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Sena 30K can't multi-task

Fred

December 17, 2017 15:17

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I just got a Sena 30K dual set, and I'm more than a little disappointed.  When the bluetooth intercom is enabled, you can not listen to music or use any other connected device. The VOX intercom function does not automatically cut in over the music. When you turn the intercom on, everything else just shuts off, and if you want to go back to listening to music or using another device you have to turn the bluetooth intercom off altogether.  I've been through every single setting in the system and it simply does not work.

The whole reason I purchased these was to have rider to passenger intercom and music and GPS commands in my headset.  It seems like they put way too much focus on this Mesh network, and didn't get the basic stuff right. 

I'm curious to know if Sena is aware of this problem and if they have a fix, because I'm ready to put them back in the box and ship them back for a refund.

I also think that trying to connect bike-to-bike via bluetooth is going to turn out to be an exercise in total frustration. What Sena really needs for bike-to-bike communication is a FRS or GMRS radio that can pair with the Sena headset, and then use FRS for bike-to-bike.

 

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63 comments

• 2
  
  Allan Goldman January 24, 2018 03:18

  AllanToday at 19:17

  Noticed the same thing.  I bought the corded clamp kit hoping that it would function with a wired connection for music, and only the hands free profile from my phone.  That didn't work either

  What's up Sena?

  Edited by Allan Goldman January 24, 2018 06:22
• 2
  
  Tim Snyder January 24, 2018 19:16

  I have the same problem. Once in intercom mode multi-tasking doesn't work. This featured worked on the 20S.

  Another problem with the 30K - If I disconnect the intercom so I can listen to music, I cannot get the intercom mode to come back. One tap doesn't connect - I get no prompt. (Double-tap gives "Intercom connection failed." which is what I expect since I have only one 30K paired.)

  Another problem - After disconnecting the intercom and trying to reconnect, the unit sometimes shuts off entirely.

  Another problem - after the phone interrupts with a message, the unit returns to music and the volume is over 100%. If I touch the jog dial just a little, the volume drops to where it was before the phone interrupted.

  SENA - This performance is entirely unacceptable.

   

   

• 2
  
  Paul Grabsky January 30, 2018 21:20

  I just cut the cord on my Goldwing (2010) and a 2013 BMW K1600 GTL. In Mesh Mode all works fine for about 5 hours.....Damn it.... so my buddy and I switched to Bluetooth ( both 30k units) and we COULD NOT listen to our own music but had to share......WTF.....! is it just because I'm new to this new technology. Any suggestions ?

• 1
  
  Paul Grabsky January 30, 2018 21:25

  On top of that.... the intercom is awesome but dang it I can hardly hear my music even though the speakers are buried in my ears... plus on my old iPhone 6 when I use the Sena app to set volume levels it's pretty much worthless. I need suggestions.. 

  Edited by Paul Grabsky January 30, 2018 21:34
• 2
  
  Tim Snyder January 30, 2018 21:30

  Sena replied to my support ticket. Audio overlay only works in Mesh mode. that's different from 20S in which the overlay worked in Blutooth mode. Why would they change the software to eliminate that feature? Dunno.

• 0
  
  Paul Grabsky January 30, 2018 21:40

  Thanks Tim for your response, but at 62 I'd rather ride than  hit buttons and jack with this dang thing. I love my ROCK MUSIC loud and just tear up corners as needed.

• 1
  
  Tim Snyder January 30, 2018 22:40

  At 70 I ride with custom molded ear plugs, since I can't wear my hearing aids with the helmet on. I like my music audible and clear. My wife and I have been using Senas for several years and are used to the button pushing. It's pretty simple once you get it setup. Public Mesh mode looks simpler, but we haven't tried it, since we assumed the 30K would work just like the 20S. We'll get out and give it another try soon. Sena says are hardware reset willfix the other problems I listed.

• 3
  
  aaron February 05, 2018 22:54

  surely that is a mistake, why disable multitasking? are they going to fix it with firmware? if I had known I would of got the 20S instead. sad 30K user :(

• 1
  
  Fred February 05, 2018 23:22

  I wish I could trade my 30K in for the old 20S. I keep waiting for Sena to release a firmware fix for the Bluetooth intercom, but it doesn't seem to be happening very fast.  Another issue I found with it is that if you attempt to toggle the Bluetooth on and off manually so you can listen to music when you aren't speaking, once you turn the intercom off, it usually won't turn back on again, and you end up resetting both headsets to get them to work again.  And if you call the help desk the standard answer they will give you to every problem is to do a factory reset. Like you haven't already done that 10 times.

