Questions for SENA owners

[cruisinTX]

I'm a bit baffled .... you ride with someone ( that is on another Mtc. / spyder ) and you get 1/3 mi. ( approx 1700 ft ) apart !!!!. Even on a perfectly flat , absolutely straight road. I don't think you can see each other. Interesting. I think I would just rather ride alone. .... not dissing you - I hope someone can help you with this .... Mike :thumbup:

That 1/3 mile distance is not always intentional; it just happens from time to time when the trail rider lollygags a bit. I'm not a big believer in the 2 second rule that a lot of folks use; especially those who think they need to hold hands while riding. My personal comfort level is a 4 to 5 second separation. At 75mph that is only 440 to 550 feet but allows a much better distance for people to react to just about anything that might happen in front of them . We usually drive 65 to 70 though resulting in a little less distance. Riding separate bikes usually only happens when it's myself and a friend I've ridden with for many years. He knows my photo habits and the separation we keep is primarily a safety factor that allows him time to react when I pull over for pictures. Now that we have comms, it's easier for me to give him warnings of what I'm about to do.

The other use and primary reason for the purchase was for my wife and I to be able to talk more easily while on the Spyder together and on the occasional very short rides where I am on a bike and she is on her Spyder. Her lack of stamina and strength limit her to being able to drive for maybe 1 hour at a time. That relegates us to short rides separately. For longer two-up rides we take the Spyder as I no longer trust my old arthritic hips and knees to be sufficient for being two-up on a bike. When that happens, she drives for the first hour some while I get to enjoy the photographer's seat, then we switch.

I have also recently purchased a second set of bases and rigged up a pair of cheap headsets with them so our 10S units can be worn in the cars when we travel in two cars taking our inventory to craft shows. Or on the rare times I'm on a bike and she is in a car.

 

[Baron14y]

My questions are: for those who have tried to use the SENA units as a rider to passenger intercom, do you get somewhat of an echo when talking that close together?
No.

Is that to be expected or is there a cure for it?
Should not be expected. Call Sena and ask.

Is wind noise a big problem when using a modular helmet?
No, not with us, has not been an issue.

Have you tried ear buds instead of the helmet speakers? (with any success?)
No, but I've heard it's one more thing to put on and take off. :gaah: :banghead:

All of the above.:2thumbs:

 

[rjinaz86323]

I have a Sena 50, because I ride with a group of guys, so the mesh works great. When I ride with the wife, she has the Sena 10R, and the intercom works fine. Not echo. Wind noise is not bad with a modular, but be sure you position the mike facing the correct way.

 

[pegasus1300]

The part in bold red makes me wonder if your mics came without foam over them. The ones with our 10S units already had foam wind socks on them. Did you add something to that or ?????

I'm thinking about adding part (thumb) of a latex or nitrile glove over the foam to see if it will cut down on wind noise. My friend that rides along with me some has some serious wind noise coming from his modular helmet but says mine is not terribly bad (also a modular but different brand). That covering with very thin rubber is a little trick a radio broadcaster shared with me many years ago. When they did outdoor spots in heavy wind, they would cover the mics with a condom :shocked: to cut down on the noise. So---I'm thinking the thumb from a rubber glove might accomplish the same thing on these mics.

No I just replaced the wind sock when it wore out.
As Edmat suggests check which way the mic is pointed.

 

[2dogs]

I can listen to music or a talk station all day long, but I don't like having long conversations with ANYONE. It's very distracting and dangerous for me now anyway. It's like using a cellphone while driving. Not good. Too distracting and not safe. I used to be able to multi task safely all the time, but no longer because I'm not used to doing it anymore. Once upon a time, I could talk on a cellphone (hands free of course) listen to the radio and work the computer all while driving safely. Once you retire that ability it is near impossible to get it back. Especially as one gets older.

 

[RiderDuke]

I use the sena 20evo since 2017 in a half helmet (ear pockets). I have very little wind noise at interstate speed on both my Road Glide and My F3-T. I've talked with clients and they did not know i was on a MC... When riding all day (long Trips i wear ear plugs and it helps with fatigue and easier hearing my headset when at speed.. My mic has a little NUB that is supposed to be pointing towards your mouth.. If I'm on the phone and it's not in front of my mouth correctly the person (wife) I'm talking to hears wind noise... I can't comment on the intercom as my wife doesn't ride at all.