Anybody try the new Sena 20S kit yet?

[stevewfl]

I'm still so thrilled with this proper set-up for C14: Radio/MP3/Pandora/Spotify/Phone/GPS/Netflix...and work conference calls!

I use the Schuberth C3 PRO with integrated SRC system.  Its the cats meow! Amazed at not only the music and GPS audio quality, but how well the PHONE performs at Texas 85 MPH speed limit

It works with ear plugs in, which amazed me more.





And this piece replaces the neck roll of the helmet  :great:

[Rembrant]

I recently (last several weeks) performed a lot of research trying to decide what to buy.  The 20S was the one I found most interesting.  I especially liked the idea of a smartphone app and the possibility of better group communications.  However, there were so many troubling reports about the units breaking or malfunctioning, coupled with bad reviews, it scared me away.  In the long run, most of the additional features I would be unlikely to ever use (extra long range, bigger groups, more voice menus, FM radio), so my dual Sena SMH10 kit just arrived last night.  Looks like a very solid and well tested design with very high ratings.... plus considerably less expensive too.

I am sure Sena will get their act together with the 20S, eventually, but I had need for something now and I was not willing to wait another maybe 6+ months or something for them to shake out all the bugs and deplete the old stock.

OK, time to figure out how the heck this thing is mounted.....

The Sena SMH-10 is a great kit...my wife and I used a dual kit for a couple years and never had an issue with it. I also haven't had any issues at all with my 20S kit and have been quite happy with it...I didn't even know that there were bad reviews...when I bought mine, there were NO reviews. However, I'm one of those guys that usually doesn't experience all the troubles that the general public does with most products....be it communicators or motorcycles or whatever.

The SMH10 is great and if you don't need the features of the 20S, then you didn't need it anyway. I wanted the FM radio as well as the aux input jack (so I can listen to MP3's from my phone or Garmin 665, etc). So far, mine has proven to be very reliable with fantastic battery life. For that, I have to give it a two thumbs up.

Depending on what you need as an end user, and price point, etc, ...I would recommend the SMH-10 all day long.

Rem

[maxtog]

The SMH10 is great and if you don't need the features of the 20S, then you didn't need it anyway. I wanted the FM radio as well as the aux input jack (so I can listen to MP3's from my phone or Garmin 665, etc).

This SMH10D-11 dual kit I have includes aux port and cables.  Perhaps that was added on later models?

So far, mine has proven to be very reliable with fantastic battery life. For that, I have to give it a two thumbs up.

I finally go  them updated (was almost current firmware) and installed in my helmet and my friend's helmet.  Tests OK except for bluetooth phone voice dialing (to the Nexus 5).  But I have the same problems with using a "regular" bluetooth headset with voice dialing, so I am not sure what the issue is there (I have posts pending on other forums).  But the intercom (one person testing, holding other helmet to mine) seems fine, and the bluetooth music playing/control works well too.

Depending on what you need as an end user, and price point, etc, ...I would recommend the SMH-10 all day long.

If the battery life and unit reliability are as good as the reviews say, I will be a happy camper.  Might get to test it out for real tomorrow.

[Rembrant]

This SMH10D-11 dual kit I have includes aux port and cables.  Perhaps that was added on later models?

Maybe so. The SMH-10 originally didn't come with aux port for headphones, etc...it was an attachment that was an option/accessory IIRC.

Rem

[rhhall]

I've used the 10's for a couple of years and have 0 complaints. I had read that the 20"s had issues working with Mac. Does anyone know if they have that issue resolved??

[VirginiaJim]

Maybe so. The SMH-10 originally didn't come with aux port for headphones, etc...it was an attachment that was an option/accessory IIRC.

Rem

Headphones for headphones?

[BruceR]

I wonder the sound level for a TomTom Rider is?  On the SMH10 it's really low. 

[maxtog]

I've used the 10's for a couple of years and have 0 complaints. I had read that the 20"s had issues working with Mac. Does anyone know if they have that issue resolved??

