Zumo 550 and phone constantly disconnecting?

[petevandyke]

Hey all,

I have a blackberry 8300 curve, and have linked it directly to my bluetooth helmet headset for a while with no issues. Finally decided to link the phone to my Zumo 550, and the Zumo to the headset (joining the 21st century) so that I could place calls, receive calls, see who is calling on the gps display instead of fishing the phone from my pocket.

When I linked the phone to the Zumo, I began to experience what a lot of fellow riders experience, namely that the damn phone would connect and disconnect seemingly at random, and always when I least wanted it to. I tried re-locating the phone from my holster to my jacket pocket, and to the glovebox, and eventually right next to the damn gps, no "fix." Deleted the bluetooth connect from the Zumo and to the Blackberry, re-establishing, no "Fix" again.

Got so frustrated that I wanted to rip the thing off of my LT and run it over fifty times.

Read the manual for the Zumo, went to the website, and got nothing of substance. Big surprise.

Then I spent some time on a Zumo owner's forum and discovered something interesting. First off, any PDA-type phone seems to have the same issue, particularly those that have big "address books" and linking abilities.

Second, and this is the most interesting--and why I am sharing. There is a hidden, pre-loaded Bluetooth upgrade on most Zumo units that can be activated (forgive me if you already know this, I didn't so I thought I'd post it).

If you have updated your unit to the current software release, you'll have Bluetooth software version 3.30. Following the procedure outlined below (and I recommend you open the attached word document with screen shots and do that step by step, it's foolproof, even for me!) will upgrade your unit to Bluetooth software version 3.60.

Prior to the 30-second upgrade, which is already friggin' loaded on your gps unit (grrrrrr), my phone was disconnecting maybe ten times a minute.

It hasn't disconnected ONCE since I made the change, whether I've had the phone in my belt holster, the glove box, or in my briefcase strapped down on the passenger seat.

Enjoy.



This is the text...open the attached doc to see the pics...the "update" took maybe a minute and a half.

Pete



There is a way to manualy force the bluetooth firmware update but it is for advanced users... So if you are up to it;

> Start zumo (in your hand, does not need power for this)
> Switch off the GPS (wrench / system / gps off)
> Press MAP


> on map press left bottom corner (on "speed")


> KEEP YOUR FINGER at the exact center of this screen for about 5 seconds.
You are now in the diagnostics screen !


> Press "next" until "bluetooth Status"


> Press "Updt P" and let it run
> Press Quit

[bob_menton]

I don't use Bluetooth with my 550 Zumo - yet - but I followed the stated procedure, and everything went as described. Update completed. Thanks, Pete.

- Bob

[petevandyke]

I don't use Bluetooth with my 550 Zumo - yet - but I followed the stated procedure, and everything went as described. Update completed. Thanks, Pete.

- Bob


Bob,

if it saves you the frustration I had, then you are very welcome. I had two mini-vans with soccer moms and grade school kids drive by that will all be in therapy for years after hearing the string of profanity that leaked from my Shoei Multitec from the side of the road...so filthy that I had to replace my cheek pads and Febreze the headliner twice!

Pete

[philh24]

What a great fix was having same problem as you but this has sorted it,now ive just got to sort the way of getting the phonebook to register on the zumo. The only time i ever had it show up on there was the first time i paired the phone next time i switched it on it had gone, strange thing is when someone calls me it shows there name.

[petevandyke]

that's a setting that is phone-specific. Mine wasn's feeding the phonebook either, then I found where the setting was on my blackberry (aka "crackberry") under bluetooth settings, could be where yours is as well.

Happy hunting...keep in mind there are some phones that won't dump their address book info however


I should have posted "easy fix for Zumo disconnects, paypal me a dollar." Could have come up with the co-pay I need for brain scans this week!


I could while away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain
And my head, I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.

I'd unravel ev'ry riddle
For any individ'le
In trouble or in pain

With the thoughts you'd be thinkin'
You could be another Lincoln,
If you only had a brain.

Oh, I could tell you why
The ocean's near the shore,
I could think of things I never thunk before
And then I'd sit and think some more.

I would not be just a nuffin'
My head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry
Life would be a ding-a-derry
If I only had a brain...


damn

Pete

[jvancourt]

OMG - I've had trouble with my Zumo dropping the phone for over a year, but only when I buy a LT and find this site do I find the fix. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Now if I could just get my new Scala Q2 to link

[Yiet]

Jvancourt, the following procedure worked for me on my Scala Q2 link to Garmin/Navigator III:

1. Power Scala up, then press control button until red flashing begins.
2. Immediately press volume up button for about 5 seconds (you should get a purple color flash.
3. Your unit is now reset
4. If you are pairing with other Q2 units do that now as per manual
5. Now pair with your Zumo
6. Now pair Zumo with your cell

I went through the pairing, losing cycle about 10 times until Cardo support informed me how to do a Q2 reset. I did not see that info anywhere in the manual. Mine has been stable under limited testing since I did this so I hope it works for you too.

[Bobnoxous]

Hmm, according to Webupdater, I have the latest Sw in my unit.
Sw version: 4.20
Audio version: 1.90
GPS SW Version: 3.00
Bluetooth SW Version: 3.10

I went through these steps, and it did indicate it was updating the bluetooth sw, but it's still at version 3.10, not 3.30 or 3.60. What gives?