autocom & vox

[power2learn]

Hi,

I got an autocom unit a couple of weeks ago, and am slowly getting it set up right. On motorway speeds though, I find the vox keeps cutting in and muting the music - even when turned all the way round (clockwise) to least sensitive.

I get pretty bad wind noise / buffeting at these speeds, using stock screen and sportintegral helmet - I think next month must herald a set of tobinators...

At autocoms suggestion, I picked up an 'open face conversion kit' (sounds like a bad threat from a rowdy drunk - ere' mate - are you looking for an open face conversion?) and fitted this last night. Haven't had chance to test yet.

But autocom and rainbow both seemed pretty surprised that I was having problems with false VOX activation - I just wondered if anyone else had encountered this, and if so, how they cured it.

Ta.

 

[ianran]

Dunno if its like the starcom, but with that you can adjust the sensitivity to fit the level of noise or ultimately use a push to talk button. The good part of this is you control it so, you dont wanna talk (or listen!!!!!) you dont press the button...

 

[GSdude]

Hey dude - been having exactly the same problem with my autocom. Ive got an Arai Astro. Havent heard about using an open face type kit. Please let us know the results of your updated effort. Regards

 

[Whiteliner]

I'm running the Autocom Pro 7 Sport with 2 Shoei full face helmets (rider and pillion) although I can't remember what models they are (they are both around 5 years old). The Autocom works like a dream with the vox set as recommended by the manual (50%?) and the only problem I have with the vox "breaking" is when I get a significant crosswind gust or in gusty conditions when I turn my head sidewards to look over my shoulder. Both mike's are tucked well into the chin-piece so that they are just touching the lips. The vox only cuts in for half a second and the music soon returns to the unmuted level. It's been tested to just over the ton and it still works exactly as advertised.

I'm under 6 foot but do still get buffeting but maybe not to the lower part of the helmet. A taller person might be a bit more out in the wind!

 

[Trip]

With the squelch set to minimum sensitivity I cannot get the vox to cut in at all no matter what speed or how much I shout. This is the setting I normally use because I have the PTT.

I'm sure you've checked this but it's worth asking - you do have the mic the right way round? You talk into the lighter side. It's just possible that the mic cover has been put on the wrong way round by autocom, worth a test to see.

Trip

 

[Whiteliner]

As stated earlier in the thread, I'm running a second hand Pro 7 Sport on my BMW R1200GS and I'm very happy with it. The VOX operation is excellent and music, phone, GPS and pillion inputs all work as advertised.

I power the Autocom via the standard accessory socket to avoid the hassle of mucking about with the canbus electrical system. The canbus (reputedly) powers down shortly after turning the ignition off and therefore cuts the power to the Autocom. Now I know all about the battery problems with the R1200GS but I didn't experience any problems with the battery running down until I fitted the Autocom. As these problems coincided with a period of cold weather and somewhat infrequent riding I just put it down to these factors. I purchased a "BMW equivalent" trickle charger which charges nicely through the accessory socket without having to connect the charger direct to the battery. However, if I unplug the charger and plug the Autocom back in, the battery does not have enough power to turn the motor over come the morning. If I leave the Autocom unplugged then there is plenty of power to start the bike after a week of sitting in the garage.

I have a sneaky suspicion that every now and then the canbus system is "looking" to see if there is anything waiting for power via the accessory socket and the Autocom powers up. Then either the Autocom is powering down as no headset is plugged in or the canbus is shutting the power of again after a bit. I suspect that this is going on over and over again until I try to start the bike in the morning.

Anybody else had a similar power drain.

The GS is a March 05 bike and has not yet had the canbus software upgrade as far as I'm aware.

 

[power2learn]

Thanks for all the replies - I'm riding down to Heathrow on Sunday, so I'll find out if the 'open face' bit has cured the problem then - I'll be away for a week, but will post an update when I get back.

I do have the mic the right way around - the buffeting is pretty bad - not so much knocking the head around, but just incredibly noisy resonance - I think that is the root of it.

