Scala rider teamset v Autocom.

After having no luck setting up autocom, I have never messed around with a gizmo more than i have with the Autocom 300 duo. I always had a hissing noise at speed anything over 70mph and thats with the bike on their brocure K1200GT. also it has bulky speakers and leads.
I was thinking of ordering a Zumo 660 from Handtec, they have a deal which includes the Scala rider teamset.
Are these any good?
Do they die in the rain?
I am only interested in listening to the GPS and rider - pillion comms.
Any advice appreciated as always.

I was having the same problems as you.

Got a Scala the other week and its a lot better, but still not fantastic..

Range is only 250 meters.

Sound is ok, but could be better.

But it is great to be able to talk normall not waiting for the radio and having to repeat everthing.



Mike

Have you thought of checking out the helmets with built in 'Bluetooth'...?
I read a write up a bit ago in one of the bike mags. The way it read was like they connected with each other, along with any other 'Bluetooth' kitted item, such as phone, i-pod, etc. I think there are several different makes doing them now, though I've never checked them out properly and I don't know anybody using them.

Maybe someone in the know can shed some light on these..?



Just a thought, I've probably got it completely wrong and they're crap..! Which would explain why I don't know anybody with one...?

I use a Scala rider FM headset that is linked by bluetooth to my mobile phone and sat-nav. The headset fits quite securely onto the side of my Schuberth C3 helmet and has survived several showers unscathed. It linked to the phone and sat-nav very easily. The sound quality on the phone and the sat-nav instructions are very clear even at speed. But, the sound quality when music is played through it is extremely poor. This is particularly noticable when using the FM radio which I find really useful on long night rides or boring motorways but just cant stand the poor sound quality. The headphones dont 'stick' to the inside of the helmet very well and do fall out every now and then and have to be stuck back in before putting the helmet on. If there was a way of replacing the original helmet speakers with quality ones then the Scala Rider system would be just about perfect.

Me and a pal used our Scala headsets on a recent trip to Morroco and found them really good. There is a limited range but that wasn't too much of a problem. Didn't listen to music but the Sat Nav and bike to bike was OK. The only problem that we had was that he had a Tom Tom and me a Garmin Zumo so we both got instructions at different times from our "Doris" and on these occasions the bike to bike is temporarily ceased. This is OK except when he went hell for leather the wrong way in Santander and I was shouting at him through the headset but he didn't get the message because his Doris was telling him to go a different way. But overall I would recommend the Scala (but not the Tom Tom

Am i correct in saying that bluetooth is only mono not stereo

patzx12 said:

Am i correct in saying that bluetooth is only mono not stereo

Click to expand...

I thought the zumo 550 was mono but the 660 is stereo bluetooth.

Scala rider

Having the teamset Scala Rider Q2 myself and cant get it to match my mp3 player (samsung) using bluetooth......furtermore using the cord which connecting it to my mp3 the volume is not good at all.....Any suggestions ?

Harald
Oslo

scarla rider Q2

I have a Q2 and a zumo 550 plus the extra cable connected from Q2 to ipod!
Never had any problems so far apart from the mp3 is not coming out as sterio only mono. I can put up with that!

Rich

Ps you need the mp3 Q2 scarla..There are 2 types

Just bought a new Teamset. Ive yet to try it on the bike with a passenger but seems to work well when I tested it in the house with a good range. Both headsets have a MP3/aux input. Which I connect an ipod, works well in stereo. However the vol for the mp3 does not auto adj as with the phone/sat bt input. Generally quite pleased so far.

Team set in ordered along with Zumo 660 so let the chips fall where they may.
I am off on a big European jaunt and will report on the performance.

I've had a skala Q2 set for a couple of months and can highly recommend them. For me they are near perfect, I can use them for rider to pillion and bike to bike (girlfriend learning!) and they work as they should. I can't be bothered with the autocom wiring and also you need to get extra radios etc for bike to bike which in my eyes was too much hassle. I've read various reviews and decided the Q2 was teh way for me.

The Skala Q2 has fitted my AGV and my Mrs' Arai without issue, and I've never had any issue with the speakers moving (I've simply placed them under the lining without any cutting to the foam etc) and I can't feel them at all. For speaking through the quality is fine, even the radio works and the quality is OK for me. The MP3 jack quality is very poor though.

So for me they are the best I think I could have got - all things considered, but if I was being REALLY critical I'd pick them up on the following:
- Wind noise at 70 plus - although to be fair I imagine this is the same with any other comms such as autocom etc. I'm just use to wearing ear plugs so it gets some getting use too when the mike is open
- Voice activation doesn't always work. I find blowing a raspberry the most affective way! Agai9n, this isn't generally an issue as its only every so often and you can simply press the button on the side of the unit to activate.
- MP3 jack sound quality is useless
- Cost! at 220 quid the Q2 set isn't cheap, but neither is an autcom!
- I do have concerns regarding using it in the rain, but to be fair a friend has one and uses it daily to listen to the radio to and from work (40 miles) and his has never let him down. If I am out and it really starts throwing it down, I stop and unclip the units (leaving the cradle attached to the helmet) just to be on the safe side, but I wouldn't bother unless it was p*ssing it down.

