What Helmet Communications Systems Deliver?

[jtdunc]

Sena seems to have the largest segment of the helmet communications business.

Many say they are brand agnostic and can connect to other's - but the feedback says not true.

They say their range is X and it's really Y.

They say they offer great stereo sound (for a motorcycle helmet) but consumers say they can barely hear.

The overall feedback on the Sena 10S is good. Concerned about the chatter about the 20S.

What other brands are people actually using?

Interested in hearing from any users of the UClear AMP Pro units.

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

I use and like the Scala Q4. Great range, even around corners in mountains. No experience with Uclear.

 

[Richouse]

I’ve been using Sena now for a while. I️ like them. Using a 10U and recently got a 10R for a second helmet.

 

[Cyclepath]

As I've described here a few times, I'm still using a pair of 5 year old Sena SMH-10s, and am quite satisfied (lent the 2nd unit out to many friends for long trips with me). They've never failed, still have decent battery charge retention, and decent sound quality. Rain or shine...

Good luck in your quest.

 

[bigjohnsd]

My main riding partner Festar and I both have Sena 20's.

Paired together we do pretty well, range is about half a mile on flat ground out in the country where there is little electronic interference.

Pairing three 20's often introduces spurious electronic noise and clicking, you want to make sure that the rider in the middle of the group is the guy everyone pairs to.

Pairing four Sena 20's is often an exercise in frustration. "Can you hear me now......? Etc, Etc, Etc. Couldn't make it work in the CycleGear parking Lot at SFO even with one of their supposed experts coaching us in the setup and pairing process

I have not had much luck with the "Group Intercom" functionality. I think it has more to do with my lack of knowledge and everyone possibly not being on the same firmware release from Sena. I'm going to try to do a Group Intercom one day during my Black Hills Roundup II in June. I'll verify everyone is on the same Firmware, that everyone has named their Sena 20 and then use my Phone to create the group and see if we can make it work.

All that said, when it is just Festar and I we really enjoy the ability to talk. I pair my Android phone to my Sena as well. Seamless and great fidelity little noise when talking to someone on the phone, they are often amazed when I tell them I'm on the bike and rolling.

I have speakers in my helmet and also have Fuze Earbuds. When I use the Speakers i wear some custom molded earplugs, the Fuze Ear Buds are also custom molded. The Fuze Buds do work better for phone, music, and conversation but after several days it is nice to switch to the other plugs.

I had the Scala G9 setup before I bought the Sena. I could get it to pair with a Sena 10, but range was quite limited and it didn't like my phone very much.

My first Sena 20 unit was not even close to water resistant. It failed and was promptly replaced by Sena. The replacement has not let me down once, 14 straight days in Alaska it rained and I was able to maintain a good connection with my riding partner on that adventure.


In my opinion, the connectivity limitations of the Sena 20 has more to do with the available Blue Tooth architecture than the Sena Units themselves.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Another satisfied Sena user, first with a SMH10, then moving onto the new 20S. Great battery life, pairing to my iPhone is a snap and tunes sound pretty good with properly positioned helmet speakers.

And BigJohn...we've had 5 - 6 folks paired up with a mixture of 10's and 20S units, but it does take some planning for that center "pivot man"! Happy to be part of a mass pairing experiment at Roundup II in June...can you hear me now?

--G

 

[jtdunc]

I use and like the Scala Q4. Great range, even around corners in mountains. No experience with Uclear.

My LMS really likes Scala.

 

[jtdunc]

Thanks Sena and Scala users - I'm eyballing the Sena 10S dual pack for Black Friday.

My local shop, Cycle Gear Lynnwood, will even install in my helmets with the purchase.

But still would love to hear from any UClear users.

UClear, on their website says that they base their technology on developing it for the Singapore military then went commercial.

Their tech support told me they have the best sound quality but their "hopping" tech only works with other UClear units.

 

[steveoreno]

We had two different Scala systems with mixed results, bought a Sena 20 and have had no issues whatsover. We use a mere fraction of the features but it works perfect for our needs.

 

[Bill Lumberg]

Have never tried the uclear. I use n-com b5s. Great performance, and no one has ever been able to tell I was on a bike instead of in my office on a call. If I didnt use Nolan modulars I would use sena..

 

[FSJFrank]

I have used Schuberth CS3 Pro with their SRC-System for the last four years and I'm very happy with this. Telephone calls are easy and with good sound quality and talking to my backseat companion (wife) is easy. At least up to 100 km/h. I think it's Cardo that makes the system for Schuberth.

 

[Fred W]

One huge advantage of the Sena 20S is their ability to simultaneously overlay various inputs vs. switching between them on the 10’s. Inability to hear my GPS, phone, radar detector when in an intercom conversation has made the SMH10s a no go for my pillion and me. Saving up for some 20’s someday soon.

 

[BOAN]

I´ve got a Cardo Scala SHO-1 (hade a Scala G9 before) and my friends got Scala G4, G9 and G9+.

Both the G9 and SHO-1 have worked really good for me and paired perfect with cell, GPS and my friends.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I have a GenI Sena SMH10. The original one that can't be upgraded. Used it for years and except for sporadic glitchy stuff, it's been really good. With my ear buds it sounds great. When mine or my wife's craps out, I'll buy a new upgraded set. Maybe the 30s.

 

[rogdeb]

Sena SMH 10's work for us - love 'em.

One glitch when we attempted a firmware upgrade but Sena techs went above and beyond to help us out.