Take your 2018 Star Venture wireless with Sena Freewire

[dragonstorm]

Dragonstorm

In your 20s setup there should be an option for sidetone. Make sure that is turned off.

 

 

Thank you I will look into that.

[johnnyroid]

If you're going the BT heatset / Sena adapter (Freewire) route, you don't need that cable you linked to. The Sena Freewire comes with the cable that connects the Freewire to the bike.

 

The "cable" you linked to would hardwire a Sena bluetooth helmet mount to the bike, bypassing the Freewire.

 

I'm also a proponent of the belief that, for the best experience, certain parts should be paired with other parts from the same manufacturer (in general). In that regard, I would recommend either the Sena 20s EVO or the Sena 30K, whichever fits better into your needs for rider-rider and/or rider-passenger communication.

 

Can anyone provide preference between the Sena 20s vs the 30k? I don't need the large group capability the 30k seems to be able to provide, but was wondering if there were any other noticeable advantages to a 30k vs the 20s.

[Zelthian]

I am having the same issue as Tony P . . . when on a phone call it is echoing i hear myself talking as well as the other person. I wondered if anyone, besides Tony is having that issue and how did you remedy it? I am using the 20S . . .

 

I have this same issue even with sidetone off. It's an artifact of the reality that, while it works, it wasn't made specifically for the Venture. I'm experimenting with having the phone connected to the Venture for messaging (SMS) announcement and caller ID, but also to my Sena to take the actual phone calls to mitigate this issue.

[Zelthian]

Can anyone provide preference between the Sena 20s vs the 30k? I don't need the large group capability the 30k seems to be able to provide, but was wondering if there were any other noticeable advantages to a 30k vs the 20s.

 

As far as I've been able to determine, the 20K is just a 30k without the mesh features.

[johnnyroid]

As far as I've been able to determine, the 20K is just a 30k without the mesh features.

 

That's what I though, don't need the mesh, going with the 20K, thanks for the reply

[Zelthian]

That's what I though, don't need the mesh, going with the 20K, thanks for the reply

 

No problem. The 20k EVO is about $30 cheaper than the 30k, so you do save a little money.

[johnnyroid]

I have this same issue even with sidetone off. It's an artifact of the reality that, while it works, it wasn't made specifically for the Venture. I'm experimenting with having the phone connected to the Venture for messaging (SMS) announcement and caller ID, but also to my Sena to take the actual phone calls to mitigate this issue.

 

Having the same issue, although I don't know how to separately connect them, so I suppose I will have to live with it. (Sidetone is off).

[johnnyroid]

Dragonstorm

In your 20s setup there should be an option for sidetone. Make sure that is turned off.

 

Took your advice, went into settings, and ensured sidetone is in fact off. It is, same echo of my own voice on phone calls.

[johnnyroid]

I am having the same issue as Tony P . . . when on a phone call it is echoing i hear myself talking as well as the other person. I wondered if anyone, besides Tony is having that issue and how did you remedy it? I am using the 20S . . .

 

I'm having the exact same issue, sidetone is off.

[johnnyroid]

Bumping this. Setup working great, but that hearing my own voice over a phone call and the CB is annoying. Anyone have any luck eliminating it?

[sandcrawler]

SOLUTION

 

The Sena Freewire is a wired-to-Bluetooth adapter. The adapter plugs into the wired connection on your bike; then, you pair your BT headset to the adapter using the BT headset's phone pairing feature. This allows two-way audio (speakers and mic) between your BT headset and the bike's on-board audio system. The 2018 Venture uses the same 7-pin connector as modern Harley-Davidsons, so the Freewire for Harley-Davidson is the version you need to buy.

 

 

Thanks for this very informative post. I'm just buying time until I can get an SVTC and was wondering how I might get my SMH-10s to pair with or otherwise use the on-board system so I can still keep the helmet wireless and use the CB as well.

 

Sounds like a great solution!

[ZephyrChuck]

I've noted in several posts that some of the limitations of the wired setup of the 2018 Star Venture can be overcome with a Sena Freewire setup. I wanted to put up this post to explain how this works, what you need, some gotchas to look out for, and the various ways you can use the setup to accomplish what you want.

