Communication Systems

[Guest caffreydog]

Hi All,

 

I searched brifly and didn't find any topics on comm systems. I'm thinking about looking for a rider to passenger system for this summer. I really want to stay away from systems that attach a device to the helmet's exterior if possible... would much rather have just a cord hanging out from the helmets (both full face).

 

Anybody have any recomendations/reviews on good systems? Bike to bike comm is not important to begin with but would be nice to add later on...

 

Thanks!

[Guzzirider]

Hi All,

 

I searched brifly and didn't find any topics on comm systems. I'm thinking about looking for a rider to passenger system for this summer. I really want to stay away from systems that attach a device to the helmet's exterior if possible... would much rather have just a cord hanging out from the helmets (both full face).

 

Anybody have any recomendations/reviews on good systems? Bike to bike comm is not important to begin with but would be nice to add later on...

 

Thanks!

47628[/snapback]

 

I can recommend an autocom system- can use it as rider to pillion but also for bike to bike.

 

http://www.autocom.co.uk/

 

Guy

[Guest bshpilot]

I can recommend an autocom system- can use it as rider to pillion but also for bike to bike.

 

http://www.autocom.co.uk/

 

Guy 

47630[/snapback]

 

I agree completely...Ive put to good use my Autocom.

 

The problem i see w/ "helmet" attached systems is that you have

to get everyone to "buy in" on the same brand...if you buy the

autocom you decide what type of 2way radio communications you

want...FRS, FM, UHF, CB...and you can buy some pretty good

<quiet frequency based> radios CHEAP...check out the Family radio

stuff at walmart/costco etc.

 

for that matter the Autocom stuff allows you to connect your cell

phone too....sounds stupid but on LONG trips when i wanna gas and

go i can keep my helmet on and call the wife to let 'er know where i

am...never having to remove my helmet...

 

the BAEHR communications stuff is interesting too though...and

considering the input options id say it could have 'a leg up' on

autocom (assuming the intercom/2way radio/vox is equal to

the autocom)

 

check out WEB BIKE WORLD for reviews of both

[jrt]

Interesting- thanks for asking this caffreydog and thanks for the responses. My wife is starting to make noise about getting a bike-to-bike intercom system. (No jokes, ok?) I would like to know which ones work.

I'm not convinced we need one as our current methods seem to work. We wave arms at each other a lot- kind of like smoke signals. I think it fits the spirit of the Marque.

[GuzzTim]

When I was setting up to do my Coast to Coast last january, I bought a Chatterbox system. My thinking was that I could hook up my iPod and also have the ability to talk with other riders on future rides. I didn't end up using it.

 

I found the speaker placement in the helmet a bit difficult to get comfortable. The unit itself seems to work just fine, and the device can me mounted to the helmet or on the tank bag with an extension cord.

 

So its sitting in a box. If anyone wants to buy a slightly used Chatterbox system, PM me. I'm returning to the classic way of communicating with passengers -- nods, yells, hand signals.......and if they're really cute women, the odd grope and squeeze ! Woo Hoo !!

 

Cheers, Tim

[Dan M]

Hi All,

 

I searched brifly and didn't find any topics on comm systems. I'm thinking about looking for a rider to passenger system for this summer. I really want to stay away from systems that attach a device to the helmet's exterior if possible... would much rather have just a cord hanging out from the helmets (both full face).

 

Anybody have any recomendations/reviews on good systems? Bike to bike comm is not important to begin with but would be nice to add later on...

 

Thanks!

47628[/snapback]

 

Ditto on the Autocom. Works great.

 

-Dan

[Guest bshpilot]

When I was setting up to do my Coast to Coast last january, I bought a Chatterbox system.   My thinking was that I could hook up my iPod and also have the ability to talk with other riders on future rides.   I didn't end up using it.

 

I found the speaker placement in the helmet a bit difficult to get comfortable.  The unit itself seems to work just fine, and the device can me mounted to the helmet or on the tank bag with an extension cord.

 

So its sitting in a box.   If anyone wants to buy a slightly used Chatterbox system, PM me.   I'm returning to the classic way of communicating with passengers --  nods, yells, hand signals.......and if they're really cute women, the odd grope and squeeze !  Woo Hoo !!

