SENA SMH10 Capabilities--or lack

[Bob]

Both Broz and I have experienced the inability to receive any audio inputs from the SR10, or cell-phone calls (even paired directly with the SMH10) when paired up with more than one other rider--i.e. 3 or more paired. Broz was missing incoming calls when the 3 of us were paired, and I could not get radar or GPS audio from the SR10 either--but knocking it back to only 2 paired immediately restored full functionaity.

And now a Sena tech has confirmed that this is normal for the SMH10 but that the 20S has improved circuitry to handle more than 2 pairings and still get other audio inputs.

I shudda got the 20S.

[Yarbi]

Oh well, I guess technology keeps moving forward. Might be a good reason for me to upgrade to the 20 in the future.

[Bob]

Oh well, I guess technology keeps moving forward. Might be a good reason for me to upgrade to the 20 in the future.

Same here. Wonder if I'd have to re-wire my helmet or if the 20S connections will match up to my SMH10 speakers & mic....


Edit: Well I guess it won't work--the speakers are hard wired into the clamp, which is different on the 20S.

Think I'll wait a while longer, give Sena more time to work the kinks out of the 20S.

[Brick]

I guess I knew this all along but it didn't really bother me.

[Bob]

I guess I knew this all along but it didn't really bother me.

Well, it's certainly not the end of the world for sure, however if you were paired up in a group of 3 (or more) and expecting an important phone call....or riding just a 'little' over the speed limit while wanting to hear radar alerts....while also needing to keep in touch with another rider who only has GMRS.....and needing to hear turn-by-turn instructions for the new route you've never ridden..... well, NONE of that freaking works on the sh*tty little SMH10.

[Yarbi]

As for the radar warnings just have Brick lead and he can talk his way out of the ticket. At least that is my experience.

[Broz]

As for the radar warnings just have Brick lead and he can talk his way out of the ticket. At least that is my experience.

Yeah it's like he has a horseshoe up his ass.

[Bob]

Yeah it's like he has a horseshoe up his ass.

He does walk funny at times.

[Bob]

Here is my main gripe with the Sena folks. The summary of features on their website is what potential buyers read to make an informed purchasing decision. Below is copied word for word from their website. Instead of ending it by saying "and have intercom conversations in full duplex with a passenger or other motor cycle riders", it should have read "with a passenger and one other rider". What they said was, at the least misleading, and at worst an outright lie. I probably would have checked out some other brands or just ordered the 20S if they had spoken the truth.

With the SMH10, you can call handsfree on your Bluetooth mobile phone, listen to stereo music or voice instructions of GPS navigations by Bluetooth wirelessly, and have intercom conversations in full duplex with a passenger or other motor cycle riders.

You can't do any of this (except talk to others on intercom) if you are paired to 3 or more riders.

[Brick]

Damn... horseshoe up my ass... you guys are tough!

Yea, Sena like a lot of other companies is telling 1/2 truths... or lies of omission!

However everyone I know who got the "Other" communicator has switched to the Sena because the other one doesn't perform nearly as well!

[Bob]

However everyone I know who got the "Other" communicator has switched to the Sena because the other one doesn't perform nearly as well!

I'll agree with that. But if they were telling the truth there, it would actually have been an INCENTIVE for many new users to buy the 20S at the start!

[Brick]

What??? How would it benefit some MSTA members to lie about that. they didnt get anything??

Are you starting to get parnoid on us?

However everyone I know who got the "Other" communicator has switched to the Sena because the other one doesn't perform nearly as well!

I'll agree with that. But if they were telling the truth there, it would actually have been an INCENTIVE for many new users to buy the 20S at the start!

[Bob]

What??? How would it benefit some MSTA members to lie about that. they didnt get anything?? Are you starting to get parnoid on us?

Brick, not sure who or what you mean by "some MSTA members"...? I am talking about what Sena states on their website.

[Brick]

Ok I had said that MSTA members changed from "other" brands to Sena and thought that's who you were talking about... Sorry.


I might be out riding my Super Tenere'

[Bob]

No problem. My point was that if Sena was "honest" and pointed out the major differences between the SMH10 and the 20S, more new buyers would probably be moved to the 20S, which I'm sure reflects their marketing strategy. The smartphone app is a big plus but the fact that it functions 'properly' with more than 2 riders paired is an even bigger plus, IMHO.

Rant over.

[Ed]

Maybe all the guys who want to pair up should carry soup cans wired together, and ride in little echelons like the Harley guys do

The rest of us can pay attention to the f*cking road in peace

[Bob]

C'mon Ed, tell us how you really feel.

[Ed]

lol

I turned 61 today, so I can finally let my inner curmudgeon shine through.

[Bob]

lol

I turned 61 today, so I can finally let my inner curmudgeon shine through.

Shoot, you don't really need an excuse, Ed. But HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

[LeeDavis]

Happy birthday Ed!

Reading about the new "multitasking" features of the 20s is how I realized the SMH10 couldn't do them. Sena is vague about these things.

[Bob]

Reading about the new "multitasking" features of the 20s is how I realized the SMH10 couldn't do them. Sena is vague about these things.

Calling them "Vague" is being nice! I guess I need to view the 20S owner manual before I buy one.

[Brick]

Hey Ed hope you had a great Birthday... 61... Pshhhawww your a young pup!


I might be out riding my Super Tenere'

[yamadog]

I agree with Ed. We can get a little too tied-up with "communications" while riding. I think rider to rider com is the first priority and gps, radar and phone are secondary and of course, a plus. IMHO.
Sorry I missed it, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Ed. 61 ain't bad. Enjoy life!

[Bob]

Going back and forth with a Sena tech re. the "mis-statements" on their website, he finally said "If you read the owners manual it states the correct capabilities!!". I then asked "So you are saying I should disregard the lies on the website and rely solely on the owner's manual?" At that point he offered me a refund if I purchased the SMH10 directly thru Sena--but mine came from Revzilla. I probably wouldn't have taken them up on it anyway, as I had already bought another mounting kit for the SMH10 for my dirt helmet, and I see a spare mount for the 20S is running twice the $$ as for the SMH10--$39.95 vs.$79.95. I guess Sena suddenly sees a goldmine in spare parts. So I will have a dedicated "dirt-comm" setup with the SMH10 if/when I get the 20S. Either way, I'm sure he was glad to get rid of me, lol.

This is just FYI in case anyone here DID buy the SMH10 directly from Sena and is feeling a little screwed due to the mis-information.

Edit: I WILL give Sena a "B+" on customer satisfaction, even if it wasn't helpful for me. But they get a "D-" for honesty.

[Ed]

I think the guy deserves a medal after you declined my buyback offer, I would have put you on hold and gone home for the day.

[Bob]

No sh*t, maybe the purple heart lol. But the buy-back offer didn't help me so there was nothing to decline. They did a pretty good job of handling it, i understand they can't give refund for something you didnt buy from them.