Author |
Message |
Gugnheim
| Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 01:53 am: |
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Greetings all: Maybe its late and I just suck with search. I'm having trouble decoding what everyone uses for communication on the bike. I need to be able to talk with my wife on the back and we want to share ipods, use a gps, satellite, cell phone etc. We don't own anything and really just want to know what works so I can just buy it and we can get to enjoying our time out more. Her only requirement seems to be some sort of in helmet speaker for her. Putting the ear buds under the helmet causes her to much pain. Thanks everyone again for the help. Gug |
Daveymac
| Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 06:12 am: |
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AutoComm http://www.autocomamerica.com/ I have an "Active 7 Smart" on both my Uly & RT1100. XM roady2, Garmin 2610, Ipod. All speakers are in the Helmets. |
Dano_12s
| Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 06:59 am: |
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Cardo Systems are Bluetooth also.Nice compact units. |
Atoms
| Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 07:26 am: |
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Gug, don't feel bad. I'm stuck on the same search. (except I just got a Zumo 550) The Autocomm seems to have all the features I'm looking for except it is wired. From their comparison page on the web: "Engineered to be expanded in the future with optional Bluetooth phone and headset modules (in development)." |
Maximum
| Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 09:12 am: |
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I use the Autocom Super Pro AVI with the Garmin Zumo 550. The Garmin provides the communications with my BT phone, an MP3 player, and XM radio with the addition of the XM-30 antenna. This is not the cheapest solution, but it does seam to work very well. Here are a couple write ups I did last year on my setup. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/278233.html http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/284619.html |
Seanp
| Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 09:49 am: |
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I have the same basic setup as Maximum with an Autocom Super Pro AVi and a Zumo 550. The Zumo connects to my iPhone with bluetooth, and both my wife and I can talk on the phone. The speakers are good enough that I can listen to music while wearing ear plugs, and the microphone picks up normal spoken voice no problem. Installation, both in the helmets and on the bike, was super easy. I'm thinking about adding an XM and a radar detector for my trip to homecoming. The Autocom is expandable, which is nice - I didn't have to buy everything up front. Plus it all runs off bike power, so there's no batteries to worry about. In all, it's a great system. |
Gugnheim
| Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 12:47 pm: |
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Thanks for the heads up guys. Means a lot. Gug |
Curly
| Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 02:48 pm: |
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if you don't want to be wired in, check out the integrater IV from J&M. completely removable in seconds and very good rider to passenger comm. and has plug-ins for all those gizmos you named. |
Sachmo
| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 12:56 am: |
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The Integrater IV sure looks wired to me but it does seem like J&M does have a BlueTooth headset but it is $300. Anybody using the Scala Rider Q2? |
Dano_12s
| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 07:01 am: |
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Just got the Scala{Cardo Systems].Had the team set,worked great for passenger/driver but not rider to rider unless you were 10 ft. or closer.Now have the new bike to bike unit,works great-compact-long lasting battery, |
Aeholton
| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 08:30 am: |
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Anybody using the Scala Rider Q2? I bought one for trip to Barber back in April. Was a convenient way to stay in touch with my dad following up in his camper (using bluetooth connection to my cellphone). It worked well. Folks I talked to on the way up said they couldn't hear any wind noise (provided I was below 70 mph). Above that, it became difficult for me to hear due to wind noise. It also allowed me to listen to my XM radio via the FM receiver. Haven't tried the intercom mode, yet. Need to buy another unit for my wife. |
Old_mil
| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 09:03 am: |
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Had an autocomm on a BMW I had for a while. Good unit, but I could never get an alternator whine free installation, regardless of what I tried. Not sure if it was the unit or the bike. |
Pso
| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 12:12 pm: |
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Autocom for me. CB, GPS, XM radio, and Radar Detector. A little alternator whine like Old Mil said, but I just figure that is my turbo charger spooling up. I do need to use internal batteries on the CB however because I was unable to get the RF out of the receiver function of the CB. I have not used the unit in driver to passenger mode only bike to bike. In helmet speakers but they also make a cord that has a built in plug for earbuds if that is the preference. I prefere ear buds with mine that also act then as ear plugs. |
Sweatmark
| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 12:25 pm: |
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Wife and I have Autocoms on our BMWs, used for bike-to-bike, music, and cell phone (only when expecting a critical call). The Autocoms are wired to bike power and wired to helmets, but the performance has been excellent. Use the intercom function with passenger, also with excellent results. VOX is worth having, though sensitivity setup can sometimes be a pain. I use another cheapo Autocom Easy-7 when Buell riding, with the battery-powered Easy-7 and cell phone in a messenger bag. The setup provides music and and handles calls by phone. I've heard mixed reviews re: Bluetooth helmet systems, YMMV. Wired or wireless, we've never had any problems with eletrical noise or component reliability. |
Maximum
| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 12:48 pm: |
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I had some "alternator" whine in my Autocom system, and it got worse as time went on. I tried using different grounds, I tried shielding the cables (mainly because the whine only appeared when my Zumo was on with the Autocom...either one by itself was fine) but nothing would get rid of it. Several thousand miles later my Stator failed. After the stator was replaced the noise was completely gone...and there has been no trace of the whine in over 6,000 miles. |
Davolous
| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 03:59 pm: |
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I'm using a Cardo Scala Rider Q2 with my Zumo + cell and I love it. |
Bosh
| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 04:45 pm: |
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I really like the look of the Scala Rider Q2. The only reason I'm holding back is I'd like to be able to plug my custom ear speaker / plugs into it to get rid of the wind noise issue. I was thinking of something like this: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8888 but I don't think the mike would be any good for high speed. |
Wbrisett
| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 05:39 pm: |
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I've been using the Starcom Advance for years. Moved it from my BMW to the Buell and I've been very happy with it. I just bought the Starcom Digital and I'm going to put the digital on Buell and put the Advance back on the BMW. Wayne |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Monday, June 02, 2008 - 11:53 pm: |
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I use the chatterbox gmrs system and have been pretty happy with it for both bike to bike and passenger to rider coms. When riding solo it also has stereo sound so i can run my ipod through it. |
Trakmastr
| Posted on Tuesday, June 03, 2008 - 09:24 pm: |
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Chatterbox . . . |
Ulendo
| Posted on Tuesday, June 03, 2008 - 10:21 pm: |
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chatterbox Gmrs. I normally just use the helmet clamp for the chatterbox, with my MP3 player on my right forearm (wired through my jacket to teh chatterbox) for solo rides, but have the wiring, and bar mount as permanent fixtures on my BMW tourer. great sound ( get the noise reducing headsets) really good battery life, and easy to use. (Message edited by ulendo on June 03, 2008) |
Trakmastr
| Posted on Wednesday, June 04, 2008 - 01:15 am: |
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Two issues I have with the chatterbox is the helmet clamp is a lousy design and will break with the slightest amount of torque on the screws( although cheap to replace )and when playing my MP3 player, the volume needs to be at max just to hear the music. |
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