bluetooth questions

[wiredgeorge]

I have a 2010 Spyder RT with no radio, etc. I am thinking about my first bluetooth comms pair for my wife and myself. I may go to J&M and buy IS-33 helmets equipped with their bluetooth set-up but they are pretty expensive. Alternatively, I have been looking at the Sena stuff. There is a 5, 10 and 20 which I assume means different levels. My requirement is for rider/passenger intercomm, FM radio and bluetooth speak over phone (especially by passenger). I don't care much about communicating with groups but may want to use an MP3 player or hear the directions from a GPS. I think the 10 model has no FM but the 5 and 20 models do. Not sure what advantage buying the more expensive 20 model has over the 5 based on my needs. If you understand my question, please respond with some advice. TIA

[finless]

I went on the cheap the first go around and got the SMH5-FM for the wife and I. They worked fine but with the smaller battery in them they would last about 8-10 hours max if we left the comms open and streamed music all day.
So for a simple cheaper setup the SMH5-FM's were fine. The nice thing about the FM's if wife and I can listen to different music. It will store 12 presets as I recall.
The limitation with the SMH5 vs the SMH10 is the number of helmet connections so since you don't care about that, then no worries there.

Bob

[WA5VHU]

I love our Sena 20s units but the FM works great only if you are driving circles within 5 miles around the FM transmitter site. They just don't have room for the 29" antenna and when you go for a ride out in the boonies you won't hear much on FM. I gave up on most broadcast radio years ago so when I go riding I listen to MY music from my smartphone. The Sena controls the next song, back a song, and independent volume from the unit quite nicely.

I don't have any experience with any other units.


Charles