Wired vs bluetooth - pros and cons

GrandpaGreg · Feb 14, 2015

Hello,

I have already read previous Threads and Posts re 'Corded' headsets and the consensus seems to be that Edsets are the preferred units as opposed to J&M which we currently have and are on our 2nd set.

Like most other 'Posters', after a couple of months we have broken connection issues......sometimes the earpieces, other times the mics, other times the connector cords. It costs a small fortune to send any of the cords back to JM from Canada for repairs so thatoption is Out of The Question.

Before we go and purchase new Edset 3G Units, I would like to hear your opinions regarding 'CORDED' units vs. WIRELESS (i.e. Bluetooth?) headsets. I realize that cordless will not allow the OEM radio, CB, iPod connected via the OEM connection to be played through cordless headsets (unless I am missing something!!!???!!!).

Are there any other PROS and CONS of CORDED vs. CORDLESS?

Cheers,

Greg

P.S. we are down in Florida until March 7th so, if they (whichever kind we ultimately decide on) are more readily available and CHEAPER down here (even taking into account the devalued Canadian dollar), I may order them to be delivered in the next week or so.

dwatc · Feb 14, 2015

I had the first generation Nolan bluetooth for 3 years and here is my opinion of them:

1. Like you said couldn't be used without a cord except for an intercom to the backseat, however you could pair (if I remember correctly) 4 different blue tooth into them.

2. Had pretty good range. I once road the bike to the shop and the wife followed in our car and we maintained contact up to about 1/4 mile. Also worked great at fuel stops to communicate while filling up or parking and her inside getting drinks etc.

3. Battery life was about 10/12 hours of on time then they died. I "fixed" this by getting the 12V charger and purchasing a Y cord for our Gerbings and attaching a 12V outlet with a short cord to the wife's Gerbings plug and plugging that into either of the helmets. I started charging one after the first fuel stop if on a long ride.

4. They were very reliable for the most part. the only problems I ever had with them was with the wire to plug into the bike which is just the same as with corded headsets.

4. Big thing would I buy them again? Not until they are completely cordless and will work all the bells and whistles on the bike. They make them totally cordless and I'll get them again in a flash if they are affordable. J & M had on a few years ago for the N-103 but not for the N-104, however to put the system on the bike was about $2,000 if I remember which was way out of my price range.

BillGreen · Feb 14, 2015

Greg,

I use the Sena SMH-10 Bluetooth headsets and the Sena SM-10 Bluetooth transmitter. I ride two up and the intercom feature works well wearing a full helmet. We also synced our phones to the headsets for music. The SM-10 connects to the Goldwing and transmits the radio, gps to the headsets. I don't have a CB. I've used them for about three years and they still work fine. Sena's newest headset is the 20S.

Bill

carsong · Feb 14, 2015

BillGreen said:
Greg,

I use the Sena SMH-10 Bluetooth headsets and the Sena SM-10 Bluetooth transmitter. I ride two up and the intercom feature works well wearing a full helmet. We also synced our phones to the headsets for music. The SM-10 connects to the Goldwing and transmits the radio, gps to the headsets. I don't have a CB. I've used them for about three years and they still work fine. Sena's newest headset is the 20S.

Bill

Your SMH10 syncs to the bike radio??? I just got one, that I've been using with my phone, for music. It works great, but I'd rather be using the bike's system. How do you go about syncing them?

ronab · Feb 14, 2015

In my opinion, the best feature about Bluetooth setups is: NO DAMNED CORD to worry with!! I HATED having to plug/ unplug all the time. I mostly use our headsets for rider/passenger or bike to bike talking, and for answering my phone when I'm on call and riding--- just got home a few minutes ago and had to take several calls--- nice to be able to answer without having to stop and call back. I personally don't listen to music much. I currently have an older scala unit, and it's builtin radio sucks. I'm about to upgrade to the new sena20s. My friend has one and loves it.

jimwinger · Feb 14, 2015

ronab said:
In my opinion, the best feature about Bluetooth setups is: NO DAMNED CORD to worry with!! I HATED having to plug/ unplug all the time.

