Anyone out there have the Sena SMH10?

[ESPRider]

Hi all, just wondering what people use with their Sena to voice control your phone. I had the droid x working well with an old version of vlingo (for some reason the new version of vlingo doesn't listen over Bluetooth either) . I recently upgrade my phone to the galaxy and even the old version of vlingo doesn't listen over Bluetooth. I tried using the built in s voice but it doesn't work as well as vlingo. Suggestions?

What's weird is that Samsung's s voice is based on vlingo but does listen over Bluetooth, it just doesn't learn your voice or remember your preferences or favorites.

Thanks
ESP

[JRWooden]

I (think) I understand that trying to pair a Sena headset with some other brand of headset is going to be hit-or-miss,
but can an SMH5 reliably be paired with SMH10 units?

Thanks!

[danham]

Originally Posted by JRWooden

I (think) I understand that trying to pair a Sena headset with some other brand of headset is going to be hit-or-miss,
but can an SMH5 reliably be paired with SMH10 units?

Thanks!

Absolutely, positively, yes. A riding pal and I did a 2000-mile Canada trip in July and we ran all day long with my SMH10 talking to his SMH5 and vice versa.

There were a few times that I temporarily ended the intercom call to hear GPS directions without the distraction of him talking over them in unfamiliar, heavy traffic (hello Toronto), or to eliminate distortion that can happen (at my end) when running intercom, radar, and GPS all at once. But other than that it worked perfectly.

Also, pairing a Sena with any other headset for intercom will not be hit or miss; it will be 100% miss [g]. Same for most BT intercoms.

-dan

[JRWooden]

Thanks Dan!
I have a buddy that needs a unit and was going to recommend the SMH5 due to (what I beleive) is a more robust design, adequate range and better price but wanted to be sure we'd be able to communicate!

[danham]

Originally Posted by JRWooden

Thanks Dan!
I have a buddy that needs a unit and was going to recommend the SMH5 due to (what I beleive) is a more robust design, adequate range and better price but wanted to be sure we'd be able to communicate!

Happy to help. The SMH5 range is a little less than the SMH10, but in the real world it is more than adequate. Up hills, around corners, the difference was hard to detect -- in part because there are so many variables that I was relying on vague memory of range in similar situations with my SMH10 buddies.

But it did show "weaker" range in one specific situation. Not a deal killer by any means, but large trucks in the signal path were more likely to cut off our conversation than with two SMH10s. This was not a problem most of the time, though once or twice on Toronto expressways it bordered on being one [grin].

Battery life was phenomenal, just like the SMH10.

-dan

[cug]

Originally Posted by ESPRider

Hi all, just wondering what people use with their Sena to voice control your phone.

I know that this doesn't help you but Siri on my iPhone works just fine for the few things I do with a phone on the bike (mainly setting a navigation destination or calling somebody). Haven't figured out how to turn Off navigation though.

Works up to a speed of about 65mph (Tiger 800, Palmer screen, Arai XD3). Above that it doesn't understand my navigation wishes ...

[BlueLghtning]

Originally Posted by ESPRider

Hi all, just wondering what people use with their Sena to voice control your phone. I had the droid x working well with an old version of vlingo (for some reason the new version of vlingo doesn't listen over Bluetooth either) . I recently upgrade my phone to the galaxy and even the old version of vlingo doesn't listen over Bluetooth. I tried using the built in s voice but it doesn't work as well as vlingo. Suggestions?

What's weird is that Samsung's s voice is based on vlingo but does listen over Bluetooth, it just doesn't learn your voice or remember your preferences or favorites.

Thanks
ESP

I'm trying to figure this out too. Originally I had Vlingo working over BT just fine on my HTC G2, but I guess somewhere along the line they updated it and it stopped listening over BT.

I did just read that Vlingo is joining forces with another company. Maybe their app will become a little better? Its seems pretty elementary that a handsfree app would listen over BT?

[ESPRider]

Originally Posted by BlueLghtning

I'm trying to figure this out too. Originally I had Vlingo working over BT just fine on my HTC G2, but I guess somewhere along the line they updated it and it stopped listening over BT.

I did just read that Vlingo is joining forces with another company. Maybe their app will become a little better? Its seems pretty elementary that a handsfree app would listen over BT?

If you want I can email or post the previous version of vlingo. It really bites that they busted their app.
S voice listens over Bluetooth but doesn't learn or work as well as vlingo did.

[ESPRider]

Originally Posted by cug

I know that this doesn't help you but Siri on my iPhone works just fine for the few things I do with a phone on the bike (mainly setting a navigation destination or calling somebody). Haven't figured out how to turn Off navigation though.

Works up to a speed of about 65mph (Tiger 800, Palmer screen, Arai XD3). Above that it doesn't understand my navigation wishes ...

Pretty cool. S voce can do it but it requires screen taps to complete things.I have my phone in a ram aqua box on the bars, but I don't want to have to touch the screen.

[BlueLghtning]

Originally Posted by ESPRider

If you want I can email or post the previous version of vlingo. It really bites that they busted their app.
S voice listens over Bluetooth but doesn't learn or work as well as vlingo did.

