The Sena MeshPort Blue Bluetooth (BT) from Sena Industrial is an easy-to-use gadget that enables non-Sena Bluetooth-only helmet-to-helmet intercoms to hook up with a Sena mesh group. Earlier than this, I reviewed the Sena +Mesh. Though the Sena +Mesh appears an identical to the MeshPort Blue, the +Mesa permits Sena Bluetooth-only intercom items to hook up with Sena mesh intercom teams.
So, two options now permit legacy Sena and non-Sena Bluetooth-only intercoms to hook up with Sena mesh intercom teams. Many legacy Bluetooth-only items are nonetheless in service, and high-end comm items usually permit each BT and mesh intercom protocols. Days within the saddle with numerous teams and types have confirmed that mesh radio intercoms are the very best on provide.
Mesh permits better vary, little (or no) static, and reconnects extra seamlessly than BT after a distance- or terrain-induced disconnection. Mesh permits a number of channels, so rides with many riders may be segmented as wanted, corresponding to trip leaders with sweep riders, and people within the center with particular necessities. Riders can be part of or go away the group whereas underway, and any interruption of repeating the sign from one rider to a different is healed robotically.
If the default channel is used, as my group all the time does, then no connecting or pairing sequence is required to permit new riders to affix the dialog. The times of fiddling round in a car parking zone attempting to get everybody within the group linked, even with some extra fashionable smartphone apps that attempt to assist, are over. The Sena MeshPort Blue claims to help 9 channels, although it’s past the scope of this assessment to check that.
The Sena MeshPort Blue unit weighs solely two ounces, and it’s designed to connect to the handlebar with a rubber strap for straightforward attachment and elimination. Additionally included are flat floor mounts, in addition to a belt clip. Whereas different mounting positions can be found, they shouldn’t be on or close to the rider’s physique or in a pocket, as that diminishes the sign propagation.
The working distance is rated at a half-mile. The vary may be prolonged to almost two miles with the repeater perform, which requires at the least six customers. In keeping with Sena Industrial, the MeshPort Blue can perform as a repeater with out connection to any comm gadget, gaining extra usable distance between riders. We solely had one unit, so we didn’t take a look at this characteristic.
Discuss time is claimed to be as much as eight hours, with 250 hours of standby time. The lithium polymer battery takes about two hours to cost. Charging and firmware updates run on the soon-to-be deprecated BT 4.1 protocol, and are accomplished via an old-tech micro-USB port at a lot slower knowledge switch charges and extra power-hungry than BT 5 variants.
I began by updating the firmware with the Sena Gadget Supervisor on my desktop; that was a breeze. I discovered model 1.1.1 put in from June 2020 and up to date to 1.4.1 from July 2023. The gadget did not be acknowledged utilizing an growing older cable already connected to my PC. Nevertheless, after I used the Sena-supplied cable, it labored instantly.
Subsequent, I totally charged the unit. Customers can pair the Sena MeshPort Blue to a smartphone utilizing the obtainable Android or iOS app, or on to the comm unit on their helmets. It’s a easy process and well-described within the quickstart information.
The web consumer information tells a number of methods to pair the MeshPort Blue to a “basic Bluetooth headset,” relying on whether or not the unit is on or off. When turned on with a press of the one button, the unit instantly enters pairing mode, and the standing LED flashes pink and blue, as do many BT items in pairing mode.
The guide suggests I pair to the final BT headset’s hands-free profile (HFP) as if pairing to a smartphone. My take a look at unit was a Cardo Freecom 4X, which has a Bluetooth-only intercom. I adopted these directions, and it labored. Sadly, I misplaced my connection to my smartphone, so I might neither play music nor make or take cellphone calls.
Trying to cease the perform losses, I did a manufacturing facility reset on the MeshPort and began over. This time, I enabled the BT intercom pairing mode by holding the top-center button for 5 seconds, per Cardo’s directions, moderately than connecting via HFP. The MeshPort Blue was concurrently flashing pink and blue. Inside 10 seconds, the Cardo unit informed me the connection was made. Mesh was turned on, and I retained the total perform of the smartphone’s capability to play music and make and take cellphone calls.
I then turned on a Sena 50R and tapped the mesh button on the rear facet of the unit. Presto! Each comm items have been linked through mesh intercom, and the sign was robust and clear. I might then flip off the Cardo and the MeshPort Blue. When turned on once more, the mesh connection was made upon urgent the Cardo top-center button for one second.
Upon reconnection, corresponding to after powering down after which on once more, the Sena MeshPort Blue connects robotically. A single faucet of the multi-function button (the one button) activates the mesh intercom.
I rode with a pal utilizing the Cardo/MeshPort Blue to Sena 50R setup. The connection was straightforward to make, and dropouts have been few. We did discover that our connection was dependable at ranges of about half a mile.
I also can use the Sena Industrial MeshPort app (iOS or Android) to attach the smartphone to the unit through scan code. Doing so permits firmware updates and setup adjustments—corresponding to channel and quantity—through the smartphone. The app also can elevate and decrease quantity, although I take advantage of the comm unit’s quantity management. I attempt to decrease including apps for straightforward procedures, so I merely did the firmware replace on my desktop, and Bob’s your uncle.
If a few of your using group is Sena-equipped whereas others are restricted by BT-only intercoms from totally different producers, then the $200 MSRP Sena Industrial MeshPort Blue could also be simply best for you.
Sena MeshPort Blue Overview Photograph Gallery
