adapter, mono cable, mono to stereo adapter from radioshack. The frea*%$^ng thing is still not working right.

I kept the receipt

 

Here is the deal, there is something wrong here, it is not a mono or stereo issue.

The only way I can get it to work if the audio cable is not fully inserted into the radar detector's 3.5 mm socket. But far enough to make contact with all 3 prongs but not deep enough to disengage the internal speaker of the escort 8500.

TO be more specific. the tip of the 3.5mm audio cable has to contact the most inner (common) connection.

So there is some kind of audio cross feed/ short issue I need to work out.

Good news is that the radar detector comes apart easy and the 3.5mm socket is soldered to the board is easily accessible. I may have to solder an external 3.5 socket to the legs.

 

What do you think?

[EddyQ]

I'm a bit baffled that the passport works fine with earbuds but with the scala connections, even with mono plugs to the detector, has this weird issue where pushed in all the way it fails, part in it works. The earbuds and scala cable has exactly the same 3.5mm stereo plug at the passport end.

 

It would seem the passport should get a mono (two contacts) 3.5mm plug. The scala gets a 2.5mm stereo (three contacts) plug. So you tried those exact connectors into each unit, with no shorts of any of the three wires, one of the stereo scala input connections left open, and it behaved strange.

 

It sure sounds like the detector connector is not happy with a 3.5mm plug (stereo or mono)and may be defective. But you say it works with earbugs (one ear gets mono audio). Very weird.

 

I'm really not familiar with the Scala and I think the reply you got from Scala was very poor. Best I can tell, the Q2 Multi is rather complex and I wouldn't have a clue how to help you debug it if it was attenuating the detector audio.

 

It is a shame you need surgury to fix such an issue risking the reliability of the passport. I'm not sure your solution is something I would want to rely apon as a final solution, but might give you a clue if the connector is defective. Be careful and good luck.

[EddyQ]

I know you said you experimented with this but its *exactly* the same problem I had with the 8500 in my Autocom. You need a mono cable (mono on both ends)coming from the 8500, plugging into a mono-to-stereo adapter plug, and then a stereo cable from the adapter to the unit. Got the parts at Radio Shack. That fixed mine--exctly the same sounds I heard.

 

This sounds like what should work. Although I cannot find the needed parts on Radio-Shack website.

[SuperG]

I gave up,

I removed the scala from my helmet. I will be looking at the Sena once they come out with their "promised" bluetooth hub" that allows other wired connections to plug in.

 

If/when my passenger(wife) choose to ride/chat I will just bolt it back in, it uses two allen head screw (pinch clip style) mounting system, no biggy. The scala works good as a rider-to-passenger wireless com.

 

In the mean time I use a pair of loud and good quality earphone speaker (ones that normally clip over the ears) in my HJC sy-maxII which has huge ear pockets.

For now I just use a "Y" splitter/joiner to feed music from my phone and signal from the passport 8500. It works just fine. Each has independent volume controls so I can set their volume to custom settings.

[PACABADA]

an other update: not sure if this will shine a light on the problem.

When I only insert the 3.5mm audio plug half way into the passport radar I do get the normal radar beeping sound. Was that the balanced signal you mentioned "may have a balanced output where signals are on the tip as well as on the barrel of the connector plug"

 

Is there an easy fix ?

 

Sorry to ressurect an old thread but I am having the same problem with my 8500 X50 and Sena SMH10/SM10 system.

 

I was using a mono/stereo plug that Autocom sold as an accessory and it worked perfectly with the 8500 but not the Sena. I have tried everything. It doesn't make any difference hooked directly to the SMH10 either.

 

Been working with Sena but no fixes yet. Going to contact Escort tomorrow but thought I would see if anyone else other than There Will Be Cake has had this problem and fixed it. PM'd There Will Be Cake but no answer.

 

Thanks in advance

[SuperG]

I have answered,

I could not fix the issue.

there was a Canadian fella, that had a gadget that could possible make it work, something with the ground loop, at the tune of about $80.

I have used the escort radar det. with just regular earbuds when I felt I needed to have a radar detecting device. Otherwise I just ditched the idea.

[PACABADA]

Well, I have some good news. The motorcycle adapter from Escort which is a ground loop isolater works through the my SM10 bluetooth hub perfectly! Finally have bluetooth radar!

 

Paul

[OoPEZoO]

I run a Sena bluetooth setup and figured out a cheap way to wire an Escort into the mix. You need to make your own stereo to mono cable, but you need to add resistors to the signal lines. Otherwise, it will cause the Escort to get goofy and stop producing sound.

 

Here is my setup

I use the earbud helmet clamp for the Sena and use custom molded ear buds. I normally just use that paired with my iPhone to listen to music and intercom. When I add my radar detector into the mix, I put THIS in-line between my ear buds and the helmet clamp. My local Best Buy had them in stock. It can work as a splitter OR and isolated mixer, due to it having resistors built into the unit. I plug my home made Mono to Stereo cable from my 8500 into one of the open ports on the splitter/mixer. My iPhone and Sena work like normal, and I can hear every beep and blip of the radar detector in the background. The whole setup works flawlessly. The only gripe is that I now have a single audio cable tethering me to the bike. A small price to pay for getting it all working for under $20. I just unplug the audio cable from the Belkin unit anytime I need to hop off the bike.

 

I had to play with the resistor value in the stereo to mono cable to get the isolation I wanted without killing the volume, but it was pretty easy. The Belkin unit comes with a male to male stereo cable. I cut one end off and added a mono connecter from Radio Shack. The resistors I added go from each of the stereo feeds in the cable, to the single mono feed on the connector I added.

 

I've been using this way for about a year and haven't had a single issue. It also saved my bacon quite a few times on my way out to Colorado and back last Summer for the UNrally. I can measure the resistor values I used and take some pics if anyone is interested.