• 0
  
  Allan Goldman February 05, 2018 23:36

  Very disappointing.  I've got a 20s also.  It does multitask but has it's quirks.  I've been using J&M wired CBs for years.  They work every time all the time and don't require charging.  I'm still not ready to give up my chord completely.  Also, over the weekend I used both CB and 20s on a ride utilizing the Sena Harley mount.  By the end of the ride the mount started malfunctioning.  Turns out the plug on the cord is screwed on and came loose.  Bad design and total CRAP quality control.  This is my second HD Clamp.  The first one wouldn't release the cover when the button was pushed.  I tried prying on that and ruined the thing.  Thought I would give it another shot because I really like the idea of getting away from chords.

• 2
  
  Tim Snyder February 06, 2018 14:16

  We rode with our 30Ks over the weekend. I did a Fault Reset on both units. (Insert paper clip in the hole in the back and press once while the unit is on.) We were able to connect and disconnect the Bluetooth communication 3 or 4 times, then the units would not connected without powering off and on. I think my unit turned off by itself one time after trying to reconnect.

  Audio Overlay works in Mesh mode. We used Public Mode. We were able to hear music and talk to each other for about 10 minutes, my wife could hear me, but I couldn't hear her. Turning mesh off and on reconnected the units. This sequence happened about 4 or 5 times, the we gave up.

  If it would work, Mesh Mode is very simple. The software still needs work. 

• 1
  
  Fred February 06, 2018 22:10

  Unfortunately, the VOX on the Mesh mode makes the volume of your music go up and down with every breeze in the air, so even the Mesh won't work if you also want to have music. What is needed is a simple way to toggle the mics on and off.

  I'm totally frustrated with the 30K. Nothing I have tried works. All I want is a simple rider to passenger intercom with music, but I guess I'm asking for too much.

• 0
  
  Allan Goldman February 06, 2018 23:30

  I haven't tried mesh yet.  Fred, are you saying that mic is always open in mesh mode?

• 0
  
  scott walters February 11, 2018 01:29

  I knew i made the wrong purchase. Im having all the same issues. Im having mic issues as well. It was a good idea they should've taken more time getting it right.

• 1
  
  MarcB February 11, 2018 09:14

  A couple of weeks ago I raised this point with SENA. SENA informed that a firmware update will fix this issue. See attached correspondence.

   

  26-12-2017 21:42

  Dear Sena, when using Bluetooth Intercom on a 30K, you cannot hear music from your smartphone or Zumo. How to enable that so you can hear music if no one is talking?
  
  Reply SENA 2 januari 19:34

  Hello Marc. The Bluetooth Intercom feature on the 30K has a higher priority than stereo music so when you activate the intercom. It will interrupt your music. The 30K has a feature called Audio Multitasking which allows you to listen to music or GPS directions from a smartphone app while talking with other riders but that feature is only possible when communicating in Mesh Intercom mode. We are going to provide a solution in the future to allow this same functionality when using the Bluetooth Intercom mode.
  
  3 januari 18:50

  Dear Sena, thank you for your reply. Any idea when this firmware with this updated functionality comes available? Kind regards, Marc

  Reply SENA 3 januari 18:50

  We currently do not have a time frame on when this functionality will be added to the 30K. However, it will be added through a firmware update in the coming months. Please keep an eye out for a post on our page regarding this firmware update.

• 2
  
  bamjoop March 09, 2018 21:09

  I had the same issues and after an hour on the phone I came to the conclusion that the 30K is junk unless everybody you ride with has one.  They replaced one of the bluetooth chips from the 20S with the Mesh chip so now you really only have one bluetooth chip in the headset.  That is why you have to choose between music or intercom to be connected by bluetooth and can't do both like the 20S.  The 20S Evo is a better unit all around and I went back to those.  I held on to the 30K in case they ever fix it, but as of now they are a complete waste of money.

  Edited by bamjoop March 09, 2018 21:12
• 1
  
  Phil Parker March 19, 2018 05:25

  I have had a handful of Sena products, and by far, the Sena 20S is the top dog.  When I read about the 30K, I assumed that it was a 20S plus the ability to mesh networking.  I didn't care how they did it, but what pisses me off to no end, is that Sena is very short on the details.  To find out that Multiplexing only works with other 30K units, renders this product useless.  I have many riding friends that have other Sena products, so riding with them will me that I don't have access to my music, my GPS spoken directions, and who knows what.  This is literally the first day of riding that I have done with no music and other sources of data.  I'm shocked that this page, and every review site isn't on fire with this news.  I think it is that they don't know what the 20S multitasking was or is about.  This product is unusable.  I'm trying to return it as such.  Why - because this data isn't on any data sheets.  This couldn't be more misleading. This bullshit that Sena does just stepped over the line.  I wasted nearly $300.  

• 0
  
  Phil Parker March 19, 2018 18:34

  Just got off the line with Sena Support to put in a ticket (207726).  The rep said that they know about this problem - and it could be years for them to fix the problem.  YEARS !!  This in my book - is a SHOW STOPPER.  Why they sell this unit is beyond me.  The lack of Audio Multitasking on the 30K makes the Sena 30K UNUSABLE.  He even suggested the way to get it to work was to disconnect from others that are using Bluetooth networking !!  Can you believe that? 

