Navigation » Navigator VI won't pair with Sena scala rider Q1 comms

I've just bought a Navigator VI GPS for use on my 1200RS. I have a Sena scala rider Q1 comms device which has always worked fine with my Navigator V (I use it exclusively to listen to instructions from the GPS unit).

However, I'm struggling to pair the bluetooth connections of the Nav VI and comms device. I go through the process pairing process and all seems fine, but later on I find it's dropped the connection; and if I look at the Nav VI's Bluetooth submenu, I see that the status of the scala ride device is cycling continuously between "Connecting", "Connected" and "Not connected" (every couple of seconds or so). The Nav VI seems to be pairing with my iPhone without drama.

Anybody got a clue what's going on here? This is a deal-breaker for me. (PS both the Nav and comms units have up-to-date firmware)

Just a thought ...
If you only listen to your GPS and not music, why not unpair your iphone and just have the Nav VI paired. Worth a try.

From my experience, the phone can’t pair with multiple devices. So, if you pair the phone to the GPS, you can’t pair the phone to the helmet. The helmet system and GPS may be able to support two devices at a time, but the phone is only one. Check the specifications on your phone.

Oh, the comms pairing wasn't working before I tried connecting the phone - I wouldn't normally even use the phone via the comms or GPS at all. I only connected up the phone to test whether the Nav was able to pair with anything at all (and clearly it is!)

Android 9 and up gives you Bluetooth 5, and multi paring capability...

Master reset of both devices & new “step by step” pairing might help. I recommend following pairing: phone to GPS, intercom to GPS - works perfectly and all the time for me. If you will use another BT channel on your sena for phone to intercom pairing, it shoud work too, but there is no reason for it.

Just trying bumping this thread.. it's got me completely stumped.
I've tried factory resets on both the Nav VI and the comms device, and have paired them only to each other, nothing else.
For what it's worth, here's a clip of the connection dropping in and out: https://imgur.com/a/MQqtUJr
Very weird, and a real pain - looks like I'm going to have to dump the Nav 6

Any ideas?

Do not have Q1, but my NAV6 works great with all my cardo intercoms (G9, Shoe-1, Packtalk Slim). I always follow instructions for intercom unit, to pair it as GPS (separate channel).
I checked instruction manual for Q1, there are 2 A2DP channels. Did you try to pair it to second channel?

Bought the CARDO scala rider Q1 team set so my wife and I could talk and I could hear nav directions, that was a good few years ago now and it worked great with a zumo 550. Bought a 1200rs se sport in 2017 and treated it to a new nav6 so everything is integrated, the dealer paired the Q1 with the nav6 and everything seamed fine on the ride home, next time out it would not connect!! after a lot of cursing swearing and head scratching I realised it all seamed VERY dependant on which order the devices were powered up! No way am I an electronic/ Bluetooth wizard, but if the nav timed out at say a petrol station the dam thing would NOT reconnect to the nav and coms was also lost all very frustrating!! I think it’s which device has command/ receiving handshake thing!!!! We managed to live with these quirks for a while making sure the nav was powered up before the Q1 was. I realise this isn’t much help regarding your problem as I’ve no idea how the dealer paired the nav6 with the Q1.
I’m now the very proud owner of a 1250 exclusive with that gorgeous TFT, so set about trying to pair everything up!!!! now that is a nightmare, after hours of internet searches, YouTube videos and some really sound advice off this forum I came to the conclusion that the Q1 is not up to the job, being Bluetooth 3 and no amount of firmware updates will make it Bluetooth4.
After lots of research I bit the bullet (I’m a tight Yorkshire man) and bought a Sena 20S evo dual set, this is Bluetooth 4 and has more channels so pairs with nav6/ TFT/ phone and coms with the wife, everything works reasonably well after the TFT software update, understand there is newer update out now though. The whole thing is getting a test on a trip up to the Borders as I’m lead man up to Dumfries, we usually go around May, best weather, but this is our only chance what with COVID!!! My only concern is the weatherproofing of the Sena 20S it doesn’t claim to be waterproof where as the Q1 certainly was! apart from that it gets very good reviews.
Apologies for this tail that doesn’t really help, it’s just my experiences.

I have the Nav V and like you have had both 1200 RS and Now 1250RS.
On the 1200 I often had to go into the BT menu (while stopped in a safe location of course) to reconnect my Sena G10 (built in the GT-Air) to my Phone or Sat Nav.
On the 1250, phone and helmet connected to TFT. Sat Nav (which i hardly ever use now as the onboard Nav is good enough in most cases) I connect to the second pairing on the Sena.
The TFT does forget the pairings occasionally (no problem for the phone a nightmare for the Sena as a 12 second button press is hard to distinguish from a 10 second press) but I haven’t had the update yet.

There is no connection to my pillion! 😁

Have a great tour, I expect your Sena will be watertight enough.

Despite what is not stated about the watertightness of the Sena, I can say that in an all day deluge, while on a trip last year, I experienced no issues whatsoever with my 20S. If you're a little worried, apply a small amount of dielectric grease to the terminal area.