Bluetooth Headset. What would you recommend?

[MIKE R]

Thanks for all your views ::008::

Based on what I want the unit to do, and after trying a friends, I've opted for the Scarla Q1.

I was very tempted by the Senna SMH10 but I would be paying for a lot of funtions I do not think I'd ever use....time will tell.

Thanks again

Mike

 

[Bappo]

I have and love my Scala Q3. well 2 of them. Pairs to two different devices, FM radio loud enough volume, battery lasts exactly 8 hours. Exactly.

Just another reference point.

 

[JRE]

Just got back from a 1300 miles trip and the sena 10u performed flawlessly. I connected on intercom to another rider and it made for great rides. Battery lasted all day 8+ hours long. On the way down to my destination, I slabbed it and listed to an audio book on Audible. It really made the miles fly by!

 

[Wanderer]

Howdy,
Picked up my Sena SMH5 not to long ago. My first experience with helmet/headphones. They're going on Amazon for about $80. ::015:: Been very happy with mine.
Later,
Norm

 

[Capt-Kirk]

I use this unit and its great i get over true 700 meter intercom coms

here is some info (cut and paste bandit)

GENERAL

Talk time: 12 hours
Stand-by time: 10 days
Operating temperature: -10˚C – 55˚C (14°F – 131°F)
Dimensions:
Headset: 84.1 mm x 56.5 mm x 38.6 mm (3.3 in x 2.2 in x 1.5 in)
Clamp unit: 223.8 mm x 85.5 mm x 30.6 mm (8.8 in x 3.4 in x 1.2 in)
Weight:
Headset: 60 g (2.11 oz)
Clamp unit: 84 g (2.96 oz)

BLUETOOTH

Headset Profile (HSP)
Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
Bluetooth 3.0

INTERCOM

Working distance: up to 900 meters (980 yards) in open terrain

AUDIO

Built-in SBC Codec
Advanced Noise Control™
Wind noise reduction
Wide volume control
Sample rate: 48 kHz (DAC)
Auxiliary audio-in connection via 3.5 mm jack

BATTERY

Charging time: 2.5 hours
Type: Lithium polymer

::021::

 

[Skyler76]

+SMH10. Have two of them, my first coms in 20 years of riding. I bought them and it changed the whole dynamic of riding with friends. They work flawlessly for me and hold charge for a ridiculous amount of time even with constant intercom use.

 

[eemsreno]

Wife and I just got the Sena 20s but really haven’t tried them yet.
We had Sena 10s for the last four years.
Matt, Joey and I all had Sena 10s on our trip to Alaska this last summer.
We found the intercoms very lacking for a trip like we took.
They are fine on interstates where we are all riding close together and worked good on tight off road trails where we were close together, but didn’t work at all for hundreds of miles of the off pavement riding we did.
We weren’t on this trip to baby sit each other so on gravel roads like the Canol roads and Dempster where there was dust and we spread out they wouldn’t work.
If one guy stopped for a picture or bathroom break we didn’t all need to stop so there was times we might be spread out for miles. Intercoms were useless a lot of the time. And that is when they are needed the most is out in the wild remote roads.
You would think in this day and age of technology they would make high quality communication that could talk for a couple miles at least.

Steve

 

[Skyler76]

Wife and I just got the Sena 20s but really haven’t tried them yet.
We had Sena 10s for the last four years.
Matt, Joey and I all had Sena 10s on our trip to Alaska this last summer.
We found the intercoms very lacking for a trip like we took.
They are fine on interstates where we are all riding close together and worked good on tight off road trails where we were close together, but didn’t work at all for hundreds of miles of the off pavement riding we did.
We weren’t on this trip to baby sit each other so on gravel roads like the Canol roads and Dempster where there was dust and we spread out they wouldn’t work.
If one guy stopped for a picture or bathroom break we didn’t all need to stop so there was times we might be spread out for miles. Intercoms were useless a lot of the time. And that is when they are needed the most is out in the wild remote roads.
You would think in this day and age of technology they would make high quality communication that could talk for a couple miles at least.

Steve

For that sort of range you'll need 5W+ VHF/UHF radios. That's not the intent of the Senas nor do they make that claim. There are plenty of radios that do make that sort of range but the implementation for motorcycles may have to be a homebrew one. There are many of handheld units that would work for this purpose but the headset piece coupled with the transmit button would be the challenge.

 

[Checkswrecks]

+1
The Sena and others are still Bluetooth, which is basically line of sight plus a little. The newer ones are better but still not up to what a basic FRS/VHF will provide for beyond line of sight.

