Helmet Intercoms; Advice And Any Recommendations Please?

I have a Sena 20S and ride with 2 mates that also have Sena intercoms. I’ve had mine for about 2 years and the only downside of this model is the absence of Mesh but the upside is that you can swap the head unit from helmet to helmet (having bought additional mounting kits). The 30K and 50S models use the same mounting kits but the 50R is a more permanent fitting, all have Mesh and the 50R will be the next purchase for my new shiny Arai Black Friday deal.

SatNav integration wise, I just use my phone on a Quadlock mount.

 

FellZebra, I'm so glad it's not just me scratching my head!

 

lol, apologies for the lack of details folks

The Sena mounting kit is effectively a clamp that slots around the bottom of the helmet shell. With some helmets this is quite easy and it stays in place but others might need to use the 3M sticky pads supplied for a more secure fit (see example linked below).

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/519947

Mesh is new to me but with my 20S standard Bluetooth the range between riders is essentially line of sight and a peer to peer connection between each rider, so you lose the connection when parted. However, Mesh cleverly uses each riders intercom as a bridge. This means with say 5 riders a mile apart, the front rider can talk to the rider at the back of the pack through the other 3 riders. We tried this in North Wales a few months back and it worked much better than Bluetooth. Saying that, Bluetooth is perfect for rider to pillion if that's all you need.

Sena is expensive but good quality. I have no issues connecting to my phone or BMW TFT and hopefully it will work with my new Tiger next year too!

I hope this helps.

 

The Sena headsets come with options of a boom mic and some button ones that can be discretely placed in both full face and open face lids.

I use the boom mic option and it works very well for voice (including using Siri) at all speeds that I ride (dunno what it’s like over 70 though Officer).

Below forty (and with no strong side winds) the boom mic works well with the front up in open face mode. Above that speed it can get a bit ‘windy’.

Some people have, on their open face lids, put the button mics inside their helmets (eg up by their foreheads) and out of direct wind. That they claim also works well, both to reduce wind noise but also pick up their voice!

I have tried to find a replacement for the foam windsock muffler thing and replace it with a furry one as that would work better to stop noise. I’m tempted to cut an arm off one of my kids’ teddies and use that.

Frankly you will need to experiment as helmets and bikes will cause the mic to behave differently and you will probably need to try a few different positions before hitting on the one best for you.

 

I have cardo packtalk, they work really well but have had a problem with the charging port and basically it had broken off inside. Cardo support want me to buy another with a discount code! I've sent it off for a repair but in the meantime I've got a magnetic fast charging lead off ebay so I will not have to continually push in and pull out the micro usb. My mate is also having issues with his. They were purchased together. Apparently we're not alone it's a common problem.

 

I highly recommend the Cardo PackTalk Bold system & found it works really well for comms & is reletively easy to install. The good thing is there are many YouTube tutorials to look at. Ive included one below, but there are many more.

 

Cardo for me as well. Does what it says on the box.

 

Nothing like resurrecting an oldie so I thought I'd ask if there have been any major developments over the last few years? We are looking at getting a pair of Sena Outrush lids as this will save all the messing with inserting speakers and tacking on transmitters etc.

Has anybody tried them at all?

 

I don't know about the Sena lids - I am however, very happy with the built in Sena stuff on my Shoei Neotec 3. Effortless mesh communication with the mrs. with a 1,5 mile range.

 

No peace for you so!

Other makes with the tricky bits already integrated are an option alright, I hadn't realised they were available.

 

One button switches it off...

 

Cardo Mesh is the way to go.

 

My daughter and partner have just got a Fodsports system which seem to get good reviews at a fraction of the cost of the Cardo and Sena units

 

Definitely worth a look but from what I’ve read it will pair with other makes, but only in Bluetooth mode whereas Sena and Cardo are now capable of pairing in Mesh mode. I used to have a Cardo Freecom 4 which was Bluetooth only and this meant that the riders in our group had to put their Mesh units in Bluetooth mode as well which was a right bugger’s muddle to get everyone talking to everyone. My main reason for replacing the Freecom 4 with a Packtalk Bold.

 

I thought I'd kick this thread back into life again as I'm wondering whether to buy a mesh intercom. I've got a basic Cardo bluetooth at the mo and it works ok. I'm never quite sure how to connect them up. I put it in pairing mode, as does my friend, but it seems more luck than judgement as to how and when it connects. Once connected they work well as I mentioned, but the range is quite limited and perhaps the most frustrating thing when you lose the connection is that it doesn't reconnect automatically when you get back within range. I've heard the mesh systems have a much greater range and if they do lose contact they reconnect automatically. They are a lot more expensive, so really my question is (bearing in mind I don't ride in groups, just one perhaps two friends riding together). Is it worth getting a mesh setup or should I just stick with the bluetooth one?

 

Im probably stating the obvious but, it will only work if your friend's have mesh intercoms as well. This is the issue i have as i have a packtalk bold, i.e. mesh capable intercom, my riding buddies dont, so i get the problems you have already encountered.

 

I wasn't aware of that, I thought most mesh intercoms were also capable of linking to bluetooth types. I know the Sena can cos a friend has one and it works fine with my bluetooth only Cardo.