Sena 20S - how long is the real "talk time"
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From:
On pre-18 bikes, the wired headsets can be used in by either rider or passenger while the WHIM is present. In fact, with proper settings, a single wired headset can be used in conjunction with a wireless headset in the other position. Been there, done that!
If you have any scenarios that I have not personally experienced, I would be more than happy to experiment with them on my bike to find the answer.
If you have any scenarios that I have not personally experienced, I would be more than happy to experiment with them on my bike to find the answer.
thanks
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 774
Likes: 60
From: here
With the latest firmware from Sena, the battery life is "a bit" better. It also will announce for about 20 minutes or so "low battery" then shutdown rather than before with the old firmware it would announce "low battery" and instantly shutdown.
I am able to get "almost" 12 hours. That is streaming music and taking a phone call or two and using the onboard Nav...
I am able to get "almost" 12 hours. That is streaming music and taking a phone call or two and using the onboard Nav...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 2,996
From: Charleston, SC
Real old thread here but just in case anyone is still reading...
A lot of owners experience low usage time (battery life) due to riding around on an open Mic which is caused by Wind tripping the Vox.
Since there is no real way to adjust the Vox setting individually (bad Sena, bad...) it usually helps to just disable intercom by hitting the rotary dial once. It will beep in both headsets and basically goes to standby (low battery usage).
Then when you want to talk to someone, just hit the dial again once and you'll hear a beep in both headsets and you can begin talking again. My GF and I do this and the battery life lasts days... real easy.
A lot of owners experience low usage time (battery life) due to riding around on an open Mic which is caused by Wind tripping the Vox.
Since there is no real way to adjust the Vox setting individually (bad Sena, bad...) it usually helps to just disable intercom by hitting the rotary dial once. It will beep in both headsets and basically goes to standby (low battery usage).
Then when you want to talk to someone, just hit the dial again once and you'll hear a beep in both headsets and you can begin talking again. My GF and I do this and the battery life lasts days... real easy.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 518
Likes: 27
From: PA
Never really tested its full capacity until this week. We were riding up around lake George NY and Vermont about 8 hours a day and mine died after about 6 hours. That was with no use of the communication functions either. It was only connected to the WHIM so CarPlay would work. I play all audio (Including a call) over the speakers (not even plugged in to the unit) and only use the microphone if needed. This happened every day too and was charged to 100% every night. Not impressed.
**EDIT** I just saw what LP posted about the open mic and Vox. That may be the reason I have such decreased battery life.
Smitty
**EDIT** I just saw what LP posted about the open mic and Vox. That may be the reason I have such decreased battery life.
Smitty
Last edited by Smittyjf; Jun 6, 2020 at 08:07 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 6,077
Likes: 6,424
From: East TN
Never really tested its full capacity until this week. We were riding up around lake George NY and Vermont about 8 hours a day and mine died after about 6 hours. That was with no use of the communication functions either. It was only connected to the WHIM so CarPlay would work. I play all audio (Including a call) over the speakers (not even plugged in to the unit) and only use the microphone if needed. This happened every day too and was charged to 100% every night. Not impressed.
**EDIT** I just saw what LP posted about the open mic and Vox. That may be the reason I have such decreased battery life.
Smitty
**EDIT** I just saw what LP posted about the open mic and Vox. That may be the reason I have such decreased battery life.
Smitty
30K does have longer life, still not over 12 like Harley claims. My 30K will go 9.5 hours connected to boom using CB, Phone and music.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 774
Likes: 60
From: here
I just spent 2 days on the road riding from FL to ME and I had my 20s connected to Boom! playing XM. Day one, it died about 8 hours (recharged about 30 minutes got me a couple more hours of use), and on day 2 it lasted 13 hours (total time I was on the road)...
Some days it dies quickly and others it seems to last a good while....I haven't figured out the pattern.
Some days it dies quickly and others it seems to last a good while....I haven't figured out the pattern.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
From: Helsinki, Finland (Europe)
I just bought this HD Sena 20 Evo dual pack and we are in the road. A huge disappointing is this battery life, maybe 5 hours with WHIM. My old Interphone dis last even 2 long riding days!
Bow I have to check this VOX / Intercom OFF and see what happens.
Bow I have to check this VOX / Intercom OFF and see what happens.
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
From: Helsinki, Finland (Europe)
Today a real road test. HD 20s ON and connected to WHIM. Some breaks and headset still ON on helmet. After 5 hours the first announcement about low battery on screen. After that time by time an announcement to headset. After 9 hours final warning and then Goodbye from headset. 3 minutes before our hotel on the road 
At the same time passenger headset wasn't connected to WHIM, just to her phone and she listened to Spotify all the time. When we checked it's capacity 3 minutes after mine has went OFF, I connected it to WHIM and saw 5% battery left.
Use on my headset was all the time navigation sound when it had something to tell and some short discussion with a passenger. Her use was Spotify and discussion.
As a conclusion, VOX OFF seems to help. However battery life is still too short compared to 3 times cheaper units.
Next I try firmware update, now I feel it's 1.7.8 on both headsets - has someone seen any progress for battery life after fw update?
At the same time passenger headset wasn't connected to WHIM, just to her phone and she listened to Spotify all the time. When we checked it's capacity 3 minutes after mine has went OFF, I connected it to WHIM and saw 5% battery left.
Use on my headset was all the time navigation sound when it had something to tell and some short discussion with a passenger. Her use was Spotify and discussion.
As a conclusion, VOX OFF seems to help. However battery life is still too short compared to 3 times cheaper units.
Next I try firmware update, now I feel it's 1.7.8 on both headsets - has someone seen any progress for battery life after fw update?
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 1
From: Helsinki, Finland (Europe)
Sort reply to my previous report. I did download here https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...nectivity.html
the latest firmware, it was 2.1, but when started to update it, this Device Manager told, that 2.3 is available and linked to download it. So I have now 2.3 version on both units. It seems, that there is not much difference on battery life, probably a litte bit better, but no big progress. First message came after around 5 hours and then there were 50% left. Next messages may come a little later and after 8 hours headset was still working and about 5-10% left.
It is possible to use this and on long riding days some powerbank would help to charge it during breaks.
the latest firmware, it was 2.1, but when started to update it, this Device Manager told, that 2.3 is available and linked to download it. So I have now 2.3 version on both units. It seems, that there is not much difference on battery life, probably a litte bit better, but no big progress. First message came after around 5 hours and then there were 50% left. Next messages may come a little later and after 8 hours headset was still working and about 5-10% left.
It is possible to use this and on long riding days some powerbank would help to charge it during breaks.
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