Sena update

[RBEmerson]

Two pieces of interesting news from Sena:

1) Look for them to announce a $49 upgrade for the SMH-10 main unit.  USB support for firmware updates is the big item here.  Because of the shift to USB, the charger will change, too ($49 includes the new charger).  AFAIK, there's some sort of trade-in or exchange for old units to new units.  

2) Look for the SPH-10, the SMH-10 functionality in a "around the back" headphone/mic set for people who wear "beanie" helmets (silly them!).  OTOH, this also a solution for a chase car to keep in touch with an SMH-10 equipped bike.  And a pair of these weather-resistant units would do well for folks at opposite ends of a boat while docking or anchoring.  

Formal announcements should show up in a couple of weeks.  

[jeepinbanditrider]

Sweet I'll have to scoop up the updated version when it comes out  

[RBEmerson]

Watch http://www.senabluetooth.com/ for the news about the upgrade.  I sent them a note asking about upgrading; my post is based on Sena's reply.  

[Cablebandit]

http://www.senabluetooth.com/contact/notice_20110620_1.php

[expatbrit]

I like the idea of firmware updates.

[jeepinbanditrider]

Yeah I was about to post that link.  Looks like that message came out yesterday.

Link to the buy upgrade page

http://www.buysenabluetooth.com/smh10/smh10-upgrade-kit.html

You have to send in your current unit before they will send you the upgrade unit

SMH10 upgrade kit is only for the current non software-upgradable SMH10 owners. The SMH10 upgrade kit consists of a software-upgradable SMH10 main unit, a micro-USB type cigarette charger and a USB-micro USB cable. Please follow the instructions below to get your upgrade kit.

1. Place an order of the SMH10 Upgrade kit
2. Send your current SMH10 (main unit only) to the address below with the copy of your order confirmation email.
Sena Technologies, Inc.
Attn: SMH10 Upgrade Promotion
3150 Almaden Expressway #238
San Jose, CA 95118
4. Once the old unit is received, the upgrade kit will be sent out to you.

[three west]

hmm, cool, I have no problems with mine, but for $50 I'd do it

unfortunately at $100 for both units I probably won't do it.

[expatbrit]

If it's the newer unit with less interference, I'd do it. Even at $100 for both.

[JReazor]

As far as I'm concerned, it's worth $50 just to get a standard USB interface for charging. It reduces the amount of crap I have to carry and eliminates a proprietary cable that I will probably misplace eventually.

[expatbrit]

As far as I'm concerned, it's worth $50 just to get a standard USB interface for charging. It reduces the amount of crap I have to carry and eliminates a proprietary cable that I will probably misplace eventually.

I misplaced one of the two already, for sure. Time to upgrade. Dammit.

[cognosticator]

Yeah I was about to post that link.  Looks like that message came out yesterday.

Link to the buy upgrade page

http://www.buysenabluetooth.com/smh10/smh10-upgrade-kit.html

You have to send in your current unit before they will send you the upgrade unit

Actually they will send you the new unit for $49 + shipping before you have to send in the old one.    I have a riding buddy who just did this yesterday

[RBEmerson]

Interesting - the web site suggests $49 and the old main unit are needed.  I wrote to Sena about this point, saying I use the SMH10 mainly for phone contact and that doing without it for a week or so was a problem for me.  I'll post whatever I find out.  

[cognosticator]

Interesting - the web site suggests $49 and the old main unit are needed.  I wrote to Sena about this point, saying I use the SMH10 mainly for phone contact and that doing without it for a week or so was a problem for me.  I'll post whatever I find out.  

Here is the link I saw:

http://www.senabluetooth.com/contact/notice_20110620_1.php

It says this on that link:

SMH10 Trade-In Program is applicable to the users in United States and Canada. Users may purchase the upgrade kit directly from Sena through its web site shop (www.buysenabluetooth.com) for $49 (plus shipping and handling charges), under the condition that they return their SMH10 main unit to Sena. The Upgrade Kit is available now and will be available for a 60-day period until August 31.