• 0
  
  Sena Marketing March 20, 2018 00:00

  The 30K supports the same Audio Multitasking feature that the 20S has but it can only be used in Mesh Intercom mode. This will allow riders to talk to each other in Mesh Intercom Mode and listen to music and GPS directions at the same time. Our developers are working on providing a solution to allow riders communicate and listen to music in Bluetooth Intercom Mode. Currently, the 30K uses the same functionality as the 10S in Bluetooth Intercom Mode. The Bluetooth Intercom Mode on the 10S is interruption based which means that the intercom will interrupt lower priority functions like music. However, as mentioned previously, our developers are working on providing a solution based on customer feedback. While we do not have an exact release date at this time for this solution, please follow our website and social media channels for updates! 

   

• 1
  
  Phil Parker March 20, 2018 01:52

  Sena Marketing
  
  I'd like to break this down for you to make this very clear to you how the 30K was and is a giant step backwards. 
  
  Sena Marketing:  The 30K supports the same Audio Multitasking feature that the 20S has but it can only be used in Mesh Intercom mode.
  
  Oh great.  Audio Multitasking doesn't work with any of the Sena products that are on the market - period - except for the tiny fraction of 30K units that are trickling out onto the market.   When you released the 20S with it's Audio Multitasking, it worked with every single Sena sold.  Do you see the difference.  
  
  Sena Marketing:  Our developers are working on providing a solution to allow riders communicate and listen to music in Bluetooth Intercom Mode.
  
  Would you please stop using this term "Bluetooth Intercom Mode".  Don't you really mean "Sena's Entire Installed Rider Base Mode".  I hope you are working on it, but it's far more than music.  It's everything that the phone is feeding audio, such as Road Hazards, Directions, and more.  I don't want to know you're working on it.  I want to know are we talking in a month, half year, year, or as the tech guy alluded  maybe a couple of years.  This sounds like it was a major oversight.  The idea that I connect to one of millions of units already on the market would disable me from using my 30K is flat out a SHOW STOPPER.  

  Sena Marketing:  Currently, the 30K uses the same functionality as the 10S in Bluetooth Intercom Mode. The Bluetooth Intercom Mode on the 10S is interruption based which means that the intercom will interrupt lower priority functions like music.

  I can't even get that kind of functionality.  If I'm connected to a 20S, there is zero audio from my iPhone apps and the tech validated what I found - you must disconnect the Bluetooth Audio (Sena 20S) if you want listen to your music (iPhone audio).  None the less, you took away Audio Multitasking in the real world with millions of Sena units on the market.  You guys seem to want to live in a 30K only world.  It's just not real.  
  
  Audio Multitasking should always work - regardless of how you are talking too.  This has to be fixed.    Minimally, it should be a toggle with little restrictions.  There is no way that others are going to upgrade to the 30K and loose functionality.  
  
  That is why I want my money back - from Sena.  Revzilla has said no - because I tried the unit.  I find this totally unacceptable that Sena isn't owning up to this problem.   Awaiting response from ticket #207741.  
  
  Phil Parker 

• 0
  
  Phil Parker March 20, 2018 02:11

  Sena Marketing
  
  You might want to also read the following thread.  This is not isolated  
  
  

  Quote:

  The entire Bluetooth intercom function of the Sena 30K is fraught with problems.

   

  You can't have intercom and any other audio input from GPS, music, phone etc. The multitasking function does not work.

   

  If you try to listen to music with Bluetooth intercom on and then toggle the button to turn the intercom off, then the intercom function won't come back on. You have to power off both headsets and start over.

   

  There is no way I can find to block out wind noise other than turning the intercom on and off, and when you try to use it in that manner, it usually fails to turn back on.

   

  The only way to use an intercom with this unit is through the Mesh system. The bluetooth intercom function on this unit is basically unusable.

   

  https://support.sena.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360000517083-Sena-30K-Bluetooth-Intercom-epic-fail?sort_by=created_at
• 0
  
  Tim Snyder March 20, 2018 20:41

  Phil, I totally agree. The 30K is not usable as it is currently programmed. I have had the same problems with Bluetooth communication not toggling properly. I think the record is 3 times toggling between intercom and not.

  I ran into a new wrinkle on an Iron Butt ride last week: My bike is connected as Phone 1, my phone is connected as Phone 2. When I turn off the bike, all communication is lost - Mesh and Bluetooth! The 30K has to be restarted.

  Sena Marketing

  The 30K MUST do audio overlay multi-taking in Bluetooth mode for all the reasons listed above and it needs to be made to work properly to the current design spec..

