Sena SMH10 v. Scala G4 and compatability

[Nick G]

About to take the plunge on one of these fellas and I have read a lot of threads. A few concerns that one of you guys might have a view on.

1. After chatting to a guy from Ultimatear at the NEC and looking at the Sena he had. He mentioned that a Sena and a Scala cannot communicate to each other. This doesn't sound right to me as I thought the whole point is that they are bluetooth. My mates have mostly got Scalas of differing vintage. If this is true I have to go Scala to talk to them?

2. Same Ultimatear guy said that Sena units in the US have the in-ear connectivity as an option rather than an extra. Can anyone back this up? I suppose if I bought a US one the import duty might cancel out the saving (around £40 for the extra helmet clamp for ear buds).

3. I like the look of the control on the Sena over the G4 and have read lots of opinions but mostly from people who have tried one or the other but not both. Anyone tested both out there?

4. Should I wait for the Scala G9????

 

[Nick G]

Looks like it has to be a Scala unless I can persuade my mates to buy Sena. Sportsrider who sell both said:

"The advice you have been given regarding the SENA and CARDO being unable to communicate is correct, as at this time there is no manufacturers common standard each uses its own protocol for intercom communications."

That pretty much ends the thread. I'll leave it open a little while in case anyone has bright ideas on using in-ear with a Scala.

 

[Popell]

I was told (although I was a little sceptical) that for the extended range kit, the transmission flips to fm and not bluetooth which might explain (if true) what you have been told

 

[judge]

Looks like I was right then

I'm that guy from Ultimateear, over 4 years we've had most of the systems in for assessment, testing and now adaption. Bluetooth hasn't the range to do the bike to bike comms, it's FM radio and the Bluetooth handles the device linking on your bike.

Personally I like the usability of the Sena, the robustness of the Interphone and the neatness of the Schuberth. The Scala G4 for me is a big old unit and my oppo who was on the stand with me today has a misfiring G4 since it got wet.

We were going to sell Sena but to buy the kits in the configuration we want ie with the earbud headset they required us to buy 100 units minimum order quantity and still pay a higher Euro price than the US paid, so we swerved it.

Happy to convert any of them Sena/Scala/Interphone/Nolan/Schuberth with BMW hopefully to be added soon.

 

[Nick G]

Yes you were right.
Some geezer on one of the many 'INFINITY' stands at the NEC told me and my mates that all systems could talk to each other. One of them immediately bought a Scala G4 and the other already has Scala. I much prefer the Sena but I'm last in so have to go the same way....sod it.