Music sharing with Sena20S

[Questions]

Does anyone have experience with Music sharing on the SENA 20S? I feel like we have done everything correct and it is still not working. I have paired with the other unit (we got the double) and then paired to my phone. We have downloaded the APP and have Audio Multitasking enabled. We have had I can hear but she cannot, we have had we can both hear but the volume in not decreasing as we talk. We have also had we can both hear and talk but she cannot initiate the conversation?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[tehrlich]

I have the exact problems, and am currently trying to work through this.

I also had a major problem with voice recognition. After I updated the firmware to 1.5, it worked a lot better.

However, I am still unable to successfully intercom with my rider and listen to "stereo music" from my iPhone. The signal to the iPhone becomes extremely choppy. When I'm not in an intercom, the signal is perfect.

I don't know how the two units would pick up the music from the iPhone. I believe the phone would need two bluetooth signals, but I may be mistaken.

The volume of two things at once is also variable. While in intercom, and listening to the onboard radio, sometimes the radio is too loud and the intercom becomes faint. Other times the intercom is perfect and the radio volume is too faint. One thing that is ALWAYS too loud are the beeps the Sena makes. I cringe every time they activate.


Overall, I'm not that happy with the Sena 20S. I probably wouldn't buy it again. I think it works great if it is doing one thing, but throw two things at it, and it fails.

 

[tehrlich]

Oh, and I admit that some of the issues may come from me not using it correctly. I've read the instructions umpteen times and reference it a lot.

One of my complaints with the 20S is that it is extremely complicated to remember all of the nuances: push the jog button while turning clockwise, push the "phone button" for 3 seconds, push the "ambient button" for this, hold this for that, etc, etc.

There are too many "secret handshakes" with using the buttons. I know with time, they will become easier, but when you're already having multiple issue with the units, it is very frustrating.

 

[finless]

Some tips.

1) Do not have sharing turned on for the second unit. Only have it on for the headset the phone playing music is paired to. If your headset is the master (e.g. the one the phone is paired to) then your the one sharing. The 2nd headset should not have that on or it too will try to share anything it is paired to.

2) When intercom mode is on (you have a channel open to the other headset) the volume of the background music is adjusted with the phone APP. It does not automatically dim when you speak. At least it doesn't on mine but I have not upgraded to 1.5 yet. You set the background audio volume via the APP and that's it. If the music is too loud turn it down with the APP. If you exit intercom mode the volume will increase and then can be adjusted with the dial on the 20S.

3) If your getting choppy audio some suggestions.
- Make sure the ambient MIC function is turned off.
- Try turning off VOX. Wind noise or general noise may be causing it to cut out.
- Some Android phones seem to have a problem streaming music to the 20S. Not sure why that is but I read some Android phones did not properly implement BT 4.1. My Android tablet is terrible and choppy but it did work with my old Sena SM5 using an older BT version 3.0. Basically my tablet is unusable. My iPhone has no issues at all. Maybe make sure your Android phone is updated to the latest offered by your carrier.
The 20S is a BT 4.1 device. Previous Sena headsets were 3.0 including the Sena SMH10! Android had serious 4.1 issues when they first implemented it!!!!


Bob

 

[Questions]

Bob,

Thanks for the response. I am the "main" set and my wife does not have the sharing function on so I think we are good with that one. We have upgraded and the music is supposed to dim when either of you are talking and then come back up when you are not. That seems to be working for her but not me (who is doing the sharing. I think all of the other settings are correct.

When we are in intercom mode we can speak to each other and everything is fine. When I share music we can both hear the music. When the music is playing she cannot seem to "initiate" the conversation. When I start talking she can come in and talk assuming no delay but then it gets very spotty where we are catching half of what is being said.

I am sure that once we get this figured out it will be great.

 

[Questions]

Tehrlich

I agree. Seems to be a bit more complicated than it needs to be. Love the sound quality and I am sure once we figure this out it will be great. I am going to call SENA in the AM and go back to the dealer where I bought it if need be.

I will keep you posted with what I find out.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[tehrlich]

Tehrlich

I agree. Seems to be a bit more complicated than it needs to be. Love the sound quality and I am sure once we figure this out it will be great. I am going to call SENA in the AM and go back to the dealer where I bought it if need be.

