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[woode]

I know that issues with the NIM have been tossed around on the forum, and experts like Jim Bissonette have contributed some very helpful information on the subject.  The following is a summary of my NIM problems and failure to resolve with HD.

Most troublesome problem is that I cannot realistically use Nav turn-by-turn directions AND use the intercom at the same time.  If the volume of the Intercom is turned up AND the NIM is passing voice prompts from the GPS, the headset mike is opened (VOX open, or keyed, or whatever), and the NIM passes the GPS sounds along with incredibly loud screeching feedback and road noise from the headset.  Mind you, the Intercom does NOT have to be turned on - the volume of the Intercom just has to be turned up.  If I turn down the Intercom volume all the way, the problem goes away - except that I can't use the Intercom.  I think that the problem still exists (mike is still "open"), but since Intercom volume is down, it has no effect.  I live with it by turning down the Intercom volume about halfway, thereby reducing the feedback, but then it is difficult to hear Intercom conversations at speed.  I explained and replicated the problem to the local HD service department, and they threw me a curve.  They used an HD headset instead of mine, and the feedback was significantly less - to the point where they thought that the problem did not exist.  I was able to prove to them that the mike was still keyed open, and they told me that was by design.  They also suggested that my headset (J&M I think) was more sensitive, so it was more noticeable.  I convinced them to try a new NIM, and they even used a different head unit - just to make sure it was not the radio.  Sure enough, the problem did not go away.  I had exactly the same problem with a different NIM and a different radio.  Kind of took the wind out of my sails, to say the least.  Before they put the fairing back on, he noticed the HD-BOMM, and said "Hmm, I've never seen that thing before..."  So, I told him what it was, which immediately threw it under suspicion as the culprit.   It could have been another faulty NIM, but I didn't have much credibility at that point.  Anyway, they told me that they would keep the ticket open, and the next time another 2013 CVO comes in for service, they are going to run it through the same tests to see how it responds.  In the meantime, no Intercom + GPS.  Only one or the other. 

Can any of you with factory installed Navigation & NIM report how your GPS prompts work with Intercom?  Anyone else have this problem?
Jim Biss, feel free to chime in with any suggestions!!

Thanks!

[bissjim]

The NIM is not supposed to nor was it designed to activate the intercom system. The tech you spook with does not have a good grasp of the situation. Think about it, you design a device that will allow an audio signal from the GPS (Turn Prompt Only) to automatically interrupt what is playing on the radio so that the user can hear the Turn Prompt. It was designed to let you hear the Turn Prompt and only the Turn Prompt. It was NOT designed to let you hear the Turn Prompt along with road noise from your helmet microphone.

Lets see I am going to design a radio but I am also going to inject lots of useless and irritating noise into the audio signal. Yup sounds like I am ready for the big time now, these things will sell like hot cakes on a cold winter day. Lets see what color Porch do I want to buy with all the money I'm going to make?

Being a little facetious there but you get my meaning.

I know a person that had 3 NIMs installed, new at the dealer before he got one that worked correctly. The J&M microphone is more sensitive then the Harley one so the road noise will be louder then with the Harley mic.

Again the NIM should not activate the intercom for any reason. The only thing that should activate the intercom is if you break VOX (and the VOX is adjusted correctly) or you press the PTT button.

Make sure your speaker switch is rocked all the way back. The light on the speaker switch should be ON.

You can do a Google search and find where others have had this problem and replacing the NIM solved the issue. Just search for "Harley NIM activates intercom"

Jim

[woode]

Jim,

Don't misunderstand me - I agree with you!  I think that it is laughable that they tell me that the VOX is open by design.  My problem is that the same exact problem existed after replacing the NIM.  At least they didn't close the book on it and are willing to look at other NIM installations to see if they can debunk the "open VOX is normal" idea.

Ed

[bissjim]

Make sure your speaker switch is in the rear position.

Like I said above I know a person who had 3 NIM's installed before he finally got one that stopped activating the intercom.

I also understand the techs point of view in that they installed a new one and the problem still existed. They just did not take it a step further and try another NIM.

They will not be able to duplicate the problem on any other bike that is working correctly. Stay on top of it, heck if you have a few friends with a NIM ride over to the dealer and show them their bike and NIM works correctly.

I can quarantee that the HD Bomm will not activate the intercom so don't let them say it is the problem, Electrically it's impossible

Call Harley customer service and complain if all else fails.

Good luck with it, working with some dealers can be a real pain.

[3ncfishers]

Woode,
Did you get to the bottom of the source and solution to your problem?  I am having the exact same thing with my 2012 CVO Ultra.  When GPS gives instruction, VOX is broken, regardless of rocker switch position, and even with Intercom turned off.  I know it picks up my mic and associated road and wind noise because when VOX is broken covering up the mic changes what I hear in my Harley headset. 

[woode]

3ncfishers - no, I never got any additional feedback from the dealer, and the problem still exists.  Since I rarely use the Intercom anymore, I have not been aggressively seeking an answer.  One annoying thing that I believe is related to this issue (but can't prove it) is that the radio (usually in iPod mode) is cutting out from time to time for no apparent reason.

[bissjim]

3ncfishers - no, I never got any additional feedback from the dealer, and the problem still exists.  Since I rarely use the Intercom anymore, I have not been aggressively seeking an answer.  One annoying thing that I believe is related to this issue (but can't prove it) is that the radio (usually in iPod mode) is cutting out from time to time for no apparent reason.

The next time your radio cuts out look at the radio display and see if it says "NAV/Phone" it might only say "NAV" or "Phone" depending on the software version.
If it does then it's the NIM that is cutting the radio out. This is another issue with the NIM and shows that it is faulty. Usually if your NIM starts doing this it will eventually fail and you will end up with no NIM operation. If the radio cuts out and does not return to normal operation until you turn the bike off then back on the NIM is on it's last leg.

[HD Jim]

Mine was acting up on my 12.  After the NIM was replaced with the latest revision it fixed the issue.  My radio had the NAV/Phone showing on the screen when it acted up.  You can check the NIM version I believe by looking at the tag on it.  Not sure if you can do that through the radio.

[ultrafxr]

Mine was acting up on my 12.  After the NIM was replaced with the latest revision it fixed the issue.  My radio had the NAV/Phone showing on the screen when it acted up.  You can check the NIM version I believe by looking at the tag on it.  Not sure if you can do that through the radio.

Recently I also replaced the NIM on my '12 cuse7.  The tag on the NIM showed the original part number - not the current 'A' revision.  My '12 was an early model purchased in Nov 2011 so I don't know when the 'A' revision was introduced or found its way in to production.  Installing the newer 'A' version NIM seems to have corrected my problems also.

The part number is on a tag attached to the NIM.