I see this (or similar comments) a lot but I don't understand it. I use a corded (Chatterbox) headset and unplug the cord about once a day if on the road, less than once a month if just riding locally. I simply walk up to the bike, put my helmet on and sit down. It's just the reverse when stopping. Certainly not a big deal. YMMV

3 Eagles · Feb 14, 2015

carsong said:
Your SMH10 syncs to the bike radio??? I just got one, that I've been using with my phone, for music. It works great, but I'd rather be using the bike's system. How do you go about syncing them?

The key is the Sena SM-10 transmitter, which connects to the bike's system via adapter cord. It takes input from the bike and transmits it, via blue tooth, to your headset receiver. It works with everything except the CB. There are adapter cables available which will allow the CB to be used also (I don't have any personal experience with those). It's a pretty simple plug-and-play system. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Ride Safe,
Jeff

thekid · Feb 14, 2015

Greg,
not trying to sway your opinion but have to disagree with your statement about costing a fortune to return cords to J&M from Canada.
Recently I returned a cord, bought a padded envelop from Canada Post, and including postage was around $8.00.
J & M sent me an e-mail within a few days advising they had received the cord and would test it. (the cord was just out of warranty)
A few days later I received another e-mail advising the cord was defective and would replace it at no cost.
A week later I received the replacement.
Minimal cost to me, excellent customer service from J & M.

Farmguy · Feb 14, 2015

http://www.cardosystems.com/motorcycles/scala-rider-g9x/1

moh58 · Feb 14, 2015

jimwinger said:
I see this (or similar comments) a lot but I don't understand it. I use a corded (Chatterbox) headset and unplug the cord about once a day if on the road, less than once a month if just riding locally. I simply walk up to the bike, put my helmet on and sit down. It's just the reverse when stopping. Certainly not a big deal. YMMV

Same here.
Besides that, it's less trouble plugging in a cord than to zip my riding jacket over my fat gut!

As far as cons for wired?
Four years ago I would have said repeated cord failures, but since I went with EdSets, that problem went away so today, I have no negatives for wired headsets.

WVMANDINGO · Feb 15, 2015

I use Nolan B4+, it has intercom, bike to bike with good range (over a 1/2 mile) and universal intercom making it compatible with other brands that also have this feature, it has FM radio with built in pre sets . It also have an app that essentially turn your smartphone into a remote to control the features or You can also control it from a small keypad on the side of the helmet. I use the radio or the MP3 player from my phone or zumo GPS. I am also able to take or make calls from my phone and to stream internet radio. I do not have a CB, so for me there is no cons. So far I have never rode long enough in a day to exhaust the battery (10-12hrs). I have not even turned on the bikes audio system for nearly two years, for me it has basically eliminated the need for the bikes system. It's also great to be able to mount and dismount the bike without the need to fool with cords.

azjerry · Feb 15, 2015

I used the same two sets of J&M headsets and cords for over ten years, in 3 different helmets each for me and my wife. Never a problem or failure on any component.

But a few years ago, we went wireless. No, not bluetooth. NO tooth. No headsets, no intercom, no radio, no talking GPS, no radar detector, no smartphone. Just nice quiet riding.

stvtnnnt · Feb 15, 2015

Blue Tooth

We have been using the Sena S10 for a couple weeks now. Riding a 2010 with Nav. The headset is a plug and play into the Driver headset cord (below the left front pocket). Everything on the bike works perfect. Radio, (FM and XM), CB, Navigation, intercom between rider and passenger, and phone. In addition to the headset, you must purchase the plug for the cable and a SN10 for the pocket. Takes less than 30 minutes to pull the pocket, plug in the connector, reassemble and pair everything. Works great. Love it. About 650.00 for the total package, minus helmets.

