Sena

3409 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by wags, 11 d ago

WilberMaker

Discussion Starter · Mar 25, 2022

Have been using a Sena S10 with my two daughters for several years now. They have served us well but I have always been bummed I can’t intercom with then and pair my phone at the same time. On the’22 AT I want to use Android Auto for navigation and still have intercoms. So time for an upgrade. Girls bought me a Schubert G3 helmet to match the AT. Would I be better using integrated Sena 10U or should I go ahead and stick the 50s on the side. I could always hear the wind with the S10 stuck on the side of my Shoei air helmet. I guess more interested in what ingrates better with the bike.

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Hood

· #2 · Mar 25, 2022

I have the Schuberth E1 with the SC10UA and it pairs with both phone and bike no problem and will also run with Android Auto as well. I have no idea if I can communicate with others though as I have no mates

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Cuchulainn

· #3 · Mar 25, 2022

Go with the 50. I have a 10U in my Schuberth and technology-wise it isn't even advanced as my old S10s were. Overall it isn't a great unit IMHO other than the fact that it is neat in its integration.

I believe you would need the 20S Evo or higher.

Edit: Hood posted while I was typing and he has the SC10UA. That may be a more advanced unit than the S10U that I have in my Schuberth. The one I have is kind of a "dumb" unit.

WilberMaker

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 25, 2022

Thank you both. I'll look into the difference in the SC10U and the SC10UA. @Cuchulainn Do you have the 50 on a Schuberth? wondering about the install and wind noise. @Hood, If I ever make it across the pond I will ride with you mate!

Reactions: 1

Cuchulainn

· #5 · Mar 25, 2022

I don't. I really don't use the Schuberth all that much so just left it as is. It works good enough just for chatting with my wife or listening to music if solo. Though I really don't like either the inner helmet buttons or the handlebar remote for it. But it's OK for limited use. I just find it's use clumsy compared to the external units. Or maybe it's me that's clumsy? But either way I am not a big fan of it.

Mostly we use our XD-4 helmets and have the Cardo Packtalk Bolds on those.

The Packtalk Slim unit would definitely cut down on wind noise, but I am not sure if Sena has an equivalent of that in the 20 and up series.

The difference between 10U and 10UA may be a firmware thing and mine is too old for the update, but uncertain.

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk

Lee R

· #6 · Mar 25, 2022

Hood said:
I have the Schuberth E1 with the SC10UA and it pairs with both phone and bike no problem and will also run with Android Auto as well. I have no idea if I can communicate with others though as I have no mates

I have the same setup. I would have just carried over the Sena 10s from my previous helmet but the clamp mount doesn’t work on Schuberth. I’m actually really irritated with that helmet due to the floppy visor, even after replacing the ratchet mechanism, it’s far to weak. I find the SC10UA works fine, but it’s just a very overpriced integrated version of the 10s.

Cuchulainn said:
Go with the 50. I have a 10U in my Schuberth and technology-wise it isn't even advanced as my old S10s were. Overall it isn't a great unit IMHO other than the fact that it is neat in its integration.

I believe you would need the 20S Evo or higher.

Edit: Hood posted while I was typing and he has the SC10UA. That may be a more advanced unit than the S10U that I have in my Schuberth. The one I have is kind of a "dumb" unit.

If you have a helmet that can accept the clamp style Sena mounts it’s better to go with the latest versions that have mesh networking. Those will be much easier to use with the same type in the future without having to go through the sena dance of connecting helmets.

I’ve been using them for 10 years now starting with the SMH 10 units (which are still a reliable inexpensive Bluetooth unit). Mine have been very reliable with only one failure due to leaving the rubber USB port open in the rain. They’ve been through torrential rain otherwise and no water issues.

They do make a mesh network adapter for the older units as well. That’s supposed to make connections way easier than in the past where you basically have a sena master unit and pair them in order to that one, which confuses the hell out of people who don’t read manuals.

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Cuchulainn

· #7 · Mar 25, 2022

Lee R said:
I have the same setup. I would have just carried over the Sena 10s from my previous helmet but the clamp mount doesn’t work on Schuberth. I’m actually really irritated with that helmet due to the floppy visor, even after replacing the ratchet mechanism, it’s far to weak.

I have the C3 Pro. It has its annoyances as well

I have another helmet that the clamp won't work with, so I used the adhesive mount instead. I replaced the included adhesive pad with a 3M VHB, which if I recall correctly stands for Very High Bond. So far it has help up.

