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SENA 20S communication system with Prism camera
By Steven M. Green #198919
IF YOU’VE SPENT ANY TIME ON the MOA website, you’ve no doubt seen someone ask, “What is the best intercom to get?” Typically, answers include advice to get what your friends are using, since, until now, these devices wouldn’t talk to each other unless they were the same brand. With the recent release of the 20S, SENA has solved the compatibility issue, raising the ever chang- ing electronic bar, and, along with other new features, placing itself at the top of the rank- ings. The addition of the Prism action cam- era to the SENA family provides a new level of connectivity and ease of operation that make their top tier devices a must-have pair. The 20S uses Blue-
tooth 4.0 technology, which results in better connectivity and lon- ger battery life. Test- ing in the field resulted in ample battery life for all day rides. Although SENA claims up to three- quarter mile range under ideal con- ditions with its built in amplifier, the noise in a motorcycle helmet and interference from trees, trucks and cars will shorten that considerably. SENA devised a clever work-around for the compatibility issue with other brands of intercoms. The 20S will recognize the other intercoms as cell phones, thus you can include your
22 BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2015
non-SENA friends in your group. With this new model, up to eight intercoms can be included in one group. The related Prism camera can also be Bluetooth linked to the 20S for its operation as well as for voice-
the intercom will wake up the device and let you simply speak like you’re on a phone. The clarity of the somewhat larger speakers in your helmet will provide hi-fi sound. In fact, the unit includes the ability to connect your MP3 player via a socket for a cable, should your device not be Bluetooth enabled. There is also a built- in FM radio feature. For best results, place the speakers directly in front of your ears and the mouthpiece, with the wind shield, directly in front of your mouth. When you open the box of
The SENA 20S comes with both a boom microphone for open-face or modular helmets, and a small wired unit for full face models.
over narration, delivering outstanding audio and video performance. The device easily pairs with your phone and Bluetooth- enabled GPS. (But be sure to study the sequencing of the pairing of all these devices to make the operation less frustrating.) If you’ve been riding with an intercom,
you understand the new dimension that it adds to a ride, either with your pillion pas- senger or with your buddies. Instead of wild hand gestures, a simple tap of the body of
the 20S, you’ll be greeted with a variety of mounting options and hardware pieces. The instructions are sparse and refer you to the SENA website, which you’ll also need to update the firmware. SENA USA has also posted a number of videos on its You- Tube channel that are help- ful. If you’ve never used an intercom before, plan to set aside a full day to install, set up, test, and understand the device. Like many new devices, the instructions are
seemingly written by folks that already know how to use it and assume that you’ve used something similar in the past. Unlike a Go-Pro, the Prism comes with a
variety of mounting options in the box. Some of these, like the large suction cup mounts, seem better suited for autos rather than motorcycles. There is, however, han- dlebar/crash bar clamp and mount that is ideal for moto use. The Prism instructions also ask that you go to the SENA website and update its firmware. While the camera
member tested
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