They may have changed the rules, but my buddy ordered his yesterday thinking he would get the new units before he had to send in his old one.  It could be he was wrong.  I will tell him to call Sena and find out.

[JReazor]

The order page specifically says...

1. Place an order of the SMH10 Upgrade kit
2. Send your current SMH10 (main unit only) to the address below with the copy of your order confirmation email.
Sena Technologies, Inc.
Attn: SMH10 Upgrade Promotion
3150 Almaden Expressway #238
San Jose, CA 95118
4. Once the old unit is received, the upgrade kit will be sent out to you.

That's the only reason I haven't done it yet.

[radon222]

I probably will take advantage of the upgrade...but why couldn't they have done this in say... January or February??  

[Tyrroneous]

Figures...I just bought a two unit set about a month ago.    

[RBEmerson]

The order page specifically says...

1. Place an order of the SMH10 Upgrade kit
2. Send your current SMH10 (main unit only) to the address below with the copy of your order confirmation email.
Sena Technologies, Inc.
Attn: SMH10 Upgrade Promotion
3150 Almaden Expressway #238
San Jose, CA 95118
4. Once the old unit is received, the upgrade kit will be sent out to you.

That's the only reason I haven't done it yet.

I sent a note to Sena about this.  We'll see...

[Cablebandit]

Seems pretty cut and dry to me.

[cognosticator]

Seems pretty cut and dry to me.

Not me, there is conflicting information, one says you must send in the old units to get the new ones, the one I posted says you have to send in the old units, but nothing about sending before you get the new ones

[cognosticator]

Talked to my buddy, he does have to send in his units before Sena will ship the new ones.

[Cablebandit]

Just like the order page says....shocker.  

[Testcase]

They must have changed it. I got the option on the order page to do a $100 deposit and they'll send the unit out first and refund the deposit upon receiving the old unit.

[JReazor]

They must have changed it. I got the option on the order page to do a $100 deposit and they'll send the unit out first and refund the deposit upon receiving the old unit.

Nice. Thanks for the update.

[sslangs]

what is different about the sub charger / cable ?  My current unit uses a USB cable to charge it.

[RBEmerson]

what is different about the sub charger / cable ?  My current unit uses a USB cable to charge it.

If your main unit takes a mini-USB connector for charging, you're up to date.  

[RBEmerson]

They must have changed it. I got the option on the order page to do a $100 deposit and they'll send the unit out first and refund the deposit upon receiving the old unit.

Bingo!  I just placed an order for an updated unit with a $100 hold until my current main unit comes back to Sena.  

[Cablebandit]

what is different about the sub charger / cable ?  My current unit uses a USB cable to charge it.

The new units have a USB connection on the main unit itself.  The old units have a round hole.

[radon222]

Bingo!  I just placed an order for an updated unit with a $100 hold until my current main unit comes back to Sena.  

Woohoo... that was sooo nice to see.   I placed my order to update out dual set this morning and now I don't have to worry about missed time without the headsets  

[sslangs]

thanks for clarification cablebandit.

[todao]

I talked with Sena.   This upgrade is to the firmware and makes the unit firmware upgradable for the future- replacing the unit will be unnecessary since you can upgrade the firmward through a PC.  There are two changes to the system:  first and probably most important is that now multiple (3+) units can all talk together at the same time.  No more connecting to only one other at once.  Now multiple riders can have one conversation.  Change two... I forgot, sorry cuz it didn't affect me.

I bought the powerlet charger cord with the first unit.  The current chargers for the old unit do not work with the new unit, hence the reason they bundle the chargers with the new unit.

I ride with only one guy so I don't have a need to change and personally this technology is changing so fast (webbikeworld has a review of a unit that is smaller than the Sena with no need for the microphone, it's built into the speakers) that I'm holding on the upgrade.

[jeepinbanditrider]

If you can easily link more than 2 together at a time for simultanious (SP?) comms I'm definatly getting that upgrade