 

[iClint]

Wife and I just got the Sena 20s but really haven’t tried them yet.
We had Sena 10s for the last four years.
Matt, Joey and I all had Sena 10s on our trip to Alaska this last summer.
We found the intercoms very lacking for a trip like we took.
They are fine on interstates where we are all riding close together and worked good on tight off road trails where we were close together, but didn’t work at all for hundreds of miles of the off pavement riding we did.
We weren’t on this trip to baby sit each other so on gravel roads like the Canol roads and Dempster where there was dust and we spread out they wouldn’t work.
If one guy stopped for a picture or bathroom break we didn’t all need to stop so there was times we might be spread out for miles. Intercoms were useless a lot of the time. And that is when they are needed the most is out in the wild remote roads.
You would think in this day and age of technology they would make high quality communication that could talk for a couple miles at least.

Steve

+1
The Sena and others are still Bluetooth, which is basically line of sight plus a little. The newer ones are better but still not up to what a basic FRS/VHF will provide for beyond line of sight.

Most Sena units can be coupled with VHF/UHF radios and even be operated by Vox for hands free use.

 

[Tenerester]

Sena SMH 10 . ::015::..tried and tested. Bang for the buck. Clear reception and long battery life. Withstood several trips including a cross country trip through heavy storms.

 

[Rizzo]

I just spoke with a friend of mine o. A long distance call on his Sena 20 from cell phone to cell phone. It was crystal clear. Keep in mind he was sitting on his couch with his helmet on just testing the system. I was still very impressed. I want one.

 

[Checkswrecks]

My kids call me not knowing when I'm on the bike, so I take calls regularly with the Sena SMH10 paired to the Samsung Galaxy S5. Works great till I'm well above the speed limit, when my old helmet starts to get noisy.

 

[verboten1]

I really like my SMH-10, I get business calls while on the bike, and people have no idea when I'm in my Nolan. When I have the dual sport helmet, my wife can tell, but most can't.


That being said, I'm giving it to my son, so we can communicate on the bike. I'll be getting a 20S for myself, since smart features are awesome

 

[Bryce]

I really like my SMH-10, I get business calls while on the bike, and people have no idea when I'm in my Nolan. When I have the dual sport helmet, my wife can tell, but most can't.


That being said, I'm giving it to my son, so we can communicate on the bike. I'll be getting a 20S for myself, since smart features are awesome

Same here... No one is the wiser that I'm not in my office if I forward my work phone to my cell or they are the few at work that have my cell.

 

[RogerJ]

Hello everyone. A word of caution on the Sena 20S. Got my first pair in July of 2014. Our riding group tried 20S units on a long cross Europe to Turkey and back across Greece and Italy to Spain. Very unsatisfactory performance. Overall unreliable even for basic intercom and bike to bike.
Got a warranty replacement set and used it in 2015 on an eight week ride Spain through Italy with pillion. More reliable this time but still can not recommend the 20S.
There is a long Sena 20S experience thread on ADVRider about the history of the problems. I would stick with the Sena 10SMH if it meets your needs. Overall is rated by owner/users as very reliable. Also the Cardo G9 and G9X have been good.
YRMV.

 

[verboten1]

Just ordered my 20s, I kept watching for an amazon warehouse deal, and found it! $177!!!!!

 

[Checkswrecks]

This is a maintenance note since so many folks have the SMH10. If you ride a lot in the rain or put a lot of miles on and seldom remove the "egg" from the mount, the intercom gets quirky after a while. Couple of days ago I had one ear speaker not working, previously, we'd get occasional loud pops in the audio.


The fix is to simply remove the egg and clean the pins and contact pads. I use a pencil eraser and if I have it handy, also some contact cleaner.

 

[Bryce]

This is a maintenance note since so many folks have the SMH10. If you ride a lot in the rain or put a lot of miles on and seldom remove the "egg" from the mount, the intercom gets quirky after a while. Couple of days ago I had one ear speaker not working, previously, we'd get occasional loud pops in the audio.


The fix is to simply remove the egg and clean the pins and contact pads. I use a pencil eraser and if I have it handy, also some contact cleaner.

I've had that happen a few times, also. the pencil eraser to the contacts (old slot car racing trick) fixed me right up.

 

[murdock2002]

::026::

Sena SMH 10 . ::015::..tried and tested. Bang for the buck. Clear reception and long battery life. Withstood several trips including a cross country trip through heavy storms.