Relhok

· #8 · Mar 25, 2022

I run a Packtalk Slim. No module to fall off or get wet/dirty but I have to take the entire helmet to the charge cord.

Lupolee

· #9 · Mar 25, 2022

For what its worth, I have a Cardo scala Freecom 4. It connects to two devices (a phone and sat nav for example) and it can ‘connect’ with many other intercoms (don’t all have to have a Cardo but it helps)…….they do cheaper units (2, 3 etc) which will pair with a 4 and they are cheaper so good on the pocket if you are buying more than one. Plus you can receive radio through it too.

DoubleThumper

· #10 · Mar 25, 2022

Lupolee said:
For what its worth, I have a Cardo scala Freecom 4. It connects to two devices (a phone and sat nav for example) and it can ‘connect’ with many other intercoms (don’t all have to have a Cardo but it helps)…….they do cheaper units (2, 3 etc) which will pair with a 4 and they are cheaper so good on the pocket if you are buying more than one. Plus you can receive radio through it too.

(+1) I have the Cardo Freecom 2+ and other than the buttons being a bit tedious, the unit functionally performs well.

Reactions: 1

Lee R

· #11 · Mar 26, 2022

One thing with all these Bluetooth coms is I wish they would all just adopt a standard so they all work well together.

Sena and Cardo work but in universal pairing modes which are usually limited to 1 to 1 comms not groups. That’s a royal pain and locks everyone into different systems.

Everyone I ride with has Sena so if a cardo user wanted to go with us it becomes a voice comm limitation.

The newer mesh systems make pairing easier, it just needs to work brand to brand without limitations.

Reactions: 1

Cuchulainn

· #12 · Mar 26, 2022

I could say the same thing about Apple and Android/Google texting. They kind of work together but the...

"Emphasized. I could say the same thing about Apple and Android/Google texting" every time someone in group with an iPhone uses an iMessage emoji is annoying.

But the problem is the goal is to lock you in to one ecosystem where you have to have the same system as all your buddies or they will all know who their green friends are vs their blue friends

We are lucky to even have universal pairing. For awhile we didn't even have that.

Sent from my SM-S908U1 using Tapatalk

DoubleThumper

· #13 · Mar 27, 2022

Bluetooth pairing is a Bluetooth specification independent of the host system.

It is just a matter of the [quality of] implementation and choice of mode by the host system.

zedcrf

· #14 · Mar 28, 2022

I agree, get the 50s. It works great with the bike comms.

Reactions: 1

wags

· #15 · 11 d ago

Lee R said:
One thing with all these Bluetooth coms is I wish they would all just adopt a standard so they all work well together.

Sena and Cardo work but in universal pairing modes which are usually limited to 1 to 1 comms not groups. That’s a royal pain and locks everyone into different systems.

Everyone I ride with has Sena so if a cardo user wanted to go with us it becomes a voice comm limitation.

The newer mesh systems make pairing easier, it just needs to work brand to brand without limitations.

This is my current situation with my Sena Outrush R Bluetooth helmet, communicating with other Non-Sena user/riders. First I want to be clear, I'm happy with my Outrush R. It does everything "basic" that I need i.e. playback music, phone calls, google maps directions, etc. And it painlessly paired with a friends higher end Sena Impulse for intercom comms while I listened to music or google maps directions while riding together. What more did I need?

Then my local best friend & Harley Davidson partner in crime purchases an Adventure bike (Triumph Tiger 900) and attaches a Cardo Edge Bluetooth device to his new Shoei helmet. Hey no problem we thought, we can pair up our helmets and chat while riding. Well, yes & no. We could only pair helmet comms using the Sena Universal Pairing option. We can talk, but neither of us have access to music, calls, google maps. Plus it's only 1 to 1 pairing, no group talking if need be. Reason being my helmet is the lower end and doesn't offer MESH Bluetooth. I'm really bummed since if I'd known this from get go last year I'd bought a MESH Bluetooth helmet or device.

So my current $239 Sena Outrush R is pretty much useless when I want to pair with a group of riders that do not have Sena comms. I'm shaking around now purchasing an upgraded Sena helmet with MESH or possibly a Cardo Edge Bluetooth device. I'm in no hurry to spring on either since I do have something that works the basics. But bummed I'd wished I'd did my homework on Bluetooth helmets. I just had to vent.....

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