BEFORE I BEGIN

Let me say up front that I'm not a Sena employee, nor am I getting any kind of monetary compensation for any of this. I mention these products because a) I own them or have ordered them, b) I know that they work, and c) I use them because they work and/or I like them. This post isn't meant as an advertisement for Sena. Honest!

 

PROBLEM STATEMENT

 

The issue at hand is that the 2018 Star Venture does not have the capability to pair a wireless Bluetooth headset to the infotainment system. The only way to get a headset hooked up to the system is via a 7-pin headset connector (available for both rider and passenger). This is all well and good, but poses some issues. 1) You and the passenger are tethered to the bike. Step away, and you have to unplug, losing your connection, among other annoyances. 2) You are forced to use the on-board intercom to speak to each other. This causes issues because the PTT for the intercom is also used for the CB, so if you use both, every time you talk via the on-board intercom, you broadcast the conversation via CB.

 

You can certainly use BT headsets and chat with your rider via the BT intercom, and then have your bike audio play out via the speakers, but then you have no way of talking out via the CB.

 

SOLUTION

 

The Sena Freewire is a wired-to-Bluetooth adapter. The adapter plugs into the wired connection on your bike; then, you pair your BT headset to the adapter using the BT headset's phone pairing feature. This allows two-way audio (speakers and mic) between your BT headset and the bike's on-board audio system. The 2018 Venture uses the same 7-pin connector as modern Harley-Davidsons, so the Freewire for Harley-Davidson is the version you need to buy.

 

PROS

 

Your helmet is no longer tethered to the bike. More flexible options on how to handle intercom. One headset can accomplish music, intercom and CB communications without overlapping.

 

CONS

 

Expensive. Current price is $225 per unit, and you'll need two if you want to include your passenger's access to the on-board audio. Keeping the various options straight can be a bit of a learning curve. It's wireless/BT, so expect some delay when using the mic. Passenger can't have access to their own phone AND a Freewire at the same time (the infotainment system only allows one phone to be connected for calls at a time).

 

SETUP - NO PASSENGER

 

Sena has a video on Youtube that quickly shows how to pair the Freewire with your BT headset (see below). Thus, it's just a matter of 1) plugging the Freewire into the bike helmet socket, 2) mounting the Freewire on your bike (handlebar is easiest), 3) turning the Freewire on, and 4) pairing your BT headset with the Freewire.

 

Once this is done, you're pretty much set. You can leave the intercom off in the infotainment system and use the PTT for the CB. If you're using a smartphone, pair the smartphone with the infotainment system on the bike, not the BT headset. This is because most headsets only let you pair one phone, and since the Freewire uses the phone pairing feature, you wont be able to use it for phone and Freewire at the same time. This isn't a problem, as the Venture infotainment system shows you when someone calls (along with their number) and flashes text messages on the screen, etc etc. You can answer the phone, and the Freewire will handle all the audio for the phone call, both in and out.

 

SETUP - WITH PASSENGER

 

Follow the same setup as before, adding a Freewire to the passenger mic socket. You'll need to find a place to mount the passenger Freewire; I'm going to try to put it on the side of the passenger grab handle. Now the passenger has access to the infotainment audio, and this is where the fun begins.

 

• EDIT: I managed to find a way to mount the passenger Freewire in the trunk. See this post: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?135982-First-Mod-2018-SVTC-Hide-the-Freewire
  

 

Intercom and CB

 

Most motorcycle BT headsets come with a built-in headset-to-headset intercom feature. Probably the biggest limitation for CB enthusiasts on the Venture is that the PTT button functions for both the on-board intercom and the CB, as I previously mentioned. With this setup, you can use the BT headset intercom instead of the bike intercom (which you can turn off). Now the PTT button only has to be used for CB, and the headsets can function as your intercom.

 

Of course, if you don't plan on using the CB, you can turn the CB off, and now you have the option of using either the BT headset intercom or the bike intercom, whichever you prefer.

 

Dual-Zone Audio

 

Since your passenger is connected into the bike's infotainment system via the wired connection (via the Freewire), they can take full advantage of dual-zone audio.

 

 

 

That's it for now. This post is meant to be a living document, and I'll update it as my setup gets some shake-down runs in.