Only down fall is you will have to charge after about 10-12 hours of "on" time.

ronab · Feb 15, 2015

jimwinger said:
I see this (or similar comments) a lot but I don't understand it. I use a corded (Chatterbox) headset and unplug the cord about once a day if on the road, less than once a month if just riding locally. I simply walk up to the bike, put my helmet on and sit down. It's just the reverse when stopping. Certainly not a big deal. YMMV

When I stop during the day for gas, bathroom breaks, etc, I leave my helmet on. I only remove helmet for lunch breaks, or if stopping for extended time for some reason. I personally just got tired of dealing with cords. Also, like another poster said, it's nice to be able to continue talking to your passenger while you're gassing up and she is in the convenience store. Different strokes for different folks, but I really dislike dealing with cords during a long days ride.

steve mount prospect IL · Feb 15, 2015

Blue tooth

If I could, just a couple of newbie questions about SMH10. Can you connect to existing helmet speakers and microphone? How long between battery charges? I see in the manual the battery is not replaceable, when the battery is no longer re chargeable are you to throw the complete unit away?

moonrunner · Feb 15, 2015

steve mount prospect IL said:
If I could, just a couple of newbie questions about SMH10. Can you connect to existing helmet speakers and microphone? How long between battery charges? I see in the manual the battery is not replaceable, when the battery is no longer re chargeable are you to throw the complete unit away?

They won't connect to your speakers, but you can get a headset that clamps onto your helmet the same way that the J&M's etc do. Then the units just clip into them. we have had them about 2 years now and they work great, batteries usually last about 8 to 10 hours, or less if you talk on the cb or to your passenger a lot, what I do is plug ours into a charger when we stop to eat or check out sites that take a while. It is my understanding that the batteries can be replaced by the factory, but I am not sure of that. We have the SMH10's and the adapter from Sierra Electronics and Bell Mag9 helmets that are made to accept the SMH10.

moonrunner · Feb 15, 2015

carsong said:
Your SMH10 syncs to the bike radio??? I just got one, that I've been using with my phone, for music. It works great, but I'd rather be using the bike's system. How do you go about syncing them?

You have to have another SMH10 and the adapter from Sierra Electronics, then anything that the bikes audio system does works thru bluetooth also you can use the cb with this set up

sur48 · Feb 15, 2015

. I realize that cordless will not allow the OEM radio, CB, iPod connected via the OEM connection to be played through cordless headsets (unless I am missing something!!!???!!!).[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

I use the jm dogle and wireless headset and it allows for a fully functional of all wings systems cb, cd, radio, intercom, cell phone to be wireless.
only con is intercom only when used will echo a little and jm use to sell a cord to connect driver to passenger

DTRider · Feb 15, 2015

Before we got the Goldwing, my wife and I used BT headsets from Cardo. For the most part they worked pretty good, but my biggest complaint about them was that they could only do one function at a time. That meant you could list to music, or you could talk on the intercom, but not both at the same time. You could switch between modes, but the switch would take a few seconds and either required a voice command or a button push. Kind of eliminates the "Look out for that..." alerts from my wife (maybe a good thing?).

Haven't looked into it, but from what I understand the new Sena 20S can handle 2 functions simultaneously, so you can have music and intercom running at the same time. Combined with the SM-10, that should let you still listen to the bike's audio system and have BT intercom. If we do ever start having problems with our wired headsets, that may be the direction that we will go.

Farmguy · Feb 15, 2015

DTRider said:
Before we got the Goldwing, my wife and I used BT headsets from Cardo. For the most part they worked pretty good, but my biggest complaint about them was that they could only do one function at a time. That meant you could list to music, or you could talk on the intercom, but not both at the same time. You could switch between modes, but the switch would take a few seconds and either required a voice command or a button push. Kind of eliminates the "Look out for that..." alerts from my wife (maybe a good thing?).

Haven't looked into it, but from what I understand the new Sena 20S can handle 2 functions simultaneously, so you can have music and intercom running at the same time. Combined with the SM-10, that should let you still listen to the bike's audio system and have BT intercom. If we do ever start having problems with our wired headsets, that may be the direction that we will go.