Not sure, but I was certainly pissed when I went to upgrade the firmware and there was zero support for Linux.  I had to scrounge around until I could find some old laptop that had MS-Windows on it.  Yeesh.  They need to just allow us to copy the damn firmware file on the unit with USB Mass Storage mode and be done with it!

ANYWAY.... I tested it alone tonight with a phone call and the person said he simply refused to believe I was riding on 64 at 70MPH... perfect clarity with absolutely no wind noise.  Music is loud and clear, even with earplugs.  Only problem is that I can't seem to adjust the voice prompt volume, so I can't hear what the Sena chick is saying (will play with that tomorrow).

[maxtog]

I wonder the sound level for a TomTom Rider is?  On the SMH10 it's really low.

  You must not have the speakers in the right location or direction or something; or your volume setting for the TomTom isn't right (you should be able to turn the volume knob while listening to it)  Everything I tried (except the Sena voice prompts) can be LOUD!  At least they are on mine.  Most impressive.

[BruceR]

  You must not have the speakers in the right location or direction or something; or your volume setting for the TomTom isn't right (you should be able to turn the volume knob while listening to it)  Everything I tried (except the Sena voice prompts) can be LOUD!  At least they are on mine.  Most impressive.

Yeah but....my music, and phone conversations are fine, and I hear loud & clear if I use the phone for navigation.  There must be an adjustment I missed for that particular input to make the Tom Tom louder.  I did check to see that the tomtom was set @ 100% volume on the GPS. 

[maxtog]

Yeah but....my music, and phone conversations are fine, and I hear loud & clear if I use the phone for navigation.  There must be an adjustment I missed for that particular input to make the Tom Tom louder.  I did check to see that the tomtom was set @ 100% volume on the GPS.

Looks like you are not the only one with the issue:  http://support.senabluetooth.com/entries/31177560-Volume-problem-with-Tomtom-Rider-2013-

[maxtog]

If the battery life and unit reliability are as good as the reviews say, I will be a happy camper.  Might get to test it out for real tomorrow.

What a wonderful and beautiful day it was!  Sunny and 71...  did get to go for a few hour ride with my neighbor (he has a brand new Honda CB500F after trading in his CBR250) and the Sena is just "WOW"!  Very impressed with the sound quality, volume, and the range.  Blows away the old FRS stuff I used years ago.  Full duplex is great and once I found the "sidetone" setting, I was even happier.

[martin_14]

What a wonderful and beautiful day it was!  Sunny and 71...  did get to go for a few hour ride with my neighbor (he has a brand new Honda CB500F after trading in his CBR250) and the Sena is just "WOW"!  Very impressed with the sound quality, volume, and the range.  Blows away the old FRS stuff I used years ago.  Full duplex is great and once I found the "sidetone" setting, I was even happier.

  sorry Max, but I have to ask: isn't it 2:42 am in USA? I'm in Germany so it's 5 hours ahead (7:42).

[maxtog]

sorry Max, but I have to ask: isn't it 2:42 am in USA? I'm in Germany so it's 5 hours ahead (7:42).

That would depend on where in the USA- we span four timezones (not counting Alaska and Hawaii) and then there is that stupid thing where we change the time twice a year.  The previous posting was as 12:42am EDT.  As what seems common now, I often fall asleep in the chair watching TV, then wake up hours later.  So I will go wash up, check the computer, watch more TV, then either get to bed proper, or fall asleep in the chair yet again.

Yes, I "should" have been in bed."  Sucks getting older.

[martin_14]

ah, that explains.
You guys should learn from those democratic Chinese: the country is just as wide as the US at about 2000 miles and similar latitude, and everybody shares the same time zone 

[Conniesaki]

Spoke to a Sena guy at the recent AIMExpo in Orlando, and got to ask him my question below. They're workin' on it right now, but no, neither the SMH10 nor the 20S currently has the ability for 1 rider to intercom call all the others. I'm surprised this doesn't seem to be a concern to many others, to where it's already a feature. I guess most riders ride solo, husband-and-wife, or in pairs.

