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[Cat Eye]

I read this on another forum....and did not know this.  I just assumed that you could pair your head set??   Is this still true?

I've read a few threads on this forum regarding 2014 Harley-Davidson owners and their new infotainment systems; one common question is "why won't my Bluetooth headset work with my Boom 6.5 system?"

I'm in electrical engineering an do a lot of communications work. We currently own 2008 FLHT, and use Cardo and Sena units for intercom and music, preferring that to the Harmon Kardon stereo built into the bike. We're looking at the 2014 HD's right now, so I called Harley with a very specific question:

"On the Boom 6.5 infotainment system, which Bluetooth profiles are supported?"

Tech-support couldn't answer that question, but they had me put it in an email and they forwarded it to the manufacturer of the system, Harmon Kardon. I pointed out that any Bluetooth profiles would be included in the original manufacturing specification documents between Harley and Harmon.

I received a reply yesterday; it indicated the Bluetooth profiles currently supported are:

HFP

A2DP

AVRCP

MAP

Immediately I understood why a Bluetooth headset won't work with the 6.5 system.

HFP is hands-free profile; this is for interfacing a cell phone to a hands-free kit in a vehicle.

A2DP is advanced audio distribution profile; this is for streaming audio between a media device and a (vehicle) radio.

AVRCP is for remote control of the radio/media player; it allows a remote device to pause, skip, fast-forward, etc. on music tracks.

MAP is message access profile; it's used to exchange messaging data between a cell phone and a radio. This is typically used in vehicle systems for displaying (or speech to text if supported by software) of SMS messages.

What was NOT listed in the specification was HSP-headset profile. This is why your Bluetooth headset won't work with the 6.5 infotainment system.

As many people with recently manufactured cars have discovered, like Ford Sync users, if you're on speaker phone in your car and you turn your headset on, the headset will grab control the phone from the car. The same thing happens with the new HD audio system with the current firmware.

There are other things HD shared with me on the specification document, like what services within those profiles are supported, but it gets too technical for most people at that point...The only ray of hope Bluetooth headset users have at this point is that there could be a firmware update in the future that adds additional profiles (like HSP).

I wouldn't hold my breath on this one, unless a lot of people put pressure on Harley to get Harmon to write a future firmware update.

[bissjim]

Yes it is.

jim@hdbomm.com

[porthole]

What was NOT listed in the specification was HSP-headset profile. This is why your Bluetooth headset won't work with the 6.5 infotainment system.

I've brought this up several times on the forum.

HSP is not one of the profiles in most automotive radios. I haven't found definitive reasons yet, but have been led to believe by tech types at Sony that it is that way because of the hazards of driving with a "headset" in your car.

So, no HSP to allow your radio to comm with a BT helmet or add on like Sena - Cardo etc for music streaming.
There are a couple of BT devices out but I have yet to find one that actually works, and it still requires a workaround, like hardwiring an output to a dongle that then BT's to you headset.

I was really hoping since the HD radio is bike specific, that it would actually allow BT'ing to a helmet. But, why should they since they already have the hard wired option.

[Cat Eye]

But Garmin has now problem with the HSP.
To me this makes now sense.

[srnoyes]

Thanks for doing the research and taking the time to get answers. I was wondering why, just figured it was because they provide wired communications so didn't bother. I didn't put much thought to it. Appreciate you're sharing with us.

[DesertHOG]

Yes it is.

jim@hdbomm.com

Jim, I don't understand your comment. What does "yes it is" refer to in the posting?

DH

[Para Bellum]

Jim, I don't understand your comment. What does "yes it is" refer to in the posting?

DH

Simon,

I had the same question.  I believe he's answering the question Cat Eyes asked about why we can't stream music from the bike to a headset:

I read this on another forum....and did not know this.  I just assumed that you could pair your head set??   Is this still true?

[bissjim]

Simon,

I had the same question.  I believe he's answering the question Cat Eyes asked about why we can't stream music from the bike to a headset:

You are correct Harley did not change anything in the 2015 model Infotainment system so the answer to the question "is this still true" is yes it is still true.
Its unfortunate but with Bluetooth that is just the way it is.

[porthole]

So we are still back to square one looking for something that would allow a HSP to the helmets.
Ive tried a couple adapters. Seems the few that will work do not share BT, e.g you get either your phone or the music, but not both.

I guess what we really could use is a BT adapter that is hard wired (with battery backup), that receives music through whatever profile from the radio then re-transmits the stream via a HSP to the helmet.

[Cat Eye]

I was thinking something like this
http://imcmoto.com/products/camos-bluetooth-adapter-for-harley-7-pin-systems.html

This 7 pin adapter would the be paired to my Sena headset.  This way I should be able to listen to the infotainless system and be able to intercom to other Sena riders.

I will lose the voice recognition feature.

This is so disappointing....chit the Zuma gives you more functionality.

[DesertHOG]

I was thinking something like this
http://imcmoto.com/products/camos-bluetooth-adapter-for-harley-7-pin-systems.html

This 7 pin adapter would the be paired to my Sena headset.  This way I should be able to listen to the infotainless system and be able to intercom to other Sena riders.

I will lose the voice recognition feature.

This is so disappointing....chit the Zuma gives you more functionality.

Interesting.. looks like if you want tunes and phone it would work. Wonder if you would hear your navigation guide too (seems you would). However, you would like need some kind of a tank bag to carry the wiring and phone and does it charge your phone ?

DH

[DesertHOG]

Interesting, I just contacted IMC and talked to "Steve". He stated that the BTA 7 Kit will not work with the Boom audio system on the new Harley's. It will work with the older systems. Again, likely because of the lack of Headset protocol support by HK.

[Cat Eye]

The 7 pin adapter has a 3.5mm audio only output jack.  This output should be no different than any MP3 player.

The BT adapter is plugged into the 7-pin-to-3.5mm adapter.

The BT adapter is then pair to the Sena as a headphone.

Seem to be it should work..

[DesertHOG]

The 7 pin adapter has a 3.5mm audio only output jack.  This output should be no different than any MP3 player.

The BT adapter is plugged into the 7-pin-to-3.5mm adapter.

The BT adapter is then pair to the Sena as a headphone.

Seem to be it should work..

Please be our guinea pig and let us know if it works 

[Cat Eye]

Please be our guinea pig and let us know if it works 

I 'd love to....still waiting to get my Street Glide