I will keep you posted with what I find out.

Thanks,

Scott

Thanks.

I just watched a number of the videos. They are a LOT more helpful than the written instructions. So, I understand how to do the music sharing now. I don't know if I can do it, but I'll give it a go!

Really, all of the button/jog dial pushing is crazy. They already have an app. Just make a better app to set everything. The app doesn't do much other than turn things on and off.

 

[tehrlich]

I tried about 10 times, exactly as the video explains, to Music Share between the two headsets. It just won't take. I am unable to make it happen. :banghead:

 

[2dogs]

Had mine now for a couple of days

The only function we've mastered is the turning on/off sequence. Got that down pat. We have a hard time getting anything else to function the same twice. Yes, that beeping sound drives me nuts and we have very low volume. And, I could be wrong here, but I suspect that one of the directions are not correct for what I'm trying to achieve. Example, holding the button down for 6" to get the flashing red to pair. It flashes red and blue every time, not red, and they won't pair, The Sena tech/help guys seem to be very patient and helpful. I hope Monday they can get me lined out because this is becoming very frustrating. Someone else on this site mentioned disabling functions that are not needed and using audio boost. That could be a solution to several issues.

 

[tehrlich]

The only function we've mastered is the turning on/off sequence. Got that down pat. We have a hard time getting anything else to function the same twice. Yes, that beeping sound drives me nuts and we have very low volume. And, I could be wrong here, but I suspect that one of the directions are not correct for what I'm trying to achieve. Example, holding the button down for 6" to get the flashing red to pair. It flashes red and blue every time, not red, and they won't pair, The Sena tech/help guys seem to be very patient and helpful. I hope Monday they can get me lined out because this is becoming very frustrating. Someone else on this site mentioned disabling functions that are not needed and using audio boost. That could be a solution to several issues.

It is very frustrating.

I found that updating the hardware to 1.5 helped a lot. I also just discovered that only one of mine is updated to 1.5. I'll get the other one updated and maybe it will go.

Turning off the VOX function seemed to help with the music cutting out from the iPhone. But, we've only tested it in the house and not riding. However, we are still unable to "music share."

 

[bmccaffrey]

Was thinking about this for next years riding.
But after reading all of these issues may have to re think.

Maybe i'll stick with the basic sena5:dontknow:

 

[Brentc]

Similar issue

My wife and I have had our units since June and have returned them once for a replacement set. We have experienced very choppy sound when we both were streaming the same music source. I have gone through and tested with all features off and enabled one by one. The only work around we were able to come up with is that my wife pairs her Sena to her iPhone and I pair my Sena to the sm10 of the bike and my iPhone. This was the only way we could get clear communication between the helmets and also hear music. We have slowly begun turning other features on and testing, but I honestly think I have a defective sm10 unit and the duL streaming feature is not working. I am hoping to send back for replacement over the winter.

 

[Motorcycledave]

Call SENA they can and will help with this, the contact info is here...
if it were me I would use the 408- number that is a local number in
Santa Clara, CA where tech support is..you can also contact
FinlessBob here with a PM he is a super pro with this stuff.
Dave

Does anyone have experience with Music sharing on the SENA 20S? I feel like we have done everything correct and it is still not working. I have paired with the other unit (we got the double) and then paired to my phone. We have downloaded the APP and have Audio Multitasking enabled. We have had I can hear but she cannot, we have had we can both hear but the volume in not decreasing as we talk. We have also had we can both hear and talk but she cannot initiate the conversation?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Well finally there is something that works as intended on my Sena 20S. I share music with Joe and it works fine, as long as we don't get too far apart. Now that he is used to having music (other than radio) he gets antsy if his goes out. He will tell me he lost his music but it will just be the end of a song. :clap:

 

[Questions]

Dave,

Thanks for the response. My wife called SENA and they want us to set everything back to factory settings and to re-pare everything again. If that does not work he suggested taking my wife's system and switching it to my helmet. If that does not work return for a new unit. I will reach out to Bob if I get to that point. I am traveling for business and will be back in town Thursday night so I will give everyone an update then.

Thanks,