Bluetooth Communication Devices

[The A-man]

Hey guys, I'm looking for some advice here. I want to get a helmet communication device. I've got a couple of "wants" in my device: a) to talk to other riders, especially at events like the annual rallies; b) good sounding speakers to listen to music when I'm riding alone; c) ideally, to answer the phone or make calls when I'm on the bike; d) listen to my phone's GPS directions while I ride. I think that's about it. Oh, and I want it to be interoperable between other brands: Sena & Cardo, for example. And I'd like it to employ mesh networking technology.

So far, my research has me leaning to either a Sena 50S or a Cardo Packtalk bold. So, do any of you have real-world experience with either model and/or any advice to share? Thanks.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Cardo Freedom 2+ works well. If you wish mesh networking, you'll have to go up the model line to get that too.

The speakers are functional, but JBL offers an option to upgrade the sound quality on the Cardo site. Cardo Packtalk Bold sounds like a popular choice.

[Tev62]

I use the Cardo Packtalk and one of its major advantages in the Irish climate is that it is waterproof. My current unit is 3 years old and has taken a battering and still works well. It does have a flip up antenna which some say is easy to break but you have to be super clumsy to do that. The JBL speakers come as standard with it now I think.

BUT - hooking everything up isn't always the best solution and there are two ways to do it in the Sat Nav manual (if you want all three items connected) and you need to think a little which way would work best for you. I ended up taking the Sat Nav completely out of the loop and just use it visually now as the directions are a pain in the arse in built up areas when you are trying to communicate with others, it totally stops you having any sort of conversation.

Sat Nav to Packtalk only works great for directions, Phone to Packtalk works great for phone calls and music, add all three and it's a mess. Also, if you use an iPhone Apple changed something in their bluetooth comms so it will not keep a bluetooth connection with a Tom Tom (and other devices) and the Tom Tom functionality promised does not work, e.g. traffic data will not update via your phones data, Android is fine though. (a bit off topic but creating a wireless hotspot on your iPhone and attaching your Tom Tom Sat Nav that way allows the Sat Nav to get data. This is just an Apple workaround.)

[LongRanger_imp]

My pillion and I have been using Sena 20S Evo’s for a number of years and really like them. The sound quality is excellent, even while wearing earplugs (this is using a Schuberth C3-Pro). It’s advertised as water resistant, not water proof, but we’ve had no issues. This model doesn’t have mesh technology (you need to go up to the Sena 30 or 50 for that) but it checks all of your other boxes. The 20S Evo was discontinued (last year?) but you can still find them, and they’ve been marked down. Really an impressive communicator.