| Author | Message | ||
     Xl1200r |
Will the Zumo 550 send XM audio through Bluethooth? I'm hearing conflicting things... | ||
| Slaughter |
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=135&pID=41 4 http://www8.garmin.com/bluetooth/ (I don't use Bluetooth on the bike so can't answer - I use the Zumo 450) From Garmin website (Zumo 550 link above) Add Traffic, Weather and Radio With optional XM subscriptions and an XM antenna, you can check the weather, move ahead of traffic and listen to the radio when you travel with zūmo in the U.S. As an alternative, zūmo can receive optional TMC traffic alerts (in select cities) when used with a compatible traffic receiver. Simply press a button on the screen, and zūmo recalculates your route to avoid traffic tie-ups. (Message edited by slaughter on February 28, 2008) | ||
| Tank_bueller |
No it will not.(not in stereo, not yet anyway) The Zumo is not compatible with the A2DP(stereo) Bluetooth profile. It will usually still work, but only in mono. I went and bought a Jabra stereo bluetooth transmitter and plug that into the stereo output on the Zumo. I use a Motorola stereo Bluetooth headset on my person(look ma, no wires! ). Works pretty good, but I have no microphone capability due to the Jabra being "transmit only". Someone would make a killing on a plug-in transmitter/reciever to plug into the Zumo, and a wearable device that accepted your choice of headphones and separate mic. That way you could use the full potential of the Zumo, including XM/MP3/paired phone, all controlled by the Zumo. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I don't care if it's stereo, only if it will transmit XM through bluetooth at all. I'm reading that it won't, but it's hard to think that Garmin would have done the phone, voice directions and MP3 player through bluetooth and not the XM. | ||
| Borrowedbike |
Tank, I agree 100%. I'll buy it! | ||
| Jackbequick |
Xl1200r, If you look at the online User's Manual (page 49, the 55th page of the *.pdf file) it says that the XM audio is not available on the motorcycle mount. If you want to hear it from a human, you can call them at 1 800 800 1020. http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/1369_OwnersManual.p df Don't put any level of stupidity as being beyond the capabilities of the Garmin hardware and software designers. I could go on for hours about some of the stupid things they have done and continue to do. They appear to have no mechanism for finding out what people like and don't like their products. And don't seem to care about changing that. Jack | ||
| Xl1200r |
That is the gayest thing I've ever heard of. They are SO getting a letter from me. (Message edited by xl1200r on February 28, 2008) | ||
| Rich |
http://www.zumoforums.com/index.php?sid=8c02d1550f 7cb1b179876aa827fa874e | ||
| Xl1200r |
Hey Rich - that site is blocked for me at work - care to explain what the subject of the thread is? Thanks. | ||
| Jackbequick |
That is to the ZumoForums, he may have been signed in. This link will take you to the home page I think: http://www.zumoforums.com/ Once you register there you can see and browse all the topics. The Biker's Dashboard has a lot of details of info on the XM audio issue and the attempts to work around it. I'm not up to date on that (and don't own a zumo) but last I knew if you got the mp3 or XM audio to a Bluetooth headset, it would be monoaural because that was the nature of Bluetooth. But I'm not sure that is still true now. Jack (Message edited by jackbequick on February 29, 2008) | ||
| Xl1200r |
Nope - I am a member of that forum, but the whole site is blocked by the firewall here at work (thank god they haven't discovered BadWeB yet!). Anything the Zumo sends over Bluetooth will be mono - I really don't think this matters at 60mph in my helmet  I see two workarounds right now: 1 - connect a Bluetooth adapter to the audio jack, but this will mean something else to find a place to mount, another bunch of money to buy it, another device I have to keep charged up and another pairing for my bluetooth headset which will then be maxed out. 2 - just run headphones from the audio jack into my helmet. This means I am no longer wireless, and now have to wear headphones and speakers in my helmet. Kind of lame both ways. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Xl1200r, I've tried opening dialogs with Garmin via their 800 number. Wanting to talk to someone that might give a damn about what Garmin users think or want. All I've ever gotten out of it is sympathy from people down at the "worker bee" level. The company seems to be very compartmented and to have some communications issues too. I would categorize the last two or three generations of Garmin receivers for dash mounted use in cars or intended for marine use as less capable than the models they superseded. Each new model in their line was "dumbed down" as seen by users of the previous models. It came down to fewer pages of information, fewer user configured data boxes, the loss of COM ports and RS-232 I/O, and the simplifying or loss of track data or some details about tracks. A number of them also lost the ability to communicate data (routes, waypoints, and tracks) to and from a PC. And they also lost the capability to store routes for reuse and, for the most part, for the user to use multiple destination routing to control routing. It is as if Garmin is intending their newer models to be turned on and used as they are received by people with little or no knowledge of navigation and no intent to ever expand their knowledge to use more advanced navigation techniques. And further, it appears they think that simply follow the directions provided with a minimum of thought or desire to change the routes offered. There are still a few items in the auto/motorcycle line that have retained most or all of the navigation related capabilities that peaked back in the days of the StreetPilot 2xxx models. But many of the newer (and most attractively priced) models are "dumbed down". And laden with "brain candy" features that have nothing to do with navigation. So while Garmin has worked successfully to introduce GPS to a mass market, they are closing off the upgrade paths for experienced users by not newer and better models there. Not only is there no incentive, an upgrade would be a loss of features or capabilities. Based on the premise that the more knowledgeable GPS user wants to be able to, (1), plan routes on a PC, (2), have complete control of routing, and (3), save and use track histories, the only models in the dash mounted line that will do all that and do it well are the zumos, the Quest II, and the StreetPilot 2820. Some of the nuvis are starting to add some of the navigation features back in. But that is being done in a half-assed and ineffective manner. Like they are scrambling to try to cover their error in having left the feature out. A number of the mapping handhelds in the eTrex and GPSMAP lines will still do all the advanced navigation related stuff as long as you are willing to give up large displays, spoken guidance, and all the non-navigation or "brain candy" features. And I am willing to do that. When my StreetPilot 2610 and 2620 die of old age, I'll use my GPSMAP 76Cx to do it all. The new line of Garmin mapping handhelds, the Colorado series, is not on the street officially yet but guess what some of the initial observations are? They are dumber and have lost some navigation features and capabilities in comparison to their predecessors. Jack | ||
| Xl1200r |
To Garmin's defense, I don't think "dumbing down" the line was a bad move from a business point. Myself and 9 of my closest friends all have and use GPS devices, 6 of those are Garmin units. Only myself and one other user (a fellow biker) have ever used any of the more advanced features you've described. Everyone else has no need and no desire (and frankly probably lacks the skill) for them. They simply want a GPS to put in their car and tell them how to get to where they want to go. That's it. Garmin, TomTom and Magellan delivered. I just happen to think that Garmin really dropped the ball with this whole XM radio thing. How hard can it possibly be to send it via bluetooth? I refuse to believe this is anything more than a simple software change. |