A final point, I beleive there is a newer version coming out at some pioint this summer. Its called the Q4 (dunno what happened to the Q3!).. I reckon it'll be some tiem till it's out on Europe, but here's a link to give you an idea anyway

http://www.revzilla.com/product/cardo-scala-rider-g4

Ultimately, if you want a hassle/wire free intercom that genuinely works for pillion or rider to rider, you could do a whole lot worse than a Q2 I reckon

I have both autocom and scala teamset..... autocom has better sound by far but the leads are a right pain in the arse and i've had 3 headset failures in the cabling.
Scala is far more convenient to use.... if two of you have them set up you can talk still while off the bike like in petrol stations etc. and battery life is pretty good, a massive amount cheaper than autocom.
autocom have for most huge hidden costs in extra leads, adaptors,splitters and noise suppression units that you need to get yourself up and running properly.

my advice is if you listen to music a lot don't mind leads and want high quality buy the autocom.. if you don't and it's bike to bike or passenger gps instructions with occasional music or phone you use... Scala has it won with convenience but it isn't on a power with autocom for audio quality... saying that the scala is more than good enough for a lot of people.

If you go the autocom route buy a second-hand one with all the extra leads you need included

shag said:

I have a Q2 and a zumo 550 plus the extra cable connected from Q2 to ipod!
Never had any problems so far apart from the mp3 is not coming out as sterio only mono. I can put up with that!

Rich

Ps you need the mp3 Q2 scarla..There are 2 types

Click to expand...

Dont really understand the meaning of "you need the mp3 scala.......there are two types....."

Harald
Oslo

I bought a Q2 team set just less than a month ago. And its going back.!

First few days it was great. Could hear the GPS (zumo 660 ) talking to the girlfriend on the back was clear (ish...). Talking on the phone was fine. MP3 is Cr*p. There are no two ways about it. Its like sitting next to someone who has headphones on. and trying to lisson. most of the time its just noise.!

But ok i could get over that. So i took it on my trip to holland and germany. Ten days. First five it was ok.....on the 6th day. It p*ssed it down! It worked ok for the first 20 mins. Then the GPS voice started to go. Got there, no light, no sound. Didn;t work. had to use girlfriends the rest of the holiday.

£220! and its not waterproof. If you want one....take it off when it p*sses it down. Which seems a waste really.

I am now looking at Autocoms....costly but if it works in the rain. I am happy. Just need to work out what they all do and don't do. so many opitions.

Pazza87 said:

I am now looking at Autocoms....costly but if it works in the rain. I am happy. Just need to work out what they all do and don't do. so many opitions.

Click to expand...

I think you will find the sound quality of the Autocom stunning compared to the Scala.
The dealers should have the new 2009 gear in stock - do find your nearest one who will make sure you purchase the system for your needs.
www.autocom.co.uk

I spent £80 to get custom made ear buds on the Scala and it really improves the sound no end. The FM radio is not brilliant but my 5 year old autocom is geting a bit scratchy so I am using the Scala more. Next bike probably won't have an autocom as the cheaper and less wired Scala does the job almost as well, a lot cheaper and without all the wires, leads and gizmos that Autocom seems to need. The autocom imho is a better system but way more expensive. Battery life on the Scala is a bit of a bugger though. I have 2 "pods" one of which is on permanent charge in my topbox, so I can swap them. It is a long and tedious story how I have 3 systems - 2 scala and one Autocom.

I have the Scala system which is excellent for passenger and bike to bike.

Sound quality is not the best - over 70 and MP3's.

I've used it in all weathers and survived all day drizzle and a complete alpine thunderstorm with no issues

Some recommend a dab of vas on the bung for the power in

patzx12 said:

After having no luck setting up autocom, I have never messed around with a gizmo more than i have with the Autocom 300 duo. I always had a hissing noise at speed anything over 70mph and thats with the bike on their brocure K1200GT. also it has bulky speakers and leads.
I was thinking of ordering a Zumo 660 from Handtec, they have a deal which includes the Scala rider teamset.
Are these any good?
Do they die in the rain?
I am only interested in listening to the GPS and rider - pillion comms.
Any advice appreciated as always.

Click to expand...

It’s frustrating when you have noise issue with your autocom, are you powering any devices that are plugged into the autocom? If so they do need to have a suppression unit fitted! The 2009 onward autocom systems have less noise issue’s but both pre and post 2009 units have much better sound quality then any scala system that I have used and fitted. As pointed out in some of the previous posts the Scala systems can be cheaper but do not produced good audio sound reproduction, but seem to have less noise problems. Bike to Bike is easier for most people to set up but is no better than a properly set up autocom, cheaper yes but no better sound with limited range. I found Sat Nav instructions mixed with music very difficult to listen to and I didn’t like the sound quality of phone calls through the Scala. The best way to have improved sound is to wire in a set of moulded ear plugs, ultimateear can do this for all scala headsets. The new scala G4 I think it is looks the best in the range but you’re then coming close to spending what you would on a wired autocom which for me only leaves me with one choice! It also depends what sort of travel you do on your bike as the wanting a powered wired system or a system needing charging?
It seems people who manage to get the autocom units working find them excellent and swear by them but unfortunately not everyone gets a hassle free installation. If you do bike feedback try moving the autocom main unit location and don’t wrap the access leads up to tight!
Mick