The Sena MeshPort Blue Bluetooth (BT) from Sena Industrial is an easy-to-use device that allows non-Sena Bluetooth-only helmet-to-helmet intercoms to connect to a Sena mesh group. Before this, I reviewed the Sena +Mesh. Although the Sena +Mesh looks identical to the MeshPort Blue, the +Mesa allows Sena Bluetooth-only intercom units to connect to Sena mesh intercom groups.
So, two solutions now allow legacy Sena and non-Sena Bluetooth-only intercoms to connect to Sena mesh intercom groups. Many legacy Bluetooth-only units are still in service, and high-end comm units often allow both BT and mesh intercom protocols. Days in the saddle with various groups and brands have proven that mesh radio intercoms are the best on offer.
Mesh allows greater range, little (or no) static, and reconnects more seamlessly than BT after a distance- or terrain-induced disconnection. Mesh permits multiple channels, so rides with many riders can be segmented as needed, such as ride leaders with sweep riders, and those in the middle with special requirements. Riders can join or leave the group while underway, and any interruption of repeating the signal from one rider to another is healed automatically.
If the default channel is used, as my group always does, then no connecting or pairing sequence is needed to allow new riders to join the conversation. The days of fiddling around in a parking lot trying to get everyone in the group connected, even with some more modern smartphone apps that try to help, are over. The Sena MeshPort Blue claims to support nine channels, though it is beyond the scope of this review to test that.
The Sena MeshPort Blue unit weighs only two ounces, and it is designed to attach to the handlebar with a rubber strap for easy attachment and removal. Also included are flat surface mounts, as well as a belt clip. While other mounting positions are available, they should not be on or near the rider’s body or in a pocket, as that diminishes the signal propagation.
The working distance is rated at a half-mile. The range can be extended to nearly two miles with the repeater function, which requires at least six users. According to Sena Industrial, the MeshPort Blue can function as a repeater without connection to any comm device, gaining more usable distance between riders. We only had one unit, so we did not test this feature.
Talk time is claimed to be up to eight hours, with 250 hours of standby time. The lithium polymer battery takes about two hours to charge. Charging and firmware updates run on the soon-to-be discontinued BT 4.1 protocol, and are completed through an old-tech micro-USB port at much slower data transfer rates and more power-hungry than BT 5 variants.
I started by updating the firmware with the Sena Device Manager on my desktop; that was a breeze. I found version 1.1.1 installed from June 2020 and updated to 1.4.1 from July 2023. The device failed to be recognized using an aging cable already attached to my PC. However, when I used the Sena-supplied cable, it worked immediately.
Next, I fully charged the unit. Users can pair the Sena MeshPort Blue to a smartphone using the available Android or iOS app, or directly to the comm unit on their helmets. It is a simple procedure and well-described in the quickstart guide.
The online user guide tells several ways to pair the MeshPort Blue to a “general Bluetooth headset,” depending on whether the unit is on or off. When turned on with a press of the only button, the unit immediately enters pairing mode, and the status LED flashes red and blue, as do many BT units in pairing mode.
The manual suggests I pair to the general BT headset’s hands-free profile (HFP) as though pairing to a smartphone. My test unit was a Cardo Freecom 4X, which has a Bluetooth-only intercom. I followed these instructions, and it worked. Unfortunately, I lost my connection to my smartphone, so I could neither play music nor make or take phone calls.
Attempting to stop the function losses, I did a factory reset on the MeshPort and started over. This time, I enabled the BT intercom pairing mode by holding the top-center button for five seconds, per Cardo’s instructions, rather than connecting through HFP. The MeshPort Blue was simultaneously flashing red and blue. Within 10 seconds, the Cardo unit told me the connection was made. Mesh was turned on, and I retained the full function of the smartphone’s ability to play music and make and take phone calls.
I then turned on a Sena 50R and tapped the mesh button on the rear side of the unit. Presto! Both comm units were connected via mesh intercom, and the signal was strong and clear. I could then turn off the Cardo and the MeshPort Blue. When turned on again, the mesh connection was made upon pressing the Cardo top-center button for one second.
Upon reconnection, such as after powering down and then on again, the Sena MeshPort Blue connects automatically. A single tap of the multi-function button (the only button) turns on the mesh intercom.
I rode with a pal using the Cardo/MeshPort Blue to Sena 50R setup. The connection was easy to make, and dropouts were few. We did find that our connection was reliable at ranges of about half a mile.
I can also use the Sena Industrial MeshPort app (iOS or Android) to connect the smartphone to the unit via scan code. Doing so allows firmware updates and setup changes—such as channel and volume—via the smartphone. The app can also raise and lower volume, though I use the comm unit’s volume control. I try to minimize adding apps for easy procedures, so I simply did the firmware update on my desktop, and Bob’s your uncle.
If some of your riding group is Sena-equipped while others are limited by BT-only intercoms from different manufacturers, then the $200 MSRP Sena Industrial MeshPort Blue may be just right for you.
Sena MeshPort Blue Review Photo Gallery
