Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84Winter 2014 | IRON BUTT MAGAZINE  functionality and features of devices.The Sena SMH unit has seen numerous updates since its initial release, allow- ing for welcome feature upgrades such as faster pairing and stored number speed-dialing. Even if your S unit is brand new you’ll want to go through the included easy-to-follow steps to down- load and install the latest firmware. This is accomplished using Sena’s free Device Manager software (both Mac & Win- dows versions). Firmware updates can be found on the Sena webpage under the “support” heading, and registration of your device is required. Note that the initial steps to establish communication from within the Sena Device Manager are different for the SMH and the S. It would be a good idea to occa- sionally check the Sena support page for firmware updates and watch for chatter about them via the LDRider mailing list. As of this writing the current firmware version is v.. Installation Installation instructions for specific helmets are beyond the scope of this article. My advice is to read the install instructions over first, and then do a test-fit to ensure all the pieces fit prop- erly for your helmet. My installation was in my Schuberth C, which, because of its internal visor lever, requires the use of a wired boom microphone rather than the standard static boom mic. The clever S design makes swapping the vari- ous mics easy, and a small hex wrench is even included. From my previous SMH install I also knew I’d need to use the adhesive-mounted backing plate. Sena discourages this in the S manual, but for the SMH they recommended prepping the helmet surface first with a bit of M Adhesion Promoter. This can be found at most automotive paint supply shops or online (look for the small individual-use packages). Most other helmets should be able to use the default clamp kit.Included adhe- sive-backed rubber pads can be used as spacers if needed to ensure a stable and secure fit. If you have a flip helmet test the functionality of opening and closing the chin-bar and placement of the boom mic so it’s positioned directly in front of your mouth. For a full-face helmet you might consider using the included wired mic and attaching it directly to the chin bar in front of your mouth with the included Velcro pads. As with the SMH speakers sound quality is excellent. However, both I and other riders found the sound output level inadequate when used with noise- suppressing earplugs. My wife has not had this issue with her SMH unit. If you don’t use earplugs the volume should be sufficient. A key factor in obtaining quality sound and volume with helmet- mounted speakers is properly align- ing the speakers to your ears. The Sena speakers are supplied with hook-and- loop material factory installed on the backs. I suggest using a bit of two-sided tape to test the placement of the speak- ers before permanently affixing the other side of the material inside your speaker pockets. Listen to some music and move the speakers around until maximum volume is achieved. Take care before making internal modifications to your helmet as this may void the warranty. Pairing Once you’re done chasing your helmet all over the kitchen counter and getting everything installed you’re ready for the real work, the ever-elusive Bluetooth pairing/syncing.Please understand,there are simply too many smartphones (and their associated OSs), GPS units, music players and other brands of Bluetooth comm systems to explain how to prop- erly sync them with the S to accom- plish each desired outcome.I suggest you spend an evening on the couch with the manual, and pay close attention to the pairing instructions that most closely match your equipment and the function- ality you desire. Plan ahead for new far- kles you may be adding in the near future that will require a connection, such as a newer GPS, radar-detector or two-way radio. If you get stuck, call a friend that has a Sena product, ask on the LDRider mailing list, contact Sena support for help, or search for the topic SENA in your favorite online motorcycle forum. Sena also has a dedicated YouTube chan- nel with numerous how-to videos. This being said, I can tell you that the KISS-principle applies here. If all you want to do is communicate with your pillion passenger or a fellow Sena- equipped rider then setup a one-to-one intercom pairing and the job is done. Add in pairing to your smartphone and you’ll now have the ability to answer calls (by voice command or pressing a button on the S) and dial up to three pre-entered speed-dial numbers. If this is all you need or if you have a hard time remembering commands you’d best stop here because it only gets harder. Adding pairings for additional Bluetooth devices such as a GPS or a Sena SR unit require certain types of pairings, and pairings to be completed in a particular order. Again, reading over the process in the manual or watching the instructional videos before beginning will be of great help. Setup and Customization Once you have your devices paired you’re ready to customize the S for your liking. There’s different ways to do this, but I believe the easiest way to get started is to use the Sena Device Man- ager program on your personal computer. This is done using the same process as updating the device firmware. Read the manual to learn about the various cus- tomization options. Additionally, once you’ve paired the S with your smart- phone you can use the free Sena Smart- phone App to control a number of the settings. Note that the App also includes a Quick Guide to help with the device settings. One easy customization you might do is adding up to three phone speed-dial numbers into the unit for easy hands-free dialing. Another setting you’ll most certainly want to change is the Audio Boost, which sets the S to the maximum volume level available. Using the Sena 20S Once you’ve installed and setup your S it’s time to practice a bit.I found this easier to accomplish in the comfort of my living room rather than during a ride on the motorcycle.If you’re using a Blue- tooth GPS you might need to be in the