 

 

I am in the process of purchasing the Sena Freewire and Sena Calvary helmets for my 2018 Venture TC, after I had read this post and did some research. From what I've read, this should work and I got my fingers crossed, because it is a chunk of change to buy it all. But, I'm excited. Thanks for the info.

Edited October 2, 2019 by ZephyrChuck

[ZephyrChuck]

I've noted in several posts that some of the limitations of the wired setup of the 2018 Star Venture can be overcome with a Sena Freewire setup. I wanted to put up this post to explain how this works, what you need, some gotchas to look out for, and the various ways you can use the setup to accomplish what you want.

BEFORE I BEGIN

Let me say up front that I'm not a Sena employee, nor am I getting any kind of monetary compensation for any of this. I mention these products because a) I own them or have ordered them, b) I know that they work, and c) I use them because they work and/or I like them. This post isn't meant as an advertisement for Sena. Honest!

 

PROBLEM STATEMENT

 

The issue at hand is that the 2018 Star Venture does not have the capability to pair a wireless Bluetooth headset to the infotainment system. The only way to get a headset hooked up to the system is via a 7-pin headset connector (available for both rider and passenger). This is all well and good, but poses some issues. 1) You and the passenger are tethered to the bike. Step away, and you have to unplug, losing your connection, among other annoyances. 2) You are forced to use the on-board intercom to speak to each other. This causes issues because the PTT for the intercom is also used for the CB, so if you use both, every time you talk via the on-board intercom, you broadcast the conversation via CB.

 

You can certainly use BT headsets and chat with your rider via the BT intercom, and then have your bike audio play out via the speakers, but then you have no way of talking out via the CB.

 

SOLUTION

 

The Sena Freewire is a wired-to-Bluetooth adapter. The adapter plugs into the wired connection on your bike; then, you pair your BT headset to the adapter using the BT headset's phone pairing feature. This allows two-way audio (speakers and mic) between your BT headset and the bike's on-board audio system. The 2018 Venture uses the same 7-pin connector as modern Harley-Davidsons, so the Freewire for Harley-Davidson is the version you need to buy.

 

PROS

 

Your helmet is no longer tethered to the bike. More flexible options on how to handle intercom. One headset can accomplish music, intercom and CB communications without overlapping.

 

CONS

 

Expensive. Current price is $225 per unit, and you'll need two if you want to include your passenger's access to the on-board audio. Keeping the various options straight can be a bit of a learning curve. It's wireless/BT, so expect some delay when using the mic. Passenger can't have access to their own phone AND a Freewire at the same time (the infotainment system only allows one phone to be connected for calls at a time).

 

SETUP - NO PASSENGER

 

Sena has a video on Youtube that quickly shows how to pair the Freewire with your BT headset (see below). Thus, it's just a matter of 1) plugging the Freewire into the bike helmet socket, 2) mounting the Freewire on your bike (handlebar is easiest), 3) turning the Freewire on, and 4) pairing your BT headset with the Freewire.

 

Once this is done, you're pretty much set. You can leave the intercom off in the infotainment system and use the PTT for the CB. If you're using a smartphone, pair the smartphone with the infotainment system on the bike, not the BT headset. This is because most headsets only let you pair one phone, and since the Freewire uses the phone pairing feature, you wont be able to use it for phone and Freewire at the same time. This isn't a problem, as the Venture infotainment system shows you when someone calls (along with their number) and flashes text messages on the screen, etc etc. You can answer the phone, and the Freewire will handle all the audio for the phone call, both in and out.

 

SETUP - WITH PASSENGER

 

Follow the same setup as before, adding a Freewire to the passenger mic socket. You'll need to find a place to mount the passenger Freewire; I'm going to try to put it on the side of the passenger grab handle. Now the passenger has access to the infotainment audio, and this is where the fun begins.

 

• EDIT: I managed to find a way to mount the passenger Freewire in the trunk. See this post: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?135982-First-Mod-2018-SVTC-Hide-the-Freewire
  

 

Intercom and CB

 

Most motorcycle BT headsets come with a built-in headset-to-headset intercom feature. Probably the biggest limitation for CB enthusiasts on the Venture is that the PTT button functions for both the on-board intercom and the CB, as I previously mentioned. With this setup, you can use the BT headset intercom instead of the bike intercom (which you can turn off). Now the PTT button only has to be used for CB, and the headsets can function as your intercom.