Yeah, that would be awesome. My e-mail is my AdV username at gmail.com

[cug]

Originally Posted by ESPRider

Pretty cool. S voce can do it but it requires screen taps to complete things.I have my phone in a ram aqua box on the bars, but I don't want to have to touch the screen.

It annoys me that I haven't figured out how to stop navigation. It always tells me that there is no song playing ...

[Range Rover]

Wow, should this all be so complex? 2000+ posts on an intercom system, most reporting issues and getting into minutia of programming and pairing. Am I getting into a real headache here?

My sitch: I just got my bike, and am new to the site(obviously) and just want a little straightforward advice on a good BT communicator. I need to be able to pair with my Galaxy S3 for the phone, voice directions, and maybe some music in between. Occasionally will be 2up w the wife, so intercom use also(would be nice if it could detect when she was ranting and selectively shut off).

Looks like the Sena SMH10-11 or the Scala G9 are the 2 top of the line units.
It is clear that Sena has a big following on the forum, with lots of experienced and helpful users and a very engaged representative/vendor.
Is the Scala even in the same ballpark?

[BlueLghtning]

Originally Posted by Range Rover

Wow, should this all be so complex? 2000+ posts on an intercom system, most reporting issues and getting into minutia of programming and pairing. Am I getting into a real headache here?

My sitch: I just got my bike, and am new to the site(obviously) and just want a little straightforward advice on a good BT communicator. I need to be able to pair with my Galaxy S3 for the phone, voice directions, and maybe some music in between. Occasionally will be 2up w the wife, so intercom use also(would be nice if it could detect when she was ranting and selectively shut off).

Looks like the Sena SMH10-11 or the Scala G9 are the 2 top of the line units.
It is clear that Sena has a big following on the forum, with lots of experienced and helpful users and a very engaged representative/vendor.
Is the Scala even in the same ballpark?

I think it just comes down to personal preference. Both units do intercom just fine and both can have the users listen to music. I came from the Scala Q2 and used the Scala G4 with my dad, but I was much more impressed with Sena's firmware updates and listening to their customers on new features, so when I upgraded I came over to the Sena and am very happy. I haven't tried the G9, but it sure adds a lot more complexity to an already growing complex world of BT headsets and I'm a gadget guy at heart.

IMOP, the best feature I like about the Sena is the jog dial. It works and is so easy to use. It makes things so simple instead of trying to find small buttons on the unit with gloves on. Intercom is simple and it also works. Pairing with new users is also straight forward and easy to do. I'm very happy with my Sena SMH10 setup.

[cug]

I have a set of SMH10. No issues at all. None. Nada.

I use it 98% for communicating with my wife on trips, she rides her own bike. Rest is the odd phone call or using my iPhone for navigation.

For music if I'm on a long interstate ride or so, I plug in my iPod shuffle as the wired connection gives more volume which I like as I wear ear plugs.

I got my set about two years ago and couldn't be happier. Had used a Scala g4 before (borrowed) and from a usability perspective there are world between the two. The Sena was much, much better for me. Works great with Siri, too.

[themenz]

I bought the Sena for my wife and I to communicate. I did a lot of reading all the reviews and talking with Adam over at Rocket Moto Sport. I even bought after hearing how the model helmet I have, Shoei X-11, is the hardest to modify for the speakers.

I am extremely pleased with the service from Adam (an advrider). He spent probably about 30 minutes over two calls, one before my purchases to ID exactly what I needed and the second to help me through the install of the speakers. He also saved me at least $30 over the ebay offers on these. He even offered to talk me through the major surgery he recommended for my helmet. I went a different way and am quite pleased.

Second, we are very happy with the intercom, the phone answering capability and even the iPhone GPS. My wife and I both have iPhones. Zero problems synching. If I keep my visor shut, there is zero wind noise even at 80 mph. I have not slipped the wind shields on the microphones, but may do it when summer rolls around and my visor likes to be up for ventilation.

There is no whistling or any wind noise from the units even though these stick out from the helmet.

So those of you who have the X-11 helmets may want to try this. I have sensitive ears and they don't like stuff pushing on them for long periods. My biggest concern was that these speakers would crowd the ears and become uncomfortable.

The recommendation from Adam was to remove the pads (tricky because they are permanently mounted) and perform major surgery, cutting foam, etc. to make room for these thick speakers. I went a different way.

I remembered the foam in our helmets is meant to absorb shock by collapsing during impact. And it does not rebound, which would cause more injury. That is why you should get a new helmet if you have had an impact to your helmet.

So I figured that I could collapse the foam around my ears enough to make room for the speakers which are 3/16 thick (4 mm) and 1 1/2 inches round (4 cm). So I took a fairly beefy screwdriver with a rounded end like the bottom ones here



and pressed them against the foam pretty hard until I had a nice size indent maybe 1/2 inch wider all around than the speakers and about 5/16 deep (9 mm). I did this for my helmet and my wife's. Probably took 20 minutes with quite a bit of pressure. The speakers fit into the new recesses with some room to position them so the sound goes directly over the ear for max volume.

I has been three weeks and the foam shows no sign of coming back so I am going to stick on the velcro and work on the positioning.

Will this method work on other helmets? I would guess so. They are all made with crushable foam.

Does flattening the foam around the ears reduce the crash protection? Possibly. But my impression is that there is less reduction than by tearing out the pads and cutting out the foam.

YMMV.