I'm only 5'10" but silly short-arse arms and legs and a long back - I sit taller than some friends who are over 6'2", so it may just be that my head ends up in the 'unsweet spot' for GS turbulence. On the way home recently I got so fed up with it I tried standing up on the pegs for a short while - it was just soooo much quieter in the clean air above the turbulence from the screen. Regardless of whether the 'open face kit' (£2 little bit of fluff to go over the mike - got to be worth trying) works or not, the next step is tobinators to try and reduce the buffeting.

I'm encouraged someone else has experienced the same problem (cheers GS Dude), but most folk sing the autocoms praises, so there must be a way of getting this to work OK. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Cookson]

I'm having the same problem & I have tried 2 different helmets & altered the fit in the helmet's a couple of times but still get false vox activation above about 50mph no matter how it's setup.

I got that pee'd off I'm thinking of taking it out.

 

[power2learn]

It's just possible that the mic cover has been put on the wrong way round by autocom, worth a test to see.

Trip, I missed this bit on first read - if the VOX still cuts in on wind noise tomorrow, I'll try putting the mike round backwards when I stop for a break. Would never have occurred to me, but i guess it's possible.

I suppose if VOX doesn't false trigger for you at any speed, then either there must be a) something making it incredibly noisy / turbulent in my lid compared to most folks, or b) something amis with the unit.

Either way, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[jacko]

cant be

i dont think the mic would work if it was installed the wrong way round, it switches on when your lips are touching and your breath passes through the mic, hence cross wind triggering it. im short and get no wind from the screen but crosswinds do trigger vox, it may be faulty hope you sort it jacko

 

[Paul Wakefield]

I've got a fairly ancient Autocom (Pro 3000, I think). I don't know whether this still applies to the modern units but there are 2 different leads connecting between the helmet and the Autocom input. One has a grey end - if this is not connected to the Rider's helmet, I get all sorts of problems with Vox. So grey end - use on riders helmet; "normal" lead - use for pillion. With the right lead, Vox works superbly for me.

Sorry not very scientific but somebody may know whether these different leads are still used and what they do.

Paul

 

[Whiteliner]

I got this reply from Autocom regarding the Autocom runing the battery flat when plugged into the accessory socket.

We have had a few people mention this to us and we are thinking its a problems with the BMW wiring loom. Once the ignition is turned off the socket stays live for around 2 minutes, once this is shut down your system will not draw any power from the battery at all. We have been told that a few bikes are staying on for longer for around 15-20 which will build up after time.

So due to this and the problem BMW are having with the sockets shutting down by themselves even with the ignition turned on (software problem or issue) we are now taking the live feed to a different power source. This is the blue and grey wire going to a small bulb within he headlight, this turns off straight with the ignition and is not affected by the problem with the power socket.

It looks like a good tip for a power source, I'll take a look.

 

[Trip]

Jacko - I promise you it's got nothing at all to do with your breath passing through the mic. Crosswinds trigger the mic because they make a noise. You can test this theory by putting a headphone in front of the mic. It triggers the mic, no breath involved.

Whiteline - you dont actually draw power from the blue & white lead, you use it to trigger a relay which connects a circuit across the battery direct. Autocom have a relay & fuse unit (about £23) which you can use to connect your unit to the battery which switched on when it detects a voltage from the parking light lead.

Trip

 

[Regain]

Had much the same problem with vox myself until I turned down the headset volume slightly. Seems to have worked and worth a try. At max volume, once vox 'opened' the mic it wouldn't shut again.

 

[power2learn]

you dont actually draw power from the blue & white lead, you use it to trigger a relay which connects a circuit across the battery direct. Autocom have a relay & fuse unit (about £23) which you can use to connect your unit to the battery which switched on when it detects a voltage from the parking light lead.
Trip

Trip, thanks - that explains the mysterious box that appeared when they wired it in-sounds like this is the definitive way to do it right now anyway.

As for the false VOX activation, the 'open-face conversion' seemed to do the job up for me, so I'm now a happy bunny - anyone else having VOX problems - this is a very cheap solution.