Cardo has multiple models available. Newer models use the newer Bluetooth protocols which support multi functions.

They can intercom to more than one headset at the same time. Range bike to bike about a mile.
Seamlessly connect/disconnect to cell phone. Bt to music player. Music sharing between headsets. Built in FM radio.

I don't know if the SM-10 would work with them (and I'm not aware if they have a similar adapter).

WingWing · Feb 15, 2015

For me, wires only go from A to B.
..reliable, but very limited.

BT goes from A to B.C.D.E.... etc
.. slightly less reliably, but improving greatly with each generation.

Please don't make your decision based on the "I tried one when they first came out and...blah blah"

The new ones have zero in common with those first "experiments".

Dennis

harvey · Feb 15, 2015

GrandpaGreg,

First let me say Thank You for your service with Toronto.

I have been using J&M corded products since the late 1980's with no problems. I have found that the newer cords are much easier to use with the easy pull apart section about 6 inches from the helmet. All it takes is a few seconds to connect and disconnect and then you can do whatever. Yes I have jumped off in an emergency and forgotten to disconnect and the cords just pulled apart with no problems. And I have forgotten to hook up a few times and had to do it by feel.

I can see where a non-corded system would be better but I am just not sure the technology is there yet at a price I can afford or am willing to pay.

moh58 · Feb 15, 2015

wingwing said:
For me, wires only go from A to B.
..reliable, but very limited.

BT goes from A to B.C.D.E.... etc
.. slightly less reliably, but improving greatly with each generation.

Please don't make your decision based on the "I tried one when they first came out and...blah blah"

The new ones have zero in common with those first "experiments".

Dennis

That at is very true!

i tried one of the early Motorola dongles and after lots of wasted efforts, I gave up on it.
I've tried others with varying amounts of success and now have a J&M BT module.
This one is miles ahead of the first one I tried, but is still spotty with my phone as far as voice out quality goes, but to be fair, that may well be a problem in the headset or the bikes electronics, but all of the wired functions work fine and I don't care to take calls on the bike so I will stick with wired headsets and use BT to play music.
It does that quie well.

DTRider · Feb 15, 2015

Farmguy said:
Cardo has multiple models available. Newer models use the newer Bluetooth protocols which support multi functions.

They can intercom to more than one headset at the same time. Range bike to bike about a mile.
Seamlessly connect/disconnect to cell phone. Bt to music player. Music sharing between headsets. Built in FM radio.

I don't know if the SM-10 would work with them (and I'm not aware if they have a similar adapter).

The last ones that we had were the G9 units. The intercom worked great, though we never had the opportunity to use it with anybody else. The audio quality was also pretty good and they did support multiple functions, just not at the same time. Intercom, music, phone. Pick one. As I understand it, it wasn't a protocol limitation but a HW limitation. In order to have A2DP stereo music AND intercom at the same time the headset would have to have more than one BT transceiver.

They did pair with the SM-10. That allowed us to listen to the same audio book from the GPS when we were on the longer trips.

Farmguy · Feb 16, 2015

I think G9 and G9x are different models...

I don't know if the have updated software available for the G9, but they might.

DTRider · Feb 16, 2015

Farmguy said:
I think G9 and G9x are different models...

I don't know if the have updated software available for the G9, but they might.

I took a look at the Cardo comparison charts. The only difference between the G9 and the G9x is that with the X you can use plug-in speakers (ear buds), and the X supports music sharing between rider and passenger (don't need the Sena SM-10). If I remember correctly, the latest update for the G9 did add the music sharing. They still don't say anything about supporting simultaneous intercom and music though. Again, that would take a a hardware mod to have more than one BT transceiver.

There are a lot of things that I do like about the "current" (within the last couple of years) Blue-Tooth products, and if we ever start to have problems with our wired systems we will probably go back to BT headsets. But when we do it will be to the Sena S20 or a similar offering that supports intercom and some other function (music streaming) simultaneously.

BTW: I'll probably be selling my G9 system soon. Anybody interested?

Wired vs bluetooth - pros and cons

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