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Junior Member 19 posts Undy1 Junior Member 19 posts
Undy1
Hi guys, looking to get some advice on the best intercom 
cheers Undy1
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BigTone Administrator 1,638 posts
BigTone
Hi Undy1. Me and the boss have Sena 20S and they seem like the benchmark. Pretty adaptable to any combination of requirements. 
Some of the boys have Scala Rider which is also good.
Check out this link. I don't think you can wrong with a Sena but someone else may have other experiences.
Cheers,
Tony
St. Kilda  Victoria
IMRG: 20380071
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crash Founding Member 2,565 posts
crash
I have the ones designed for the Shoie helmet (cardo SHO-1).  They are small and they are out of the way but I might say I am having challenges getting it to do what I want it to do but I can fit both my helmets in the top box without having to solve a puzzle (they have a tiny footprint on the helmet). 

Ideally I wanted to:
1. connect it to the RoadMaster.
2. Connect the phone to the road master.
3. be able to take calls via the system
4. have the back seat rider be able to bark instructions without interuption.

I have got number 4 (both from her bike and from the back) but I can't figure out the rest.  In all fairness, I have put it in the too hard basket and because I figured it was too hard, I have not spent a lot of time trying to figure it out.
When I was trying to do it and was considering that I was challenged doing it, I started asking myself:
a. do I really want to take calls whilst I am riding?
b. what would I want my phone to be connected for?
c. do I really want the music in my helmet - when I have a perfectly good set of speakers?

So, ultimately, I think I talked myself out of persisting with it.

My experience is, if it's too hard you are not going to do it.  You may be more dogged about the outcome but for me..... it was all just too hard.

So I have stuck with
no phone calls,
boss in my ear all the time (and this is not such a bad thing - promotes conversation [smile] )
music going through the speakers of the bike.

Some other considerations, we ride two up most of the time commuting back and forth to work and the batteries seem to last for a couple of weeks with them on all the time during our travelling (about 2 hours per day x 5 days x 2 weeks - so we get about 20 hours life out of a charge which is not so bad).
When the boss is on her bike, the distance that you can still communicate is quite a long way (line of sight for the most part) - about 1 km.  So if one get's caught at lights you can still communicate for a short distance.
Ulysses #30673
IMRG #AU100394
Current: RoadMaster (ebony and ivory)
Highett Victoria Australia
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Undy1 Junior Member 19 posts
Undy1
Undy1 wrote:
Hi guys, looking to get some advice on the best intercom 
cheers Undy1
thanks for the info Crash and BigTone
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Dave Magor New Member 5 posts
Dave Magor
you may wont to check out card scala riider freecom 4 - duo set (2head sets) plus you can connect up to (4 riders) they also have one that takes more riders  retails around $569.95
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kmoulds Full Member 303 posts
kmoulds
I have the SENA 20S which is the flagship of the SENA range.  It does everything that I want with the exception of intercom range.  SENA claim up to 1.6 klms line of sight.  This is nothing but bullshit because I have tested them with a mate who also has the 20S and you are lucky to get 250 - 350 metres.  We have tested them on different roads but all line of sight.  I have complained to SENA about their false claims in this area but they don't want to listen.  If you are looking to buy an intercom for rider to rider then look somewhere else.  If you just want something to communicate with your passenger then it's OK. Just my 2 cents worth.

Cheers Kym - Sydney - NSW
2016 custom painted red & black Indian Springfield
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BigTone Administrator 1,638 posts
BigTone
Kym,
Is that with both antennas extended? I tested with a mate and was able to get about 800 m line of site. Still not what they claimed but better than I thought it would be. I reckon they must have tested them not attached to helmets cause I'm sure the helmet blocks a lot of the signal.
Cheers,
Tony
St. Kilda  Victoria
IMRG: 20380071
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Richard Dixon Full Member 153 posts
Richard Dixon
I use BT - good quality sound & connectivity x 3
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longdistanceflyer Junior Member 16 posts
longdistanceflyer
I had a Cardno, but most unsatisfactory in both quality and inability to hold GPS Phone and intercom reliably.. dumped it. Perhaps I should have given it to one those on the forum! I now use the N Com in my recent Nolan helmet. Zero problems.
Yamaha MT10SP: STILL HAVE FOR SALE Nitron Shocks; INDIAN TALL SCOUT SCREEN AND MY custom Givi Monokey box rack mount(SEE MY SIGNATURE PIC)
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Black Pearl Junior Member 20 posts
Black Pearl
I have owned and used the Scala G4 G9x Sena 20s and now have the Scala Pack talk system hooking up to the Chieftain bluetooth system took about 2mins and works great also use this on my Goldwing with the Ipod and no problems there either.

It's not cheap to buy but shop around it can be bought right got mine from the UK via Ebay saved about $190 over the cheapest price i could find here [smile] [smile] 
If it's not black take it back !
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kmoulds Full Member 303 posts
kmoulds
BigTone wrote:
Kym,
Is that with both antennas extended? I tested with a mate and was able to get about 800 m line of site. Still not what they claimed but better than I thought it would be. I reckon they must have tested them not attached to helmets cause I'm sure the helmet blocks a lot of the signal.