3 friends and I all have the SMH10R. Bothersome to me is the 3-way intercom method: Myself and another connect, and then the 3rd person is able to join in ... but how does he know to? You have to manually signal to him to let him know to join in ... so we can all decide if we need to stop right here for gas, or if everybody can wait the 100 miles to the next station. There should be something like an "all call".

Looks like the 20S solves this:

Group Intercom™

New to the 20S, the Group Intercom feature will allow users to instantly create a multi-way intercom with up to seven additional participants. Utilizing the Smartphone App, users can easily create and manage their Group Intercom to allow for a quicker and simpler set up process.

Unfortunately I bought the SMH10R only about 2 months ago.

And ... I prefer the stealth matte black SMH10R to the 20S with silver bits.

[maxtog]

Spoke to a Sena guy at the recent AIMExpo in Orlando, and got to ask him my question below. They're workin' on it right now, but no, neither the SMH10 nor the 20S currently has the ability for 1 rider to intercom call all the others. I'm surprised this doesn't seem to be a concern to many others, to where it's already a feature. I guess most riders ride solo, husband-and-wife, or in pairs.

Yeah, I was reading the manual about 3-way and 4-way and man is it complex.  I was thinking "there has to be a better way!"

[Rhino]

Has anybody tried bluetooth FRS radio? Pair your whatever helmet system with a bluetooth FRS radio. Been thinking that might be the best way for a group. Wouldn't matter if you had Sena, BluAnt, Scala or whatever. Any number your want just all be on the same channel. One person speaks, all hear it. And tons more range. Something like this, $120 for 2 radios:

http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/motorola/motorola-mu350r.aspx

I haven't tried it with my Sena HMS10 but was wondering if anyone else has gone down this route.

[maxtog]

Has anybody tried bluetooth FRS radio? Pair your whatever helmet system with a bluetooth FRS radio. Been thinking that might be the best way for a group. Wouldn't matter if you had Sena, BluAnt, Scala or whatever. Any number your want just all be on the same channel. One person speaks, all hear it. And tons more range. Something like this, $120 for 2 radios:

http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/motorola/motorola-mu350r.aspx

I haven't tried it with my Sena HMS10 but was wondering if anyone else has gone down this route.

There are a number of complexities when you introduce FRS into the mix.  The most glaring is that the communications will no longer be full duplex.   And with group, that gets to be irritating, quickly.  Bluetooth helmet sets are designed for full-time or long-time triggering, not for few words and hang up.  Even with vox, the delays would be crazy (and the Sena is not adjustable- I think it is 20 seconds on vox).

Another is that FRS is far more crowded that many people would believe.  I used to use it on motorcycles (with manual PPT to one other person) and we would get blasted with interference and cross-talk very frequently.  Then, of course, you have to deal with another channel setting, a quiet channel setting, another power connector and/or battery, finding a place to put it, and turning it on and off.

I can't imagine how range would be an issue with the SMH10 or 20S.  Even the older SMH10 has a straight line range of 900 meters (almost 3,000 feet)!

[Rhino]

There are a number of complexities when you introduce FRS into the mix.  The most glaring is that the communications will no longer be full duplex.   And with group, that gets to be irritating, quickly.  Bluetooth helmet sets are designed for full-time or long-time triggering, not for few words and hang up.  Even with vox, the delays would be crazy (and the Sena is not adjustable- I think it is 20 seconds on vox).

Another is that FRS is far more crowded that many people would believe.  I used to use it on motorcycles (with manual PPT to one other person) and we would get blasted with interference and cross-talk very frequently.  Then, of course, you have to deal with another channel setting, a quiet channel setting, another power connector and/or battery, finding a place to put it, and turning it on and off.

I can't imagine how range would be an issue with the SMH10 or 20S.  Even the older SMH10 has a straight line range of 900 meters (almost 3,000 feet)!

Thanks for the info. I think the SMH10 is great for 1 on 1 communications but sucks for group. I want a system where 5 of us can talk to one another without pushing buttons. Just VOX speak and all hear. Does the 20S do that?