 

Of course, if you don't plan on using the CB, you can turn the CB off, and now you have the option of using either the BT headset intercom or the bike intercom, whichever you prefer.

 

Dual-Zone Audio

 

Since your passenger is connected into the bike's infotainment system via the wired connection (via the Freewire), they can take full advantage of dual-zone audio.

 

 

 

That's it for now. This post is meant to be a living document, and I'll update it as my setup gets some shake-down runs in.

 

 

Need a little tech support. I mounted the Sena Firewires on the bike. I paired each Calvary Helmet separately to their own Firewires to the phone setting. My wife's (passenger) puts out music from the entertainment media. Mine does not. I put it in intercom mode. At first it worked, when I hit my button, it cut out the music in my wife's helmet and I could talk, and visa versa (but talking thru either helmet also put your voice thru your own helmets earpieces). I drove the bike up to the front of the house, I figured, for today, we could just listen to the music thru the onboard speakers and just use the intercoms in the helmets. So, when I got up to front of the house, I turned everything back on. My wife's put out music. Mine did absolutely nothing. No music, no intercom, nothing. I tried re-pairing the devices, playing with connections, etc...I don't know if I got a bad helmet or not. Help.......

[DesertLawman]

Anyone figure out how to eliminate the sidetone using the Freewire and 30K? I talked to Sena and I was told to turn off the sidetone in the 30K settings, which I have. They confirmed there is no way to access any menus on the freewire and told me to look for a setting on the info system on the Venture. I was not able to find anything to control the sidetone which is very annoying when talking.

 

Just wanted to know if anyone has found a work a round of this?

[USAFChief]

Is it possible to use VOX Intercom between Dual 30K headsets while connected to the Star Venture Infotainment System as well? I want to turn off my intercom on the bike so I can use the PTT button just for the CB. Any tips on settings or the proper way to sync the headsets would be appreciated.

[dragonstorm]

Is it possible to use VOX Intercom between Dual 30K headsets while connected to the Star Venture Infotainment System as well? I want to turn off my intercom on the bike so I can use the PTT button just for the CB. Any tips on settings or the proper way to sync the headsets would be appreciated.

 

I did that with my 20s, of course I only had the one freewire for me. But I was connected to it as a primary phone. So connected it first and then to avoid the issue with my phone echoing in I connected it as a secondary. Then connected the 2 20s receivers through intercom as normal. So while I was riding and listening to music the only issue was I would have to make noise first before I spoke or say "Hey" just to activate the mic because for some reason the first couple of words of what I was say to my wife were missed. I am about to get her a Freewire here soon so connecting both like that may be difficult I'm not sure. I know that the PTT button for her is kind of out of reach she would have to lean over a bit and push the button to talk and that is an annoyance when we went from having free communication to now having to push a button, kind of a step backwards.

[dragonstorm]

Is it possible to use VOX Intercom between Dual 30K headsets while connected to the Star Venture Infotainment System as well? I want to turn off my intercom on the bike so I can use the PTT button just for the CB. Any tips on settings or the proper way to sync the headsets would be appreciated.

 

I haven't yet, I would like to know if anyone has purchased the wired headsets that are offered for these bikes and if they are having the side tone issue. Because if they are not then it is absolutely a Sena issue and they need to figure out how to fix it.

[USAFChief]

The wired headsets are clear as a whistle with no echo and very clear sound. The VOX settings on these bikes are trash however and there is no way to go VOX without the intercom being on all of the time at speeds above 45 mph. The PTT function however is super clear even at 80mph so the wired headsets are nice to have. In fact, I may revert back to them if I can't get the 30k's to work like I want them too.

 

Mark

 

I haven't yet, I would like to know if anyone has purchased the wired headsets that are offered for these bikes and if they are having the side tone issue. Because if they are not then it is absolutely a Sena issue and they need to figure out how to fix it.

[Kd5nkb]

Will the Sena freewire unit work if it has the Harley cable. To plug into the venture!