Gid day Tony

Sorry it took me some time to respond but I'be been over in India riding Royal Enfields during October.

To  answer your question, Yes, both 20S's had their antennas up.  Other than SENA''s false and misleading range claim I am happy with the unit.

Cheers Kym - Sydney - NSW
2016 custom painted red & black Indian Springfield
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BigTone Administrator 1,638 posts
BigTone
kmoulds wrote:


Gid day Tony

Sorry it took me some time to respond but I'be been over in India riding Royal Enfields during October.

To  answer your question, Yes, both 20S's had their antennas up.  Other than SENA''s false and misleading range claim I am happy with the unit.

no problem Kym. We have just come back from riding in Tassie for 10 days and we had 4 SENA 20s
you are correct we were only getting line of sight a maximum of 1 km so they are talking bs.
seems to get interference with power lines also.
Cheers,
Tony
St. Kilda  Victoria
IMRG: 20380071
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V-Twin Founding Member 7,820 posts
V-Twin
Undy1 wrote:
Hi guys, looking to get some advice on the best intercom 
I am not sure if there is such thing as a 'best' intercom but the most popular brand is Sena.  I think I would say it is the defacto standard.  I use to use uClear brand and recently switched to Sena 30K for this exact reason. 
Melbourne, Victoria
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CHF10 Senior Member 2,396 posts
CHF10
Sena have one with a built in camera too don't they?
Live free or die!
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V-Twin Founding Member 7,820 posts
V-Twin
CHF10 wrote:
Sena have one with a built in camera too don't they?
They do but not sure how good they are or not.  I tend to shy away from all-in-one unit.
Melbourne, Victoria
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BigTone Administrator 1,638 posts
BigTone
Interesting that Cardo Systems, who bring out the Scaler rider units have created a new technology called DMC.
These videos are worth watching.
Cheers,
Tony
St. Kilda  Victoria
IMRG: 20380071
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Black Pearl Junior Member 20 posts
Black Pearl
I have and use the Packtalk system have had other Scala and Sena systems in the past the packtalk is by far the best one i have owned and used 😉 😉  
If it's not black take it back !
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V-Twin Founding Member 7,820 posts
V-Twin
When I picked up a set of bluetooth intercom I was toying with the idea of Scala Rider Packtalk vs Sena 30K (both use their own version of ’mesh’ technology) and I went with Sena.  This guy talks about the difference and similarities well.




The key factor for me was that Scala was limited to pairing 2 Bluetooth devices only (maybe that’s changed now) - if a rider connects their bike and Garmin GPS, they can’t connect their phone.  

Also, to fully utilise all the features of these headsets, you want everyone to use the same make and model (ideally), and I found more people ride with Sena (in our group of riders) than Scala.  So my logic was, eventually more people will upgrade from older Sena to new Sena.  

I should clarify the older Sena units and 30K works fine.  Just don’t have Mesh technology where riders can change riding order or drop out of range and come back and reconnect automatically.

I believe both Scala and Sena are well regarded and can’t go too wrong with either brand.
Melbourne, Victoria
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CHF10 Senior Member 2,396 posts
CHF10
Most people have GPS in their phone these days. Very rare to see a satnav unit being used on its own.
Live free or die!
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captainrob Full Member 129 posts
captainrob
I’ve gone a different way and have a wired Autocomm. It has multiple inputs so I can run the Bluetooth phone, gps and iPod, as well as the radar detector audio. 
Put a FuzeBlock in the handle bar bag to supply power to Autocomm and Zumo gps.
Wired (powered) system suits me as I always forget to recharge the others!
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captainrob Full Member 129 posts
captainrob
IMG_0920.jpeg  IMG_0921.jpeg  IMG_0925.jpeg 
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V-Twin Founding Member 7,820 posts
V-Twin
captainrob wrote:
  IMG_0921.jpeg  
Where does the flux capacitor go???  And do you still have to get to 88mph to go back in time???   😝

Joking aside, that is a beautiful setup mate!!
Melbourne, Victoria
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GrahamO Junior Member 6 posts
GrahamO
Richard Dixon wrote:
I use BT - good quality sound & connectivity x 3
I've tried these with the grandchildren inside the house and they work well. Still to try them on the bike!
Preston (Melbourne), Victoria
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JuanPoop Senior Member 528 posts
JuanPoop
I am hoping my wife never reads this thread...

I have been telling her for years that they haven’t been invented yet. 

aka - John
2017 Springfield - grey / burgundy
Northern Beaches - Sydney
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V-Twin Founding Member 7,820 posts
V-Twin
JuanPoop wrote:
I am hoping my wife never reads this thread...

I have been telling her for years that they haven’t been invented yet. 
😆😆😆
Melbourne, Victoria
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