 

Cheers, Tim

49691[/snapback]

 

one of the issues i found w/ the 'helmet' attached systems is that for MUSIC

they typically did NOT do stereo output...theyd take it as an input and give

you mono out.

 

the autocomm will ADJUST the level as ambiant noise increases....

theres a small "sensor" in the drivers headset extension cord that

"listens" to the wind or other noise and gives a boost to the volume.

 

autocom also offers a couple of "mute" methods....one is to LOWER

the music (or whatever the input is) volume when conversation begins,

the other method is to "shut off" the music when conversation begins.

 

i think one of the most impressive things is the fact that the Voice

activated mikes WORK...even up to HIGH speed (go HERE...listen to

the demo...then go to a dealer and try the stuff out....MOST

autocom dealers have a demo/display set up so you can better

see...i mean HEAR, how it works)

 

theres several models to choose from but you can get an idea of

the setup options HERE i use my system for intercom w/ the wife, radar

detector (only i HEAR it not the wife) and 2way

radio (either cell phone or FRS/GPRS) i make the choice in

what i wanna hear and what i let the wife hear and switching

from radio to radio is as easy as having both plugged in or switching

one out for the other and plugging it in.

 

this stuff isnt cheap...consider yourself warned...but it WORKS...ive had mine

for 6+ yrs and ive never had an issue

 

if you dont wanna talk to the wife or passanger (remember this goes

both ways)...just unplug the helmet and wave the plug end at the person...

theyll get the idea fast...my wife does it to me all the time when she

gets tired of my shit

[helicopterjim R.I.P.]

I use the EEP System and I find it very reliable and extremely cheap. It takes seconds to learn how to use it and I have never had it fail on me yet. It works well even if the passenger falls asleep and it is never too loud. I reccomend it to all as a cheap, efficient, easy to use rider communication system.

[big J]

And for those on a budget,a couple of flags. As traditionalists, we shouldn't let the semaphore system die, surely. Wave them arms,baby!

[helicopterjim R.I.P.]

Oh! I forgot to mention that EEP stands for "Elbow Elbow Point". It only works for Rider to Passenger communications. For bike to bike you need the SUB-WAP System. That stands for "Speed Up Brake - Wave And Point".

[robbiekb]

Ingrid and I use the Chatterbox. It works great from me to her, but i think with her voice being higher pitched, she has problems activating the voicemike

[helicopterjim R.I.P.]

It works great from me to her, but i think with her voice being higher pitched, she has problems activating the voicemike

49717[/snapback]

That is just part of mankinds natural survival skills. As men get older they loose hearing at higher frequencies and as women get older their voices get higher pitched. I believe Charles Darwin wrote something about this!

[robbiekb]

I end up switching hers off usually so its a one way system **laughs**

[todd haven]

i think one of the most impressive things is the fact that the Voice

activated mikes WORK...even up to HIGH speed (go HERE...listen to

the demo...then go to a dealer and try the stuff out....MOST

autocom dealers have a demo/display set up so you can better

see...i mean HEAR, how it works)

 

this stuff isnt cheap...consider yourself warned...but it WORKS...ive had mine

for 6+ yrs and ive never had an issue

 

if you dont wanna talk to the wife or passanger (remember this goes

both ways)...just unplug the helmet and wave the plug end at the person...

theyll get the idea fast...my wife does it to me all the time when she

gets tired of my shit

49710[/snapback]

 

I concur with bshpilot:

SpamDisclaimer: We sell Autocom.

Expensive.. yes. Guessing $500- $1000 USD for the set-up he describes.

Depending on add-ons.

 

Complaints-- none.

 

Several sold to Chatterbox owners who say they were not satisfied.

YMMV

 

Bshpilot-- look forward to meeting you next week, or whenever you are in town.

[RacerX]

I concur with bshpilot:

SpamDisclaimer: We sell Autocom.

Expensive.. yes.  Guessing $500- $1000 USD for the set-up he describes.

Depending on add-ons.

Complaints-- none.

 

And I'll second both of them. The best money you'll ever spend on, 'buy it and don't look back' intercom systems. The "Chatterbox" systems have gotten better, but are still not in the same ballpark as AutoCom's.

 

My $.03,

CATodd