• 1
  
  Fred March 20, 2018 21:05

  I've given up on the 30K and I'm going another route. Maybe one day they will come out with a firmware fix, but I've been waiting since December and I need units that work now and can't wait anymore.

• 1
  
  Fred March 20, 2018 22:09

  By the way, just want to add the comment that mine do the same thing reported above by Tim.  If I try to toggle the bluetooth intercom on and off manually, it quits working after a couple times, and the only way to get it working again is to power both units off and back on again. 

   

  There just seem to be a lot of bugs in the bluetooth portion of the intercom.  I think basing the BT intercom on the older 10S was a mistake.  It should be at least as good as the 20S.

• 0
  
  Phil Parker March 21, 2018 16:29

  Audio Multitasking, is easily, one of the best and most powerful features of Sena's top of the line products.  It basically is two seperate streams of audio - one for intercom to intercom, and another for bluetooth stereo audio (A2DP Profile Bluetooth) to the phone for map alerts, music, etc.  Two streams of audio data generally means two internal radio feeds / circuits.  
  
  My fear, and I don't have much data to back this, is that the circuitry, or chip to do the second stream of stereo audio has been moved over from the Bluetooth side (all previous Sena products that have supported Audio Multitasking / Audio Overlay and moved over to support only the Mesh Networking side of the 30K.  This has left all communications on the 30K to be without dual audio stream support for all existing products other than the 30K.  If this is the case, and this is in hardware, it may be, and much harder to fix - if at all, hence the tech support personal comment about this may take a year or two to fix more accurate.  No one is saying how they will fix this and if it can be done at all.  
  
  Again - I don't have anything to base that on, but my entire career has been in the hardware chip and firmware world.  Sena Marketing stated very clearly the following above:  
  
  Sena Marketing Quote Above:  
  Currently, the 30K uses the same functionality as the 10S (Phil added: 10S does not support Audio Multitasking / Audio Overlay) in Bluetooth Intercom Mode. The Bluetooth Intercom Mode on the 10S is interruption based which means that the intercom will interrupt lower priority functions like music (or road hazard alerts, map directions, or anything else on the phone !!).
  
  Note: the Sena 10S is the same as 20S.  

• 4
  
  Tim Snyder March 21, 2018 17:11

  I suggest everyone put in a ticket stating the 30K does not have audio overlay as the 20S had. Perhaps Sena will take notice if there are enough tickets.

  After the ticket is closed, you will get an email requesting feedback. You will have two choices - Good, I'm satisfied and Bad, I'm unsatisfied. Choose the second and blast them your complaints about being non-responsive and about the unsatisfactory design.

  If that doesn't work we'll schedule a march on Washington.

• 0
  
  Phil Parker March 22, 2018 00:33

  

• 0
  
  Fred March 22, 2018 01:57

  What Phil posted above could very well be correct. It would seem that if this could be fixed easily with a simple firmware update, Sena would have done that by now already.  There may indeed be limitations that are preventing that.  It seems like maybe they made a conscious decision to sacrifice some of the Bluetooth intercom features in favor of the Mesh features. If this is true, it may not be fixable on the 30K, and you'll have to wait for the Sena 40L model.

  I hope I'm wrong.  I guess time will tell.

  Edited by Fred March 22, 2018 02:08
• 1
  
  GLowC March 22, 2018 05:32

  I got the HD intercom with music sharing to work 3 times earlier.. But it didn't connect the old 20s way.. instead of pairing the 2 senas together my holding the jog dials down and then pushing one jog dial for them to connect, I used the Sena 30K app.. then once I was in the app I paired them together with the Hd intercom tab in the app.. once they were paired in the app I could see them in the round circles stating their names in the 30K app.. I noticed that there is a music sharing button in the Hd intercom tap. But it wasn't lit up.. so I restarted my music app and then went back to the sena 30K app and went to the music tab.. pushed the play button on the music tab and then went into the HD intercom tab and clicked music sharing.. then if you go back into the music icon in the 30K app you will see the  other sena 30K headset you are sharing music with...   

  in order to stop the music and have a conversation you have to have the vox intercom turned on... so you are sharing music and you want to talk to your passenger you have to activate the vox intercom by blowing in the mic.. then you will hear 2 beeps and the music lowers and you can talk like normal Hd intercom.. 

  now here is were it sucks.. you have to have about 20 seconds of silence and then the 2 paired 30K's will go back into music sharing.. 

  one other thing that I noticed was that on my iPhone under Bluetooth settings I saw my sena 30K name and then when I was music sharing with another 30K while HD intercom I saw in my Bluetooth settings another connected Bluetooth device that said SENA 30K BLE (not the other 30K I was in HD intercom and music sharing with)... 

  Could only get it the 2 in HD intercom and music sharing with the Sena 30K app, and the app leaves a lot to be desired

   

• 0
  
  GLowC March 22, 2018 05:33