Autocom bike to bike - does it really work

[Intrepid Ken]

I have just tried to install bike to bike using audtocom 7 systems and small motorola radios. Sometimes it works and then we get loud continous squicking sounds. Other times it just stops, the vox gives too much static.

Has any one ever been fully pleased.

 

[judge]

Yep have no problems whatsoever other than getting on channel with whoever I'm riding with at the time.

VOX is the route of all evil without some serious set-up time. I use the PTT switch and all is well

 

[Pukmeister]

Ken, are they Kenwood Funkey radios by any chance? I use them with a Pro7 Sport and they are fine if set up properly:

I found that by entering the setup menu on the radios and increasing the VOX sensitivity, and adding more time to the post-talk transmit function, they work much better. Also, try not to have the volume knob on the radios set to more than 80% otherwise you may experience 'clipping' of the Autocom amplifier ('Norman Collier' style conversations).

I have the VOX adjuster on the autocom unit set to about the 90 MPH position to prevent random cutting in from wind noise. A simple blow across the mic before starting to speak opens the channel on VOX and keys the radio into transmitting.

If you are talking to someone using a TK3101 Kenwood radio, you need to set your channel and sub-group on the Funkey (and TK3101) in accordance with the chart in the Funkey handbook as they don't use exactly the same settings, hence you may be able to recieve but not transmit, or vice-versa, or suffer headaches trying to get it to work until you follow the compatibility chart:


TK3101 / FUNKEY
Ch 1 / Ch 1, Gp Mode 10
Ch 6 / Ch 2, Gp Mode 18
Ch 3 / Ch 3, Gp Mode 13
Ch 5 / Ch 4, Gp Mode 17
Ch 8 / Ch 5, Gp Mode 7
Ch 12 / Ch 6, Gp Mode 6
Ch 7 / Ch 7, Gp Mode 19
Ch 10 / Ch 8, Gp Mode 15

 

[steveuk]

have autocom system 7 -
bike to bike works perfectly-
using kenwood radios..

just stick with it - try changing the radio channel if you're getting interferance

 

[bikermike]

I'll second what Judge said.......If you intend using two-way radios...forget VOX its not a viable solution. I used to do a spot of bike instructing, and VOX proved to be a killer of batteries, and pretty good at killing radios (I was pretty good at nearly killing the pupils..but thats another story...) The transmissions are lousy 'cos of the "chopping" of the first part of the opening words, and they pic up a lot of background noise. If you want to succesfully use two way / Autocoms, use a PTT button on the 'bars, seriously its the best solution, I use it regularly and it works really well. Just my 5p worth.